Ebenezer, so that from the portion of your pilgrimage which has been accomplished, you may derive memorials and encouragements for that which is to come. In each hour of perplexity and difficulty, sustain yourselves by the conclusive and scriptural argument, "The Lord has delivered; He does deliver; and, therefore, He will deliver." Write down signal providences, or lock them up in the safe depository of a sanctified memory, and produce them when you are in extremity, and have your back to the wall. Sweet experiences of former displays of God's care and protection, are not the least part of the Christian's treasure. I would not, indeed, have you dote upon them, or imagine that God can go no further than He has gone-a supposition which can only serve to daunt you in new and greater troubles. Nevertheless, be careful not to despise or slight these proofs of His kindness, but lay them up and plead them with Him, whenever your sky shall be again darkened, and the storm of calamity threaten to renew its violence. One part of the seventyfourth Psalm contains a sad complaint of God's anger, and the afflictions of the Church; while the other glows with a cheering rehearsal of former exhibitions of the power and mercy of Jehovah. Thus the assistance vouchsafed in the past, sheds hope and confidence over the darkness of the future.

You must also treasure up the spiritual enlargements and comforts, which have gladdened your religious course. Call them to mind; review them with humility and gratitude; and in the season of desponding gloom thus draw from them encouragement and consolation. "In such an ordinance I met with God, and beheld His reconciled face. In such a duty my graces were quickened, exercised, increased. In such a season of secret prayer, my heart was warmed, melted, satisfied. In such a company, in such a society, in such a time of public worship, my whole soul was enlarged, filled, and sweetly transported beyond myself. O what a blessed day or night was that to me, when I experienced the manifestations of God's favor, enjoyed the smiles of His love, and felt the witness of His Spirit, sealing my forgiveness and acceptance. Well do I remember it; and my heart dances within me at the recollection. Those hours of blissful fellowship with God come over my spirit still, like gleams of Paradise. Such moments are not always to be expected. These heavenly dainties are not the Christian's ordinary fare. A pining time may come. I will, therefore, highly prize and carefully store up such foretastes of divine joy against the hour of need. God forbid that I should lose this token for good, this broken ring, this pledge from heaven. This may

stand me in stead, in a dark and gloomy day, when the Lord may frown upon me as an enemy, and seem to put me from Him, as though He would forsake me. Then, with Job, will I say unto Him, Thou knowest that I am not wicked.' Lord, dost Thou deal so with wicked men, or reveal Thyself thus to men who know Thee not? Art Thou wont to stir up in the careless world such penitent bemoanings, such ardent breathings, and such vehement pantings after Thyself? And hast Thou ever given to unregenerate souls such familiar discoveries of Thy grace, as my heart hath many a time received? Are these Thy ways

with unsanctified men? Wilt Thou hold communion with those who were never united to Thee? Does not such communion presuppose a union? Either my experience is false and counterfeit, or I am Thine; for whom Thou lovest once, Thou lovest to the end. Though I am fickle and inconstant, Thou art the same, changeless in Thy love, as in Thy nature. I dare not say that all my sweet experiences were mere fictions, shadows, dreams. No. I humbly hope they were genuine evidences of Thy special love, arising from Thy word, and built upon it; yea, they carried their evidence along with them, and left such impressions on my soul as can never be forgotten or effaced. I can appeal to Thyself, O Lord, if

tokens have not come from Thee to me, such as Thou only couldst give, and none but a renewed heart could receive. And since Thou canst not deny Thy name, engraven on my heart, and sweetly sealed to me, I commit the matter wholly to Thee. Though now Thou seemest to carry strangely towards me, as if Thou hadst quite cast me off; yet Thou art my God still, my loving Father, my only Friend. I cannot part from Thee-I will not let Thee go. There was once love between us; and though now, in wisdom and faithfulness, Thou appearest to smother and restrain Thy love; yet I know, by the workings which I feel in my own breast towards Thee, that Thou hast the same heart which Thou wast wont to have. And, therefore, Lord, I hang upon Thee, and plead with David, 'Where are Thy former loving kindnesses which Thou swarest unto ine?"

Thus lay up your sweet experiences, and thus draw them forth in the black night of despondency and spiritual desertion. O when God deals graciously with you, neglect not the testimonies of His love, but garner them in the most sacred recesses of your heart, as mementoes from your Husband, Christ, to be your solace and joy during the dark and lonely hours in which you mourn His absence!

CHAPTER XIII.

COMFORTS TO BE LAID UP AS A TREASURE.

THE last description of treasure, with which a believer should store his heart, consists of the sweet and satisfying comforts of the Spirit. It is true that these are the immediate and sovereign effects of the sanctifying and sealing energy of Divine grace; yet, ordinarily, they are dropped from heaven into the believing soul, through the channel of duty and holy endeavor. The nearer we approach to the sun, the more light and heat we receive. Now the exercises of religion are the approximations of a soul to the Sun of Righteousness; and, therefore, it is good for us to draw nigh to God, that we may anchor and centre our souls upon Him, in whom only they can find rest. This present reward we may have from keeping His commandments. Grace and peace, holiness and comfort, usually go hand in hand. "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths. are peace." "Great peace have they that love Thy law, and nothing shall offend them." Every gracious act has some degree of comfort annexed to