neither thirst any more; where the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and lead them to living fountains of water. What sights have they of our glorious King! How do they look and wonder, look and love, look and adore ! O! if we could but catch a note or two of their songs, to enliven our cold praises! Christians, Christ's heart is as much set upon having you with him as ever yours can be. "Father, I will that those also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." And can we think that he, who is so desirous of showing you the full blaze of his glory in heaven, will be backward to give you some little glimpses of it here? We must blame ourselves for our uncomfortable sacraments. Let Christ be more in our thoughts at other times; let us forget every thing for Christ; let the remembrance of his love be better to us than wine; and, in a little time, we shall no longer need those ordinances to remember him by, for we shall be with him where he is, and see him as he is; and sit with him on the throne of his glory; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. MEDITATION XII. [ April 2, 1797.] GEN. XLI 55. GO UNTO JOSEPH "Go unto Joseph," said Pharaoh to the famishing Egyptians, when they cried to him for bread; "Go unto Joseph; and what he saith unto you, do." We are now in somewhat like the same situation; perishing with hunger, and ordinary supplies failing. "There's nothing round this spacious earth, That suits our large desires." Should the tempter take us up into an exceeding high mountain, and show us all the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of them, and say, "All this will I give thee;" and should he put us in actual possession of as much of this world's treasures as we could grasp, still our souls would remain empty and unsatisfied. It is bread, the Bread of life we want. Nothing but spiritual blessings will suit the cravings of our immortal souls: the pardon of sin, L assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and foretastes of glory. These are things which the world cannot give; these are joys which the world knows not of. One might as well expect to gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles, as spiritual blessings from the world. They are among those good and perfect gifts, which come down from above, from the Father of lights. We have been told that the King of Israel is a merciful King, and the proclamation now published is a proof of it. It was mercy that dictated those seasonable precious words, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Encouraged by thy word of promise to the poor, Can help and pity wants like mine. "Go to Jesus," says the Father of mercies; “it is my pleasure that in him should all fulness dwell. I have made him my Treasurer, my Almoner; apply to him for what you want; and of his fulness you may receive, and grace for grace." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift! He could not have sent us to one whom we would more willingly go to; and from him we have the greatest encouragement to hope for immediate and effectual relief. For he is not ashamed to call us brethren. a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He is We have not only his compassion, but his promise to embolden us. Here is his own word: Engraved as in eternal brass, The mighty promise shines; Nor can the powers of darkness raze Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Ah! blessed Lord, we have no joy at all, but what we have from thee; and it is our own fault that we have not more. We have not, because we ask not. What a privilege, that want what we will, we may ask for it; and what a comfort, that ask what we will, it shall be done unto us. So said He who is able to make it good, and has often made it good. How often, from this table, has He satisfied you as with marrow and fatness! How often have you sat under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit has been sweet unto your taste! And yet our joy is far from full. Alas! who that sees our gloomy countenances and sorrowful hearts, our weak withering graces, would believe that he had ever brought us to his banqueting house? that he had ever filled us with good things, or that he himself was so rich or so ready to communicate as he has been represented? Such a disgrace are we to a full and allfilling Jesus; and such is the imperfection of the present state, that the supplies we receive to-day will not suffice to-morrow. We must be daily fed, or we presently droop and die. But, christians, let not your hearts be troubled: unless desire fail, unless you cease to ask, you need not be afraid of want; for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. The Egyptians, when they received the first supply of corn from Joseph, might flatter themselves that it would last till harvest, and provisions were become plentiful again. But they were mistaken the harvest did not come at all that year, nor the next, nor till seven years after; and they were obliged to come again and again to Joseph; and if he had not had notice of it from Heaven, and provided accordingly, when the people came to him the second time, he would have been obliged to send them away with this answer, "I have no more corn for you: I did not expect the famine would have continued so long, and my stores are all exhausted." At the hearing of this, nothing would have been heard among them but lamentation and bitter mourning, for nothing could be expected but that they must all be starved. The prudence, and I may say the more than human foresight of Joseph, had prevented things from coming to this dreadful extremity. And yet the granaries of Egypt, though so well filled, what were they to those immense treasures which are laid up by, or rather in our gospel Joseph! Though |