SOURCE OF GENUINE PLEASURE. 203 ture that it would blast all their pleasures, and render their lives dark and dreary. The word of God, on the other hand, describes true religion as the only source of real comfort. It is the only remains of Paradise below. That holy Book declares, that "the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and that all her paths are peace." It also tells us of "joy and peace in believing;" of "rejoicing in God;" "rejoicing in the Lord always;" of "rejoicing" in Christ, "with joy unspeakable and full of glory;" of 'delighting" in "the Lord." The scriptures represent it as the Christian's portion to possess "a peace which passeth all understanding," "if sorrowful," to be " always rejoicing;" to "glory even in tribulation;" and even if "the fig-tree should not blossom, and there should be no fruit in the vine," if the "labour of the olive should fail, and the fields should yield no meat," if the "flocks should be cut off from the fold, and there should be no herd in the stall;" if, in short, famine and desolation were ravaging all around, still to "rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of his salvation." § 2. If, after this, you wish for human testimonies, to the comforts which true piety affords, you may have them in abundance. Not that you should ask the men of the world. This would be as absurd as to request a man born blind, to describe the beauties of a fine prospect. As he, who never saw, cannot tell what pleasures sight affords; as he who never heard, cannot describe the delights which music yields its admirers; no more can they, who never knew religion, tell you Prov. ii. 17. Rom. xv. 13. Rom. v. 2. Phil. iv. 4. 1 Peter, i. 8. 204 PLEASURES OF PIETY. what its pleasures are. But would you know whether religion is the best source of happiness, ask those who possess it in reality. How many such would tell you, they never knew what true delight was, till they found it in religion! How many such would unite their testimony with that of a young person, known to the writer, on the evening after her solemn admission into the church of Christ, "This has been a happy day to me; I hope I shall be faithful unto death, and then my last will be a happier!" § 3. True religion, though it forbids conformity to this world, and directs you to set your affections on the things above, yet forbids no lawful use of the innocent comforts of earth and time. It is true, it denies you the play-house, that hot-bed of vice, the licentious romance, the silly novel, and those scenes of worldly revelry, which a poor deceived world call happiness; yet these are not sources of real happiness, even to those who love them so well. On one occasion, when some of Colonel Gardiner's dissolute companions were congratulating him on his happiness in licentious dissipation, a dog happened to come into the room, and he could not forbear groaning inwardly, and saying to himself, "O that I were that dog!" Such was his happiness, and such is doubtless that of thousands more. Early piety would give you the best pleasures. Through the knowledge of Jesus you would have peace. Peace within. Conscience, that else must be a troublesome monitor, would become a delightful friend; while the Holy Spirit would witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. Peace with God is another source of true Rom. viii. 16. PEACE, AND COMMUNION WITH GOD. 205 delight, and this too would be yours; you might look on the Most High as a tender Father, and beloved friend, while to the careless sinner he is a dreadful foe. § 4. Early piety would open to you another fountain of real pleasure, by forming your heart for the enjoyment of delights, far, far superior to those of sense. In communion with God, in meditation on divine promises and love, the Christian has those pleasures which he would not exchange for all the pleasures of the world. Even his tears of penitential grief afford him more sincere delight, than they find in all their noisy mirth. The public, as well as the private services of religion, also yield true delight to those, who, partaking of renewing grace, are capable of relishing the sacred pleasure. Hear how one who knew these pleasures, could express his feelings, "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live; I will lift up my hands in thy name." Ps. lxxxiv. 1, 2, 4, 10. Ixiii. 1—4. 206 PLEASURES OF PIETY THE BEST § 5. In various other respects the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness. Is it pleasing to think of dangers escaped? early religion would give you this satisfaction. You might, with wonder and delight, reflect that God had snatched you from perdition, and that though once an heir of wrath, the danger were over, and you an heir of heaven. Is it pleasant to think of treasures obtained and friends possessed? This pleasure would be yours. You might read the long catalogue of the Christian's blessings, and say of each, "This is mine. This promise is made to me." You might look upwards to the abodes of bliss, and exclaim, "There dwells the ever-blesseď Jehovah, and he is my God. There is the adored Immanuel, and he is my Saviour. Those bright abodes, which lie far beyond the reach of mortal sight, are my future home. The stars that adorn that spangled firmament, 'Are glittering dust beneath the feet Of those who dwell with God.'" In health and prosperity you might say, "God gives me much here, but how much more have I hereafter; how much better are my treasures there!" Or in poverty, sickness, and pain, you might smile and say, 'My all is not laid here." Sweet is it for a seaman, that has escaped the storm, fixed on a rock, to smile on the waves that are beating beneath; but O, it is far more sweet to smile at all the terrors of time, as vanquished enemies and baffled foes! Who should be so happy as they, who have a humble confidence that eternal happiness is theirs? Who should enjoy such peace as they who can look at death without fear, and view it as the path that leads their souls to God, to Jesus, to heaven; to glory, BLESSINGS, AND THE BRIGHTEST HOPES. 207 endless as that of their Creator; and to happiness more real than sorrows are below! Who should possess such solid comforts, as they who can turn their eyes to the grave, and dread not the prospect of lying there; who can raise their thoughts to the starry heavens, and rapturously consider, that they shall outlive these glorious fires, and shine, adorned with brighter glories, when stars and sun shall shine no more! Who should be so happy as they, who can contemplate without dread, that solemn period, when the world shall burn; the trumpet sound; the Judge descend; the dead awake; and happiness or misery inexpressible, unchangeable, and eternal, become the lot of every human being! Go and look into an open grave, try to fancy it opened for you, and see whether you can imagine this with peace and composure. If y f you cannot, learn that all your delights do not make you happy, for into the dreaded grave you must ere long descend; and thousands possessed of the blessings of humble piety, have trodden that gloomy path with satisfaction; and desired to depart and be with Christ. 'Is it pleasant thus to look forward, with sweet anticipation, to future scenes of happiness? This source of pleasure would become yours, if a possessor of early piety. Is it pleasant to have a friend ready to welcome us when a long journey is ended? Jesus is the young Christian's friend, he waits on the distant shore of heaven. In their passage through the river of death he will uphold his humble friends; and welcome them to glory on their arrival there. The Christian too, indulges the pleasing hope of reunion there, with the pious friends he has loved below. |