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ment, is subject to a corresponding relapse, and just as we looked forward to the ordinance with intense anxiety, so are we in danger of declining into subsequent indifference. Satan takes advantage of this infirmity of our nature, and the Christian can testify that it is after high spiritual enjoyments and privileges, the attacks of Satan are apt to be the most numerous, subtile, and trying. Compared with that season, he was left undisturbed at other times. Paul felt it to be so.-2 Cor. xii. 1-9. Besides, it is only by attending to our state of mind at that time, any good impressions that have been made can be expected to be permanent. It is then the counsel of Christ should be remembered, "abide in me." It is then the force of his prayer should be felt, "keep those whom thou hast given me. And as the communicant desires that he should be kept, he will exercise himself in the four following duties, prayer, self-examination, determination, and expectation.

1. Prayer. He should have recourse to it immediately, on withdrawing from the place of communion. Let him be situated as he may, he should find time and opportunity for prayer. Satan will cast many hindrances in his way; but as he is wise he will avoid them, and commit himself to God in an exercise of secret prayer. And he is not to be satisfied with the one exercise; the spirit and habit of prayer are to be diligently cherished and maintained.

2. Self-examination. This is a duty associated with the ordinance in all its bearings. It is needed before it, and it is as much needed after it. Its office, then, is specially to inquire into the carriage of the soul upon the holy mount, and to sit in impartial judgment upon its conduct. It is a duty also to see whether profit has been derived from the ordinance, that, if so, praise may be rendered to God, and that, if not, the cause may be ascertained, and avoided in future. This may be accounted strict and troublesome, yet the health of the soul requires it all; and he who neglects it entails barrenness upon his own heart and life.

3. Determination. By this is meant that he should seek to be confirmed in all the purposes of holy and devoted obedience, formed at the communion table. The communicant should call up what these were, refresh his mind with the reasons by which he was then engaged to form them, and call up every motive by which his purposes may be made steadfast. He should then, as it is a new stage of his journey, set out afresh on the Christian course, taking along with him such counsels as the following-"ye are not your own, for ye are bought

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with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are his.”

4. Expectation. The Lord's Supper shows forth the death of Christ till he come. It therefore carries the mind forward as well as backward-to the glory of his second coming as well as the humiliation of the first. The Christian needs all the encouragement and animation he can derive from such a prospect. And the Gospel is so constituted as to bring all the power of high expectation, and a glorious reward, to bear upon his life. He is encouraged to expect that God will favour him with continued opportunities, while he dwells on the earth, of holding communion with him in the ordinances of his grace, and that, when he is withdrawn from these, he will be admitted to the marriage-supper of the Lamb, where he shall go no more out, but dwell in the presence of God for ever. And then he falls into the attitude enjoined by Christ upon all his followers, "watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

TRUE HAPPINESS.

"THE kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant-man seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."-Matt. xiii. 45, 46.

In all the variety of human opinion which exists on almost every other point, there is one truth which is universally admitted, and that is, that every human being is in search of happiness. No matter what may be the object of pursuit, whether learning, pleasure, wealth, or fame, this is the end in view. Who will show us any good? is the language of every heart. All the powers of mind and body are concentrated upon this one object,—where shall I seek enjoyment? how shall I find happiness? Is it not therefore a matter of deep and universal interest to ascertain aright where this inestimable treasure is to be found. Shall we find it in the enjoyment of this life? No; every day's experience proclaims, in strong and convincing language, "I am not here." The things of time and sense may, certainly, give a momentary gratification, but the pleasure experienced from them is transitory and unsatisfying; and the very thought that, in a moment, our dearest earthly possessions may be taken from us, causes the heart-rending idea of separation to cross our

minds, and forces the solemn truth upon our attention, that in every situation there are trials and sorrows, mingled with the choicest earthly blessings. Sooner or later, every one is taught, by individual experience, that man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards. “For in the hand of the Lord, there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same" upon all the families of the earth. "The Lord hath set prosperity and adversity, the one against the other, to the end, that man might find nothing after him." We must, indeed, both from experience and observation, be fully persuaded that there is no perfect happiness to be found in any earthly thing-nothing capable of satisfying the desires of an immortal being, formed for a perfect state of existence above.

"For what is human life?

A painful passage o'er a resistless flood-
A vain pursuit of fugitive false good-

A scene of fancied bliss, and heart-felt care."

But though all this may be readily acknowledged, and at times even felt, from the various disappointments, which render this life a scene of constant disquietude and vexation to many; yet the natural man is so under the delusive expectation of happiness in this life, that he is still the "dupe of to-morrow," and, therefore, hopes that in some new scheme of worldly pleasure, the object of anxious pursuit may be found; but still the fair phantom eludes his grasp, and again he is convinced that whosoever drinketh of the water drawn from the wells which this world affords, "shall thirst again." The whole sum of earthly good, as one of old has well observed, is comprehended in those most emphatic words, "vanity and vexation of spirit." Yea, though we should use every power, of which we are possessed, as too many do for the purpose of self-gratification, and obtain for ourselves whatsoever our eyes desire, and withhold not our hearts from any joy; yet after all we shall be constrained to acknowledge," Behold, it was vanity, and vexation of spirit, and there is no profit under the sun."—Prov. ii. 11.

The merchant-man in the parable seeking goodly pearls, may be compared to a person in search of happiness. He first digs in the earth, hoping to find it there. Various pursuits and amusements are engaged in, but still vexations and disappointments follow. These may sometimes be trifling, it is true, but nevertheless, they are quite sufficient to prevent that perfect

enjoyment, which was sought for, and, consequently, the mind is left in an unsatisfied, restless state. You who are living to

the world, and have no higher source of happiness than that which it affords, who say to your soul, "Eat, drink, and be merry," cannot you bear testimony to the truth of this remark ? In the hours of your highest enjoyment, can you say you are really happy? No, you cannot: you feel that there is something still wanting to fill up the "aching void." What a blessing, in such a case, if the heart were really convinced that the things of this world are, indeed, "lying vanities," which glitter, and please for a moment, and then pass away, without yielding any solid peace or comfort; and if wearied by seeking happiness from the broken cisterns of earthly enjoyment and possession, they were led to see that true happiness is not to be found on earth, but in heaven. Sin has marred a fair creation; the world is at enmity with its Creator; and, therefore, if we would have real peace, we must set our affections on things above, not on things of this earth.

Jesus Christ is "the pearl of great price;" and most truly blessed are those who, finding no real happiness in earthly things, are led to search the Scriptures for this inestimable jewel. When the soul is convinced of its miserable, lost estate by nature; and when the curse of a broken law is sounding in our ears, (the soul that sinneth it shall die,) then to hear the "glad tidings" of the Gospel-to have Jesus revealed to the heart by the Holy Spirit, as a Saviour, "able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him”—to behold him by faith as "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world"-to know that in him we have a complete salvation, and are made partakers of "all things that pertain to life and godliness”—and that through him we have the hope of glory, which is as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast-an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away-must not all this when really felt bring peace and joy to the soul? The person who has found Jesus, and experiences through faith in him the blessings of salvation, has indeed found the pearl of great price, and can then say—

"Now my search is at an end-
Now my wishes rove no more;
Thus my moments I would spend-
Love, and wonder, and adore.",

Have we found this precious Saviour? We are all, no doubt, seeking for happiness, but are we seeking for Jesus as the true and only source of happiness? Jesus says, "If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink." "Riches and honour are with me, yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver." Prov. viii. 18, 19. If Satan tells you that lasting peace and happiness are to be found in the world, believe him not. If you seek it there, you will be seeking the living among the dead. Be not thus deceived. Seek the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit, that you may, first be led to know yourselves as poor perishing sinners, and then to see and know Jesus as an almighty Saviour; and this knowledge will bring peace and comfort to your souls, which before you had sought for in vain in earthly things. You will then be in possession of that "godliness which has the promise of the life that now is, and also that which is to come ;" and then, like the merchant-man in the parable, who having found the pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it, you will cheerfully renounce all former dependencies and vain hopes of worldly happiness, and rejoice in having found this heavenly treasure.

The knowledge of Jesus is unspeakably precious to the believing soul."Unto you, therefore, who believe, he is precious." The pursuits and amusements which we formerly followed with eagerness and delight, no longer afford pleasure; all hopes, also, of obtaining eternal happiness by our own works is also found to be vain and delusive. 66 They that are Christ's have crucified the FLESH (in every sense) with the affections and lusts." The sincere believer in Jesus takes up his cross daily and follows the Lord whithersoever he goeth. He knows that he must not only give up all old sinful ways, but that he must love Christ supremely, and therefore walk in the new and narrow path of self-denial. He will from henceforth feel that he is" bought with a price," and therefore no longer his own, but bound to devote himself and all that he possesses to the service of Him who died for him, and rose again to "glorify God with his body and spirit which are His."

"He goeth and selleth all that he hath," &c. The Apostle in speaking of the world, its reputation, honours, and other advantages, which had formerly been his gain and confidence, says, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all

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