Happy for us, if this were our address to the Lord in every enterprise; how many distresses and difficulties should we avoid! how much more peaceful and comfortable should we be in our journey through life.
It is a blessed thing to have an especial eye to God's presence as well as to his providence. The Lord may permit his children to succeed in their schemes and undertakings, in the course of his providence, when he doth not accompany their souls with his favor and presence. Yea, believer, canst thou not see in many of thy ways wherein thou hast been permitted to go, that they have proved the very means of losing the sweet sense of thy Lord's presence? Whatever outward profit or pleasure thou hast gained, verily thou must confess thou hast sustained an inward loss.
How doth it behove every disciple of Jesus to "consider his ways!" It is our wisdom daily to reflect: What is the tendency of my present pursuit? what is my chief aim? what can I expect from the end of it? am I going to gratify the flesh, in pleasing diversions, in carnal delights? Stop one moment. Consider. Canst thou expect the presence of thy God? Canst thou lift up thy believing heart in prayer to Jesus to accompany thee? Certainly, if it is not right to ask or expect his spiritual presence to go with thy soul, surely there ]t is unlawful for thee to go. If thou canst not pray in faith, canst thou go in faith? O remember the love of thy Saviour, who died to redeem thee from this present evil world. Call to mind those joys and pleasures which are experienced from a sweet sense of his love and presence. Think now cutting to thy heart, how grieving to thy spirit, if, under any vain indulgence, thy Saviour should put this question, Disciple, "lovest thou me more than these" vanities? Better for Peter to have been in his Lord's presence with a cold body, than warming himself with the high priest's officers and servants; for there he was blown down by the breath of a damsel. Let his fall warn thee of thy danger.
It is related of Satan, who had taken possession and greatly terrified and distressed the soul of a christian, that on his being asked how he dared to enter into a child of God? he replied, "I found her on my own ground, at the play-house; therefore I challenge her as my servant." Whether the story be true or not, the moral is good. Christians have no business on the devil's ground. "Be thou an example of believers." 1 Tim. 4:12.
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