Wesley Corpus

attained from what appears in outward exer cises of it. Not to insist on the pleasure which the man feels who loves his God, in manifesting love to his neighbour for God's sake, how does he re joice whenever he has an opportunity of pour ing out his heart before him ! How is his soul satisfied when his mouth praiseth him with joyful lips! How does it increase when he joins with the congregation of the faithful in prayer and thanksgiving ! He needeth not the exhor tation of man, nor even the command of his Creator, to drag him to the house of prayer : he needeth not be reminded that if he forbears assembling himself with the people of God, as the manner of most is, he casts himself out of the congregation of saints, he renounces the privileges of his baptism, casts himself out of the sanctuary, and excommunicates himself from the body of Christ. No, he is glad when they say unto him, " Let us go into the house of the Lord ;" but his joy overflows all bounds when, in the memory of him whom his soul loveth, he eateth the living bread which came down from heaven, and drinketh the cup of salvation. Lo, thus is the man blessed that feareth the Lord ! that beareth forth good seed ! these sheaves shall he bring home in this life, how ever he may now go on his way weeping. These are the first fruits which he shall re ceive even here, but the harvest is not yet : he as yet knows and loves his God only in part, therefore enjoys him in part only ; but the hour approaches when that which is in part shall be done away: yet a little while and he shall come again with fulness of joy to reap his entire harvest. Behold, " One standeth at the door" who will complete what he hath begun ; who shall ripen the seeds of grace into glory, and, instead of the dew of heaven which now refreshes his spirit, will give him rivers of pleasure for evermore ! Amen.