Sunday Evening. [After receiving the communion.] Meditation. Canticles, ii. 3, 4. "I sat under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste; he brought me to the banqueting-house and his banner over me was love." HAPPY for me, if these words express what has been the experience of my soul this day! Happy for me, if the Lord's house has been a banqueting-house to me--if I have felt comfort and delight in that holy ordinance! I have tried the world's banquetinghouse, and found its joys unsatisfying; and its sweetest comforts have left a bit ter taste behind them. But, thank God, He has led me to see where true happiness is to be found. Christ is my portion now. It is sweet to sit under His shadow day by day. Sweet are the moments I spend under His cross. But sweeter still are those hallowed seasons, when I enjoy communion with Him at His table; for then especially am I permitted to feed on Him in my heart by faith. But perhaps I have not felt to-day that full enjoyment which I expected. I have not experienced such unmistakable marks of my Saviour's nearness as I looked for. But still, have I not got some blessing? I shall be wrong if I place too much dependence on my frames and feelings. I must not desire a sign from heaven, as the Jews did. This would be tempting Christ. Let me rejoice in having had this opportunity of approaching Him; and let me be thankful if He was in any measure with me in this ordinance. Still, might I not have had more enjoyment in this feast? Surely I might; but the fault is in myself. It is not that my Lord is backward to give; but that I am backward to receive. There is fruit enough on that tree of life; but my hands are too weak, and my faith too feeble, to gather it. Yet, blessed be His name, He has not sent me altogether empty away. I have not drawn near to Him without obtaining some benefit. My soul has been nourished, strengthened, refreshed. Oh, that I may ever abide under His shadow, and feed on Him more constantly. Soon will this poor feeble service of mine be exchanged for a better and a purer service. Then I shall be ushered into my Lord's banqueting-house above. Think, O my soul, of that happy day, |