CHAPTER V.

COMMUNION WITH CHRIST.

"Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge."-Ver. 16.

WHENEVER the imagination has been interested and the emotions excited, the next question to be asked, is, "What must I do?" For it is a well-known truth in the philosophy of our nature, that the emotions are designed to lead to corresponding actions, and that when an emotion is allowed to subside without being followed out into action, a wrong is done to our moral feelings which must tell with effect upon the character and conduct. I can well conceive the case of some youthful reader, who has gone heart and soul with me thus far, who has mourned over the departure of Orpah and glowed with admiration at the fervent enthusiasm of Ruth; whose imagination has fired at the

thought of loving Jesus as Ruth loved Naomi, and following him whithersoever he leads the way, in the path of faith and duty,. as the simple-hearted Moabitish damsel accompanied her mother-in-law to the land of Israel. This is presenting religion under an inviting aspect, and in this form it may be welcomed and embraced, and the soul may deem its choice made, and its salvation secured. But Agrippa did thus much when he cried out in a transport to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Pliable did thus much when, ravished with Christian's description of the heavenly, country, he set out with him on pilgrimage, but no sooner did he experience the first practical inconveniences of the way than he turned back. If, then, I have so far succeeded as to captivate the imagination of my reader and engage her affections in the service of her God and Saviour, my next point is to lead her to ask, "What must I really do that my experience may be the counterpart of Ruth's? How can I be as faithful to my Lord and Saviour as she was to Naomi ?"

1. The first point is to settle it in your

mind that THERE IS NEITHER HAPPINESS NOR SAFETY TO BE FOUND IN MOAB. The truth of this is depicted in awful colours in the 48th chapter of Jeremiah. Of all the enemies of Israel, none did them more serious or lasting injury than Moab-not by the force of his arms but by the contagion of his example. He brought to bear upon them all the temptations of "the world, the flesh, and the devil," and, therefore, is a more apt illustration of the enemies that the Christian has to encounter. "Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees; therefore his taste remained in him and his scent is not changed." Awful description of the state of those who, having been born in sin and brought up children of this world, have undergone no saving change, have felt no salutary disquietude, have been at ease from their youth," and love the rest of this world too well to wish to be disturbed from it. Settle it then, say again, in your mind, THAT THERE IS

I

the

Compare Numb. xxii. 6, 7, and xxxi. 16, with

Jer. xlviii. 11.

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NEITHER HAPPINESS NOR SAFETY TO BE FOUND

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IN MOAB-in that state of carnal security in which the soul whispers to herself," I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart." There is no falsehood that Satan is more ready to suggest or the human heart more willing to believe, than that, after all, happiness is to be found in enjoying the world in the spirit of the world. But is the Bible the Word of the living God, or is it not? If you believe that it is, then listen to its testimony. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."2 God forbids the love of the world, as a father forbids what is hurtful to his children, because it is incompatible with the love of himself. And he stands forth, as it were, on the threshold of

1 Deut. xxix. 19.

21 John ii. 15-17.

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heaven, and says to the deluded children of men, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a FATHER unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

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But hear the testimony of those who have taken him at his word-Abraham and the Patriarchs, Moses the adopted child of royalty, the prophet Habakkuk,^ David on his throne, who declared, "I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad;" "The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me than thousands of gold and silver; and David's son, who was permitted to taste to the full all the enjoyments which this world can give, that he might write "VANITY" upon them all." And what is his testimony to the happiness that is to be found in the enjoyment of religion? "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Do, dear young

12 Cor. vi. 17, 18.

3 Heb. xi. 25-27.

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5 Psalm cxix. 72, 96.

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2 Heb. xi. 13-16.

Chap. iii, 17, 18.

6 Eccles. i. 2, 8, 17; ii. 2,

11, 26; iii. 19; v. 10; and xi. 9, 10. 7 Prov. iii. 17.