Religion Pleasant.

Back to Divine Breathings!

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I formerly thought that the spirit of a Christian was a melancholy spirit; and the ways of holiness are unpleasant paths, leading to a state of gloomy solitude. But now I see that they have hidden manna, which the world knows not of; and glorious joys, with which strangers do not meddle; and the more closely and exactly they walk—the fuller and sweeter are their joys!

Formerly the thoughts of parting with my pleasures and delights, in order to embrace self-denying duties, were painful to me; but now, I bless God, I can say with Augustine, "O how sweet it is—to lack my former sweetness!" It is now my rejoicing—to be without my former joys; for now I see there is 'a heaven'—in the way to heaven; and that one look of faith, one smile of Christ, one glance of heaven, one grape of Canaan, one glimpse of my crown of glory—yields more sweetness, comfort, and contentment than all the pleasures the world affords! The very gleanings of spiritual joy—is better than the vintage of carnal delights.