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spiritual Pisgahs and Tabors into which God sometimes calls up his servants that he may show them his glory. It will not harm us to listen to the favored few who have been summoned up thither, though we may have to discourage others from attempting to scale such heights. That sublime experience of the apostle Paul, when he was so entranced that he knew not "whether in the body or out of the body," and when he "heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful to utter,' was not an attainment, but a rapture. He evidently did not climb to it, but was lifted to it, by a sovereign and gracious act of the Lord. He was "caught up to the third heaven," he did not go up; and from this eminent height he could stretch out no beckoning hand to his brethren below. But even these anomalous experiences have their lesson, especially to an age which is so inclined to discredit all supernatural intervention. To those who are blind and cannot see afar off, they open glimpses of the glory to be revealed, which may at least give a momentary uplift to the eyes that are cast down.

John Flavel was by temperament and habit as remote from enthusiasm as President Edwards.

But here is a passage which he gives from the experience of "a minister," well understood to have been himself. He was alone on a journey, his mind greatly occupied with self-examination and prayer. He thus describes what befell him :

"In all that day's journey he neither met, overtook or was overtaken by any. Thus going on his way, his thoughts began to swell and rise higher and higher, like the waters in Ezekiel's vision, till at last they became an overwhelming flood. Such was the intention of his mind, such the ravishing tastes of heavenly joys, and such the full assurance of his interest therein, that he utterly lost the sight and sense of this world, and all the concerns thereof; and for some hours he knew no more where he was than if he had been in a deep sleep upon his bed." Arriving in great exhaustion at a certain spring, “he sat down and washed, earnestly desiring if it was God's pleasure that this might be his part ing-place from this world. Death had the most amiable face in his eye that ever he beheld, except the face of Jesus Christ, which made it so; and he does not remember, though he believed himself dying, that he ever thought of his dear wife or children or any earthly concernment. On reaching his inn, the influence still continued, banishing sleep. Still, still the joy of the Lord overflowed him, and he seemed to be an inhabitant of

the other world. But within a few hours he was sensible of the ebbing of the tide, and before night, though there was a heavenly serenity and sweet peace upon his spirit, which continued long with him, yet the transports of joy were over, and the fine edge of his delight bluntHe many years after called that day one of the days of heaven, and professed he understood more of the life of heaven by it than by all the books he ever read, or discourses he ever entertained about it.” *

ed.

Not less exalted is an experience of Pascal, which he describes in a paper which he long carried about his person. Dr. Alexander calls it "one of the most seraphic productions of human language." Indeed the visitation described seems to have been so unutterable as to defy full expression. It is joy and rapture breaking through the bounds of speech and expressing itself in tears. So resistless is the tide of love and ecstacy that he can only describe it in such broken phrases as, joy-joy-tears- tears; "joie — joie — pleurs ! pleurs !"

But these illustrations are sufficient to set before us the exalted possibilities of communion with the Lord. The degree of our joy and fellowship will

• Flavel's Works, Vol. I, p. 501.

vary; but whatever the degree let us be assured, that such intimate contact with the Lord is of priceless value. Communion with the Sinless One is the only sure method of excommunicating sin. Gazing into the face of Christ, and beholding the light of the knowledge of the glory of God which shines there, will surely disenchant our hearts from worldly objects. "Ephraim shall say, what have I to do any more with idols? I have heard Him and observed Him."* Dannecker, the German sculptor, spent eight years in producing a face of Christ; and at last wrought out one in which the emotions of love and sorrow were so perfectly blended that beholders wept as they looked upon it. Subsequently being solicited to employ his great talent on a statue of Venus, he replied, "After gazing so long into the face of Christ, think you that I can now turn my attention to a heathen goddess?" Here is the true secret of weanedness from worldly idols, "the expulsive power of a new affection."

"I have heard the voice of Jesus,

Tell me not of aught beside;

I have seen the face of Jesus,
All my soul is satisfied."

• Hosea : 6.

Separation from the world, and separation unto Christ, and unto the goodly fellowship of all saints in all ages who are in Christ, this is the fruit of true communion.

"O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; grant us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."