To be near unto God - pagina 11

He who has not learned this secret may say with his lips: It is good for me to hold me fast by God (Ps. 73:27 Prayer-Book version), but he can not grasp it. So he passes it by as though it meant in general a pious frame of mind apart from feeling the burning within of the spark of true personal love. He worships God, he prays for grace, but has no genuine love. But "To Be Near Unto God" means such nearness to God as his to see him with the eyes, to be aware of presence in the heart, to hear him with the ear, and to have every barrier removed that thus far kept him aloof. ''To Be Near Unto God" means to be near him in one of two ways: either to feel as though we were caught up into heaven, or as though God had come down to us in our lone-j The very word "near" liness, sorrow or joy. implies that there is much that separates us from God, and makes us solitary. When God is far away from us and we from him, it makes us It also implies that we are not condesolate. tented; that we can not endure it; that our whole heart goes out after him, and will not rest antil the last barrier is removed. For only when God is near unto us and we are near unto him is there blessedness again, which nothing can exit is unspeakably good "To Be Near Unto God." This exceeding blessedness can only

ceed, since

be enjoyed at rare moments here, but in the For in the Father's life to come it shall endure.

house above, and forever.

we

shall

be near unto God forever

The world ruthlessly crosses our efforts along Though it was not right, and never can be, we understand what went on in the heart of those who sought escape from the world, in cell or hermitage, for the sake of unbroken fellow-

this line.

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