Page:Evening walk, with suitable reflections.pdf/13

 caſt from his preſence, that is, from the Comforts of it, or of feeling it only in its Terrors? How pathetick is that Expoſtulation of Job, when, for the Tryal of his Patience,he was made to look upon himſelf in this deplorable Condition! Why haſt thou ſet me as a Mark againſt thee, ſo that I am become a Burthen to myſelf? But, Thirdly, how happy is the Condition of that intellectual Being, who is ſenſible of his maker's Preſence from the ſecret Effects of his Mercy and Loving-kindneſs.

The Bleſſed in Heaven behold him Face to Face; that is, are as ſenſible of his Preſence as we are of the Preſence of any Perſon whom we look upon with our eyes. There is doubtleſs a Faculty in Spirits, by which they apprehend one another, as our Senſes do material Objects; and there is no Queſtion but our Souls, when they are diſembodied, or placed in glorified Bodies, will by this Faculty, in whatever Part of Space they reſide, be always ſenſible of the Divine Preſence. We, who have this Veil of Fleſh ſtanding between us and the World of Spirits, must be content to know that the Spirit of God is preſent with us, by the Effects which he produceth in us. Our outward Senſes are too groſs to apprehend him; we may however taſte and ſee how gracious he is, by his Influence upon our Minds, by thoſe virtuous Thoughts which