they shall hear a voice saying to them, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isa. xxx. 21).

5. It helps to make a journey pleasant to be under a good guard or convoy, that one may travel safely. Our way lies through an enemy's country, and they are active, subtle enemies; the road is infested with robbers, that lie in wait to spoil and to destroy; we travel by the lions' dens, and the mountains of the leopards; and our danger is the greater, that it ariseth not from "flesh and blood, but spiritual wickednesses" (1 Pet. v. 8). Satan, by the world and the flesh, waylays us, and seeks to devour us; so that we could not with any pleasure go on our way if God Himself had not taken us under His special protection.

The same Spirit that is a guide to these travellers, is their guard also; for whoever are "sanctified by the Holy Ghost,” are by Him "preserved in Jesus Christ" (Jude 1), "preserved blameless," and shall be "preserved to the heavenly kingdom" (2 Tim. iv. 18), so as that they shall not be robbed of their graces and comforts, which are their evidences for, and earnests of eternal life; they are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation" (1 Pet. i. 5), and therefore may go on cheerfully.

The promises of God are a writ of protection to all Christ's good subjects in their travels, and give them such a holy security, as lays a foundation for a constant serenity. Eternal truth itself hath assured them that "no evil shall befall them " (Ps. xci. 10)-nothing really and destructively evil, no evil but what God will bring good to them out of; God Himself hath engaged to be their keeper, and to preserve their going out and coming in, from henceforth and for ever, which looks as far forwards as eternity itself. And by such promises as these, and that grace which is conveyed through them to all active believers, God carries them as upon eagles' wings to bring them to Himself (Deut. xxxii. 11).

66

Good angels are appointed for a guard to all that walk in wisdom's ways, to bear them in their arms where they go" (Ps. xci. 11), and to "pitch their tents round about them where they rest" (Ps. xxxiv. 7), and so to keep them in all their ways. How easy may they be who are thus guarded, and how well pleased under all events, as Jacob was, who "went on his way, and the angels of God met him!" (Gen. xxxii. 1).

6. It helps to make a journey pleasant to have the way tracked by those that have gone before in the same road, and on the same errand. Untrodden paths are unpleasant ones; but, in the way of religion, we are both directed and encouraged by the good examples of those that have chosen the way of truth before us, and have walked in it. We are bidden to follow them who are now, "through faith and patience" (those travelling graces of a Christian), "inheriting the promises" (Heb. vi. 12).

It is pleasant to think that we are walking in the same way with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with whom we hope shortly to sit down in the kingdom of God. How many holy, wise, good men, have governed themselves by the same rules that we govern ourselves by, with the same views, have lived by the same faith that we live by, looking for the same blessed hope, and have by it "obtained a good report!" (Heb. xi. 2). "And we go forth by the footsteps of the flock" (Cant. i. 8).

Let us therefore, to make our way easy and pleasant, take the prophets for an example (James v. 10); "and being compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses," that, like the cloud in the wilderness that went before Israel, not only to shew them the way, but to smooth it for them, "let us run with patience and cheerfulness the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus," the most encouraging pattern of all, who has "left us an example, that we should follow his steps" (Heb. xii. 1). And what more pleasant than to follow such a leader, whose word of command is, Follow me!

7. It helps to make a journey pleasant to have good company. This deceives the time, and takes off the tediousness of a journey as much as anything: Amicus pro vehiculo. It is the comfort of those who walk in wisdom's ways, that, though there are but few walking in those ways, yet there are some, and those the wisest and best, and more excellent than their neighbours; and it will be found there are more ready to say, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you" (Zech. viii. 23).

The communion of saints contributes much to the pleasantness of wisdom's ways; we have many fellow-travellers that quicken one another by the fellowship they have "one with another, as companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ" (Rev. i. 9). It was a pleasure to them who were going up to Jerusalem to worship, that their number was increased in every town they came to; and so they "went from strength to strength," they grew more and more numerous, "till every one of them in Zion appeared before God" (Ps. lxxxiv. 7). And so it is with God's spiritual Israel, to which we have the pleasure of seeing daily additions of such as shall be saved.

They that travel together make one another pleasant by familiar converse; and it is the will of God that His people should by that means encourage one another, and strengthen one another's hands. "They that fear the Lord speak often one to another" (Mal. iii. 16), exhort one another daily, and communicate their experiences; and it will add much to the pleasure of this to consider the kind notice God is pleased to take of it. He "hearkens and hears, and a book of remembrance is written for those that fear the Lord, and think on His name."

8. It helps to make a journey pleasant to have the way lie through green pastures and by still waters; and so the ways of wisdom do. David speaks his experience herein (Ps. xxiii,

2), that he was led into the " green pastures," the verdure whereof was grateful to the eye, and by the "still waters," whose soft and gentle murmurs were music to the ear. And

he was not driven through these, but made to lie down in the midst of these delights, as Israel, when they encamped at Elim, where there were "twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees" (Ex. xv. 27).

Gospel ordinances-in which we deal much in our way to heaven-are very agreeable to all the children of God, as these green pastures and still waters; they call the Sabbath a delight, and prayer a delight, and the Word of God a delight. These are "their pleasant things" (Isa. lxiv. 11). There "is a river" of comfort in gospel ordinances, "the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High" (Ps. xlvi. 4); and along the banks of this river their road lies.

Those that turn aside from the ways of God's commandments are upbraided with the folly of it, as leaving a pleasant road for an unpleasant one. Will a man, a traveller, be such a fool as to "leave my fields, which are smooth and even, for a rock that is rugged and dangerous, or for the snowy mountains of Lebanon?" (Jer. xviii. 14, marg.) "Shall the running waters be forsaken for the strange cold waters ?" Thus are men enemies to themselves, and the foolishness of man perverteth his way.

9. It adds to the pleasure of a journey to have it fair overhead. Wet and stormy weather takes off very much of the pleasure of a journey; but it is pleasant travelling when the sky is clear, and the air calm and serene. And this is the happiness of them that walk in wisdom's ways, that all is clear between them and heaven. There are no clouds of guilt to interpose between them and the Sun of righteousness, and to intercept His refreshing beams; no storms of wrath gathering, that threaten them.

ACCOMMODATIONS BY THE WAY,

285

Our reconciliation to God, and acceptance with Him, makes every thing pleasant. How can we be melancholy, if Heaven. smile upon us? "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God" (Rom. v. 1, 2), and peace from God, peace made for us, and peace spoken to us; and then we rejoice in tribulation. Those travellers cannot but rejoice all the day, who “walk in the light of God's countenance" (Ps. lxxxix. 15).

10. It adds likewise to the pleasure of a journey to be furnished with all needful accommodations for travelling. They that walk in the way of God have wherewithal to bear their charges, and it is promised them that they shall "want no good thing" (Ps. xxxiv. 10). If they have not an abundance of the wealth of this world, which perhaps will but overload a traveller, and be an incumbrance rather than any furtherance, yet they have good bills; having access by prayer to the throne of grace, wherever they are, and a promise that they shall receive what they ask; access by faith to the covenant of grace, which they may draw upon, and draw from an inexhaustible treasury. "Jehovah-jireh, The Lord will provide."

Christ, our Melchizedek, "brings forth bread and wine," as Gen. xiv. 18, for the refreshment of the poor travellers, that they may not "faint by the way." When Elijah had a long journey to go, he was victualled accordingly (1 Kings xix. 8). God will give "grace sufficient" to His people for all their exercises (2 Cor. xii. 9). "Strength according to the day." "Verily they shall be fed." And, since travellers must have baiting-places and resting-places, Christ has provided "rest at noon" (Cant. i. 7), in the heat of the day, for those that are His; and rest at night too: "Return to thy rest, O my soul."

11. It adds something to the pleasure of a journey to sing in the way. This takes off something of the fatigue of travelling, exhilarates the spirits. Pilgrims used it; and God has put a song, a new song, in the mouths" of his people