Re: M`I 5`Persec ution . their methods a nd tact ics

all the pains and trouble they have gone through in seeking
salvation; and how far it exceeds all earthly pleasures. Some express
much of the sense which these spiritual views give them of the vanity of
earthly enjoyments, how mean and worthless all these things appear to
them.

Many, while their minds have been filled with spiritual delights, have
as it were forgot their food; their bodily appetite has failed, while
their minds have been entertained with meat to eat that others knew not
of. The light and comfort which some of them enjoy, give a new relish to
their common blessings, and cause all things about them to appear as it
were beautiful, sweet, and pleasant. All things abroad, the sun, moon,
and stars, the clouds and sky, the heavens and earth, appear as it were
with a divine glory and sweetness upon them. Though this joy includes in
it a delightful sense of the safety of their own state, yet frequently,
in times of their highest spiritual entertainment, this seems not to be
the chief object of their fixed thought and meditation. The supreme
attention of their minds is to the glorious excellencies of God and
Christ; and there is very often a ravishing sense of God's love
accompanying a sense of His excellency. They rejoice in a sense of the
faithfulness of God's promises, as they respect the future eternal
enjoyment of Him.

The unparalleled joy that many of them speak of, is what they find when
they are lowest in the dust, emptied most of themselves, and as it were
annihilating themselves before God; when they are nothing, and God is
all; seeing their own unworthiness, depending not at all on themselves,
but alone on Christ, and ascribing all glory to God. Then their souls
are most in the enjoyment of satisfying rest; excepting that, at such
times, they apprehend themselves to be not sufficiently self-abased; for
then above all times do they long to be lower.