As I get on I feel it is a more natural thing to belong to God: to be out of it an unnatural state. This has made me happy, and given a peaceful character to my spiritual feelings. Sovereign grace has put us, in the second Adam, in this relationship; but to be in relationship in peace is the only normal state. And that is peace, but then it makes one so much the more feel that the world is a wholly outside thing, a sorrowful scene of minds, souls, actively in confusion. Yet even we have to be athirst for God; if we have seen Him in the sanctuary, not only we long for our Father's house, but love the ways there, though they pass through the vale of tears-but athirst for God; and in this we are satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and praise while we live, because we have His favor, which is better than life. The Lord keep us both patiently and fervently near Himself, drawing from that source of blessing and truth. 456