We can never thrive except we seek God in secret; and if we begin in our closets we shall not end there, we shall also seek and find Him in the assemblies of the saints. It is one of the blessed fruits of the habit of walking with God, that the soul knows what to do when it has displeased God. "A wounded spirit who can bear?" Yet, even that burden God can enable us to cast upon Him. When Abraham first set foot on his pilgrimage, he knew not what meetings with God were laid up for him: he ventured on the bidding and promise of God, and his mercies multiplied on him as he advanced. Whenever we are living _before man_ instead of walking _before God_, there will be restlessness and disquietude. It is impossible for God to meet His saints in the way of fellowship, except in the path of obedience. When they are out of that path, He meets them with correction, in order to bring them into fellowship with Himself. If we see the least trace of the mind of Christ in any one, we should remember that in such the heart of God delights. Carelessness about the friendship of Christ is the crying sin of the church. When we say, "Lord, bring us near to Thyself," we pray for many things, which, when they come, will be bitter to our taste. At such times it is well to remember our Forerunner: He asked to be glorified; but before heaven was opened to Him and He received therein, He had to pass through the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross to cry, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" It ought to be a grievous thing to us to have a wish, however slight, contrary to the mind of Christ. As soon as it is our _settled purpose_ to please Christ, He takes us for His bosom friends. The more we have of Christ in our hearts, the less room for self. How sweetly, how pleasantly, may a Christian beguile his way to glory, by casting all his burden of sin and care upon Jesus, and walking in love and fellowship with Him all the day long! He who casts his burdens upon the Lord walks lightly and happily, as one who has no burden at all. Communion with Christ can only be kept up by constant watchfulness. Where there is much love between friends, a cold look is matter of complaint. Let us be very jealous over ourselves for the Lord; watching against the least shyness between the soul and Christ. Keep up constant intercourse with Him; be quick and dexterous in taking small matters to Him; and the fruit will be growth of communion. Though in a season of temptation we may see nothing in ourselves but what is vile and hateful, our very struggles of love after Christ betoken His Spirit dwelling within us. If we would have experience of the sympathy of the Lord Jesus, we must be much at His cross, and be much occupied with the sorrows of others.