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Here was a man who lived with an abiding sense of the Divine nearness. To him God was not an occasional visitor, but an abiding guest. "I am continually with Thee." Now, is this a common experience with religious people? I fear not. "Lo, I am with you always," said Jesus, and if we do not realize His presence the fault must be our own. Well, now, let us see what effect this abiding consciousness of God would have upon our daily life and experience.

I. OUR LIFE WOULD BE MUCH HOLIER. It is related that a certain shoemaker kept by his side a portrait of that famous Brighton preacher, the Rev. F.W. Robertson, and that whenever he was tempted to do anything wrong he took a look at the portrait, the very sight of which made it practically impossible for him to yield. Now, if the sight of that good man's portrait could have such a restraining effect upon that shoemaker, what would be the effect upon your life and mine did we daily live with the holy God before our eyes? "I have set the Lord always before me," said the psalmist; and did we live with a constant consciousness of the Divine nearness I am sure we should be restrained from many things to which we are so apt to yield, and in which we sometimes perhaps indulge. But in a more positive way, and in a much larger sense, our whole life would be wondrously hallowed if we only carried into it all an abiding sense of the Divine presence. Professor Drummond has said that "there are men and women in whose company we are always at our best. While with them we cannot think mean thoughts or speak ungenerous words. Their mere presence is elevation, purification, sanctity. All the best stops of our nature are drawn out by their intercourse, and we find a music in our souls that was never there before." And if the society of good people can exert such a hallowing influence upon us, what must be the sanctifying effect of daily companionship and fellowship with God? "Ten minutes," said Professor Drummond, "spent in His society every day, aye! two minutes, if it be face to face, and heart to heart, will make the whole day different." And if our whole life were pervaded with the consciousness of the Divine, as, thank God, some lives have been, then the whole life would be different.

II. SUCH A CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD WOULD MAKE OUR LIFE MUCH STRONGER AND SAFER. Life is full of difficulty and danger, and if we would be valiant and victorious we must seek a fuller and more constant realization of the Divine presence. I remember that on one occasion I had a very lonely road to travel, and had often felt exceedingly nervous. But I had an old friend who frequently accompanied me on that part of the journey, and in his companionship I had no sense of danger, but felt equal to any emergency. And amidst life's thickest difficulties and dangers we may have the companionship of God, and that shall be our defence. The strongest and bravest man may well fear to face life's stern duties and- difficulties in his own strength; for in that case defeat is inevitable. But with the assurance of God's presence there comes power to face life's sternest forces and foes. "Our sufficiency is not of ourselves; our sufficiency is of God."

III. THIS ABIDING CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD WOULD MAKE OUR LIFE MUCH HAPPIER. In ordinary life there is certainly much to sadden and sour the human heart, and the one great antidote to that is a more vivid realization of the Divine presence. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy." Those words have a present significance. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy;" not then and yonder only, but here and now. "Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." The unexpected appearance of Jesus in their midst chased away those men's disappointment and doubt and sadness, and inspired them with a new hope and gladness. I have a little girl who repeatedly awoke in the night, and was terribly frightened with the darkness; and she always insisted on coming into her mother's room and bed. Nothing else would satisfy or soothe her. One night her mother said to her, "You should not do so, Olive, for there is nothing to be afraid of; and it is just as dark in this room as in your own." Then, nestling up beside her mother, the little one replied, "Yes, mother, but you are in this dark room." Ah, her mother's nearness made all the difference to the child's feelings. And there is nothing that can disarm the soul's fears and soothe its sorrows like the realization of our Father's presence.

(B. Haddon.)

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KJV: Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

WEB: Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.