462 The Spiritual Man
no tongue can speak nor pen can write of the joy that lies therein.
Formerly he was gregarious, as though crowds and individuals could
satisfy his needs; but today he cherishes solitude because what he
could derive from the crowds can never be compared to the joy he
now receives when alone with his Lord. He favors seclusion more
than companionship for fear that among men he may lose his joy.
Moreover, service assumes considerable spontaneity. Hitherto he
appeared to have nothing to say, but now with the fire of love aglow
in his heart he experiences multiplied pleasure in telling others of the
Lord. The more he speaks the more anxious he is to speak. To suffer
for the Lord becomes sweet to him. Since he senses Him So near and
dear, he gladly embraces the thought of martyrdom. All burdens turn
light and all hardships grow easy.
With such a consciousness of the closeness of the Lord, the
Christian’s outward conduct also undergoes change. In days gone by
he was fond of talking, yet currently he is able to remain silent. In his
heart he may even criticize others who talk incessantly. Previously he
was rather frivolous, today he is quite serious. Very sensitive is he to
any ungodliness appearing in other brethren, for which he judges
them sternly. In a word, the Christian at this stage is increasingly
careful about his outward deportment as well as possessed with more
insight into the shortcomings of others.
Such a person always secretly pities those who are lacking in his
experience. He estimates his joy to be most excellent; how pitiable
his brethren know nothing of it. While he watches other brothers and
sisters serving the Lord coldly and quietly, he considers their lives
tasteless. Must not his be the highest life since he is so flushed with
the joy of God? It seems to him that he himself is floating on the
cloud above the mountains while ordinary saints are plodding along
down in the valley.