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"O strange enjoyment of a bliss unseen"! The constitution of the human mind is so admirably arranged, that the soul takes delight, not only in the rescollection of pleasing scenes [of former years] but in the expectation of good, [which shall succeed the present moment.] [Among its exercises, is that of] Anticipation, which, when borne along on the wings of a brilliant fancy, lays her grasp on real, or imaginary good, and communicates to to the soul present joy [in the hope of future fruition]. As no one is without this emotion power, so probably, there is not one, who is a stranger to the extatick joy, it sometimes enspires.

Is it the kind-hearted mariner, rolling over the profound depth in his labouring bark? The jovial song, which echoes over the ship, the long and pleasant stories of home, and the tales of what shall be, when safely he shall safely arrive there, are so many indications of anticipated joy, affording him present bliss. O how often does anticipation give wings to bright hope, to fly athwart the breast of the diligent husband man, performing the various duties of spring? And he, in expectation of the aboundance, which shall crown the harvest month, has present emotions of joy.

The student has many such seasons of the "enjoyment of bliss unseen". Often times has his spirit drawn nigh to the gates of a literary death, through the oppressive burden of Greek

sentences, and the still more oppressive load of mathematical problems. But from this oppressed state, anticipation has delivered him, and gladdened his spirit, by pointing forward to future elevations on the hill of science. O, what rapture has he not felt in his study? What joy has not [beamed] on his countenance, at the daily recitation, when anticipation has flattered him with the prospect of A. B. A. M. D. D. L. L. D. Xc, Xc, Xc. Thus every scholar, however he may be disappointed afterwards, finds present joy in a "bliss unseen".

But of all classes of men, the real christian has the greatest source of this kind of enjoyment. To him, belongs the promise of a bliss unseen; and so great the rapture he has felt in anticipating it, that the darkness of a dungeon has not silenced his song, nor has the prospect of the scaffold, deprived him of his enjoyment; while amidst all the duties and engagements of life, he has present pleasure in hope of future bliss.

Mitchell

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