Thus, in the best of senses, we read this text; but, alas! we must take another view of it, as alluding to some evil days the soul may experience in passing through this valley of Bochim, or Weeping. We find the saints of old at times had the Doors of their Hearts and Lips shut as well as open.—One said, _I am shut up_, _I cannot come forth_.—Another, _I go bound in the Spirit_: Another, _I was dumb_, _and opened not my mouth_. Ezekiel was dumb for seven days before the people, as a Preacher, and in the streets of Zion, that is among the inhabitants of Gospel Zion. This has been often experienced to their grief, shut up in prayer, either reluctantly going to the exercise, or else finding but little access there; hurrying through the act. Hence the charge against one of old, _Thou restrainest prayer before God_. Job did not say such did not pray, but they were not open, free, familiar, or staid at the throne till liberty was felt; but the act was performed merely to quiet conscience. At times in company, dumb almost about the things; and though the voice, the lips, the tongue, the lungs, were sweetly exercised before, _yet these Daughters of Music are brought low_, for they neither sound with prayer or praise, or godly conversation, or reproof, or comfort, to any other! Thus these Doors are shut in the streets. Conscience is, however still awake, and the poor Believer is alarmed; is startled at the voice of that Bird, when listening to its accusation of sin committed, of duty neglected, of a worldly spirit of levity or covetousness, or of some corruption given way to, or permitted to lie on the conscience. Thus the voice of the Bird is heard, and it is well to listen to it, lest another day it should fill the soul with horror and sorrow. This is what David felt after a long series of months, with guilt on his conscience, till Nathan came with his Parable; but not knowing what it meant, he vows vengeance against the man that did it, _That he should surely die_. This was indeed true, for it was David’s wayfaring man, the man of sin, that came to steal the ewe Lamb; but David rose up at the voice of this Bird, and life went with the word to David’s soul, _Thou art the man_. He felt it, conscience was afresh awakened, and it is our mercy to have the life of God in the Conscience; for the main difference between the Christian and the mere nominal Professor, lays in this; the one has got all his religion in his Head, and if that was cut off, he would have none; the others lays in his Conscience, as pardoned by blood, and quickened by the Holy Spirit.