Here, too, are ample provisions to meet all future wants--moral means to
restore the wandering, to recover the spiritually faint, to refresh and
fortify their souls to sustain the conflict with temptation, to inspire
the heart with religious joy, to nourish that spiritual life which has
dawned in their souls. Here is the "sincere milk of the word," on which
they may "grow;" the significant ordinances, so quickening to the
affections, so invigorating to man's spiritual nature. The Baptismal
water affects the heart through the medium of the eye, and enforces the
worshipper's obligation to abjure the world, and to be pure as Christ is
pure. The Emblematic Feast, exhibiting "Jesus Christ set forth
crucified before his eyes,"--while it affectingly reminds him of his
lost condition as a sinner, contains an impressive demonstration of the
power and grace of his Deliverer, "in whom we have redemption through
his blood." His faith fastens itself on this sacrifice. He is loosed
from the bondage of sin; his "soul is satisfied as with marrow and
fatness." His fellowship is with the Father, and with the Son. He has
communion with the saints. He derives new support to his fainting faith,
and goes on his pilgrimage rejoicing.
The entire exercises and scenes of the house of worship--the reading of
the scriptures, the confessions, prayers, and praises, the songs of the
temple--for "as well the singers as the players on instruments" are
there[2]--the preaching of the gospel, the celebration of the
sacraments,--all combine their aid to strengthen pious principle, holy
purpose, virtuous habit, and to render the children of God "perfect,
thoroughly furnished to every good work." The place, the day, the
multitude, the power of sympathy, all conspire to give effect to truth,
and to rouse them up to labor for God, for their species, for eternity:
all combine to render the house of God "the gate of heaven," the image
of heaven, and a precious antepast of the enjoyments of heaven!
"My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
And sit, and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss."
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Psalm lxxxvii, 2.
[2] Psalm lxxxvii, 7.
THE VALLEY OF SILENCE.
By William Cutter.
It was a perfect Eden for beauty. The scent of flowers came
up on the gale, the swift stream sparkled like a flow of
diamonds in the sun, and a smile of soft light glistened on
every leaf and blade, as they drank in the life-giving ray.
Its significant loveliness was eloquent to the eye and the
heart--but a strange deep silence reigned over it all. So
perfect was the unearthly stillness, you could almost hear
yourself think.--_Katahdin._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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