Page:Illustrations of the Holy Word.pdf/45

Rh are ever new and various, according to the state and requirements of His Church. Jesus Christ therefore testifies, Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, (Matt. xxiii. 34,) alluding, doubtless, to future, not to former, prophets.

103. The children of Israel, as they were commanded, proclaimed liberty to their servants, but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids, (Jer. xxxiv. 8–12,) a striking figure of all those who proclaim in themselves the law of spiritual liberty, but afterwards become entangled again in the bondage of selfish and worldly attachments.

104. What is said of the church at Jerusalem, is equally true of the members of every other church of the Lord, where it is written, I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets on thy hands, and a chain on thy neck; and I put a jewel on thy nose, and ear-rings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown on thy head; (Ezekiel xvi. 11, 12;) for, these ornaments are the goods and truths of the Word; the bracelets on the hands are the divine powers thence derived; the chain on the neck is the communication and conjunction of interior and exterior truth; the jewel on the nose is the perception of good and evil, of truth and error; the ear-rings in the ears are attention and practical obedience of life to the dictates of truth; and the beautiful crown on the head is wisdom from the Lord and His Word ruling and blessing the whole mind and life.