Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/263

 Lord is compared to both rain and snow, and both are declared to come down from heaven. (Isa. lv. 10.) Let us, then, diligently study the Word of God, for though in the letter it often appears as cold as snow, yet nevertheless it has within it that principle of warmth, which, acted upon by the sun of love, becomes spiritual, and causes our affections to blossom and bear fruit.

TTENTIVE consideration of these words will shew us who is the adversary with whom we are to be at agreement. The brother whom our Lord recommends us to be reconciled to, is, in truth, the adversary; for certainly a brother who has something against us, can be considered in no other light than an adversary; and our duty is by the Lord plainly set before us, when he says, "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him." As there are degrees in every good, so also there are degrees in every evil. In the evil at present before us, there are the terms anger, raca, and fool. Anger, if it be cherished, is the parent of many evils; and hence our Lord emphatically warns us against indulgence in it. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath," is a solemn caution. Raca isa term equiva-