Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/312

 to the wicked," no sooner do we resolve to go to our Father, than He hastens to meet us, to conduct us to the green pastures of tranquillity, and to lead us beside the gently-flowing and refreshing streams of purification. We have fed long enough upon the husks of our own sensual appetites; now that we desire bread, and know that in our Father's house there is enough and to spare, we arise, and shake off the sloth of the earthly, that we may be clothed with the garments of the heavenly, and hasten to follow the Lord our Shepherd.

The first desires of the soul for goodness, are like the puttings forth of the green herb of the pastures, into which the good Shepherd desires to lead us; they are the tender buds of goodness, that promise future affection of ardent love to God and man. These are nourished by the accommodated heat of the Sun of righteousness, and serve as the meat of the man whom the Lord leads in the paths of righteousness for His own name's sake. They are the internal affections of holiness communicated by the Lord, who, to encourage His creatures in the path to which they have returned, graciously permits them to consider them as their own, while amazed at the extent of the Divine love, like the confiding and simple sheep, they hear the voice of the good Shepherd, and follow Him, and are permitted to enjoy the green pastures of peace and innocence. And near His pastures glide those pellucid waters, which make them glad with the doctrines of revealed wisdom.

How welcome to the weary soul are these green pastures, these refreshing streams of truth! After having tasted the pleasures of sin for a season, how truly refreshing is the government and guidance of the