Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/39

 that lead to wisdom and its happy life. In this way it will be well with all the Israel of God, and will prolong their days. They shall increase their advancing states of love and wisdom, and secure those lasting joys that in a future world shall multiply around them for ever. If, reader, heavenly thoughts spring up in thy mind, consider them as young birds of paradise found in thy way or journey of life! nourish these into maturity—let thy love be free and at large, not selfish; and remember that thy spiritual days, or states of life, will be prolonged, if thou art obedient to the law here given respecting the bird's nest found in the way.

The will, with its heavenly warmth of affection, is the dam or nourisher that brings forth into being the birds of heaven—the thoughts relating to wisdom and its joys; these are first nourished in the heart or desire, in a lowly, humble, and teachable state: this is the nest on the ground, where love as the dam is preparing to bring forth: while the nest on the tree are the living thoughts or birds brought forth and appearing in the perceptions of the understanding. If then, our days are to be prolonged, the law respecting the bird's nest found in the way, must be carefully observed.

HEN the Paschal Supper was first instituted, the Jews were commanded to take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood of the lamb, and