Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/53

 appears upright—to the pure, pure; but the froward soul turns mercy's face into a frown. It is said that Jacob or Israel, made the coat of many colours, to instruct us that there is something of man in it, some of his work in the texture, and that Divine Truth, thus covered by its written coat, is mercifully adapted to instruct, to guide in the way of peace, and to provide for the salvation of all.

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VERY Christian is aware that the journeyings of the children of Israel from Egypt to the land of Canaan, with all the circumstances attending their march, are spiritually descriptive of the progress from a state of ignorance of heavenly truth, to that of liberty and life.

To lead the Israelites onward through all their trials and conflicts, as well as to cheer them on their way, it is said that "the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light." (v. 21.) Turn then, O Christian! thy thoughts within, and thou shalt see the Lord's goodness in going before thee in this mystic pillar to guide thee both by day and night. Man is born here for the purpose of being prepared by a process of spiritual instruction, for another and a better world. This preparation for, and entrance into, a heavenly state, is represented by the