Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/91

 mortality, and how unprepared they are in their present condition to pass out of time into eternity. Impressed with these thoughts, and alarmed for their safety, they stand as it were in jeopardy every hour! To relieve them from this condition, the truths and doctrines of the gospel, as the faithful disciples of the Lord, urge them on to Jesus! but the evil in the heart, of which they are possessed—to which they incline, and by which they have long been led captive, is the DEVIL which draws them back to the world and to sin. In this condition, being in the language of Scripture possessed with a devil,—they are dumb with respect to the heavenly language and speech of Canaan. They are ignorant of the sacred truths of Revelation; having never felt their power and importance. They are speechless with regard to these sacred things! their lips never move in the confession of the Lord, nor in the acknowledgment of the truths of the Church. In the language of Scripture, each one is a "dumb man possessed with a devil." But no sooner is such a one brought to Jesus, than he feels in the Divine presence a quickening power! The divine love, ardent for the salvation of every human being—finds its ready way into the secret recesses of the soul; an alteration of state takes place within; heavenly blessedness and tranquillity begin to be felt—the evil recedes at the approach of good: in other words, the devil is cast out. Then follow as a necessary consequence, the confession of the Lord with joyful lips, and an affectionate acknowledgment of those truths which relate to God, heaven, and life eternal! The lips begin to move, in declaring what the Lord hath Wrought for him and in him; the devil being cast out,