Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/92

 the dumb begins to speak. Then the tongue of the dumb begins to sing, and the mouth to give utterance to the praises of the Lord, with a glad heart and with joyful lips. The understanding of this man, which was before a wilderness, in reference to his ignorance of all spiritual truth; and his will a desert in reference to his destitution of all heavenly goodness! now becomes refreshed with the living streams of that river which maketh glad the city of God: and he feels in himself the fulfilment of the prophecy, that "in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." Now a manifest alteration is seen in his outward life and conduct. He begins to feel himself at home, and in his own house; and the very man who was before possessed with a devil and was dumb, is now seen sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. At this, the multitudes began to marvel, and to say, "It was never so seen in Israel." No, it can never be so seen in Israel, until the man himself comes into the state—sees the truth, and enjoys the blessing.

There are no pleasures so pure, lasting, and refined, as those of true religion. Those who pursue them have bread to eat which the world knows not of, and joys and expectations which they know will be realized, and with which they would not part for ten thousand worlds. Do you not perceive the necessity of coming to Jesus, not with the lips merely, but in spirit and reality? Shall the love of evil carry us away from God and heaven for ever? If so, we should know that each one of us is possessed with a devil, and there is no way of casting him out but by our being brought to Jesus.