Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/142

 Lord, after baptism, to go up straightway out of the water, so also is it necessary for us. If He was hailed by the Divine approbation, and we follow His example, the Divine approval will be extended to us.

In taking up the Holy Word, the Christian is certain He takes up no ordinary book, and enters upon the study of no ordinary subject. The subject is, how He may best prepare Himself for eternity. Such places as Jordan, Canaan, and Jerusalem, pass from his view, and the states and conditions of mind to which they lead become at once present before him. He sees in the divine truths of the Word of God the purifying waters of the river Jordan; and as he passes through them, they wash the mind, and cleanse away the stains of natural evil. But he rests not in these waters, but passes through them, and goes up straightway from them. This intimates an ascent into higher and more interior truths. John, indeed, baptizes us with water unto repentance; but there is a baptism which none but the Lord Himself can administer, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire. To be made partakers of this holy rite is the very aim and end of our Christian profession, and this can never be accomplished by remaining in the waters of Jordan. Jesus went up straightway out of the water: so must we. The letter of the Word of God must be only considered as introductory to the Spirit; and, in order to serve the Lord in newness of spirit, we must pass through the oldness of the letter.

The Word of God is, in its spirit, heaven; and all the joys of heaven are beautifully portrayed therein. In its literal sense, it is symbolized by earth, as the basis on which heaven may be said to rest; for thus