Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/22

 ing its directions, and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we make it subservient to ourselves, and only use its precepts when they accord with our own humour or our own selfishness, then we may feel certain, that, instead of our enemies fleeing before us, they will rather surround us, harass us in our progress, find out all our vulnerable parts, and finally effect our destruction. So great is the difference between following and leading; so true will be found the words, "unless ye forsake all that ye have, ye cannot be my disciples." Whoever would be the Lord's disciple, "." He who follows the divine truth, or ark, is sure to be freed from danger. The divine truth discovers all the lurking places of evil, discriminates between genuine and spurious good; penetrates into the secret repositories of error; removes all the specious coverings that obscure the light of truth in the understanding, and as the sword of the Spirit, contends against and removes them; it then assumes the highest place in the thoughts and affections, and brings the whole powers of the soul under its righteous government. Dwelling thus in the inmost of the will and understanding, the soul of man becomes the high and holy place, and is as a consecrated ark, in which the divine presence dwells. Then it is that the Lord puts His law in the inward parts, writes it on the heart, becomes truly the God of all the affections and thoughts which therefore become His people, and render willing and grateful obedience to all His just and wise commands. In this state, there is no apprehension of danger, no fear of evil, no dread either of open or concealed enemies; but, as soldiers under the command