dispelled ; and " the Sun of righteousness shall arise upon us with healing in his wings."
Nevertheless we must not expect that we should discern every thing at once : our progress will be gradual. The sun does not arise in an instant : there is first a little glimmering dawn; then the gilded clouds begin to wear a brighter aspect; and at last they are dissipated by the rising sun : the sun itself also rises higher, and shines brighter in the heavens, till it arrives at its meridian. Thus it is with the knowledge of Christ in the soul : the first views which the inquiring soul obtains are faint and confused ; yea, perhaps, as in the early dawn, things may assume a monstrous and distorted shape : we may " behold men, as trees, walking." But gradually the mists shall be dispelled from our eyes ; our organs of vision shall be purged from their film; and the glorious object, whom we desire to behold, shall be revealed to our view. But, while we are here below, we shall " see him only, as in a mirror, darkly :" we must wait till we arrive above, before we can fully " see him as he is."]
The simile taken from the return of showers after drought, intimates that our knowledge shall be re- freshing and fructifying —
[What can be more refreshing than rain to the parched ground ? How does the face of nature soon testify its gladness by an universal smile ! Yet is this but a very faint resem- blance of that joy and gladness, which the soul experiences through seasonable communications of Divine knowledge. Let us figure to ourselves a prodigal reduced to the lowest ebb of misery, and doubting whether so vile a wretch shall ever find acceptance with his offended Father; and, while trembling with a dread of his displeasure, surprised with the tenderest expressions of his love : will not this be a season of refreshing to his soul? Will he not instantly "put off his sackcloth, and gird him with gladness ? " Will it not be to him " as rivers of water in a dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land ? " Thus shall it be with all who follow on to know the Lord ; they shall have " beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."
Nor shall the knowledge acquired be unproductive of solid fruits. As " the former rain" prepared the ground for the seed, and caused the seed that was cast in, to vegetate ; and " the latter rain" ripened and matured the grain, and made it fit for the sickle (both being essentially necessary, and abun- dantly productive ;) so shall the knowledge of Christ be to the soul ; it shall come " like rain upon the mown grass, and as