Evening, April 24
Go To Morning Reading
“The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds
is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”
Song of Solomon 2:12
Sweet is the season of spring: the long and dreary winter helps us
to appreciate its genial warmth, and its promise of summer enhances
its present delights. After periods of depression of spirit, it is
delightful to behold again the light of the Sun of Righteousness;
then our slumbering graces rise from their lethargy, like the crocus
and the daffodil from their beds of earth; then is our heart made
merry with delicious notes of gratitude, far more melodious than the
warbling of birds—and the comforting assurance of peace, infinitely more delightful
than the turtle’s note, is heard within the soul. Now is the time for the soul to
seek communion with her Beloved; now must she rise from her native
sordidness, and come away from her old associations. If we do not
hoist the sail when the breeze is favourable, we shall be blameworthy:
times of refreshing ought not to pass over us unimproved. When Jesus
himself visits us in tenderness, and entreats us to arise, can we
be so base as to refuse his request? He has himself risen that he
may draw us after him: he now by his Holy Spirit has revived us, that
we may, in newness of life, ascend into the heavenlies, and hold communion
with himself. Let our wintry state suffice us for coldness and indifference;
when the Lord creates a spring within, let our sap flow with vigour,
and our branch blossom with high resolve. O Lord, if it be not spring
time in my chilly heart, I pray thee make it so, for I am heartily
weary of living at a distance from thee. Oh! the long and dreary winter,
when wilt thou bring it to an end? Come, Holy Spirit, and renew my
soul! quicken thou me! restore me, and have mercy on me! This very
night I would earnestly implore the Lord to take pity upon his servant,
and send me a happy revival of spiritual life!