he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him." Is there anything so much to be desired as this? It is the noblest, highest, happiest state which a human being can attain to. It is the truly human state; yea, it is the heavenly state.
Interpreting the Psalmist's language spiritually, therefore, or by the rule of correspondence, we see that the thing he desired and resolved to seek above all else, is the thing worthy of every one's supreme affection and best endeavor. It is, indeed, what every regenerating soul must desire and seek after as the supreme good.
Again, after saying, "The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not therefore want," the same inspired writer exclaims, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (xxiii. 6.) What sort of a house can here be meant? the thoughtful inquirer will again ask. Not any temporary, earthly, or material structure, but that spiritual, heavenly and eternal habitation which is the Lord's own,—that sweet and all-embracing love which is himself, his own essential life,—that "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." And every one comes into and evermore abides in this house, who, through self-denial and inward conflict, and obedience to the known laws of the Lord, comes into a state of disinterested neighborly love. So that this language of the Psalmist, in its spiritual sense, is seen to be, like all inspired language, of universal application. Every soul that takes the Lord for his shepherd and guide, and faithfully follows Him, may be sure of the abundant and continued influx of his goodness and mercy, and may
