brought into operation. Perhaps this salutary sleep is alluded to in the LORD’s instructive parable, where it is written, “So is the kingdom of GOD, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how,” [Mark iv. 26, 27.]. For it is remarkable that, in this parable, mention is made both of sleeping and rising (or awaking), as if both were alike necessary, in their alternations, to give full effect to the growth of the Divine seed the WORD OF GOD.
In the devout prayer that you, my excellent Friend, both as to mind and body, that is to say, both spiritually and naturally, may ever be found so sleeping and awaking, as to be enabled to adopt the pious language of the Psalmist, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me;” I remain
