Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/257

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upon the affections and mind of man, the same as visible objects, the latter forming the proximate correspondences whereby the principle admits of being traced, as is observed by the apostle, "There are, it may be, many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification" (1 Cor. xiv. 10); and it is this which gives to music the extraordinary power which it exercises over our feelings; and every feeling and every affection is good and right in itself, if it be properly exercised. Every country has its peculiarity in dress, and adornment, and amusement, and all these in themselves are good,


November Twenty-second.

EDEN AND TYRE.

"Thou hast deen in Eden, the garden of God."Ezek. xxviii. 13.

IF we dwell in the peaceful city of Jerusalem, and are adorned with the simple yet beautiful garments of truth and goodness; if we have our affections raised by the melody of the songs of Zion, and take delight in the golden harps of peace and holiness; we must not think meanly of the inhabitant of Tyre, because he is busied with his merchandize, nor affect disdain for his wealth and the costliness and splendour of his garments, so long as he is in his proper sphere of use, and acknowledges the source whence every talent and faculty is derived. Let us exercise a wise discrimination between the several degrees of truth and goodness, but never prefer an inferior to a superior good. The rich merchant of Tyre is not to be looked down upon with contempt because he is not in possession of