Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/29

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own principles as indefinitely superior to all others. As Hiram viewed the cities of Galilee, which Solomon had given him, with disgust, and called them the land of Cabul, that is, dirty and displeasing, so does the natural man view the doctrines of spirituality. But the spiritual man, like Solomon, brings all under his subjection, and renders all tributary and subjective to the King of kings.


September Seventh.

THE WATERS OF JERICHO HEALED.

"The water is naught, and the ground barren. And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein."2 Kings ii. 19, 20.

THE land of Canaan is by Christians viewed as a figure of that heavenly land "where everlasting spring abides;" and to this land they press onward as to the most desirable of possessions. It is also viewed as a figure of the true church on earth; and Jericho, just within the borders of Canaan, denotes the external boundaries or elementary principles which introduce the soul to a knowledge of true doctrine, and which prepare it for the heavenly enjoyments to be found in the interior. Before man can know what interior truth is, he must be instructed in the knowledge of that which is exterior. In the same way, before we can reach the interior of the heavenly land, we must pass the barriers. Jericho may, therefore, be described as representative of the state of those who are receiving instruction in the elementary principles of wisdom, which elementary principles are the literal truths of the Word of God. But it is seldom that man