perceives, at the beginning of his religious life, that these truths have a direct reference to himself. He sees them through the medium of the scenes described and applies the instruction, not to himself, but to the persons which the narrative introduces to his contemplation. He looks rather out of himself than within; he sees that the city is pleasant, but to him the water is naught, and the ground barren.
How many are there at the present day who thus view the literal truths of divine revelation! For, imagine these waters of Jericho to represent the literal truths of the Word, and how many, even among professing Christians, are there who misapply, or misapprehend, or who sometimes wrest them to their own destruction. To many, indeed, the waters are naught, and the ground barren. But the Lord, in His mercy, leaves us not without guide or instructor. The prophet is a representative character, and places, before us the power by which divine wisdom is ever ready to instruct us in what we have to do. The command of the prophet is to bring a new cruse, and put salt therein. Before we can benefit by any new truth of divine revelation, that which we already know must be reduced to practice. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," is a truth which all can understand. But if it be not reduced to practice, and is suffered to remain in the memory alone, the water, or truth, is of no use; and the land, or the affections, remain barren and unproductive. But if we permit this truth to accomplish the object for which it was designed, and so use it as to advance our souls in goodness, the mind becomes new; capacity is given for the perception of interior truth, represented by the purifying quality of
