“‘Now she is seen among the trees of the woods; next in a palace of silver inclosed in boards of cedar.
“‘There we saw her in the clefts of the rock; here we behold her in the broad way, in the streets of the great city.
“‘Again we find her among the foxes of the desert; and anon we perceive her seeking Him whom her soul loveth.
“‘She is asleep on her bed by night; and the same night the watch finds her in the city.
“‘Behold her Lord knocking at the door for admittance, while she is too indolent to arise and let him in. The next moment she is opening to her Beloved, but he has withdrawn himself. At one time the voice of her Beloved, sounding over the hills and echoing among the mountains like the roar of distant thunder, has no impression; next, the soft whisper of love gains all her attention.
“‘Here blows the rough north wind and strong south wind upon her spices, yet they put forth no fragrance. And there the lightest breeze makes her roses blossom, and all the air is perfume.
“‘See her countenance to-day black as the tents of Kedar; and to-morrow comely as the daughters of Jerusalem, and fair as the purple curtains of Solomon. To-day she is “a garden barred, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed;” to-morrow, “a garden open, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.” Now she is weak as a babe; a single watchman can “smite, wound, and take away her veil;” and then she is courageous and valiant, “terrible as an army with banners.” To-day she is made to keep another’s vineyard; to-morrow she is realizing a thousand pieces of silver from her own. She is truly a changeable being, carried about by the slightest circumstances.”’
“The following extract from a discourse, is another specimen of this mode of address:—
“‘Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.’ Hosea 6:1-3.
“‘The text to which I have directed your attention, in the above paragraph, is one of the richest and most interesting prophecies that was ever delivered to mortals by any prophet since the world began. Every word speaks, and is full of meaning; every sentence is a volume of instruction. No wisdom of man could communicate as much in as few words. It is a pearl of great price, lying deep in the waters of prophecy; it is a diamond, which will cut the film that covers the visual organ of the readers of God’s word; it is a gem in the mountain of God’s house, shining in the darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. It puzzled the Pharisee, confounded the scribe, and perplexed the Sadducee. It has, and will continue to have, the same influence on similar characters until the end of time. The great men of the earth will not stoop to its light, because it lies too low. The small men of the earth will not pick it up, for fear of ridicule from those above them. And now, dear reader, I am afraid you will go and do likewise,—either treat it with contempt or ridicule. But you will find, if you will examine, that in it is contained,—