the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Awake O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits: I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse. Song of Solomon 4:16; Song of Solomon 5:1.
Christ’s true, living church, as well as every true Christian, is God’s pleasure-garden, which Christ has planted and made fertile. He waters it with the living water of the Spirit. It is enclosed, compassed round about with divine protection. With reference to its internal condition, it is hidden and unknown to the men of this world. Oftentimes the soul cries out, "Come, Holy Spirit! " At times the Spirit will punish and chastise like the cold northwind, and anon will warm, revive and comfort like the mild southwind and His precious shrubs, repentance, faith and love, with all their fruits, grow exuberantly. Yea, the soul sighs for the presence of the gardener when it misses Him, and then He comes and visits His garden, its heart, and blesses and attends it properly. Now, how is it with your garden? What does your gardener find when He comes? Do you love Him? Do you desire His visitation? Does the wind blow upon your ’’garden"? Do your herbs drip? Do you meet your well beloved, the only gardener of His kind, with holy longings and with hearty love, a heartfelt desire to please Him? Do all flowers and all desires in your soul open and turn toward Him? If He sees this in you, oh, how often He will visit His garden! How carefully He will attend to it! In what glorious condition He will keep it!
Blest are the pure in heart,
For they shall see our God;
The secret of the Lord is theirs,
Their soul is Christ’s abode.
