ardent love to the Lord is signified by the touch; a relish for Divine Truth, with the spiritual delight thence arising, is the taste; an interior perception of Truth, which diffuses throughout the mind a delightful sphere as of fragrance or odour, is the smell; an external knowledge and understanding of Truth, is the sight; and a holy obedience to the Divine will, is hearing.
To the mere professor, the Word of God appears as a dead letter, in which the Divine voice is not heard, or as a standing pool without motion or life; but to the sincere Christian, who reflects upon its truths that he may grow wiser and better, who is waiting for the angel to descend to trouble or put the water in motion, the Word will appear, not as a standing pool, but as being full of spirituality and life. He will feel that love has filled the Truth with vitality. The angel has descended and put all in motion, imparting healing virtues to the waters. Whosoever then frst steps in, that is, with the first or ruling affection of the heart, will certainly be made whole of whatever disease he may have. His blindness will result in intellectual sight; his halt or crippled state will be succeeded by vigour and alacrity; so that "he shall run and not be weary; and walk, and not faint." (Isa. xl. 31.) This will lead him to the glorious end of all his wishes, for his former withered condition shall be exchanged for newness of life. Reader! Truth, as it never decays, knows nothing of age. It is to all the house of mercy, and still at Jerusalem we can find God's precious gift to man,—{{sc|The Pool of Bethesda.
