connected with heaven and eternal life. The shoe being no part of the human body, but only the covering affixed to the foot for its use and comfort, denotes a love merely external and worldly, the lowest in order, and only serviceable to man in his present state. In the duties of religion, what is worldly and sensual, should and must be relinquished—the shoes must be put off: all things of pure religion are indeed high and sacred, the ground is holy. Nothing selfish or worldly must intrude within the precincts of the hallowed temple of religion, so as to prevent our attainment of the celestial state, or to taste of the fruits of the promised land. Thus Isaiah, as a sign to the house of Israel, was to loose the sackcloth from his loins, and put off the shoes from his feet. (Isaiah xx. 2.)
Sensual desires, both of will and thought, signified by shoes, are of the earth, earthy, and must not be adjoined to the holy things of religion and its happy life: they must be separated and put off; for, if retained, religion is corrupted, and spiritual reverence and humility are lost amidst dirt and uncleanness. This is what the prophet calls "selling the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes." (Amos ii. 6.)
Reader! bring not with thee into the hallowed temple of pure religion, for it is holy ground, the impure sensual desires of the world; but keep the sacred, the Divine command—put off thy shoes from off thy feet! be thou "shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace." (Eph. vi. 15.)
