Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/253

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man a senseless log, discerning no difference between soft and hard, rough and smooth, hot and cold. What makes this subject still more interesting is, that these bodily organs of sense are named in Scripture, as representatives of corresponding faculties and powers of the soul; thus the eye denotes the understanding; for this is as much the eye of the spirit, as the material organ is of the body. The understanding recognizes the truths of Revelation, and distinguishes truth from falsehood—the light from darkness. The ear signifies obedience to the calls of mercy, by preferring purity to sin, and happiness to woe. The organ of smell is the perception of truth and goodness, so congenial to the progress of the regenerating man. The tongue, the organ of taste and speech, is that mental power by which is enjoyed with a sweet relish the food that nourishes the soul to everlasting life, and acknowledgment and confession of the Lord is made by prayer and thanksgiving; while the touch signifies conjunction with the Lord, and newness of life thence derived. When the true spiritual meaning of these senses is seen, a vast portion of Scripture will be opened to our minds in a most beautiful manner. The Lord Jesus, imparts a healing virtue and vigour to those spiritual powers of the soul denoted by the inlets or senses of the body, and this shews the spiritual import of those Scriptures where it is said, "The blind receive their sight, the deaf hear." "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia." (Psalm xlv. 8.) "How sweet are thy words to my taste." (Psalm cxix. 103.) "Touch no unclean thing." (Isa. lii. 11.) May we ever be thankful for the gift of the senses, these precious inlets of innumerable pleasures; and may our gratitude