panying thunder. This language is highly symbolical and rich. Sparks of fire are called sons of the burning coal—the day-dawn, "eye-lids of the morning." Wine is called "blood of the grape;" flame, "a tongue of fire," with many others. James and John, representing a holy and ardent love to the Lord, with all the works of love and charity to man. Love was the source whence all their thoughts, words, and actions flowed. Love to the Lord is ardent, powerful, and urgent for the salvation of all; this produces quick and bright rays of wisdom, or light in the understanding—the bright truth of internal purity! These rays of mental light are called sons of thunder—these are the Boanerges, which become powerful and bright in proportion as the love is pure, and the affection ardent: Love, strong and powerful, is an angelic sphere, and compared to thunder; because, as thunder clears the atmosphere of what is heterogeneous, so love dissipates all that is uncongenial to the heavenly state in the soul of man. Evil desires never pass away from the mind without a violent internal commotion, and, as it were, with a great noise. But as the atmosphere is peaceful, tranquil, and still, after a storm, so the rest and peace of the Christian are doubly sweet after the unruly passions have been subdued, and the light of heaven successively breaks in upon the soul. The calm that follows the storm of temptation is ever sweet and blissful to the Christian; and he who would gain the calm, need have no apprehensions in the storm.
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