seen to shadow forth the true church of the Lord, a kingdom that is everlasting, in which the Divine government is never to end, and in which the true spiritual nourishment of the soul constantly and abundantly flows. The Lord, in all ages, has brought his faithful followers out of the mental bondage of sin and falsehood, which is Egypt, into Canaan, a state of peace, intelligence, and liberty; where, in his church, still flows abundantly the milk and honey stream. The nourishment is called milk and honey, to instruct us that milk is put to denote those spiritual truths which spring out of a celestial love to God; while honey is the sweet delight of life, invariably flowing from the love of all that is good and true, and exhibited in the outward conduct. When we consider that the Word of God contains all that is nourishing to the soul, as well as sweet and delightful, we may see what David alludes to when he says, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste; yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth." (Psalm cxix. 103.)
O let us all, by obedience of life, procure these things for ourselves; then shall we "buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isa. lv. 1.) By looking constantly at the Church as to the spouse and bride of the Lamb, where all these blessings are stored up, we may adopt the language of Solomon and say, "Honey and milk are under thy tongue." (Cant. iv. 11.) As the Lord in mercy has brought us into this Canaan, may we ever enjoy its richly flowing stream of milk and honey, and thus, by faith and obedience, eat the good of the land.
