“Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my
garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.”
— Song of Solomon 4:16

Anything is better than the dead calm of indifference. Our souls may
wisely desire the north wind of trouble if that alone can be sanctified
to the drawing forth of the perfume of our graces. So long as it cannot
be said, “The Lord was not in the wind,” we will not shrink from the
most wintry blast that ever blew upon plants of grace. Did not the
spouse in this verse humbly submit herself to the reproofs of her
Beloved; only entreating him to send forth his grace in some form, and
making no stipulation as to the peculiar manner in which it should
come? Did she not, like ourselves, become so utterly weary of deadness
and unholy calm that she sighed for any visitation which would brace
her to action? Yet she desires the warm south wind of comfort, too, the
smiles of divine love, the joy of the Redeemer’s presence; these are
often mightily effectual to arouse our sluggish life. She desires
either one or the other, or both; so that she may but be able to
delight her Beloved with the spices of her garden. She cannot endure to
be unprofitable, nor can we. How cheering a thought that Jesus can find
comfort in our poor feeble graces. Can it be? It seems far too good to
be true. Well may we court trial or even death itself if we shall
thereby be aided to make glad Immanuel’s heart. O that our heart were
crushed to atoms if only by such bruising our sweet Lord Jesus could be
glorified. Graces unexercised are as sweet perfumes slumbering in the
cups of the flowers: the wisdom of the great Husbandman overrules
diverse and opposite causes to produce the one desired result, and
makes both affliction and consolation draw forth the grateful odours of
faith, love, patience, hope, resignation, joy, and the other fair
flowers of the garden. May we know by sweet experience, what this
means.

On this day...

• Joel 2 - 2013
• Live the Truth - 2008
• Hold On To His Promises - 2008