Spurgeon: April PM
* 04/24/PM
"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of
birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our
land."
--Song of Solomon 2:12
Sweet is the season of spring: the long and dreary winter
helps us to appreciate its genial warmth, and its promise of
summer enhances its present delights. After periods of
depression of spirit, it is delightful to behold again the light
of the Sun of Righteousness; then our slumbering graces rise
from their lethargy, like the crocus and the daffodil from their
beds of earth; then is our heart made merry with delicious notes
of gratitude, far more melodious than the warbling of birds--and
the comforting assurance of peace, infinitely more delightful
than the turtle's note, is heard within the soul. Now is the
time for the soul to seek communion with her Beloved; now must
she rise from her native sordidness, and come away from her old
associations. If we do not hoist the sail when the breeze is
favourable, we shall be blameworthy: times of refreshing ought
not to pass over us unimproved. When Jesus Himself visits us in
tenderness, and entreats us to arise, can we be so base as to
refuse His request? He has Himself risen that He may draw us
after Him: He now by His Holy Spirit has revived us, that we
may, in newness of life, ascend into the heavenlies, and hold
communion with Himself. Let our wintry state suffice us for
coldness and indifference; when the Lord creates a spring
within, let our sap flow with vigour, and our branch blossom
with high resolve. O Lord, if it be not spring time in my chilly
heart, I pray Thee make it so, for I am heartily weary of living
at a distance from Thee. Oh! the long and dreary winter, when
wilt Thou bring it to an end? Come, Holy Spirit, and renew my
soul! quicken Thou me! restore me, and have mercy on me! This
very night I would earnestly implore the Lord to take pity upon
His servant, and send me a happy revival of spiritual life!