Psalms 104:30 - Homilies By S. Conway

The spiritual spring.

The natural is as the spiritual—

I. IS WHAT IT IS . An awakening from seeming death. In regard to the soul, St. Paul speaks of its condition ere its spring as actually "dead." Certainly to all appearances it was so. But when the grace of God comes to the soul, then it awakes, as doth the earth in spring. There had been long preparation for it. Christ uses all manner of means to accomplish this. It is all his work.

II. IN WHAT IT POSSESSES . New life. So in nature, so in grace. If the manifestations of the newlife in nature are beautiful, yet more are they in grace. See the fruits of the Spirit, "Love, joy, peace," etc. And we are to go on to this; not to be satisfied with conversion only; there must be the new life. And Christ, who began the work, will carry it on.

III. IN WHAT IT LEADS TO . Spring is the forerunner of summer with all its flowers, and autumn with all its harvests. And so is the spiritual spring the forerunner of all the glorious possibilities of the spiritual harvest. All its holiness and joy of service, etc.—S.C.