Ask the eagle that splashes in the glory of the sun if it ever longs for its cage away down among the dim, distant earth scenes.

If it ever stops to look at the old cage of former days, it is to sing its doxology of deliverance and soar away to its home near the sun.

The life of the Spirit-filled heart is the winged life.

The unsurrendered life is the life of the cage.

The best that the cage can give is a momentary thrill that soon gives place to a pitiful beating against the bars.

Our precious Savior, by His death on the Cross, proclaims “liberty to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1 KJV), and you may be set free; free, not to take refuge on the branches of a nearby tree but to rise and walk in heaven’s own light, above the world and sin, with heart made pure, and garments white, and Christ enthroned within!

“They feast on the abundance of your house.” The song in your heart will daily be: “Thou, O Christ, art all I want; More than all in Thee I find.”

Forget the past, throw off your last fear, and leap boldly forward to complete emancipation!

O Christ, in Thee my soul hath found, And found in Thee alone, The peace, the joy I sought so long; The bliss till now unknown.

I sighed for rest and happiness, I yearned for them, not Thee; But while I passed my Savior by, His love laid hold on me.

I tried the broken cisterns, Lord, But ah! the waters failed.

E’en as I stooped to drink they’d fled, And mocked me as I wailed.

Now none but Christ can satisfy, None other name for me; There’s love, and life, and lasting joy, Lord Jesus, found in Thee!

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken . . . but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, . . . for the Lord delighteth in thee. And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

He hath sent me . . . to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord , my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness and in mercies.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.—He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.

Messias . . . which is called Christ.—The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.

The last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The second man is the Lord from heaven.—My Lord and my God.—Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

I am the Lord that healeth thee.

O Lord , thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

He is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.

He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.

Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died.—A wounded spirit who can bear?

Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?—The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.—Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Philip preached unto him Jesus.—He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.