Unrevised Notes of an Address given some years ago fay S. R. Gen. 3:6-9.

Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord. We may see a person, but it has not the same effect on us as to hear his voice. When the Jews sent to John to find out who he was, he said, "Tell them I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness." " My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me."

The Lord said unto Adam, " Where art thou?" He does not say, "What have you done?" but, '' Where art thou ?" God wants the sinner to see, not only the sins he has committed, but the place he occupies-the place of distance from God. When God speaks, Adam hides himself, and he uses the very gifts and blessings that God has given him to put them between himself and God:he hides among the trees of the garden. The sinner hides from God; but the one that hears the voice of the Son of God, and believes on Him, is hidden in God.

Matt. 3:13, 17-Jesus comes to John to be baptized; and John knowing who He is, shrinks from putting Him on a level with the others. His baptism points on to the cross; His whole life pointed to the cross; as the grass was cut down, and put into the manger, so His birth too points to the cross. After His baptism, a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Two things to be connected:God looks at the sinner, and says, " Where art thou ? " then points to Christ, saying, "That is My beloved Son"-man's need, and God's remedy.

Num. 7 :89-Moses hears the voice from off the mercy-seat, saying, " Speak unto Aaron (chap. 8:2), and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick." When we light a light, it is to see the things around us. But this light, which is the Holy Spirit, is to shine on the candlestick-to show out the glories of Christ. If men were writing the seventh chapter, they would not make it so long, they would not repeat what each prince offered; for they are all the same. But God sees so much in Christ that He never tires to speak of Him. The sin-offering- what Christ is toward men-is but a small part, only one kid of the goats, while all the others speak of what Christ is toward God.

i Kings 19:11-13-God tells Elijah to stand upon the mount. There was a great wind that rent the
mountains, but the Lord was not in the wind; an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; then, after the fire, a still, small voice. When he heard the voice he wrapped his face in his mantle, and the voice said, "What doest thou here, Elijah ?" God does not terrify His children; He speaks to them in a still, small voice. How about our path, our obedience, and our testimony? Do we hear that still, small voice ?

Song of Sol. 2:8-17-'' The voice of my Beloved!" Do we hear the voice of our Beloved ? He looketh forth at the windows, showeth Himself through the lattice. We can almost see Him. He says, The winter is past, there is nothing to fear. The storm is past for us, and the singing-time has come. The voice of the turtle (Spirit) is heard in the land. Christ, from yonder side, is saying, "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." Turn from the things that drag you down, and be not like Lot, who was no pilgrim, but like Abraham, who, when God called him, left all – his country, kindred, and father's house. If we do not hear His voice calling us from earth now, we will not enjoy His coming.
" Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines. It is the small things, the little trifles, the gewgaws of this world, that do the harm. We close up the large holes in the fences, which the wild boar might get through; but the little foxes get through the little holes, and spoil the vines. We all know what our foxes are. The grapes are tender; God's Spirit is sensitive.

In the 14th verse there is another voice. God says, "Let Me hear thy "voice; thy voice is sweet." He loves to hear our voice, even if we only confess our failures.

"My Beloved is mine, and I am His. . . .Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved, and be thou like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether."