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Herder says of this exquisite little song that "it has the fragrance of a lovely rose." Nowhere has the nature of true unity - that unity which binds men together, not by artificial restraints, but as brethren of one heart - been more faithfully described, nowhere so gracefully illustrated, as in this short ode. True concord, we are here taught, is a holy thing, a sacred oil, a rich perfume, which, flowing down from the head to the beard, from the beard to the garment, sanctifies the whole body. It is a sweet morning dew, which lights not only on the lofty mountain-peaks, but on the lesser hills, embracing all, and refreshing all with its influence.

I. TRUE UNITY.

1. Is the unity of brethren. They feel that they have a common Father, and are children of the same household.

2. But it is unity in variety. Variety of thought, but unity of heart. A unity of the utmost extremes - from the head to the edge of the garments of society. From the heights of Hermon to the humbler hill of Zion.

II. ITS GOODNESS AND JOY.

1. Unity can come only from love. And love is the greatest goodness, and the highest, deepest joy.

2. True unity is the most fragrant and refreshing fact of life. In the individual and in the Church, and in society. - S.

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KJV: {A Song of degrees of David.} Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

WEB: See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!