Let us take, for example, the well-known evergreen holly tree. The eye that contemplates it near, may observe that its glossy leaves are ordered by an intelligence so wise as to confound even an "atheist's sophistries." In fact, to a faithful explorer's sight

"Is there a tree,

A flower, a leaf, or blossom, but contains
A folio volume? He may read, and read,
And read again, and still find something new,
Something to please, and something to instruct,
Even, in the lowly weed."

Conscious, moreover, that the Most High hath given knowledge to men, that He may be honoured in His wonders, a Christian admireth "the rainbow, and blesseth Him that made it; for it encompasseth the heavens about with the circle of its glory; the hands of the Most High have displayed it." (Eccles xliii.)

"The lovely arch'd Iris

Still seems, as to our childhood's sight,

A midway station given,

For happy spirits to alight,

Betwixt this earth and heaven."

In springtide's emerald veil, and in summer's floral robes, in autumn's russet mantle, and in winter's snowwhite coverlet, there are obvious signs of the Deity's care for his creatures. Proofs, also, of similar benevolence may be discerned in the day's golden dawn, refulgent noon, and majestic decline.

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The God of nature, whose pervading power
Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower;
He bids each blossom His quickening word obey,
Or to each ling'ring bloom enjoins delay.

He forms the bud, He swells the ripening fruit,

And gives the flowers their thousand lovely hues,
Dispenses sun or rain, as best may suit,

And bids cool night impart refreshing dews."

At length, o'er the woody hills, and pasture vales, the slowly rising moon suspends her silvery lamp. In the contemplation of similar scenes of beauty, a traveller may recal to mind, that the first Author of loveliness made all these things. (Wisd. 13.)

In the Garden of Eden's terrestrial paradise, Adam's consort, the mother of the human race, might well exclaim:

"All seasons have their change-all please alike:
Sweet is the breath of morn-her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun,
When first, on the delightful land, he spreads
His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
Glistening with dew; fragrant the fertile earth,
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of grateful ev'ning mild; then silent night,
With wisdom's solemn bird; and the fair moon-
Likewise the gems of heaven, her starry train."

The ignorance of faith may be excused, but the ignorance of presumption is not to be overlooked. The seasons' successions, doubtless, suggested to a poet, the following lines:

"The blasts of autumn drive the wing'd seeds

O'er the earth; next come the snows and rain,
And frosts, and storms, which dreary winter leads
Out of his Scythian cave, a savage train.
Behold! spring sweeps over the world again,
Shedding soft dews from her etherial wing;
Flowers on the mountains, fruits over the plains,
And music on the waves and woods she flings,
And love on all that lives, and calm on lifeless things."

But if a man's mind has taken a fitful turn, let him scale the summit of the loftiest rock, and contemplate the expanse of sea or land before him. In elevated regions, as was before noticed, religious emotion is usually predominant. Philsophy's first teacher, the patriarch Seth, dwelt, it is said, on a mountain. Seth's descendants, also, thereon occupied themselves in praising the Most High.

"Hence, often from the steep

Of echoing hill, or thicket, might be heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,

Sole, or responsive, to each others note,
Hymning their great Creator."

Illustrating Jehovah's strength, a prophet says, that in His might, He can "thrash the mountains, and break them in pieces; and make the hills as chaff. (Is. 41.) Moreover, from liquids as well as solids, there is wisdom. to be learnt:

:

"See the rivers how they run

Through woods, and meads, and shade, and sun;
Sometimes swift, sometimes slow,

Wave succeeding wave they go.

A various journey to the deep,
Like human life to roam and sleep;
Thus is nature's temple wrought

To instruct our wandering thought."

In fact, nature is formed to raise man's mind above things terrene to the living God," who made the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them: who left not himself without testimony, doing good from heaven, giving rains and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." (Acts, xx.)

CHAPTER VII.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE ANNUAL SEASONS-SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER.

"AND God said, Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons." (Gen. i.) "Thou hast made all the borders of the earth: the summer and the spring were formed by Thee." (Ps. lxxiii.) "All things have their seasons, and, in due time, all things pass away, under heaven." (Eccles. iii.) "Festival days, new moons, and Sabbaths, are but shadows of things to come." (Coloss. xi. 16.)

"Well did God teach the way that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set
From centre to circumference, whereon,

In contemplation of created things,

By steps, we may ascend to heaven."

In addition to the testimonies already adduced, much truthful and interesting evidence, also, is presented to us by the year's quarterly seasons.

Than these, in illustrating God's providence, no better themes, peradventure, can be selected to exercise the imagination of the poet, the research of the philosopher, and the piety of the divine. The founder of experimental science admits, that "the knowledge of man is

F

as water, some descending from above, and some springing from beneath: the one informed by the light of nature, the other inspired by divine revelation." Besides appealing to common occurrences, therefore, our logic should be based on God's own messages, which have been "written for our learning." Backed by Scripture authority, nature's witnesses are unimpeachable. For this reason, then, if for no other, a student should "search diligently in the book of the Lord.” (Is.)

By a sacred historian we are informed "that the Lord covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the service of man." (Ps. cxlvi.) "When the Most High uttereth His voice," says another prophet, "the waters are multiplied in heaven. He lifteth up the clouds from the end of the earth. He hath turned lightning into rain, and brought forth the wind out of his treasures. He it is the Lord of Hosts is His

name." (Jer.)

In the Genesis of the Bible it is stated that "the great luminaries of the firmament were placed there for signs and seasons." (Gen. iv.) After a storm the welcome appearance of Iris, through the flitting clouds, recals to mind the solemn covenant at the flood. "Look upon

the rainbow," says the son of Sirach, "and bless Him that made it. It is very beautiful in its brightness; it encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory; the hands of the Most High have displayed it." (Eccles. xliii.)