96 THE FLORIST. 



SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 



The Seasons. — The coming on of spring has lately reminded me 

 of the fact, that only two divisions of the year are noticed in the 

 Bible, which, as our translators render them, are summer and winter. 

 In searching into the reason of this, I could neither be satisfied with 

 the thought that seed-time and harvest, mentioned in the first text of 

 the Bible wherein these words occur (Gen. viii. 23), pointed to our 

 spring and autumn, nor with the reflection that the transition from 

 summer and winter is, in the clime where the Bible was written, too 

 sudden to aflE'ord the mention of intermediate seasons ; I was con- 

 vinced there was some dee^jer reason than either of these, and accord- 

 ingly searched into the meaning of Tp (kitz) and P]"",n (chireph), the 

 two words which are always translated * summer' and ' winter.' The 

 result of the investigation is so interesting, that I shall request the 

 Editor of the Florist to lay it before his readers. Kitz, according to 

 the learned Dr. Parkhurst, is derived from the verb to awake, as 

 found in a very interesting series of Hebrew texts, including Daniel 

 xii. 2, where the awaking plainly signifies the resurrection. Kitz 

 therefore assuredly signifies spring as well as summer: and if I might 

 venture to point out the spiritual instruction to be gained through 

 one word being made to comprehend the whole period from the first 

 bud of spring to the full blush of summer floweriness, I observe that 

 the awakening of any soul is the all-important point to be ascertained, 

 because that ensures and includes all the rest. There may be but 

 a little symptom of spiritual life, but it is like the first bud of spring, 

 the harbinger of all that is to follow ; for when spring arrives, it does 

 notteach us to look back to winter but forwards to summer. 



Turning again to my Hebrew Lexicon, I find chireph is as equally 

 expressive, and as large in its signification. It is literally the stripping- 

 season. That it was the time for ploughing w^e learn from Proverbs 

 XX. 4, " The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold," where 

 the w^ord is chireph, elsewhere rendered ' winter.' That it was a time 

 of rain, when there were no singing-birds and no flowers, we learn 

 from Cant. ii. 11, 12, where those pleasant things are mentioned as 

 signs that winter is past, and its rain over and gone. Let us, then, 

 keep in mind these broad and marked distinctions. There are only 

 two states for the soul, life or death, although these two states may 

 be developed outwardly in diflferent degrees, like the two seasons 

 which are signified by kitz and chireph of our Bibles. Let each 

 one, then, inquire during this spring, whilst all nature is awaking. Is 

 my awakened season arrived } Is my winter past, and over and gone ? 

 And if those evidences that are necessary to a joyful reply in the 

 affirmative be now wanting, address yourselves immediately to Him 

 to whom alone the power belongeth to give summer instead of 

 winter. 



Amaranths. — Many who have admired, and perhaps cultivated 

 the pretty and enduring little flowers that bear the name of Amaranths, 



