212 



CONCLUSION. 



" Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall 

 not pass away." Of this fact we may be fully assured, 

 that as the volume of nature and the volume of reve- 

 lation are given by the same Author, so there is between 

 them a perfect harmony. 



Let us take, then, the volume which God has given 

 us, for our constant guide ; 



For if his word once teach us, shoot a ray 



Through all the heart's dark chambers, and reveal 



Truths undiscern'd but by that holy light; 



Then all is plain. Philosophy, baptiz'd 



In the pure fountain of eternal love, 



Has eyes indeed ; and viewing all she sees, 



As meant to indicate a God to man. 



Gives him his praise, and forfeits not her own. 



Such a philosophy, however, must be that of one 

 whose heart is renewed. In other words, he must 

 be " born again :" for, " if any man be in Christ, he 

 is a new creature ; old things are passed away ; behold, 

 all things are become new." Under the influence of 

 new principles, he is the subject of new hopes and 

 fears, new joys and sorrow^s, and he pursues thence- 

 forward a new course. 



This all-important change, which is absolutely neces- 

 sary to our present and eternal happiness, is invariably 



