MAY. 133 



tions of God they seem to be most completely 

 the effusions of his love of beauty, grace and 

 joy. Of all the natural objects which surround 

 us they are the least connected with our abso- 

 lute necessities. Vegetation might proceed, the 

 earth might be clothed with a sober green ; all 

 the processes of fructification might be per- 

 fected without being attended by the glory 

 with which the flower is crowned ; but beauty 

 and fragrance are poured abroad over the earth 

 in blossoms of endless varieties, radiant evi- 

 dences of the boundless benevolence of the 

 Deity. They are made solely to gladden the 

 heart of man, for a light to his eyes, for a 

 living inspiration of grace to his spirit, for a 

 perpetual admiration. And accordingly, they 

 seize on our affections the first moment that we 

 behold them. With what eagerness do very in- 

 fants grasp at flowers ! As they become older 

 they would live for ever amongst them. They 

 bound about in the flowery meadows like young 

 fawns; they gather all they come near; they 

 collect heaps ; they sit among them, and sort 

 them, and sing over them, and caress them, till 

 they perish in their grasp. 



