PROLEGOMENA. Ixxxvii. 



shade of trees, may remind him of the perfect 

 state of happiness, and the vigour of manhood ; 

 as afternoon declines he may reflect on the lapsus 

 of all things produced by disobedience, when death 

 was introduced into the world ; and the fall of 

 evening will depict the decline of life, and the 

 bleating sheep and the lowing herds our aspira- 

 tions after the Eternal Shepherd. On this he 

 might be pensive till the dark canopy of night 

 fell around and reminded him of the final close of 

 life, while the stars, constant to their places, and 

 differing from each other in brightness, would call 

 to mind the saints that awaited him above this 

 waning and perisliable abode. Thus then would 

 the scenes of the day furnish reflection on the 

 Law of Nature ; during which he might turn to 

 the village church, and be reminded of the Re- 

 demption of Man. At the six o'clock bell he 

 would remember advent, and the Angel's message 

 to Mary ; at the same sound at noon he might 

 reflect for awhile on the mystery of the Incarnation, 

 and in the evening, of the Passion of our Lord. 

 Our religion is rich in emblems. Look to the 

 cathedral itself ; the spire points to heaven to 

 which we are to aspire ; the cock at the top is 

 an emblem of clerical vigilance, which will help 

 us up to it, for acting as the vane, it turns to the 

 breath of heaven ; the windows are as richly painted 

 with religious history, as the outside is studded 



