CONCLUSION. 189 



oiu* being ia Him ; that we are dependent, not 

 merely on Lis upholding power in sustaining 

 our life and breath, and in supplying us with 

 food, but upon his restraining power in pre- 

 venting those potent elements of evil which 

 surround us on every hand, from overwhelming 

 us with sudden destruction. And while we 

 may, therefore, all most heartily unite with the 

 psalmist in the grateful song of praise, " give 

 thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good : for his 

 mercy endureth for ever," it becomes those 

 who have not yet sought an interest in Christ, 

 who have not yet fled for refuge to the hope set 

 before them in the gospel, to beware lest the 

 "great day of God's wrath" should overtake 

 them while yet at a distance from him. 



A second inference is still more plainly sug- 

 gested, namely, the wonderful wisdom and good- 

 ness of God, as manifested in the adaptation of 

 the palm tribe and its products to supply the 

 wants and minister to the comforts of man. 

 One of its most remarkable features in this 

 respect is, the capability with which many 

 species are endowed, of existing amid regions 

 so arid as to preclude the possibility of the 

 existence of ahnost any other vegetable. Yet, 

 amid such sandy wastes, the date palm affords 

 its grateful shade, and yields its delicious fruit ; 



