THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 9 



to his view as through a mist, in which he sees but 

 darkly the face of the Sun of Righteousness. His 

 portion, however, it is to know that " light is sown for 

 the righteous ;" that God is faithful to his promise ; 

 and that every day brings nearer the coming of that 

 happy season, when all that the prophets and saints of 

 old have predicted shall be fully realized. Hence 

 the state of the Christian is one of anxious expectancy, 

 in which he has always to be standing as it were upon 

 this connecting point between two worlds ; watching 

 with eager eye that chariot of nature, which as it rolls 

 silently onwards, carries along with it the chariot of 

 providence and of grace ; has the eye of a Spirit in all 

 its wheels ; and is hasting at every revolution to that 

 bourn, where the voice of the Divine power which 

 regulates the whole machine shall at length stay 

 its progress, and utter the decree, •* Sing O ye heavens ; 

 for the Lord hath done it ; shout, ye lower parts of 

 the earth ; break forth into singing, ye mountains, O 

 forest, and every tree therein, for the Lord hath 

 redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel." 

 (Isai. xliv. 23.) 



Such are the reflections which every true Christian 

 ought to cherish. The darkest season should not quench 



