10 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



his faith and dependance upon that God in whose hands 

 are all his times, as well as all his ways. His privilege 

 it is to take the blessing of Jacob to himself; "The 

 Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath thee are the 

 everlasting arms." The divine promises are his constant 

 support under all terrestrial changes ; for he remembers 

 who it is that has said to his people, " Even to your old 

 age I am he, and even to hoar hairs I will carry you." 

 *' Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the 

 earth beneath, for the heavens shall vanish away like 

 smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, 

 and they that dwell therein shall die in like 

 manner, but my salvation shall be for ever, and my 

 righteousness shall not be abolished." (Isai, li. 6.) 

 Thus it is, that on the assurance of God's own word, the 

 Christian watches the eventful changes of his mortal 

 history, whatever they may be, with far more pleasure 

 and gratitude than the naturalist experiences in behold- 

 ing the charming variety of the Seasons ; for it is his 

 peculiar privilege to believe that no change can essentially 

 harm him, that if his Spring, his Summer, and his 

 Autumn are already fled, and the long Winter of the 

 grave is about to descend upon him, still he is only 

 hastening to a land where his sun shall no more go 



