THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 39 



up the language of the same song for himself, " They 

 that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth 

 forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed shall doubtless 

 come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." 

 (Psalm 126.) 



Inspiring, therefore, as the present Season is to the 

 highest and best hopes of the Church, and affording as 

 it does the strongest arguments to spiritual exertion, we 

 should not quit the review of it without having our 

 thoughts carried forward to that sublime event in 

 man's desti y — the great day of the Resurrection. 

 The operation of sowing the seed in the ground, is one 

 which it appears from the highest authority bears a strik- 

 ing resemblance to that death of the human frame, which 

 is to be preparatory to its future life. Referring to his 

 dissolution and resurrection, the Son of God observes, 

 ** Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat 

 fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone ; bat if it 

 die, it bringeth forth much fruit." (John xii. 24.) St. 

 Paul, following out the same idea, appeals to it as an 

 irresistible proof of that doctrine which lies at the 

 threshhold of our faith : ** But some man^will say, How 

 are the dead raised up, and with what body do they 

 come ? Thou fool, that which thou so west is not quick- 



