THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 49 



nature and its laws are altogether subservient. Occa- 

 sional instances of drought render this truth more 

 apparent, just as the stopping of a single wheel in a ma- 

 chine enables us the better to perceive the exquisite 

 perfection of its parts and movements, and to acknow- 

 ledge the skill of him who constructed it. But inspired 

 testimony throws an additional light upon this conclu- 

 sion, from the history of the ancient people of God. 

 When, for instance, we observe the windows of heaven 

 shut up, as they were over a guilty land for the space of 

 more than three years, at the prayer of Elijah, we see 

 that the hand which made the machine, still directs 

 and controls it for great moral purposes. Hence 

 we are brought to the same inference as Elihu, ** By 

 watering he wearieth the thick cloud, he scattereth the 

 bright cloud. And it is turned round about by his coun- 

 sels, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth 

 them upon the face of the earth. He causeth it to 

 come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for 

 mercy." (Job xxxvii. 11 — 13.) 



But to return to the Rainbow, although it is gene- 

 rally known, that this meteor is the effect of the falling 

 shower, it is probable that many are still content to 

 remain ignorant of the precise natural cause which pro- 



