THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST, 53 



These, when the clouds distil the rosy shower, 

 Shine out distinct adown the watery bow ; 

 While o'er our heads the dewy vision bends 

 Delightful, melting on the fields beneath. 

 Myriads of mingling dies from these result, 

 And myriads still remain ; infinite source 

 Of beauty, ever blushing, ever new;' 



It can scarcely be expected that by a description of 

 this nature, the reader who is previously unac- 

 quainted with these subjects should fully understand 

 all the causes which are concerned in producing the 

 Rainbow. Enough, however, has been said to convey 

 a general idea of the manner in which the sublime 

 spectacle is produced. It is of more importance to our 

 present purpose, to direct the heart of the devout 

 Christian to a consideration of the ends for which this 

 noble object was designed by its Creator. 



Like all the rest of his works, it had a fixed 

 purpose, and was intended to be a sign and seal of 

 his covenant with man to destroy the earth no more 

 with the waters of a flood. (Gen. ix. 13 — 15.) Surely, 

 therefore, we ought never to forget when we see it, 

 that it is an illustrious pledge of the divine mercy and 

 goodness, and is intended to confirm our faith and confi- 

 dence in God. Other pledges and symbols of this nature 

 have had their use, and have passed away ; but here 

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