54 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



one designed for all ages, and one which is as fresh, 

 beautiful, and as full of promise now, as when it 

 cheered the hopes of righteous Noah and his family 

 more than 4000 years ago. In short, to adopt the lan- 

 guage of an eminent modern poet, — 



* As fresh in yon horizon dark, 



As young its beauties seem, 

 As when the eagle from the ark 



First sported in its beam. 



For faithful to the sacred page, 

 Heav'n still rebuilds its span, 

 Nor shall the type grow pale with age 

 That first spoke peace to man.* 



It is an enquiry upon which we cannot here enter, 

 whether the world before the flood had ever seen a 

 Rainbow.* The sacred narrative seems clearly to im- 

 ply that it had not. It is of more advantage to enquire 

 what was designed by the form of the Rainbow. 

 Many circumstances render it probable that the 

 atmosphere of the earth underwent a great change 



 If Noah had seen a Rainbow before, it is evident that as a 

 sign it could afford him no consolation, or certainty, beyond 

 what he had already. There seems reason to think that the 

 circumstances of the primitive earth were such as not to require 

 rain. See Genesis ii. 5, 6. If the reader wishes further con- 

 firmation on this point, let him consult the work of an able 

 writer of the present day, Dr. Ure's, new System of Geology. 



