THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 61 



God shouted for joy;" when the earth blossomed forth 

 into unnumbered beauties beneath its Creator's first 

 blessing; when sin had not yet cursed the ground 

 for man's sake ; and man himself, the lord of this 

 lower world, walked forth amidst the charms of Eden, 

 to make his first delicious banquet upon the tree of 

 life. 



Our great Poet Milton has most happily pictured the 

 sensations of Adam, upon his first awakening into 

 being, and beholding the beauties of the newly-created 

 world; and they are no less adapted to describe the 

 face of nature, and the feelings which must be inspired 

 in some degree with every returning Spring, in the 

 bosoms of those who are susceptible of any right 

 impression : — 



About me round I saw 



Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, 

 And liquid lapse of murmuring streams ; by these 

 Creatures that liv'd, and mov'd, and walk'd, or flew, 

 Birds on the branches warbling ; all things smiled ; 

 With fragrance, and with joy my heart o'erflow'd. 



•Thou Sun, said I, fair light. 



And thou enlighten'd Earth, so fresh and gay. 

 Ye hills, and dales, ye rivers, woods and plains. 

 And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, 

 Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here i 



