THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 79 



portion of the wholesome food of God's word. Thus 

 nurtured and strengthened, every member of the Church 

 in his proper season and place, like the flowers of the 

 garden, adorns the situation which he fills, becomes a 

 bright and beautiful example of godliness in his particu- 

 lar sphere of duty, and abundantly proclaims the wis* 

 dom and goodness of him who transplanted him from 

 the wilderness of this world, to a place where he may 

 adorn and magnify the riches of divine grace. 



A Flower Garden then may be considered as a 

 nursery of sacred wisdom. In comparison with other 

 pleasures, with those which are formed by the world in 

 general, it commends itself by the strongest arguments 

 to the attention of all. * An indulgent Providence,' ob- 

 serves Dr. Young, ' has provided us with irreproveable 

 pleasures ; why are these swept away with an ungrate- 

 ful hand, to make room for poisons of our own deadly 

 composilion in their stead ? Epicurus was in love 

 with his garden ; a garden has ever had the praise 

 and affection of the wise. What is requisite to 

 make a wise and happy man, but reflection and peace? 

 and both of a garden are the natural growth. Nor is 

 a garden only a promoter of a good man's happiness, 

 but a picture of it; and in some sort, shews him to 



