THB CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 85 



to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much 

 more clothe you, O ye of little faith ?" (Matth. vi. 

 28 — 30.) What a striking comparison is this, and how 

 beautifully is the anxiety of the disciples about their 

 raiment reproved by a simple reference to the Divine 

 care which is bestowed even upon the perishable pro . 

 ductions of a day ! How gentle and yet at the same 

 time how forcible the admonition which is thus conveyed 

 to the heart of the weak believer ! In what an endear- 

 ing light does the concern and sympathy of his 

 Heavenly Father display itself towards him when he 

 looks at the lilies, and is taught to remember that the 

 prodigality of skill and beauty which is lavished upon 

 them affords but a faint idea of the merciful Providence 

 which is so constantly and so richly engaged in behalf 

 of him, and of all his temporal as well as spiritual 

 concerns ! What a beautiful school of piety then is 

 the Flower Garden when viewed in this light ! Here 

 let the Christian learn what flower he most resembles in 

 the graces of his character. Here also let him learn 

 more and more the necessity of faith in him, and con- 

 formity to his holiness, who was once the noblest flower 

 in the garden of God's Church — the emblem of all that 

 is pure, sweet and lovely — the pattern of all true dig- 



I 



