104 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



and cheerless as they may appear in themselves, we 

 should sadly mistake did we conclude that they are a 

 blemish in the works of God. His wisdom is here as 

 elsewhere apparent in making all things subservient to 

 the wants of man, and even to the most inanimate parts 

 of the creation, the mountains and hills to minister to 

 his praise. (Psalm cxlviii.) 



Many, indeed, are the scriptural associations which 

 connect themselves with mountains, and some of them 

 are in the highest degree interesting. Nor is this a 

 matter of surprise, when we know that Palestine was a 

 country richly diversified with hill and dale ; not how- 

 ever, be it observed, of a mountainous character through- 

 out, like Switzerland, but more perhaps, resembling the 

 Highlands of Scotland, and what the district of the 

 Cornish Tors would be with a richer soil and a warmer 

 climate. Many of the most remarkable events of the 

 Old and New Testament took place on mountain 

 heights, and these not much greater in elevation than 

 some of the highest hills in Devonshire and Cornwall.* 



• For example, mount Carmel, which ii about 2000 feet high, 

 some say 1800 feet. Mount Tabor about a mile. This is pro- 

 bably the highest of the mountains of the Holy Land, with the 

 deception of mount Lebanon, which belongs rather to Syria, 

 The highest land in Cornwall is Brown-willy, 1368 feet ; but 



