THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 109 



■which is now the subject of contemplation ! Such 

 scenes as these the language of sacred history and pro- 

 phecy continually bring before us ; and this for no idle 

 purpose, but that our hearts and memories and imagi- 

 nations may all be thereby more deeply engaged by 

 objects which are naturally suited to excite in us the 

 highest and noblest emotions ! Who can doubt that 

 the sacred narratives would have had somewhat less of 

 that general interest which they now inspire, had the 

 scenes which they describe taken place in a flat or dull 

 country ? And who does not see that the writers who 

 describe or refer to these scenes so frequently, must 

 have been men possessed of a genuine and ardent sen- 

 sibility for those grand and romantic features of nature 

 which presented themselves to view in the Holy Land? 

 Let it not be thought extravagant to suppose that 

 the mountainous scenery of England, and even of this 

 county, may awaken feelings as holy, and exalted, 

 and as profitable as that to which it has become almost 

 fashionable in the present day to perform a long pilgri- 

 mage. What, therefore, though it be not our privilege 

 to ascend an Alpine summit from whence we may com- 

 mand the view of kingdoms, instead of counties ? — 

 What though it be denied to us to follow the footsteps 



