134 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



the sea- shore. How glorious an emblem is this of the 

 resurrection of believers at the last day, when this cor- 

 ruptible shall put on incorraption ; and when the nar- 

 row limits that now confine the sleeping dead, shall 

 pour forth its myriads of glorified bodies who have 

 shaken ofi" the bondage of corruption, and who are 

 ready at the blast of the Archangel's trump which shall 

 summon them to the presence of their Father and their 

 God, to bow in humble adoration, and to cast their 

 crowns before the throne of him that liveth for ever 

 and ever ! 



But to return from such musings to the scene imme- 

 diately before us. If we ask the agriculturalist to tell 

 us how the change just alluded to has been efiected, he 

 will probably reply, that his promising crop is the 

 result of favourable weather, of good soil and of rich 

 manure. Surely, however, if we would view this scene 

 aright, we must go at least one step higher, and ac- 

 knowledge the Divine hand exercising its constant 

 control and superintendance over all these its inferior 

 agents. For as •' man doth not live by bread alone, 

 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of 

 God," so also the ground does not yield its increase 

 mnless the blessing of God be upon it. Hence we 



