180 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



thing behind them but scenes of decay and cheerless 

 gloom, which are the best image of that declining age, 

 when man is warned by every token, that his day is 

 past, and his night is approaching. There is, however, 

 the same wisdom and goodness apparent in the designs 

 of Providence, whether we consider this season in it- 

 self, or contemplate that of which it affords a beautiful 

 emblem. It is well known that twilight is highly be- 

 neficial, inasmuch as it affords to the organs of vision 

 that gentle transition from light to darkness, but for 

 which they must have suffered a sudden and daily 

 shock in passing from the glare of a meridian sun, into 

 midnight gloom. Similar is the benefit to the physical 

 world in general by such a season as Autumn. We 

 are not now plunged at once from the height of sum- 

 mer into the depths of winter, but we approach the 

 latter gradually. In the declining temperature, our 

 bodies are insensibly adapted to sustain the approaching 

 frosts and snows ; and as the charms of nature gently 

 steal away from us, we become at length willing to ex- 

 change the bloom of summer, for the stern and hoary 

 aspect of winter. Thus also it is with man. Old age 

 does not come upon him at once. He descends as 

 gently into the vale of years, as the sun sinks in the 



