THH CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 193 



planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his 

 fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and 

 whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." 



But for those who live without God in the world 

 there is no consolation of this kind in store. Their 

 condition is infioitely more mournful than any thing 

 which is presented by the falling leaf, and the barren 

 and naked branches of the trees of the forest. The 

 forest will burst forth into fresh verdure under the 

 genial influences of spring ; but who can say that 

 those hearts will ever flourish again in the beauty of 

 holiness, which have long lain withering under the 

 curse of sin and unbelief? He only, who knows all 

 hearts, can determine to what lengths a sinner may go 

 till he places himself beyond the hope of mercy ; but 

 no man may receive the grace of God in vain, and to 

 every man the warning-voice is addressed, */ Now also 

 the axe is laid at the root of the tree ; every tree 

 therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn 

 down and cast into the fire." (Matt. iii. 10.) 



* Spiritv proud sph-it, ponder thy state, 

 If thine the leafs lightness, not thine the leafs fate ; 

 It may flutter, and glisten, and wither, and die j 

 And heed not our pity, and ask not our sigh j 



