Page images
PDF
EPUB

pendicular chain were cut off from the highest, there would then bè no chain; and if, on the other hand, the highest were cut off, the others would fall to the ground: Just so would it be with human society. How much reason have men then to adore the Creator of all for his infinitely wise disposal of human affairs?

}

309

CONTEMPLATION X.

ON OBSERVING A SWALLOW.

WELCOME, Sweet harbinger of summer! Quick as an arrow newly launched from the bow of an Indian thou fliest along. Terrible as the war-hoop sounds in the savage ear, no less so does thy shrill, or twittering note, to that of the insect tribe, which thou now pursuest through the air with open mouth.

By whom wert thou awakened from thy long repose, or rather advertised, in distant climes, of the setting in of the insect season in our island, that thou art so opportunely come? Come, while yet the vernal months remain, anxious, as it were, that thou mightest lose no opportunity of improving the precious approaching season.

O that I and all men living, who are on our way to the other world would learn a lesson from this bird of passage! even to improve our precious seasons of grace. Strange! that man who is taught more than the beasts of the earth, and made wiser than the fowls of heaven, Job xxxv. 11. should be outdone by the stork in the heaven, the turtle, the crane, and the swallow, which all know and "observe the time of their coming." With these ancient Israel were reproached,. who knew not the judgment of the Lord, Jer. viii. 7. And by these may not I, and many a one else, be put to shame? who alas! have too much neglected, and still do, to improve the precious ordinances of the gospel, not only in the spring-time of youth, when every mental power is most lively, and easily impressed; but also in the summer and prime of life.

The want of the saving knowledge of the mercy of God, made our blessed Lord and Saviour weep over Jerusalem, saying, "If "thou hadst known, even thou, at least in "this thy day, the things which belong unto "thy peace, but now they are hid from "thine eyes," Luke xix. 42. and the want

eth

6.6

of this ought to make every one who feeleth it weep for himself, and at the same time to bless the Lord, that the things which belong unto his peace are not yet hid from his eyes, but that still the door of mercy standopen, and God is yet saying, Behold, મંદ now is the accepted time, behold now is "the day of salvation. To-day, if ye will "hear his voice, harden not your heart. "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; "for why will ye die, O house of Israel ?" 2 Cor. vi. 2. Psalm xcv. 7, 8. Ezek. xxxiii.

11.

To behold the swallow now again in our climate is truly delightful, and teacheth me the truth of what the wise man saith of the God of nature, that "he hath made every thing beautiful in his time," Eccl. iii. 11.

If then every thing be beautiful in its season, and we are pleased to see these birds of passage, in this joyous time of the year, again re-visit our land, how incomparably more delightful is it to see, in the springtime of childhood and youth, men coming to, and attending on the ordinances of the

« PreviousContinue »