venly guests under the shade of a tree? Gen. xviii. 4---9. And the angel of the Lord appeared to his servant. Moses in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bush. Exod. iii. 2. Nay, Jehovah himself condescended to call unto Moses out of the midst of the bush, Exod. iii. 4; and he is said to have dwelt in the bush. Deut. xxxiii. 16. And in the feast of tabernacles, were not the Israelites commanded to take the boughs of goodly trees, and branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and to rejoice before the Lord their God seven days, and to dwell in booths seven days; that their generations might know that the Lord made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. Lev. xxiii. 40, 42, 43.

And when our Lord was riding in triumph into Jerusalem, branches were cut down from the trees, and strewed in the way, in token of high respect to him. Matt. xxi. 8.

Not to mention the tabernacle, mercy-seat, and the adorning of the temple, in all which

woods were highly honoured, is it not by them we correspond with the different nations of the world? For what are our ships but inverted woods? and has it not been through their means that the gospel hath been carried to all the kingdoms of the earth? As an echo resounds through the wood, so through these means the glad tidings of great joy, which began first to be proclaimed in Jerusalem, have resounded through all the world.

And was it not upon wood our everblessed Lord and Saviour offered himself an. expiatory sacrifice for our sins? Let us then bless God for the bounties of creation, and for making woods to be such a blessing to

man.

As woods have thus tended to the propagation of religion, they have also been made the means of punishing the wicked: Witness that from which the two she-bears issued, which tore the forty and two children that impiously mocked the prophet. 2 Kings, ii. 23, 24. And that wood through which the

rebellious Absalom rode, where the oak caught him by the head, and suspended him between the heaven and the earth, as a monument of divine indignation, and unworthy of a place in either, till Joab came, and thrust him through with his darts; and many a rebel, besides, that day the wood destroyed. 2 Sam. xviii. 7---15.

Hence we see that the Most High, who ruleth over all, can make the blessing of creation prove a curse to the wicked. Whenever I see an arbour, behold a bush, green branches of trees, or spacious woods, may they bring these memorable things to my remembrance; and may I think on such, and improve them as I ought!

True, indeed, groves have been much abused to superstition and idolatrous worship, for which they have often been cut down, and burned with fire, in order that the deluded votaries thereof might be deprived of such opportunities for celebrating the worship of idols, and as a testimony against idolatry.

Groves of themselves naturally tend to strike the mind with a kind of solemn awe, and fit the wanderer through their secret recesses for deep and serious meditation. It was when sitting under the shade of a tree that St. Augustine was converted; and I cannot doubt but many thousands else have either been converted, or at least much improved, with respect to their spiritual interest, by retiring into groves, for the for the purposes of meditation and prayer.

Then, while many are engaged in vain pursuits, trifling amusements, idle and frothy conversation, the task be mine, frequently to retire from the hurry and bustle of life among the shades, to contemplate the glorious perfections of the Author of my being, and what kind of creature I am myself; for what end I was sent into the world, how I am answering that end, how I shall die, and where I shall take up my eternal abode : Thus frequently employing my time, through grace I shall become wiser and better, fitter to live, and fitter to die.

Perhaps to this place some of the ancient druids of our island often retired, for the purpose of worshipping their imaginary deities; and shall I in these recesses forget to adore the true God, who hath manifested his exceeding abundant loving kindness towards man, not only in the works of creation and providence, but, above all, in his work of redemption; as our Lord said in another "If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke, xix. 40. So if I neglect to celebrate his goodness, the very trees, by their cheerful, solemn appearance, would put me to shame, and the birds upon their branches sing out my ingratitude, while they praise him after their kind.

case,

It was when Isaac was going into the field to meditate, he met with the beautiful and comfortable Rebecca; so in the field of meditation we see the beauty, and meet with the comfort of holiness. My meditation of him shall be sweet, saith the sweet singer of Israel. Psalm, civ. 34. And I will meditate of all thy works. Psalm, lxxvii. 12.