"Thou renewest the face of the earth, Psalm civ. 30."

THE season now passing away is interesting. The time of the Spring is one which diffuses joy and pleasure through all animated creation. The Earth, as if waking from a long sleep, puts forth afresh its energies, and life appears in every direction. The fields acquire new verdure-the trees new foliage and the soil receiving the seed for the future harvest, causes it to germinate, and send forth the tender blade. The external aspect of nature is clothed with various and delightful hues, the charm of the season and the promise of future fruit. Everywhere the eye is enlivened by scenes of beauty; the senses are regaled by odours carried on every breeze; and the ear is charmed by the voice of the songsters of the grove, and of thousands of living beings glad to attest the joy and pleasure the return of the spring

communicates unto them.

We are too apt to pass over these interesting changes in the aspect of external nature, without deriving from them those sentiments of gratitude to the great author of all good, and those lessons of obedience and spiritual wisdom they are adapted to impart. We enjoy the change, and forget its author. We delight ourselves in the beauties of a renewed creation, and do not sufficiently recognize the hand that produces them. Hence the tendency to deify nature, or to speak of the works of creation as the works of nature, and to forget that all these delightful changes occur under the direction, control, and agency, of a wise, faithful, and beneficent Creator and governor, who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. Whatever may be the laws of the universe, they were impressed on it by his power and skill, and to him should the ascription be made at this beautiful season, "Thou renewest the face of the earth."

In the consideration of this subject, we should not be unmindful of the importance of the season, and of the benevolence and fidelity, as well as the power of the Deity, as displayed in its periodical return. He who causeth "the sun to know his going down," and appointed the lights of heaven to be for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years, has said "while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." And in their regular and VOL. 5.-N. S.

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periodical return, God bears witness to his own power, fidelity, and beneficence. He may be forgotten by thoughtless and ungrateful man, but this, instead of diminishing the value of his gifts," who daily loadeth us with benefits," in reality increases them, and exhibits him as 'kind to the unthankful and the evil." Should he interrupt this order in any respect, should he withhold the spring time, and perpetuate the winter, a circumstance which the ingratitude and atheism of men might fully justify; how soon would desolation and dismay overspread the earth! What terror would seize all ranks and orders of men! But God is good, and though men forget or deny him, he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust ;" and for the happiness and well-being of his creatures, "renews the face of the earth." There are lessons too of a spiritual kind which are suggested by this season, some of which may be glanced at in this paper. The strong resemblance that subsists between the works of nature and those of grace, is often recognized in the inspired volume. The operation of divine truth on the heart, the influence of grace, and the results which are secured, are frequently presented to our minds under the beautiful imagery provided by the works of nature. Thus Moses says, "Hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain; my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." So it is foretold of Messiah's reign: "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, and as showers that water the earth." And again, without alluding to the instructive parable of the sower, "As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

In comparing the works of grace with those of nature at this season, when God renews the face of the earth, it is proper for us to notice the state of singular unproductiveness and death, out of which the beauty and life of this season sprung. A few months ago, and the entire of the external world was covered with apparent death. The trees were bare, and to all appearance dead; their juices were stagnant, and their former foliage gone. The fields presented a barren and desolate appearance; chilled or petrified by cold, or covered with a garment of snow. All life seemed extinct. But now, those trees are adorned with abundant foliage and with the richest bloom, and those fields with beautiful living and thriving verdure; and it seems almost as if there was a new creation. God has renewed the face of the earth." For death there is life, for deformity beauty, and for the dreary aspect of desolation, the cheering presence of light and gladness.

And what was the state of spiritual death and sterility out of which those were brought who are renewed in the spirit of their mind? Was it not once winter with them, and were they not in a spiritual sense, as totally unproductive in all "the fruits of righteousness" as can well be conceived? They had no spiritual life. They cherished no thoughts of God, or desires after the enjoyment of his love. They had no inclination to obey or to honour him. God was not in all their thoughts. They had minds, capacities, and powers; but these were cold, insensible, and dead in relation to

the highest, holiest, and happiest exercises. Until they were touched by the power of God, they were without life. As then, when surveying the interesting and delightful change which external nature has received, we feel bound reverently to acknowledge the hand and agency of Jehovah; so when we trace his "noblest wonders," it behoves us to recognize the same power. It is God that has quickened us, by his word and spirit.

The reluctance with which the former yielded to the present genial season, suggests another point of legitimate comparison. Reasoning philosophically we might argue that as the ascent of the sun towards the zenith is gradual, the transition of the season from the frigid to the vernal, would be equally gentle and almost imperceptible. Experience, however, is at variance with such a theory. The "ruffian blasts" of winter, as one of our poets calls them, do not so quietly retire. Often, after a succession of several days, or even weeks, of agreeable and, as we are ready to say, seasonable warmth, they will return upon us in all their force, bearing on their bosom storms of chilling sort, cutting us to the quick, and leaving behind them the full resemblance of the rudest winter. And, not unfrequently, when the season is considerably advanced, and we are all ready to apply the language of the song, "Lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land," there yet come such severe visitations as for a time to blight our prospects and blast our hopes.

Does not this resemble the progress of the work of grace, as observed in those around us, or experienced in our own minds? Often have our hopes been excited as to individuals; we have been happy to imagine that grace reigned within them, and that they were really on "the Lord's side;" when alas, some unforseen temptation, some new developement of "the old man" within them has denied our conclusions. In our own minds and course, we have all felt the same thing. We can look back to the outset of our christian course, and mark the time when "our steps were almost gone, our feet had well nigh slipped," and when, but for great mercy, we had been borne down to "the gates of death." And yet, for our life is a conflict, we have to seek for " grace to help in time of need," in order to maintain the ascendancy of the devout and holy, over the debased and hateful principles lurking about us. The same power in both cases produces the desired results.

The opening Spring is the occasion of involuntary joy to the spectator. Every one, almost in spite of his temper, his constitutional dulness, or depression, is sensible of a degree of pleasure arising from the first indications of the coming Spring. The swelling bud, the opening bloom give delight. Even those shrubs the least valued, that happen, from their nature, to be the earliest in their bloom, acquire an interest in our estimation on this account. They are the promise of a brighter season, and of new life and beauty to the world around.

Every benevolent and intelligent mind is delighted with the first indications of spiritual life. "There is joy among the angels in the presence of God over one sinner that repenteth." When first the sinner cherishes conviction, and the sentiments of contrition; when he becomes dissatisfied with himself, and retires to "ponder the path of his feet," and to confess his sins before God and seek his mercy; when he lifts at first his tearful eye the cross of Christ, and calls on him as his only Saviour and Redeemer,

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and meditates on his word that he may know "the way of God more perfectly," the angels of God hover over him with delight, and hail these buds of promise with rapture and with praise. Nor is the Church on earth uninterested in the outward evidences of such exercises. The manifestation of a renewed and gracious temper is ever pleasing to a pious mind; and when they are seen in our children, over whom we yearn and pray, and when they multiply in our congregations, for which our warmest solicitudes are excited, the joy is unspeakable. They rejoice that God is fulfilling again his promise, "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon their offspring; and they shall spring up as among the grass, and as willows by their water courses. One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."

But while there is an enjoyment experienced by the intelligent spectator of the changes effected in this beautiful season, this joy appears also to pervade the entire of creation itself. Which way soever we turn our eyes, there seems to be enjoyment. The feathered tribes rejoice in the Spring, and fill the air with their melodies. The insect race come forth from their cells with delight, and some take wing and vie with larger and nobler forms in the rapidity and sportiveness of their flight. The beasts of the field are filled with enjoyment, while they roam over the verdant hills, or graze along the meads. The rivers and streamlets gurgle and run with renewed vigour, and their varied inhabitants, both small and great, become playful, and luxuriate in the milder and brighter sky reflected on the glassy surface of the element of their abode. Even the vegetable classes themselves, though void of real sensation, appear not less to sympathize with, than contribute to, the common joy. Adorned in their richest dress, putting forth their new and most vigorous efforts, all appear at once instinct with life and bliss. Is there not joy experienced in the mind itself that becomes the subject of the renewing grace of God, as well as in that of the interested observers of such a change? Whose are the real sweets of the joys of pardon, of hope, and of divine love? Who is it that plumes his new fledged wings, and soars with delight into the newly discovered and serener skies? Who is sensible of the extacies of love to Christ, and confidence in him? The young and happy convert himself. His heart has known his own bitterand a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy." It is he that, recovered and renewed by divine grace, "rejoices with joy unspeakable, and full of glory."

ness,

And when the warmer gales of heavenly grace visit the Church of God, raising what was low-quickening what was dead-infusing new fervour into devotion-imparting heavenly vigour and happy spontaneity into obedience and giving success to their varied benevolent efforts: how happy is their communion! How delightful their Sabbaths! How blessed their ordinances! Not the beauties of external nature, not the joy of the animated world, can compare with the felicities of those who experience these visits of mercy and grace. O let us ardently seek them, and devoutly pray, "Come from the four winds, O breath of the Lord, and breathe upon us, that we may live!"

The Spring season is admonitory to youth. It is then that the labourer casts his seed into the earth, and waits for the coming months to secure his reward. If there be no labour in Spring, and no promise, there will be no