Sacred philosophy of the seasons : illustrating the perfections of God in the phenomena of the year ... Summer / [Henry Duncan].

  • Duncan, Henry, 1774-1846
Date:
1837
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sacred philosophy of the seasons : illustrating the perfections of God in the phenomena of the year ... Summer / [Henry Duncan]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    quires, as if by intuition, mature and exalted views of the things of God; his heart becomes all at once, as it were, established in grace, and depends simply and en- tirely on the merits of his Redeemer; he is separated from the world, yet eager to do good, and to communi- cate instruction to those who still continue its slaves ; lie has already arrived at the full strength and wisdom of manhood, and adorns the doctrine of his Lord and Saviour. But this is not the usual course. Alas ! in how many instances do we observe a slowness of spiritual expan- sion, which marks how little energy there is in the will we exert to call forth the powers of the soil. Notwith- standing all the advantages bestowed by the Heavenly Husbandman,—the means he employs to clear the field of its noxious produce, to manure it, to dress it, and to sow good seed,—how feeble the vegetation! Spring passes away, and summer arrives, yet the progress is scarcely perceptible. The sun shines, and the rain descends, but the soil is cold and barren. It seems as if the seasons would run their round, and winter, when it arrives, would find the plant as it was left in spring, without fruit, and of stinted growth. But still there is encouragement. If the seed has really taken firm root, it will grow. We are “ God’s husbandry.” It is He who “ gives the increase.” The sky may frown, and tempests may blow, but he who said to the winds, “ Peace, be still,” will not forsake his own. If we have energies which we must exert, we have also strength to help us. He who has commanded us to grow in grace, has also promised that his grace shall be sufficient for us. We know to whom we may freely apply for aid. Christ came, not merely that we might have life, but that we “ might have it more abundantly.” If we are, indeed, under the culture of the Divine Husbandman, he will perfect the good work which he has begun in us. Let us, then, take courage, and open our blossoms to the genial influences which he .sheds around us.