heavenly truths. "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?"* If we cannot comprehend even the outward sign, how can we comprehend the spiritual reality signified? + There is, if we may venture the observation, a real ground for our Lord's instruction by analogy, which we may not, at first, perceive. He knew the inmost cause of every effect, the eternal nature and dependence of all things. He not only looked upon the external form of things, He knew their inward life and opera- ' tion; He saw them in the spirit; He saw every link in connection with the whole.-We are apt to separate natural truth from revealed truth; but Truth is one: it has differences of form, but not of essence; it may be considered * See likewise, John xii. 24; and I Cor. xv. 35-38; and ver. 41-44. + The Apocalypse is a book of hieroglyphics, of heavenly emblems, and it is said, "blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." In the two last chapters, particularly, the assemblage of glories dazzles the mind, the grandest objects and the most precious things in creation, are used as symbols.-What must the inward realities themselves be, of which all the bright and glowing objects described, are but the outward signs or forms! (1 Cor. ii. 9.) as a manifestation of the life of God.* Life is one in its essence, various in its forms and manifestations. All creation is a procession from God, a multiplication of forms of lifethere is consequently an internal harmony between the parts of creation. There are analogies of which we are continually making new discoveries; there is an obvious analogy between the animal and vegetable kingdomsthere is an analogy between these and the mineral kingdom. There is frequently an analogy to be traced between some of the divine operations, and the imperfect operations of man -because the will and intellect of man still retain some vestige of their heavenly origin. As there is an essential harmony between the different manifestations of the infinite mind, there must be an analogy between nature and Revelation. Were we more accustomed to the sacred path, we might trace this analogy in many wonders of which we have now no idea. In man lie the impediments to heavenly knowledge; hence, at present clouds and darkness rest upon the greater part of the subject: still The fiat of God creates ;+ His Word is life; and we may think of His universal Spirit as the power of life, the operator, and the light of life. + Gen. i. 3. ‡ John i. 1—4, &c.; viii. 12; xi. 25. we have, here and there, a bright sun-beam illuminating portions of the whole, and leading us to believe that in the regions yet unexplored, there exist relations more entire and beautiful than those already manifested. We would particularly observe that the book of nature and the book of Revelation must be studied hand in hand; each will throw light upon the other. Let us as much as possible refer every thing to God; all wisdom, all power, all good, are from Him. In studying the works of creation, in viewing the efforts of the human mind in natural science, let us beware of excluding from our view, the operation of the Divine Spirit; let us rather seek that the Divine Spirit may Himself guide and be present with us in every research, and render every fresh discovery of truth a means of drawing us nearer to Himself.* To return to a practical view of the subject as connected with education. We should endeavour so to train the youthful mind as to prepare it for a spiritual exercise of its powers; * The study of natural science should never be pursued independently of that of the holy Scriptures, and of human nature. The study of human nature as it is, has a tendency to humble us; the study of Scripture shews us the source of the disorder and evil we behold, and points out the remedy for it. we should lead the pupil to hold converse with God in His works-to form habits of reflection -to pray for the divine illumination :-we should aid him in following those paths of wisdom which lead directly to the fountain of happiness.* A key being furnished, every instructor should search, meditate, and pray: unless we are ourselves instructed, how shall we instruct?-each should advance as God leads, and as far as God leads; each should communicate to others according to what he receives. Let it be remembered, that "as the spirit of the life worketh, so the spirit of the understanding conceiveth"-let us desire no light but that which proceeds from the light of Life, from the union of the heart, the will, the affections with Jesus Christ. Knowledge alone, or knowledge which is not founded in humility and the love of God, "puffeth up"-" a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."+ Let us, in the first place seek that the love of God may abide in our hearts, then let us wait the portion of light which He may be pleased to communicate. "Thou art the source and centre of all minds, At random without honour, hope, or peace. |