heavens and the earth depends altogether upon God, who, when he sees fit, " makes the heavens as brass," and the earth as iron. In a climate like ours, where the rains are frequent and occasional, God's agency is but little seen : but in coun- tries where the rains are periodical, the want of them is so severely felt, that the goodness of God in sending them is more sensibly perceived, and more readily acknowledged. But in one place as well as in another, the influences both of heaven and earth are alike dependent upon him, and must be referred to Him as their true, and only, and continual source.]
His bounty and goodness shoidd be gratefully acknowledged by us at this time —
[Extremely beautiful is the description here given of the progress of vegetation, in consequence of a seasonable supply
of rain^ To attempt an illustration of these words
would weaken their force, and reduce their sublimity. But, if a poetical taste alone can qualify us to appreciate their beauty, and to enter into them with a becoming zest, a spiritual taste also is necessary, to lead us to a due improvement of them, and to enable us to realize their full import. However, whether gifted with a poetical imagination or not, let me entreat all to survey the face of the earth ; to see the change that has been wrought on every thing around him : methinks, without any poetic fancy, he may see the smiles of universal nature, and hear the songs and shoutings of a grateful world. And let our hearts respond to the voice of nature, and ascend up in praises and thanksgivings to our bounteous God.]
But let us further view the text,
II. As emblematically describing the yet richer bless- ings of his grace — Besides the primary sense of Scripture, there is frequently a secondary and subordinate meaning, which ought not to be overlooked. In relation to this matter, the New Testament affords us the fullest information, in that it cites many passages in which we should have had no conception of any thing be- yond the literal meaning, if a farther sense had not been unfolded to us by Him whose wisdom cannot err, and whose authority cannot be questioned. The whole 104th Psalm, in appearance, relates to the works of creation and providence; but towards the close of it we are led, though but cursorily and obscurely, to the contemplation of God's spiritual
^ Here repeat the text.
604.1 god's WORKS OF PROVIDENCE AND GRACE. 471
government ; in which view, the psahn is appointed by our Church to be read on the day whereon the out-pouring of the Spirit is more especially com- memorated. The psalm before us may with equal propriety be viewed in the same light ; and the rather, because the images used in our text are frequently applied to that very subject, to represent the influence of God's Spirit on the soul ; " His doc- trine dropping as the rain, and distilling as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass ^"
Let us notice, then, the influence of the Gospel,
1. Upon the world at large —
[Verily, the whole world is one great wilderness ; some few spots only giving any just evidence of cultivation. It is not above one-sixth part of mankind that has even so much as heard of the name of Jesus : and where his Gospel is not preached, sin reigns without control : even religion itself is nothing but a blind and bloody superstition, involving its votaries in every thing that is cruel and detestable. But see where the Gospel has gained an ascendant: look at Britain, for instance, and compare its state at this time with its state previous to the introduction of Christianity : once it was a dreary desert ; but now it blossoms as the rose, and is as the garden of Eden. True it is that the name of Christianity effects but little : it civilizes, indeed, and raises the standard of morals ; but it pro- duces nothing corresponding with the description before us. But when " the word comes, not in word only, but in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assvu'ance," then a great and mighty change is effected : " the Spirit being poured out from on high, the wilderness becomes a fruitful field ; and the fruitful field is so abundant, that it is even counted for a forest"^." Could we but inspect the various settlements where zealous ministers have established churches amongst the savages of different climes, and see the difference between them and their yet uninstructed countrymen, we should have afarjuster notion of the power of the Gospel than we can acquire in the midst of civilized society, where little remains to be added to the external deportment, and where the change effected by the Gospel is chiefly of a spiritual and internal nature. But the whole subject will be more fully open to us, if we view the Gospel as operating — ]