here expressed by the lips may be fixed deeply and immovably in every heart!

Dependent we are, whether we acknowledge it or not. The skill of man may be successfully exerted in the construction of the plough, in the improvement and preparation of the soil, in judiciously choosing the time of sowing, and in the succession of seeds; but it can go no further. As far as the resources of man avail, the seed which he sows, for aught he could do to prevent it, would, like his own body, return to whence it was taken, and perish.

the ground from Man may plant

Man

and water; but God alone, who openeth his hand and filleth all things living with plenteousness, can give the increase. No power save that which shall restore life to his body, at the resurrection, can restore the dormant principle of life to the dried and withered seed which he deposits in the earth. "But God giveth it a body, as it hath pleased him, and to every seed, his own body."

And now behold the tender stalk, mysteriously acted upon by a power far beyond all that of man, forcing its way through the yielding soil, clothing it with verdure and beauty, giving hope to the husbandman, and promise of "bread, the staff of life, which strengtheneth man's heart." Still all human art and power are vain. Man must remain a passive spectator of the further operations of the same Almighty hand which has begun for him the work of love. "The husbandman waiteth

for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain*." Yes, to form the grain, and make ready the kindly fruits for harvest, so that in due time we may enjoy them; the clouds must drop upon them their fatness, the glorious sun must shed upon them, from day to day, his fostering warmth. "The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them of whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God+." During the many months employed by Nature in this wonderful operation, man can do nothing. Nothing did I say? Yes, he can employ himself in tracing through nature up to nature's God; in admiring these astonishing results, though he has no power to produce them; he can behold the superintending hand of the great Preserver of all mankind, and, beholding it, adore; he can pray,-oh! will he not pray?-the Giver of all good, whose tender mercies are over all his works, -God, even our own God,-to give us his blessing, and cause the earth to bring forth her increase. "O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises upon the harp unto our God; who covereth the heavens with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth; and maketh grass to grow upon the mountains and green herbs for the use of men‡.” Such is the befitting employment of dependant * James v. 7. + Heb. vi. 7. Psalm cxLvii. 7, 8.

man; so will we be employed; we will speak good of thy name; we will fix our eyes, in humility and dependance, upon the high heaven, and pray,—from our hearts we will pray,―That it may please Thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as in due time we may enjoy them; we beseech thee to hear us.

Interesting and lovely as the green fields in their luxuriant richness must ever be, to the eye of faith and devotion they are even more so: did we accustom ourselves to associate with their beauty, the superintending providence of God, as well as the subordinate art and labour of man, they would possess an interest and a loveliness which the mere lover of nature never knew. The sweetest land -scape is improved by the presence of animated objects, which impart a liveliness, an interest, as it. were, an existence, to the whole. What increased force and interest are added to it by the presence, so to speak, of the living God!

Shall we be so selfish as to ascribe the beauty of our cultivated and richly-laden fields to the mere assistant labours of our own fallen race, unto whom all beyond the original curse of barrenness is mercy? Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy name be all the praise. Yea! we will praise thee for thy goodness, and declare the wonders which thou doest for the children of men. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory: glory be to thee, O Lord Most High!

If we accustom ourselves to such meditations as these, if we view the earth as the Lord's, and the fulness thereof,-if we view every good gift and every perfect gift as coming down from above, -we shall find "good in everything;" we shall find more to occupy our minds amid the green fields, despite their solitude and stillness, than in the crowded city; each path will lead us to pleasure, to instruction, to God; the rolling year will be full of Him; the wide theatre of the world will be to our minds but one universal house of prayer, one varied and beauteous temple of Him who dwelleth not in temples made with hands; and all the countless creations of his bounty, all those kindly fruits of the earth given and preserved to our use, and in due time to be enjoyed by us, will constantly admonish us, as they rise into strength and beauty, to give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

137

LECTURE XX.

That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy holy spirit, to amend our lives according to thy holy word;

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

THIS petition concludes the Third, or Intercessory Part, of the Litany. In the course of it we have interceded, in a variety of forms, for ourselves and for all. We began by praying for "the peace of Jerusalem," by praying Christ to rule and govern his holy Church universal in the right way. We then interceded on behalf of all the members of our own Church, the Queen as its temporal head, the bishops and pastors, the queen's council and officers of state, the nobility, magistrates, finally, for "all people" belonging to our Church, unto whatever state it may have pleased God to call them. We then prayed for spiritual light and unity unto "all nations," and for an increase of all Christian graces unto ourselves. We then interceded on behalf of all that are "in danger, necessity, and tribulation;" then for "mercy upon all men," even upon our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers; lastly, for a continuance of God's bounty in giving