world is bursting into life, and waving its hues, and spreading its fragrance around the habitations of men. "The de❝sert" even, and "the solitary place is

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glad, and the wilderness springs and "blossoms as the rose." The animal world is marked by still deeper characters of happiness. Myriads of seen, and far greater myriads of unseen beings are now rising, from every element, into life, and enjoying their new-born existence, and hailing, with inarticulate voice, the Power that gave them birth. The late desert of existence is now filled with animation, and every element around us is pregnant with life, and prodigal of joy. Is there a time, my brethren, in which we can better learn the goodness of the universal God? Is it not wise in us to go abroad into nature, and to associate His name with every thing that, at this season, delights the eye, and gratifies the

heart? And is there any image under which it is so useful for us to figure "him that in"habiteth eternity," as under that of the Father of his Creation; as having called every thing into existence for " his plea"sure;" in communicating happiness; and as, in these moments, listening, with placid ear, to every articulate voice that speaks gratitude, and to every inarticulate voice that testifies joy.

II. Such, my brethren, are some of the reflections which most naturally arise at this time, with regard to the great Mind and Parent of existence. They are such as every age, however untaught, has felt; which the wise of every country have cherished; and by which, even amidst ignorance, they have been fully consoled. There are some other reflections, which, at this season, seem very naturally to arise to us as Christians; and there is a beautiful analogy, which I could earnestly wish

to impress upon your minds, between the coming of the Gospel, and the arrival of the season of spring. In no respect, perhaps, is our conduct of religious education more imperfect, than in every thing that relates to the system of Christianity; and there is no light in which it can be represented to the young, so useful as that which unites it with every thing that is most exalted and most beautiful in nature.

1. The appearance of spring is then, in the first place, an emblem of the Gospel of our Lord, as it reminds us of the darkness and gloom by which it was preceded. When we look on the state of the world before the coming of Christ, there is no image that can more justly or more forcibly picture it to our minds than that of the winter of humanity. It was a season of moral cold and darkness,-when every expanding principle of piety and virtue was checked by ignorance and doubt

and when men wandered amid the severities which surrounded them, uncheered by any effulgence from Heaven. It was a season also, we may remember, peopled with the phantoms of superstition, in which every power of darkness seemed to roam and bear sway, and of which the gloom was only enlightened by the dark flames of a sanguinary altar. Such was the winter of our nature, until the Son of God came to bring us light.

2. The appearance of spring is, therefore, in the second place, an emblem of the Gospel of our Lord, as it reminds us of that light which his coming hath shed on all the concerns of men. It is in this magnificent and beautiful view, that the Gospel is always predicted by the prophets, and represented by the followers of Jesus. It is the " Day-spring from on high," which has come to visit us. It is "the morning spread upon the moun

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"tains." It is the Sun of Truth, which shone upon those "that sat in darkness, " and in the shadow of" more than mortal" death;" and when we look, accordingly, on the state of the world since the coming of our Lord, nothing can more accurately resemble the influence and the beneficence of spring. Wherever His religion has spread, a new verdure (as it ́ were) has been given to the soul of man. Whatever blesses, or whatever adorns humanity, has followed the progress of his doctrines; laws have been improved, governments enlightened, manners refined, and the mild and gentle virtues of humanity and peace, have sprung into new life and beauty. "Even the de"sert," (in the beautiful words of the prophet)," " and the solitary place have been "glad," and in many a "wilderness" of life-in many a "solitary place" of woe, where the eye of man comes not, the