"We all do fade as a leaf."-ISAIAH lxiv. 6.

THE present falling season of the year inclines us to serious meditation. We see once more the fall of the leaf. The leaves are falling and withering; nature is changing her summer attire for the gloomy shroud of winter. The genial seasons are over, and death is laying his cold hand on the earth. We see these things, and sigh as we see them. They make a forcible appeal to our better feelings. As we see the leaves fall and die, we feel that they speak as it were to us; they tell how perishing are things human and earthly; they utter voices, warning voices, not to be misunderstood.

What is the reason that things of the earth should thus speak to our minds? Why have the seasons and their changes such a power to affect us? Why is it that flowers have meanings, and can utter language of love, joy and hope? My brethren, it is because there is a correspondence or analogy between matter and mind, between nature and spirit, between the natural and spiritual worlds. The earth itself is an effect from a cause, which cause is the spiritual world, so that spiritual things are to natural what causes are to their effects; there is a mutual relation between them. Natural things are types of things spiritual; they image forth their spiritual antitypes; and since the great Creator is the first Cause in creation, and created existences are all a transcript of the divine mind, it follows that they must image forth that mind; they must be types of their great Original, their Architype, which is God. And as man himself is an image and like

ness of God, it follows that earthly things must have a relationship to man; his mind must be really a microcosm,—a little world in itself, containing what answers to all things of the outward universe. The earth is thus a theatre in which spiritual things are represented. In this way we always see something exhibited which has relation to ourselves. We, both as to body and mind, have our states or seasons; we have our morning, noon, evening and night; we have our spring, summer, autumn and winter. From seed we grow till we are trees of the field; we have our leaves, our blossom, and our fruit; and as the leaves of a tree fall and wither, so do we fall and die away. As winter succeeds the harvests of autumn, and death lays his cold hand on nature, so do we, when the days of our earthly probation expire, and our harvest closes, pass into the eternal world.

Happy is the man who reads, and loves to read, the book of nature. The pleasures which he enjoys are of the sweetest and purest kind. Like the active bee, as it passes from flower to flower extracting honey from each of them, so does he read and gain lessons of sublimest wisdom. He walks abroad in the rural scene, and finds all things beautiful; the beasts of the field, the varied landscape, the luxuriance of nature, everything pleases, for all things are teeming with life. In these he finds a glorious exhibition of the divine wisdom and goodness. All these do unitedly establish that eternal truth “God is love."

That we should thus make use of nature as a book of wisdom, is in agreement with revelation. In the revealed Word, we are constantly taught of things invisible by things that are made. The olive, the vine and the fig-tree; the garden, field and vineyard; mountains, hills and valleys; fountains and rivers; green pastures and still waters; flocks and herds; the shepherd and the husbandman; seed-time and harvest; and the early and latter rain;—all these are among the images alluded to. The Church is called a vineyard, the Lord Himself being the Vine, and His people the branches. These His people are also called husbandmen and labourers in the vineyard; they plough the ground and till it; and sow seed and reap in the time of harvest. Spiritual life in their minds is "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." "Break up your fallow ground," saith the prophet, "and sow not among thorns." The Saviour calls Himself "the Lord of the harvest," and saith that those of His followers, who put their hands to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdom of God. The Church is also called earth, as for instance,

"O earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of the Lord," in which case it is men of the Church, or men on the earth who are meant. And the establishment of a new Church is called the creation of a new earth. The Lord saith, "Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter," in which case by winter He means that state of the minds of men, when they are in a cold and barren state spiritually, having truth in the intellect but not love in the heart; or having faith without life and practice; in which state it is awful for men to leave the earth. The Lord is imaged as "the tree of life, in the midst of the paradise of God ;" and His followers are called "trees of righteousness;" each one is a tree planted by the waters, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. It is thus that in the Divine Word, we are taught to look at natural objects as types or representations of things spiritual and eternal.

We will consider, at this time, in connection with the fall of the leaf, the seasons of nature. These we shall describe, as they succeed each other; and also we shall show their relation, both naturally and spiritually, to man. We shall do this, and draw such instruction thence, as may conduce to our edification.

Before the season of spring opens, we see nature in a cold and desolate state. There is light from the sun to lighten, but not heat to warm and vivify the earth, and call forth vegetation and fruit. How plain it is that winter images man's unregenerate state,-his state when there is spiritual light in his mind, but not spiritual heat which is love. The truth enlightens, but that is all; it is barren knowledge in his mind; his heart is cold as winter; he is spiritually a dead man, for there is no heavenly life within him. This being his condition, the Lord might well instruct His followers to pray that their flight might not be "in the winter."

At length spring opens upon us, and the face of nature exhibits new signs of life. In the language of Scripture the winter is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. And how beautiful are the operations of nature! The earth, as by a stupendous miracle, is awakened into new life and loveliness. Winter has given place to a new order of being. The air becomes serene and tranquil ; the earth softens, and the fogs and vapours are dispersed. The seeds shoot, the branches put forth their buds, and the earth is being clothed with verdure. The genial air broods for a while, as with a mother's love, over that infant creation which is coming into life. Silently and

gradually does everything come forth, according to the laws of eternal When the bright sun, the representative of God in nature, comes forth from his chambers to open each day, all created objects, awakened by his influence, rise to greet his appearance; the plants and flowers expand to receive his rays, and breathe their perfume in the air, and the birds unite their voices to salute him with a swelling chorus of associated praise. We go forth amid the inviting scene, and are transported with everything around us. Everywhere does the voice of gladness and rejoicing break on the enraptured mind. The feathered tribe are exulting in their new-born joy. The beasts of the field, and insects of every name, by their sounds and activity, manifest the joy they experience. The fishes now rise to the surface of the water; they have recovered their vivacity, and amuse us by their quick and ever-varying motions. There is everywhere activity, everywhere a new-born life, all is prodigal of joy. We behold these scenes, and our minds open in adoration to that great Source of being, whence all these things have thus their delighted existence,—to Him, the Parent of good, who opens His hand, and fills all things with plenteousness,— to Him who created all things, and for whose pleasure they are and were created.

The meditative mind perceives, in this season of spring, a figure of infancy and youth; of that period when the mind is first putting forth its affections and thoughts, and learning to perform its part in the great drama of human life; and he sighs as he considers the dangers to which this tender age is subject. He sees how important it is for the youthful heart to be ever under the genial sun of heaven, and be weeded of those inborn propensities to evil which too often grow with man's growth, and bring him to ruin. He sees what a pressing necessity there is for the growing faculties to take an upward and heavenward direction, and grow in those religious principles which shall be as a shining light to guide their feet into the way of peace.

Let all my young hearers accept instruction from the season of spring. Let me offer the word of exhortation. You are now in the opening scene of life. The bloom of health is on your cheeks, your hearts are happy, and all things smile around you. But this, my dear young friends, will not last. You are soon to enter on the cares and troubles of the world,-of that world whose pleasures are so short and so deceitful, and where everything lies in wait to deceive by false appearances. Now is the season to commence a religious life, for in the soft soil of youthful affections the seed of heavenly truth can