Through Nature to Nature’s God.
By M. E. P.
FLOWERS and sunshine, the bright green grass, the foliage of trees, the songs of happy birds, the soft, balmy air of spring-time, and the April showers, all speak the language of praise, and would inspire us to say with the psalmist, “All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Ps. 145:10–12. The works of nature are perfect; there is no deception about them. The colors of foliage and flowers are real, and beautiful, and harmonious. Who can find aught to compare with them? Truly these beauties of this fading earth are well calculated to draw our minds to those unfading glories that shall be lasting in the paradise restored. When this earth has been purified by fire, as we read in various portions of Scripture that it will be, when all things are created anew, and lovely, as at the first, there must then be perfect and sinless beings to inhabit it. So we are told by the word of God that it will be a people in whose mouth is no guile; a people that are pure in heart; that are poor in spirit, that are not boastful, nor proud, nor vain, claiming no righteousness but through the blood of Christ, and that are united in love and harmony. There will be no divisions there, no selfishness; and no discordant note in that new song which the redeemed will sing. Rev. 14:3. “No tears for the erring,
No warnings needed,
No counsel slighted,
No prayers unheeded. “No partings there,
No fond hearts riven,
No sins confessed,
No wrongs forgiven. “No aching head,
No weary feet,
No looks unkind,
No ‘bitter-sweet.’ “O let us strive
That home to gain,
Where comes no death,
No sin, nor pain.”