91
which we obtain India rubber; for though many plants, in a measure,
yield a juice of the same character, yet the Siphonia Elastica, or Elastic
Gum-tree, supplies the principal demand.
which we obtain India rubber; for though many plants, in a measure,
yield a juice of the same character, yet the Siphonia Elastica, or Elastic
Gum-tree, supplies the principal demand.
Childrens - The Creation
You
doubtless remember the little window of our shop at B. in Somerset-
shire, that was filled with drugs; why even that little inventory called
upon Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, to make up its store: there
is the rhubarb from Asia, the aloes from the Cape in Africa, the bark
from America, and the red lavender from Europe.
But who gave the medicinal herbs their properties ? Even the
compassionate Lord that made them. And surely on this third day,
when the first parents of all the vegetable tribes came into existence
in all their maturity, man's benefit, whose fall and subsequent sickness
had been foreseen, was before the mind of the ever-blessed God; and
so he gave the herb of the field--some thereof to be food, and some
thereof for medicine.
And now we must consider, lastly, the vegetable kingdom as our
e 3.
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THE CREATION.
great forest, from whence may be hewn trees for the artificer, from
the mountain oak to the lowly willow of the brook.
Solomon's knowledge of natural history is strikingly brought before
us in that scripture, " He spake of trees, from the cedar that is in
Lebanon even to the hyssop that springeth from the wall," (1 Kings
iv. 33;) evidently marking the two extremes of vegetation--the cedar,
the kingly tree among the trees of the forest, and the hyssop, the
lowliest of shrubs--" a root out of a dry ground. " The mention of
the cedar and the hyssop also occurs together in two other parts of
scripture, and is most significant. The first in the cleansing of the
leper, (Lev. xiv. ;) the second in the purifying of the Israelite who had
touched the dead, (Numb. xix. ) In the first case, i. e. the leper's
cleansing, cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet, with a living bird, were
dipped in the blood of a bird, its fellow, just slain over living water,
without the camp; and then the blood was sprinkled on the leper, and
he was pronounced clean, and the living bird was let loose in the open
field. In the second case, cedar, hyssop, and scarlet were cast into
the devouring flame which consumed the unyoked spotless red heifer,
which was burned to ashes without the camp, and the ashes being
mingled with living water made the water of purification from sin,
which, with a bunch of hyssop, by the hands of a clean man, was
sprinkled, the third and the seventh day, on the one who had touched
the dead, and he was clean. In both these types or shadows, the cedar
and the hyssop set forth the glory and humiliation of that blessed
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sufferer, the Lord Jesus, who died as the great sacrifice without the
camp,--burnt to ashes in the consuming flame,--that the unclean leper,
even the wretched undone sinner, might be cleansed, and the saint
who had fallen might be restored. (1 John ii. 1. )
The Cedar of Lebanon--according to Linna;us, (Pinus Cedrus)--
grows up in great majesty in Lebanon, and is not known as indigenous
to any other clime. Lebanon is the throne of the cedar, and the
cedar is the king of the forest! --it grows to the height of 110 feet,
and its branches radiate out to more than half its height--each branch
itself like a tree;--it grows well in England, and is frequently found
in the parks of our nobles,--(you remember the one at Stoke Edith,
near to us,)--but it does not flourish in any place like Lebanon. The
property of the Cedar* is durability and fragrance; it is perhaps the
most imperishable of trees, and the worm will not touch it. f
In the Wilderness, the Chittim-icood, called by some the White
Thorn of the Desert, was used for the boards of the Tabernacle and all
the holy vessels, and covered with the purest gold--except the Altar
of Burnt Offering, the covering of which was brass. In the Land,
when the wandering was over, the cedar-tree took the place of the
chittim-wood, and of it the beams, rafters, &c. , of the Temple, and all
* See Appendix.
t The cedars planted in the Botanical Gardens at Chelsea, in 1683, which are
supposed to be the first brought to this country, are still perfectly sound. Histo-
rians record, that a beam of cedar, in the Temple of Apollo, at Utica, was found
perfect at the end of two thousand years.
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THE CREATION.
the vessels of the Sanctuary, were formed, and then covered with gold;
not, indeed, the ark--there was but one ark, both for the Tabernacle
in the wilderness and the Temple, and that was made of the wood of the
wilderness; and though, when placed in its pavement of gold in the
most holy place in the Temple, the staves, the symbol of its wilderness
state, were taken out, yet were they left visible, resting on the golden
rings. And if the Temple sets forth the final state of blessedness of
the righteous, when all shall be purity, which many of the best of men
have thought, then may not this symbol of the ark, both in its wood
of the wilderness and the place of the staves, mark this truth, that the
children of God will for ever remember that God tabernacled with
them, and wandered with them through the wilderness of this world,
to bring them to his resting-place--even the dwelling-place of the
Most High ?
Not only did Solomon build the Temple with hewn stones and the
cedar, but in the Most Holy place, there was cut on the cedar, in
relief, cherubim and palm-trees, which afterwards were covered over
with gold;--all this was doubtless most significant. But we will now
leave the cedar of Lebanon, and pass on to the other trees of the
forest.
The Oak. Of all the trees of the forest that English people are
acquainted with, the Oak is the greatest favourite; and where durability
is desired, there is no tree, the cedar excepted, that surpasses it. In
England there were once large forests of this noble tree; but our planta-
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? LETTER V.
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tions have not kept pace with our consumption--hence we are obliged to
have recourse to foreign markets. The Oak is a very majestic-looking
tree, and has a beautiful spreading foliage; the fruit of it is called the
acorn. It is not confined to cold countries, but flourishes even in
Palestine. Mr. Burckhardt, the celebrated traveller, tells us, that at
no great distance from Nazareth, he found every where a grateful
shade of fine oaks; and the country round Damascus seemed to owe
part of its attractiveness to large plantations of this tree. The wood
of the oak is used for ship-building--it is pre-eminent for this: the
house carpenter also makes considerable use of its timber for beams,
rafters, staircases, and wainscoting; and from the bark the physician
gets a useful tonic, and the tanner, by its astringent properties con-
verts the skins of animals--some into material for the most delicate
gloves, and others into the rough woodman's mittens, besides number-
less other things.
One species of the Oak (quercus suberj is called the Holm Oak. This
valuable tree supplies us with cork, which, as you know, aids man in
a variety of ways, from the little stopper of an ink-bottle to the fisher-
man's floats for his nets, and the safety linings of a life-boat. * Then
as to the acorn, the fruit of the oak; it proves a nutritive food for many
animals, and, in times of necessity, has been used by man himself: and
even the ashes and their lye are very useful for the cleansing of linen
* Large pieces of cork fastened underneath the seats of a common hoat, give it
the character of a life-boat.
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THE CREATION.
and the purifying of wine; and the curious excrescence on the leaf, called
oak-gall, is the principal substance of which writing-ink is made. Thus
every part of this favourite of English trees is useful; for not only
does it provide shelter and food for birds of every wing, and grace our
plantations, but, as you have seen, the ship and house builder--the
physician and farmer--the bleacher and fisherman--the sailor and
wine-merchant, go to some part or other of this valuable tree for their
various wants; and the ink made from the oak-gall puts us in possession
of our dear Julius's thoughts, though he is buried in the wilds of
Australia. Whilst, therefore, we give the dominion of the forest to
the cedar of Lebanon, the oak takes the second place. And ere
I close about the Oak, I suppose I may say, that most little boys
remember the 29th of May as oak-apple day, which commemorates
the deliverance of King Charles II. , who escaped his pursuers by
secreting himself in a large oak. * Thus, my beloved children, the
next time you sit under the shade of the Oak at Penyard, count over
how many things this noble tree is used for, and think of the goodness
of God, who thus considered man, when he created it on the third
day.
The Elm is a very lofty tree; it grows taller than the oak, but is
not so spreading in its branches: it abounds in Devonshire, and there
* The period of King Charles's escape was a. d. 1651;--the Oak was situated in
the farm of Boscobel, belonging to a farmer called Penderell, in Staffordshire, and
was ever after called the Royal Oak. ,
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LETTER V.
87
are some of peculiar beauty in Torquay and Paignton. The Elm ia
useful to the turner for pumps--blocks; and the carver, seeing how
little the elm chips, cuts out his leaves and flowers from it. It is
difficult to decide whether the Elm is named in Scripture, as, though
so called in Hosea iv. , yet the same word is in other places translated
Oak.
The Ash is a tree very beautiful in its foliage, and in the smooth-
ness of its bark, and has an almost endless variety of uses; its great
properties are toughness and flexibility. All trades go to the Ash for
some department of their labour; and the little boy, when he cannot
get a piece of yew for his bow, alway6 considers the ash the next best;
and the sailor, well knowing the fine spring of an ash-oar, never
chooses any other. Thus the ash meets us on every side, both by
land and sea, as a most useful tree. The mountain ash is of smaller
stature than the ash itself, but it looks beautiful with its white
blossoms of spring, and the red berries of autumn. In plantations it
affords many a delicious repast to the little songsters of the wood.
The Beech is a great favourite with turners and upholsterers, and
for water-works beneath the stream, it is said even to pass beyond the
oak. Its leaves, when dried, are fragrant, and are used sometimes for
mattresses: while the nuts, wrapped up in their little prickly covering,
afford many a sweet meal to the beautiful little squirrel, who loves to
pitch his tent near the fruitful beech. The grain of the wood of this
tree is so fine, that in old times, before mill-board was made, they
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88
THE CREATION.
used to cover books with it. The foliage of the Beech is small and
very close.
The Poplar. This tree, with our forefathers, was in great request
for avenues, but now the custom of planting it in this way has grown
into disuse: but though formal in rows, yet its very stateliness adds
greatly to the beauty of the landscape. The Aspen belongs to this
family. The leaves of this tree have a longer stem than most others,
thus the least air moves them; and on a sultry day there is something
inexpressibly refreshing to hear the gentle murmur in its topmost
branches. The wood of all this family is used by the turner for white
vessels.
The Alder is used for water-pipes and sluices, and also of old times
for ship-building. It bears wet admirably. The bark is used by dyers.
Fir Tree. This name embraces a large family of hardy trees, of
the utmost benefit to man. They are all evergreens.
The Silver Fir. This is a tree very beautiful in its growth: it
flourishes in Germany, and is also known in England and Ireland.
Scotch Fir grows wild in Scotland, and yields most valuable deals,
both red and yellow--very durable.
Norway Fir affords the white deal, and abounds in Norway.
Spruce Fir. Many of these grow in North America, and some in
the West India Islands; where the negroes make spruce-bcer over-
night, and bring it to the ships in the morning in canoes, assuring you
" it is very excellent. "
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Hemlock Spruce is a native of North America, of beautiful growth;
its bark is useful to the tanner.
The Larch is a tree, in growth something like the fir, but it is not
an evergreen. You remember the large woods of this in Glenmore,
and in Coolmoney in the Glen of Imale, how we used to watch those
little emerald buds that stud the stems in the opening of spring--
nature does not afford again so bright a green. The larch has been
used for ship-building, with great success. The Alps and Apennines
are the home of the larch; and it will grow on the coldest and most
barren hills. It is a tree most beneficial to man.
The Walnut Tree is fragrant in its leaves--very fragrant--and deli-
cious in its fruit, which also, in its green state, are made into pickles.
The wood of the walnut is of a beautiful dark colour, and is used by
joiners, &c. The walnut is in abundance in Kent, especially near
Maidstone. It is very graceful in plantations.
The Chestnut is a favourite with most little boys, owing to its fruit,
which, however, is not very wholesome, unless the nuts are roasted.
The wood of the chestnut is esteemed next to the oak, and yet the
tree is sometimes deceptive, and though it makes a fair show, it is
decayed at the heart; affording a painful illustration of those who look
well before men, but whose souls are not right with God.
The Willow. This lowly tree was used by Israel in the construction
of their commemorative dwellings at the great feast of Tabernacles.
The lofty cedars I alluded to made the uprights and rafters of their
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90
THE CREATION.
beautiful dwellings, while the willow of the brook was entwined
among them--the one the woof and the other the warp. But I will
enlarge on this again.
The chief properties of the Willow are flexibility and lightness;
and I may add, ease of propagation and exceeding rapidity of growth.
But to speak of its uses:--we were watching a man the other day
fishing in his little coracle; presently we saw him paddle to the shore,
and to our astonishment (for until of late we were strangers to the
Wye) he took up his little vessel on his shoulders, and went away as
if it were only a great coat and umbrella in one. The willow of the
brook had formed his boat, after which it was covered with canvas,
and the whole did not weigh above 22 lbs. Baskets of all kinds are
made from this invaluable tree; and when its white wood is split very
fine, it is made into bonnets and hats. Willow branches bent in semi-
circles, are also very pretty round flower-beds.
The Weeping Willow is of this family, and is one of the most elegant
and graceful trees we know. It is generally found over ponds and
lakes. The ancients were wont to sculpture either the cypress or the
willow over the tombs of the departed:--the Jewish burying ground
in the island of Curacoa, which I visited about twenty-eight years
since, has some beautiful specimens of sculpture of this kind.
The Mahogany Tree is a native of Jamaica and Cuba; it grows to a
great height, and its wood is used for all kinds of furniture.
The Caoutchouc. I must not forget this singularly useful tree, from
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which we obtain India rubber; for though many plants, in a measure,
yield a juice of the same character, yet the Siphonia Elastica, or Elastic
Gum-tree, supplies the principal demand. It is found in America,
20 and 30 degrees each side of the equator; in the Brazils it grows
about 60 feet in height: its leaves are green above and white beneath.
The Indians have, from time immemorial, known its value; they use
it for bottles, boots, cups, and flambeaux, and even cloth. The gum
is obtained by simply tapping the t ree, and receiving the flowing juice
in shells. In England, the difficulty would be to say what it is not
used for. There are India rubber great coats, India rubber clogs,
boots, &c. It is a most valuable gift to man.
Ebony is the darkest of woods, and very durable: it is a native of
the East Indies.
Then there is the Sandal-wood tree; the llose-wood; the Brazil-wood,
of a beautiful red; the Box-tree; with many others, all most useful to
man. But I stayed longer among the trees of the English forest, as
being more familiar to us.
And now, my dear children, I must conclude this long letter; and
long as it is, it is only a brief outline of the subject;--my anxiety,
you know, is, that in our walks it may not be the mere beauty and
loveliness of creation that we should admire; but, searching into these
manifold gifts of God,* we may see goodness and loving-kindness
? The parts of vegetation I here dwell upon, are those more immediately in
relation to man; but if I introduced the animal creation at large as benefited, both
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92
THE CREATION.
crowning all his works. How sweet is that language of David; and
especially in this busy month of harvest:--" Thou visitest the earth,
and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which
is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided
for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest
the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers': thou blessest
the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness;
and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wil-
derness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. " (Ps. lxv. 9--12. )
Believe me, my dear children,
Your affectionate Father.
in their dwelling-places, food, and medicine, the subject would be endless. The
trees, grasses, flowers, fruit, herbs and leaves, both green and dry, all aflbrd a
boundless variety to them; for the Lord opens his hand, and fills all things living
with plenteousness. And in winter, when all nature seems at rest, then strength is
gathering for the spring. And how wonderful is the mutation of nature! --look at
that heap of dried leaves and all kinds of things swept together: death seems to
reign there; but it is for a time only; for in the spring (that great type of resur-
rection) all this apparent hideous deformity shall nourish the seeds sown therein,
and they shall spring up in every form of'fruitfulness and beauty--sown literally
in weakness, raised in power.
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? THE CREATION.
93
LETTER VI.
AGAIN, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO A MERCHANT MAN, SEEKING
GOODLY PEARLS: WHO, WHEN HE HAD FOUND ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE,
WENT AND SOLD ALL THAT HE HAD, AND BOUGHT IT. --Matthew xiii. 45, 46.
My dear Children,
I was struck, some months since, in reading the account of the
ceremony that takes place in the Brazils when a slave finds a
diamond; * and it brought forcibly to my mind the passage in our
Lord's ministry, concerning " the pearl of great price;" for though the
analogy is not perfect in all its parts, yet in its great features it is.
And who can tell the emotions of the poor slave as he holds up the
precious gem and claps his hands, exulting in his prize ? and who can
look unmoved on his intense anxiety, until he hear the word from the
Administrator's lips,--" It has been weighed in the balance, and has passed
the demand:" there is no speck orflaw in it;--the slave is free I Life
? See Appendix.
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THE CREATION.
is in that word. So in the pearl of great price:--beyond price,--it
more than answers the demand for freedom (for the Lord magnified
the law and made it honourable); there is no speck or flaw in it, for
he was the beloved Son in whom his Father's soul delighted; for the
Lord was well pleased for his righteousness' sake. (Isaiah xlii. 1, 21;
Matt. xii. 18. ) The possessor of this precious pearl is free--he is freed
by the great Administrator, who purchased his freedom by his own
life ;* and now be goes forth to work indeed--not for life, but from life,
and clothed with beautiful raiment, the gift of God; a habitation
awaits him, of joy unspeakable, and full of glory. If, when the
tidings reached the Islands of the West, that England had wiped away,
at a national expense of 20,000,000/. , the great blot of slavery from
her laws, and had decreed that all born in her dominion should be free,
the joy was unbounded, how much more should the Christian rejoice
when the glorious proclamation is gone out, " God so loved the world
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him
should not perish, but have everlasting life? " (John iii. 16, 18. )
This is indeed freedom; and God gave not for the redemption the
most glorious thing he had created;--that would have failed, and been
utterly without avail;--but he spared not his Son, his only Son, but
gave him up for us all. (Rom. viii. 32. ) O dear children, think on
this; and whilst you rejoice (and every one ought to rejoice) that the
? " Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. "
Acts xx. 28.
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man-stealer has been stopped, both in the taking of his prey, and in
the market, yet rejoice still more when the strong man armed, that
kept the city of man's heart, is bound and cast out, and the Holy
Spirit has taken his place, dwelling in, and ruling over the new-
born man, sealing him unto the day of redemption.
How glittering must the breast-plate of Aaron have looked with
those twelve precious gems set therein, in the curious embroidery of
the blue, purple, scarlet, and gold, of the Ephod; which, with a chain
of wreathed gold, was fastened to the two shoulder-pieces, wherein
were also two precious stones, and the names of the twelve tribes
engraved on both. The names also of Christ's children, the Israel of
God, are engraved on his heart: and are more precious to him than
the glowing ruby, the sparkling diamond, the sapphire, the jasper,
and all the gems on Aaron's breast-plate: indeed, he calls his people
his jewels, his peculiar treasure. (Mal. iii. 17. ) The affection of the
High Priest, and the power of the High Priest, are wreathed in one,
as set forth by the golden chain that fastened into one the precious
stones on the heart and shoulders of Aaron; and there is never
a moment that the Lord Jesus, the great High Priest of the true
Israel,--circumcised with the circumcision made without hands--does
not bear every one, even to the least little child that loves him, on
his heart. Not a sigh, nor a tear, nor a grief is forgotten; the hairs
of their heads are all numbered by Him that feedeth the young ravens
when they cry, and that watcheth over the sparrow: therefore they
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96 THE CREATION.
may not--they must not let go their confidence; for they are of " more
value than many sparrows. " (Luke xii. 7. )
As twelve* precious stones shone in the breast-plate of Aaron; so
also twelvef precious stones formed the foundation of the Holy City,
and, with the exception of four, they were the same in each case, and
were doubtless emblematic of the exceeding value of the family of
God. When, then, my beloved children, you look on any of these
precious stones, think of that breast-plate of Aaron, and ask if your
name is on the High Priest's heart, before God, and whether you have
found the Pearl of great price, and sold all that you have to possess it.
(Matt . xiii. 45, 46. )
I have been oftentimes much struck with that solemn, but yet most
gracious prophecy of our Lord in Mai. m. \ " And he shall sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord
an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in
? The names of the precious stones
in the breast-plate of Aaron.
Twelve Tribet. Ex. xxviii. 17.
Sardius Topaz Carbuncle
Emerald Sapphire Diamond
Ligurite Agate Amethyst
Beryl Onyx Jasper
t The names of the precious stones
in the foundations of the Holy City.
Twelve Apostles. Rev. xxi. 20.
Jasper Sapphire Chalcedony
Emerald Sardonyx Sardius
Chrysolite Beryl Topaz
Chrysophrasus Jacinth Amethyst
t See Appendix.
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former years. The figure of a refiner is one of the deepest interest:
--the refiner never leaves the crucible; the precious metal is of too high
a value: as it purifies, it gets clearer and clearer, until at last the
scum or dross is gone, and the image of the refiner is reflected as in
a glass, in the molten gold; and this was the thing desired. So our
blessed Lord never puts his children into the furnace of affliction, but
to purify them; to purge away the dross, and make them more like him-
self: and this accomplished, the crucible is removed. How forcibly
does the patriarch Job allude to this: " He knoweth the way that I
take; and when he hath tried me, / shall come forth as gold. " (Job
xxiii. 10. ) The value of the word of God, and its infinite purity, is
also beautifully illustrated by this figure. The words of the Lord are
pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
(Ps. xii. 6. ) And again, the law of thy mouth is better unto me
than thousands of gold and silver. " (Ps. cxix. 72. ) So also ver. 127,
" I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold. " Dear
children, is David's language yours ? can you thus speak of God's
blessed word ? This is how a man on the eve of execution would
speak of the Queen's proclamation of pardon when read in his ears--
all language would fail to tell its value. But the word of God pro-
claims tidings far above an earthly pardon; even forgiveness in the
precious blood of Jesus. And the soul that receives these good tidings
can say, passing on beyond the gold, even the gold of Ophir, " the
price of wisdom is above rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are
F
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THE CREATION.
not to be compared to her: length of days is in her right hand--
in her left hand riches and honour; her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace. " (Prov. iii. 15--17. ) And again in chap.
viii. , " My fruit is better than gold, yea, than much fine gold : I lead
in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment;
that I may cause them that love me to inherit substance. " (Ver. 19--21.
See also ii. 4. ) We have often read the 60th chapter of Isaiah*
together. It contains a passage of exceeding beauty:--the pro-
phet is evidently describing the tribes of Israel, in the last days,
rising up into the favour of God; the days of their widowhood past,
and their sorrows gone. " Thou shalt also suck the milk of the
Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know
that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One
of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver,
and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers
peace, and thy exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be
heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou
shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. " Any comment
of man on this word would but weaken it,--" Happy is the people
that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord. "
? The Canticles, or Songs of Solomon, also abound in illustrations from the
precious stones and metals; likewise the Revelation of St. John. Eph. v. 32,
where the Lord is revealed as the heavenly Bridegroom, the Church the Bride, is
a key to the former; and a deep spiritual acquaintance with the Tabernacle and
Temple service, would surely throw much light on the latter.
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LETTER VI.
99
Sometimes the figures are in judgment; and then, in allusion to
the sternness of the metals, instead of the clouds dropping the fertile
showers and the gentle dew; the earth yielding her thirty, sixty, and
hundred fold; the word concerning the obstinate and obdurate Israel
is," I will break the pride of your power: and I will make your heaven
as iron, and your earth as brass; and your strength shall be spent in
vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees
of the land yield their fruits. " (Lev. xxvi. 19, 20.
doubtless remember the little window of our shop at B. in Somerset-
shire, that was filled with drugs; why even that little inventory called
upon Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, to make up its store: there
is the rhubarb from Asia, the aloes from the Cape in Africa, the bark
from America, and the red lavender from Europe.
But who gave the medicinal herbs their properties ? Even the
compassionate Lord that made them. And surely on this third day,
when the first parents of all the vegetable tribes came into existence
in all their maturity, man's benefit, whose fall and subsequent sickness
had been foreseen, was before the mind of the ever-blessed God; and
so he gave the herb of the field--some thereof to be food, and some
thereof for medicine.
And now we must consider, lastly, the vegetable kingdom as our
e 3.
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THE CREATION.
great forest, from whence may be hewn trees for the artificer, from
the mountain oak to the lowly willow of the brook.
Solomon's knowledge of natural history is strikingly brought before
us in that scripture, " He spake of trees, from the cedar that is in
Lebanon even to the hyssop that springeth from the wall," (1 Kings
iv. 33;) evidently marking the two extremes of vegetation--the cedar,
the kingly tree among the trees of the forest, and the hyssop, the
lowliest of shrubs--" a root out of a dry ground. " The mention of
the cedar and the hyssop also occurs together in two other parts of
scripture, and is most significant. The first in the cleansing of the
leper, (Lev. xiv. ;) the second in the purifying of the Israelite who had
touched the dead, (Numb. xix. ) In the first case, i. e. the leper's
cleansing, cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet, with a living bird, were
dipped in the blood of a bird, its fellow, just slain over living water,
without the camp; and then the blood was sprinkled on the leper, and
he was pronounced clean, and the living bird was let loose in the open
field. In the second case, cedar, hyssop, and scarlet were cast into
the devouring flame which consumed the unyoked spotless red heifer,
which was burned to ashes without the camp, and the ashes being
mingled with living water made the water of purification from sin,
which, with a bunch of hyssop, by the hands of a clean man, was
sprinkled, the third and the seventh day, on the one who had touched
the dead, and he was clean. In both these types or shadows, the cedar
and the hyssop set forth the glory and humiliation of that blessed
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sufferer, the Lord Jesus, who died as the great sacrifice without the
camp,--burnt to ashes in the consuming flame,--that the unclean leper,
even the wretched undone sinner, might be cleansed, and the saint
who had fallen might be restored. (1 John ii. 1. )
The Cedar of Lebanon--according to Linna;us, (Pinus Cedrus)--
grows up in great majesty in Lebanon, and is not known as indigenous
to any other clime. Lebanon is the throne of the cedar, and the
cedar is the king of the forest! --it grows to the height of 110 feet,
and its branches radiate out to more than half its height--each branch
itself like a tree;--it grows well in England, and is frequently found
in the parks of our nobles,--(you remember the one at Stoke Edith,
near to us,)--but it does not flourish in any place like Lebanon. The
property of the Cedar* is durability and fragrance; it is perhaps the
most imperishable of trees, and the worm will not touch it. f
In the Wilderness, the Chittim-icood, called by some the White
Thorn of the Desert, was used for the boards of the Tabernacle and all
the holy vessels, and covered with the purest gold--except the Altar
of Burnt Offering, the covering of which was brass. In the Land,
when the wandering was over, the cedar-tree took the place of the
chittim-wood, and of it the beams, rafters, &c. , of the Temple, and all
* See Appendix.
t The cedars planted in the Botanical Gardens at Chelsea, in 1683, which are
supposed to be the first brought to this country, are still perfectly sound. Histo-
rians record, that a beam of cedar, in the Temple of Apollo, at Utica, was found
perfect at the end of two thousand years.
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THE CREATION.
the vessels of the Sanctuary, were formed, and then covered with gold;
not, indeed, the ark--there was but one ark, both for the Tabernacle
in the wilderness and the Temple, and that was made of the wood of the
wilderness; and though, when placed in its pavement of gold in the
most holy place in the Temple, the staves, the symbol of its wilderness
state, were taken out, yet were they left visible, resting on the golden
rings. And if the Temple sets forth the final state of blessedness of
the righteous, when all shall be purity, which many of the best of men
have thought, then may not this symbol of the ark, both in its wood
of the wilderness and the place of the staves, mark this truth, that the
children of God will for ever remember that God tabernacled with
them, and wandered with them through the wilderness of this world,
to bring them to his resting-place--even the dwelling-place of the
Most High ?
Not only did Solomon build the Temple with hewn stones and the
cedar, but in the Most Holy place, there was cut on the cedar, in
relief, cherubim and palm-trees, which afterwards were covered over
with gold;--all this was doubtless most significant. But we will now
leave the cedar of Lebanon, and pass on to the other trees of the
forest.
The Oak. Of all the trees of the forest that English people are
acquainted with, the Oak is the greatest favourite; and where durability
is desired, there is no tree, the cedar excepted, that surpasses it. In
England there were once large forests of this noble tree; but our planta-
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tions have not kept pace with our consumption--hence we are obliged to
have recourse to foreign markets. The Oak is a very majestic-looking
tree, and has a beautiful spreading foliage; the fruit of it is called the
acorn. It is not confined to cold countries, but flourishes even in
Palestine. Mr. Burckhardt, the celebrated traveller, tells us, that at
no great distance from Nazareth, he found every where a grateful
shade of fine oaks; and the country round Damascus seemed to owe
part of its attractiveness to large plantations of this tree. The wood
of the oak is used for ship-building--it is pre-eminent for this: the
house carpenter also makes considerable use of its timber for beams,
rafters, staircases, and wainscoting; and from the bark the physician
gets a useful tonic, and the tanner, by its astringent properties con-
verts the skins of animals--some into material for the most delicate
gloves, and others into the rough woodman's mittens, besides number-
less other things.
One species of the Oak (quercus suberj is called the Holm Oak. This
valuable tree supplies us with cork, which, as you know, aids man in
a variety of ways, from the little stopper of an ink-bottle to the fisher-
man's floats for his nets, and the safety linings of a life-boat. * Then
as to the acorn, the fruit of the oak; it proves a nutritive food for many
animals, and, in times of necessity, has been used by man himself: and
even the ashes and their lye are very useful for the cleansing of linen
* Large pieces of cork fastened underneath the seats of a common hoat, give it
the character of a life-boat.
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THE CREATION.
and the purifying of wine; and the curious excrescence on the leaf, called
oak-gall, is the principal substance of which writing-ink is made. Thus
every part of this favourite of English trees is useful; for not only
does it provide shelter and food for birds of every wing, and grace our
plantations, but, as you have seen, the ship and house builder--the
physician and farmer--the bleacher and fisherman--the sailor and
wine-merchant, go to some part or other of this valuable tree for their
various wants; and the ink made from the oak-gall puts us in possession
of our dear Julius's thoughts, though he is buried in the wilds of
Australia. Whilst, therefore, we give the dominion of the forest to
the cedar of Lebanon, the oak takes the second place. And ere
I close about the Oak, I suppose I may say, that most little boys
remember the 29th of May as oak-apple day, which commemorates
the deliverance of King Charles II. , who escaped his pursuers by
secreting himself in a large oak. * Thus, my beloved children, the
next time you sit under the shade of the Oak at Penyard, count over
how many things this noble tree is used for, and think of the goodness
of God, who thus considered man, when he created it on the third
day.
The Elm is a very lofty tree; it grows taller than the oak, but is
not so spreading in its branches: it abounds in Devonshire, and there
* The period of King Charles's escape was a. d. 1651;--the Oak was situated in
the farm of Boscobel, belonging to a farmer called Penderell, in Staffordshire, and
was ever after called the Royal Oak. ,
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LETTER V.
87
are some of peculiar beauty in Torquay and Paignton. The Elm ia
useful to the turner for pumps--blocks; and the carver, seeing how
little the elm chips, cuts out his leaves and flowers from it. It is
difficult to decide whether the Elm is named in Scripture, as, though
so called in Hosea iv. , yet the same word is in other places translated
Oak.
The Ash is a tree very beautiful in its foliage, and in the smooth-
ness of its bark, and has an almost endless variety of uses; its great
properties are toughness and flexibility. All trades go to the Ash for
some department of their labour; and the little boy, when he cannot
get a piece of yew for his bow, alway6 considers the ash the next best;
and the sailor, well knowing the fine spring of an ash-oar, never
chooses any other. Thus the ash meets us on every side, both by
land and sea, as a most useful tree. The mountain ash is of smaller
stature than the ash itself, but it looks beautiful with its white
blossoms of spring, and the red berries of autumn. In plantations it
affords many a delicious repast to the little songsters of the wood.
The Beech is a great favourite with turners and upholsterers, and
for water-works beneath the stream, it is said even to pass beyond the
oak. Its leaves, when dried, are fragrant, and are used sometimes for
mattresses: while the nuts, wrapped up in their little prickly covering,
afford many a sweet meal to the beautiful little squirrel, who loves to
pitch his tent near the fruitful beech. The grain of the wood of this
tree is so fine, that in old times, before mill-board was made, they
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88
THE CREATION.
used to cover books with it. The foliage of the Beech is small and
very close.
The Poplar. This tree, with our forefathers, was in great request
for avenues, but now the custom of planting it in this way has grown
into disuse: but though formal in rows, yet its very stateliness adds
greatly to the beauty of the landscape. The Aspen belongs to this
family. The leaves of this tree have a longer stem than most others,
thus the least air moves them; and on a sultry day there is something
inexpressibly refreshing to hear the gentle murmur in its topmost
branches. The wood of all this family is used by the turner for white
vessels.
The Alder is used for water-pipes and sluices, and also of old times
for ship-building. It bears wet admirably. The bark is used by dyers.
Fir Tree. This name embraces a large family of hardy trees, of
the utmost benefit to man. They are all evergreens.
The Silver Fir. This is a tree very beautiful in its growth: it
flourishes in Germany, and is also known in England and Ireland.
Scotch Fir grows wild in Scotland, and yields most valuable deals,
both red and yellow--very durable.
Norway Fir affords the white deal, and abounds in Norway.
Spruce Fir. Many of these grow in North America, and some in
the West India Islands; where the negroes make spruce-bcer over-
night, and bring it to the ships in the morning in canoes, assuring you
" it is very excellent. "
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Hemlock Spruce is a native of North America, of beautiful growth;
its bark is useful to the tanner.
The Larch is a tree, in growth something like the fir, but it is not
an evergreen. You remember the large woods of this in Glenmore,
and in Coolmoney in the Glen of Imale, how we used to watch those
little emerald buds that stud the stems in the opening of spring--
nature does not afford again so bright a green. The larch has been
used for ship-building, with great success. The Alps and Apennines
are the home of the larch; and it will grow on the coldest and most
barren hills. It is a tree most beneficial to man.
The Walnut Tree is fragrant in its leaves--very fragrant--and deli-
cious in its fruit, which also, in its green state, are made into pickles.
The wood of the walnut is of a beautiful dark colour, and is used by
joiners, &c. The walnut is in abundance in Kent, especially near
Maidstone. It is very graceful in plantations.
The Chestnut is a favourite with most little boys, owing to its fruit,
which, however, is not very wholesome, unless the nuts are roasted.
The wood of the chestnut is esteemed next to the oak, and yet the
tree is sometimes deceptive, and though it makes a fair show, it is
decayed at the heart; affording a painful illustration of those who look
well before men, but whose souls are not right with God.
The Willow. This lowly tree was used by Israel in the construction
of their commemorative dwellings at the great feast of Tabernacles.
The lofty cedars I alluded to made the uprights and rafters of their
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90
THE CREATION.
beautiful dwellings, while the willow of the brook was entwined
among them--the one the woof and the other the warp. But I will
enlarge on this again.
The chief properties of the Willow are flexibility and lightness;
and I may add, ease of propagation and exceeding rapidity of growth.
But to speak of its uses:--we were watching a man the other day
fishing in his little coracle; presently we saw him paddle to the shore,
and to our astonishment (for until of late we were strangers to the
Wye) he took up his little vessel on his shoulders, and went away as
if it were only a great coat and umbrella in one. The willow of the
brook had formed his boat, after which it was covered with canvas,
and the whole did not weigh above 22 lbs. Baskets of all kinds are
made from this invaluable tree; and when its white wood is split very
fine, it is made into bonnets and hats. Willow branches bent in semi-
circles, are also very pretty round flower-beds.
The Weeping Willow is of this family, and is one of the most elegant
and graceful trees we know. It is generally found over ponds and
lakes. The ancients were wont to sculpture either the cypress or the
willow over the tombs of the departed:--the Jewish burying ground
in the island of Curacoa, which I visited about twenty-eight years
since, has some beautiful specimens of sculpture of this kind.
The Mahogany Tree is a native of Jamaica and Cuba; it grows to a
great height, and its wood is used for all kinds of furniture.
The Caoutchouc. I must not forget this singularly useful tree, from
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which we obtain India rubber; for though many plants, in a measure,
yield a juice of the same character, yet the Siphonia Elastica, or Elastic
Gum-tree, supplies the principal demand. It is found in America,
20 and 30 degrees each side of the equator; in the Brazils it grows
about 60 feet in height: its leaves are green above and white beneath.
The Indians have, from time immemorial, known its value; they use
it for bottles, boots, cups, and flambeaux, and even cloth. The gum
is obtained by simply tapping the t ree, and receiving the flowing juice
in shells. In England, the difficulty would be to say what it is not
used for. There are India rubber great coats, India rubber clogs,
boots, &c. It is a most valuable gift to man.
Ebony is the darkest of woods, and very durable: it is a native of
the East Indies.
Then there is the Sandal-wood tree; the llose-wood; the Brazil-wood,
of a beautiful red; the Box-tree; with many others, all most useful to
man. But I stayed longer among the trees of the English forest, as
being more familiar to us.
And now, my dear children, I must conclude this long letter; and
long as it is, it is only a brief outline of the subject;--my anxiety,
you know, is, that in our walks it may not be the mere beauty and
loveliness of creation that we should admire; but, searching into these
manifold gifts of God,* we may see goodness and loving-kindness
? The parts of vegetation I here dwell upon, are those more immediately in
relation to man; but if I introduced the animal creation at large as benefited, both
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THE CREATION.
crowning all his works. How sweet is that language of David; and
especially in this busy month of harvest:--" Thou visitest the earth,
and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which
is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided
for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest
the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers': thou blessest
the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness;
and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wil-
derness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. " (Ps. lxv. 9--12. )
Believe me, my dear children,
Your affectionate Father.
in their dwelling-places, food, and medicine, the subject would be endless. The
trees, grasses, flowers, fruit, herbs and leaves, both green and dry, all aflbrd a
boundless variety to them; for the Lord opens his hand, and fills all things living
with plenteousness. And in winter, when all nature seems at rest, then strength is
gathering for the spring. And how wonderful is the mutation of nature! --look at
that heap of dried leaves and all kinds of things swept together: death seems to
reign there; but it is for a time only; for in the spring (that great type of resur-
rection) all this apparent hideous deformity shall nourish the seeds sown therein,
and they shall spring up in every form of'fruitfulness and beauty--sown literally
in weakness, raised in power.
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93
LETTER VI.
AGAIN, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO A MERCHANT MAN, SEEKING
GOODLY PEARLS: WHO, WHEN HE HAD FOUND ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE,
WENT AND SOLD ALL THAT HE HAD, AND BOUGHT IT. --Matthew xiii. 45, 46.
My dear Children,
I was struck, some months since, in reading the account of the
ceremony that takes place in the Brazils when a slave finds a
diamond; * and it brought forcibly to my mind the passage in our
Lord's ministry, concerning " the pearl of great price;" for though the
analogy is not perfect in all its parts, yet in its great features it is.
And who can tell the emotions of the poor slave as he holds up the
precious gem and claps his hands, exulting in his prize ? and who can
look unmoved on his intense anxiety, until he hear the word from the
Administrator's lips,--" It has been weighed in the balance, and has passed
the demand:" there is no speck orflaw in it;--the slave is free I Life
? See Appendix.
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THE CREATION.
is in that word. So in the pearl of great price:--beyond price,--it
more than answers the demand for freedom (for the Lord magnified
the law and made it honourable); there is no speck or flaw in it, for
he was the beloved Son in whom his Father's soul delighted; for the
Lord was well pleased for his righteousness' sake. (Isaiah xlii. 1, 21;
Matt. xii. 18. ) The possessor of this precious pearl is free--he is freed
by the great Administrator, who purchased his freedom by his own
life ;* and now be goes forth to work indeed--not for life, but from life,
and clothed with beautiful raiment, the gift of God; a habitation
awaits him, of joy unspeakable, and full of glory. If, when the
tidings reached the Islands of the West, that England had wiped away,
at a national expense of 20,000,000/. , the great blot of slavery from
her laws, and had decreed that all born in her dominion should be free,
the joy was unbounded, how much more should the Christian rejoice
when the glorious proclamation is gone out, " God so loved the world
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him
should not perish, but have everlasting life? " (John iii. 16, 18. )
This is indeed freedom; and God gave not for the redemption the
most glorious thing he had created;--that would have failed, and been
utterly without avail;--but he spared not his Son, his only Son, but
gave him up for us all. (Rom. viii. 32. ) O dear children, think on
this; and whilst you rejoice (and every one ought to rejoice) that the
? " Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. "
Acts xx. 28.
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man-stealer has been stopped, both in the taking of his prey, and in
the market, yet rejoice still more when the strong man armed, that
kept the city of man's heart, is bound and cast out, and the Holy
Spirit has taken his place, dwelling in, and ruling over the new-
born man, sealing him unto the day of redemption.
How glittering must the breast-plate of Aaron have looked with
those twelve precious gems set therein, in the curious embroidery of
the blue, purple, scarlet, and gold, of the Ephod; which, with a chain
of wreathed gold, was fastened to the two shoulder-pieces, wherein
were also two precious stones, and the names of the twelve tribes
engraved on both. The names also of Christ's children, the Israel of
God, are engraved on his heart: and are more precious to him than
the glowing ruby, the sparkling diamond, the sapphire, the jasper,
and all the gems on Aaron's breast-plate: indeed, he calls his people
his jewels, his peculiar treasure. (Mal. iii. 17. ) The affection of the
High Priest, and the power of the High Priest, are wreathed in one,
as set forth by the golden chain that fastened into one the precious
stones on the heart and shoulders of Aaron; and there is never
a moment that the Lord Jesus, the great High Priest of the true
Israel,--circumcised with the circumcision made without hands--does
not bear every one, even to the least little child that loves him, on
his heart. Not a sigh, nor a tear, nor a grief is forgotten; the hairs
of their heads are all numbered by Him that feedeth the young ravens
when they cry, and that watcheth over the sparrow: therefore they
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96 THE CREATION.
may not--they must not let go their confidence; for they are of " more
value than many sparrows. " (Luke xii. 7. )
As twelve* precious stones shone in the breast-plate of Aaron; so
also twelvef precious stones formed the foundation of the Holy City,
and, with the exception of four, they were the same in each case, and
were doubtless emblematic of the exceeding value of the family of
God. When, then, my beloved children, you look on any of these
precious stones, think of that breast-plate of Aaron, and ask if your
name is on the High Priest's heart, before God, and whether you have
found the Pearl of great price, and sold all that you have to possess it.
(Matt . xiii. 45, 46. )
I have been oftentimes much struck with that solemn, but yet most
gracious prophecy of our Lord in Mai. m. \ " And he shall sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord
an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in
? The names of the precious stones
in the breast-plate of Aaron.
Twelve Tribet. Ex. xxviii. 17.
Sardius Topaz Carbuncle
Emerald Sapphire Diamond
Ligurite Agate Amethyst
Beryl Onyx Jasper
t The names of the precious stones
in the foundations of the Holy City.
Twelve Apostles. Rev. xxi. 20.
Jasper Sapphire Chalcedony
Emerald Sardonyx Sardius
Chrysolite Beryl Topaz
Chrysophrasus Jacinth Amethyst
t See Appendix.
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? LETTER VI.
97
former years. The figure of a refiner is one of the deepest interest:
--the refiner never leaves the crucible; the precious metal is of too high
a value: as it purifies, it gets clearer and clearer, until at last the
scum or dross is gone, and the image of the refiner is reflected as in
a glass, in the molten gold; and this was the thing desired. So our
blessed Lord never puts his children into the furnace of affliction, but
to purify them; to purge away the dross, and make them more like him-
self: and this accomplished, the crucible is removed. How forcibly
does the patriarch Job allude to this: " He knoweth the way that I
take; and when he hath tried me, / shall come forth as gold. " (Job
xxiii. 10. ) The value of the word of God, and its infinite purity, is
also beautifully illustrated by this figure. The words of the Lord are
pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
(Ps. xii. 6. ) And again, the law of thy mouth is better unto me
than thousands of gold and silver. " (Ps. cxix. 72. ) So also ver. 127,
" I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold. " Dear
children, is David's language yours ? can you thus speak of God's
blessed word ? This is how a man on the eve of execution would
speak of the Queen's proclamation of pardon when read in his ears--
all language would fail to tell its value. But the word of God pro-
claims tidings far above an earthly pardon; even forgiveness in the
precious blood of Jesus. And the soul that receives these good tidings
can say, passing on beyond the gold, even the gold of Ophir, " the
price of wisdom is above rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are
F
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? 98
THE CREATION.
not to be compared to her: length of days is in her right hand--
in her left hand riches and honour; her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace. " (Prov. iii. 15--17. ) And again in chap.
viii. , " My fruit is better than gold, yea, than much fine gold : I lead
in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment;
that I may cause them that love me to inherit substance. " (Ver. 19--21.
See also ii. 4. ) We have often read the 60th chapter of Isaiah*
together. It contains a passage of exceeding beauty:--the pro-
phet is evidently describing the tribes of Israel, in the last days,
rising up into the favour of God; the days of their widowhood past,
and their sorrows gone. " Thou shalt also suck the milk of the
Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know
that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One
of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver,
and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers
peace, and thy exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be
heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou
shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. " Any comment
of man on this word would but weaken it,--" Happy is the people
that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord. "
? The Canticles, or Songs of Solomon, also abound in illustrations from the
precious stones and metals; likewise the Revelation of St. John. Eph. v. 32,
where the Lord is revealed as the heavenly Bridegroom, the Church the Bride, is
a key to the former; and a deep spiritual acquaintance with the Tabernacle and
Temple service, would surely throw much light on the latter.
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LETTER VI.
99
Sometimes the figures are in judgment; and then, in allusion to
the sternness of the metals, instead of the clouds dropping the fertile
showers and the gentle dew; the earth yielding her thirty, sixty, and
hundred fold; the word concerning the obstinate and obdurate Israel
is," I will break the pride of your power: and I will make your heaven
as iron, and your earth as brass; and your strength shall be spent in
vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees
of the land yield their fruits. " (Lev. xxvi. 19, 20.
