tended. It shall continue the same in itself, and with relation to other bodies, neither altering its shape, nor changing its course, till the day appointed for its dissolution; after which, as there are to be new heavens,' so will there also be a 'new earth.'

6. Thou coveredst it with the deep, as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7. At thy rebuke they fled: at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8. They go, or, went, up by the mountains: they go, or, went, down by the valleys, unto the place which thou hast founded for them. 9. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over : that they turn not again to cover the earth.

Most interpreters suppose this to be a description of the situation of things, and of what was effected by the power of God, on the third day of the creation, when he said, 'Let the waters be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so.' Indeed, the process at the creation was so exactly similar to that at the deluge, with regard to the circumstances here mentioned, that it matters not to which we apply the beautiful and truly poetical passage before us. In both cases, the earth was covered with the waters, as with a garment, in every part; in both cases, they fled at the Almighty word, like the scattered remains of a routed army; from the heights of mountains, whither they had ascended, they sunk down into the valleys; from the valleys they retired to the bed of the ocean, and a part of them descended from thence into the great deep that lieth beneath. Bounds were set them, beyond which they should never pass, to overwhelm us any more for ever. And the expe

rience of four thousand years hath taught us, that where the Creator hath laid his commands, plain sand is a sufficient barrier. Thus the church hath been delivered from her spiritual enemies; and she hath a promise, on which she may with full confidence rely, that the gates of hell shall never prevail against her.'

10. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst.

The waters of the sea are not only prevented from destroying the earth, but, by a wonderful machinery, are rendered the means of preserving every living thing which moveth thereon. Partly ascending from the great depth through the strata of the earth, partly exhaled in vapour from the surface of the ocean into the air, and from thence falling in rain, especially on the tops and by the sides of mountains, they break forth in fresh springs, having left their salts behind them; they trickle through the valleys, between the hills, receiving new supplies as they go; they become large rivers, and after watering, by their innumerable turnings and windings, immense tracts of country, they return to the place from whence they came. Thus every animal hath an opportunity of quenching that thirst which must otherwise soon put a period to its existence. The wild asses are particularly mentioned, because they live in remote and sandy deserts; yet even such creatures, in such places, are by the God of nature taught the way to the waters; insomuch that the parched traveller, when in search of a fountain, findeth them to be the best guides in the world, and needeth only to observe

VOL. III.

H

and follow the herds of them descending to the streams. In the spiritual system, or new creation, there are wells of salvation, living springs, waters of comfort, of which all nations, even the most savage and barbarous, are invited to come and drink freely. They flow among the churches; they descend into the hearts of the lowly; and they refresh us in the passage through the wilderness: for even there do waters break out, and streams in the desert.' Isa. xxxv. 6.

12. By them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

'By them,' that is, by springs of water,' in the valleys,' the birds delight to have their habitations, and to sing amidst the verdant branches which conceal them from our sight. "The music of birds,” as one hath well observed, was the first song of thanksgiving which was offered on earth before man was formed. All their sounds are different, but all harmonious, and all together compose a choir which we cannot imitate."1 If these little choristers of the air, when refreshed by the streams near which they dwell, express their gratitude by chanting, in their way, the praises of their Maker and Preserver, how ought Christians to blush, who, besides the comforts and conveniencies of this world, are indulged with copious draughts of the water of eternal life, if, for so great blessings, they pay not their tribute of thanksgiving, and sing not unto the Lord the songs of Sion! "He that at midnight, when the very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I have often done, the clear airs, the sweet descants,

1 Wesley's Survey of the Wisdom of God in the Creation, i. 149.

the natural rising and falling, the doubling and redoubling of the nightingale's voice, might well be lifted above earth, and say, Lord, what music hast thou provided for the saints in heaven, when thou affordest bad men such music upon earth!" Walton's Complete Angler, p. 9.

13. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread, which strengtheneth man's heart.

6

The fertility of the earth is owing to God, who for that purpose watereth' it, "ny, from his chambers,' whether the word hath a reference to the clouds above, or the depths below, for both are concerned in the operation. Hence all the glory and beauty of the vegetable world; hence the grass, which nourisheth the cattle, that they may nourish the human race; hence the green herb, for food and for medicine; hence fields covered with corn, for the support of life; hence vines and olive-trees laden with fruits, whose juices exhilarate the heart, and brighten the countenance. Nor let us forget the spiritual benedictions corresponding to these external ones; the fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of everlasting life, the cup of salvation, and the oil of gladness.

16. The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted.

The whole earth is a garden, planted by the hand, and watered by the care of Jehovah. But in a more

especial manner is his glory set forth by the lofty and magnificent cedars, which, growing wild on the mountain and in the forest, owe nothing to the skill and industry of man. The moisture of the earth, rarefied by the heat of the sun, enters their roots, ascends in their tubes, and by due degrees expands and increases them, till they arrive at their growth. God hath also another garden, in which there are other trees of his planting, called by Isaiah, ch. Ixi. 3, trees of righteousness.' These are his faithful servants, who, through the Spirit which is given unto them, become eminent and steady in goodness; their examples are fragrant, and their charity diffusive.

17. Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir-trees are her house.

Most admirable is that wisdom and understanding which the Creator hath imparted to the birds of the air, whereby they distinguish times and seasons, choose the properest places, construct their nests with an art and exactness unattainable by man, and secure and provide for their young. "Is it for the birds, O Lord, who have no knowledge thereof, that thou hast joined together so many miracles? Is it for the men who give no attention to them? Is it for those who admire them, without thinking of thee? Rather is it not thy design, by all these wonders, to call us to thyself? to make us sensible of thy wisdom, and fill us with confidence in thy bounty, who watchest so carefully over these inconsiderable creatures, two of which are sold for a farthing ?" 1

1 Wesley, as above.