THE BOOK OF NATURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 58, 9 March 1889, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE BOOK OF NATURE.

The golden pages of great Nature's bible Are open for all time, Whereon are stamp'd, in richly burnished symbols, Laws of the great Sublime. • His smiling sun speaks out a grander promise Than Gospels writ in Greek; Bis million orbs repeat His holy message That angols love to speak. He paints the clouds in fairest rose, and amber, Snow white o'er azurene; And gems His space with jewell'd worlds of beauty Shining on earth's deep green. His zsphyrs roam, and tell in gentle whispers That sunshine follows rain ; His dews come, cheering faint and drooping flowers, And kiss the golden grain. His rains rise up from mighty seas and rivers, To fall at His command. Where summer fruits, and harvests rich and mellow. Look up and bless His hand. He sends His flame and cleaves the air asunder When overcharged Ayith heat; And ever watches grains of grass and clover That smile beneath His feet. Millions of worlds — ay, millions more he maketh, Each fairer than the rest; And we—if loyal to the great Eternal, Must say—"He knoweth best." A thousand year3—ay, even ten million ages To God are but as days ; Yet we, poor dreamers of a fretful season, Presume to know His ways. And thus, frail creatures of the great Designer (Sons of presumptuous man), Look up and pray the gracious God may alter His great and wondrous plan! "Give us"—they cry—"the clew, the early showers, The sunshine after rain." Poor fools! To think that God withholds his blessings, Or makes his laws in vain. Not one may share with Him His wondrous power, Who then dare question Him — Beside whose light (the light of boundless glory) Our poor frail sight is dim ? "He made the earth this way"—" Tea," saith another, " God tells us why and when. And we know all the secrets of Jehovah As 'tis revealed to men 1" I pray ye think a little while, my brothers, Of Him—the Great, the High, Are we His confidants? O.istiime ! my brothers, If we thus dare to lie! He is the Builder-ay! the Master Builder, And wo are grains of sand He uses for the raising of that Temple He holdeth in His hand ! He will not stay the grand majestic powers ■ That flash His "worlds through space, Nor will He alter at man's puny pleadings One atom of His grace ! Then let us pray that He may give us wifldosa To love and trust Him still, And never falter—but whatever eoiueth Say—'Tis the Master's will.