eth." Coverdale has in the first of graded, so that at the end of the these texts," Amende ye your-year 1542, the popish prelates perselves," &c. and in the last, "over suaded the king that the people had a sinner doing penaunce." To each of these editions is printed in the title-page, "This is the Byble appointed to the use of the Churches." abused the privilege which he had granted them of reading the Holy Scriptures; and they obtained an act which "condemned Tyndale's translation as crafty, false, and untrue, and enacted that all manner of bokes of the Olde and New Testament in English, of this translation, should be by authority of this act cleerly and utterly abolished, extinguished, and forbidden to be kept and used in this realm, or els where in anie the king's dominions." But it was provided, that the Bibles and New Testaments in English, not being of Tyndale's translations, should stand in This had been done by a royal proclamation from the king, May 7, 1540, by which the curates and parishioners of each parish were required, under the penalty of 40s. a month, to provide themselves with the Bible of the largest volume before All Saints' day next coming, for setting it up in every parish church in England. The king set the price of the Bible to be 10s. unbound, and not above 128. well bound and clasped. He force." "No women, except nocharged all ordinaries to take care and see this proclamation obeyed; at the same time giving the people to understand, that this allowance of the Holy Scriptures to them in their own mother-tongue was not his duty, but his goodness and liberality to them, exhorting them not to make an ill use of the privilege. blewomen and gentlewomen, who might read to themselves alone, and not to others; nor artificers, prentices, journeymen, servingmen of the degrees of yeomen or under, husbandmen nor labourers, were to read the Bible or New Testament in Englishe to himself or to any other, privately or openly, upon pain of one month's imprisonment." About two years and a half after this, July 8, 1546, another act passed, decreeing that "from henceforth no man, woman, other person, of what estate, condicion, or degree so ever he or they be, shal, after the last day of August next ensuing, receave, have, take, or kepe in his or their possession, the text of the New Testament of Tyndale's or Coverdale's translation in English." The following remark was at this time made by a poor shepherd, on a spare leaf of Polydore Virgil's After the fall of that distinguish- book of the Invention of Arts :ed Protestant nobleman, Lord Tho-"When I kepe Mr. Latymer's shepe mas Cromwell, who had just before I bought thys boke, when the Tesbeen created Earl of Essex, the tament was abberagated, cause of the Reformation retro-shepeherdys myght not rede hyt. It was to these splendid editions that the emblematical title-page, designed, it is said, by Hans Holbien, was given; to represent the universal pleasure felt by all ranks of the king's subjects, high and low, on occasion of the Bible being placed in the churches, and their thankfulness to the king for his granting them this privilege of hearing and reading the Scriptures in their mother-tongue. Even the prisoners are seen in it, looking out of the prison gates, and partaking of this great and common joy. that Wryt by Robert Wyllyams, keping I pray God amende that blyndness. is there any thing, to which we can turn our thoughts, unless it has been perverted by some moral disaster, which does not thus answer the design of its creation. This remark, which will apply to his works in general, is particularly illustrated in the seasons of the year. J. I. THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE SEASONS His Sovereignty is evident, in the entire control which he exercises over all the works of nature. When he pleases he makes his sun If there be any one subject, which to shine; when he pleases he withoccupies the attention of created draws its light. The rain, and the beings, that is more sublime, more hail, and the snow, and the vainteresting, and more important pour, and the stormy wind, fulfil than another, it is the contemphis word. He binds up the waters lation of their Creator. Com- by his frosts, and he makes them pared with this, everything else to flow when he thinks proper. sinks into insignificance and va- The winter continues, and the nity. In proportion, therefore, as summer lasts, as he determines. they rise in the scale of intelli- The seed time and the harvest are gence, it is the theme which in- under his appointment. vites, and engages, and commands brings forth his sun, and absorbs their attention. It is conceal him. the employment of angels now; windows of heaven, no one can and will be that of glorified saints, shut them. Tempests and storms through the boundless ages of their fly at his command. The pastures immortality. are clothed with flocks, the valleys are covered over with corn; or the flocks die, and the corn wi"He giveth thers, at his word. If he If he none can the open To whatever part of the works or ways of God we direct our attention, it will readily occur to a thoughtful mind, that his own snow like wool, he scattereth the glory has ever been a primary ob-hoar frost like ashes." Ten thouject with him in every thing he sand fallen creatures may rise up has done. If his intention is to in rebellion against him, but no rescue man from the ruins of the one can stay his hand. They may fall, by the sacrifice of his Son, murmur, they may resist, they may it is to be "to the praise of the blaspheme;-but they can alter glory of his grace.' -If he moves nothing. At the helm of governand directs the machinery of Pro- ment he sits, to whom the empire vidence, and controls and over- of nature belongs; and, although rules the affairs of this lower such is the general perfection of world, it is that his name may be his character, that he never acts exalted. If he creates the hea- by mere caprice, and without some vens and the earth, it is that those good design; he will still have it heavens may "declare his glory," to be known that, he doeth acand that the firmament may cording to his pleasure, in the shew forth his handy work." Nor armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of earth. "I am the Lord, and there is none else. I *The year ended in March. form the light, and create dark-breathe. We may observe it in ness; I make peace, and create the clouds, as they bear along evil I the Lord do all these their watery charge, to distribute things." their showers, and so to fertilize Immediately connected with the the earth. We see it in the flowsovereignty of God is his power. ers, as they display their beauty Not only does he perform his own or send forth their fragrance. We pleasure, and act without the con- are taught it by the colour of the trol of any of his creatures; but, earth, adapted as it is to the eye in the accomplishment of his pur- and the gratification of man. We poses, he gives exercise to His may trace it in the regularity, with omnipotence. Fully to conceive which every thing is conducted, the extent to which this perfection and in the order which is every is employed, we must take a far where displayed. We may recogwider range, and have a far more nize it even in the storm; which, enlarged acquaintance with his while it terrifies and alarms, is works, than we can be expected also intended to be a benefit and to have in the narrow and limited a blessing to the world. In a sphere of our existence in this word, for O who can recount the world. So far, however, as we numberless displays, which every ourselves are concerned, and, in season can furnish of the wisdom reference to those things which of God, there is nothing in the come under our own immediate whole compass of nature, to which observation, no argument can be we can turn, of which it does not necessary to prove, that infinite form a prominent and distinguishpower is engaged in upholding ing feature. The summer, and and controlling, as it was in creating the diversified objects around us. It is by this that the earth revolves in her daily and her annual course. It is this which gives force to the lightning, and sound Not more evident, however, is to the thunder. It is by this that the wisdom of God than his goodevery thing in nature maintains its ness, which is so eminently and place and its order. Things grow so universally displayed for the or fade, or live or die, or change happiness of his creatures. It is or last, under its agency. Who owing to this that we have been, would not fear thee, Lord God and still are, sustained from day Almighty, marvellous are thy to day. It is this which provides works, and boundless is thy power. To this second perfection of the divine nature, we may unite the wisdom, which has so admirably provided, and arranged, and ordered, and accommodated the various objects around us, as to render the whole one harmonious system of benevolence and of beauty. We see it in the light of each returning day. We are reminded of it by the air we the winter, the seed time, and the harvest, the day, and the night, in all their revolutions and in all their changes, proclaim it in the ear of man. the various fruits of the earth, for the supply of our returning wants. It is this which furnishes us with the conveniences and the comforts which surround us. It is painted upon every ray of light. It is inhaled with every breath of air. The corn as it rises, the birds as they sing, the leaves as they expand, all nature, as she smiles and as she changes, confirms the fact, that "the Lord is good, that his mercy is everlasting, and that his truth endureth throughout all generations." 66 not fail. Considerably more than four thousand years have expired, since mankind were destroyed by a flood. It was upon the occasion of Noah's coming out of the ark, and offering an acceptable sacrifice, that the promise was made, "While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." During so long a succession of years and of ages, thousands of revolutions and changes have been visible in the history of nations, and not a few in the history of nature. But the original promise remains unbroken still. The seed time and the harvest, and the summer and the winter, and the day and the night, still follow each other in their appointed course. If, in any instance, the promise has been suspended, owing to the wickedness of any particular people, or any particular period; there has been no instance, in which it has not been accomplish In the contemplation of his goodness, we must not forget that justice, which, as the seasons roll their annual round, he not unfrequently exhibits to the children of men. By which is not meant merely, the equity with which he always governs the world, but those extraordinary visitations, by which he can prove, whenever he thinks proper, verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth." It was upon this principle, that it was said, in times of old, to one description of persons, "blessed shall be the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep;" while to another it is denounced," cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field." There is, it must be acknowledged, a common and a general sense, in which the same thing happens to the righteous and the wicked; but the in-ed, as it respects the world at stances are not rare, in which the large. Nor will the period arrive, sun and the rain are given or de- when the succession shall cease, nied, in which the fruits of the until the entire cessation of the ground either prosper or decline, business of this world, and time, in which the thunder, and the with its narrow bounds and its lightning, and the wind, and the changing scenes, shall be absorbed hail, and the snow, and the frost, in the abyss of eternity. — The are employed and directed to an- same observation may be made swer the purpose of righteous re- concerning the rainbow. The cotribution. "He gave their in- venant, which it was intended to crease to the caterpillar, and their confirm, remains inviolate. The labours unto the locust. He de- globe has never since been covered stroyed their vines with hail, and with a flood. The race of man their sycamore trees with frost." has not again been swept away On the contrary, he commands his by the resistless waters. So eviblessing, and none can reverse it. dent is it, in the revolution of the "Justice and judgment are the ha-seasons, in the objects that are bitation of his throne !" In the seasons, as in every thing else, we may also observe the veracity of God. Whatever he says he will fulfil. Heaven and earth may pass away, but his word shall continually presenting themselves to our senses, that the Lord" will not suffer his faithfulness to fail, nor alter the thing that has gone out of his lips." To those parts of the divine and many other considerations, which the subject would suggest, we are compelled to pass, to some of those lessons of improvement, which it is calculated to furnish us. character, which have been men- | adaptation to the wants and cirtioned, shall only be added his cumstances of man. Over these, immutability. Here indeed the seasons present him in the light of contrast. They change, but he alters not. The summer appears, and it declines. The winter advances, and passes away. The seed time returns, the corn veget- And, first of all, it should lead ates, the harvest arrives, the fruits us to admire and to adore the inof the earth are gathered in. The finitely glorious Being, whose perflowers expand, and they die. The fections are thus developed. How grass which to day is, to-morrow great and how wise, how full of is cut down. The face of nature goodness and mercy, how condeis continually varying, in its co-scending and how kind, and withlour and in its features. In the al how wonderful and how exalted, centre of all, He sits, who is the is the Lord our God! "He humsame yesterday, to day, and for bleth himself to behold the things ever. He partakes not of any of that are in heaven, and in the the changes around him. The earth;" yet not a worm of the light and the darkness, the sum-dust, not a flower of the field, mer and the winter, the cold and is beneath his superintending rethe heat, are equally alike to him. gard. And does he take care of He is nothing the brighter when things so apparently insignificant, nature smiles, nor is the less glo- and will he not take care of his rious, because our sky may be people? Does he uphold, and overcast with clouds. Every thing renew, and beautify the inanigoes on, according to his immut- mate creation, and will he neglect able purpose. With constant sub- that which is rational? Does he mission all nature is obedient to shine in the seasons, and will he his will. Her changes are a part forget to shine upon his church; of his council. But as to himself, Let us bless him for the displays, He is "without variableness, or which he affords of his provideneven the shadow of a turning." tial power and goodness. Let us rely upon him, for whatever he has promised. Let us confide in him, as our continual benefactor and guide. Recollecting what he has been to us, and what he has done for us, in time that is past, may we learn to trust him for that which is to come! In the very short and rapid sketch, which has thus been taken of the divine perfections, as they shine in the seasons, little indeed has been said, when compared with the extensiveness of the subject. The necessity to contract our observations, has precluded that enlargement, to which such Nor, should we forget to humble a theme naturally invites us. No- ourselves before him, with the overthing has been said of that long-whelming conviction of our suffering, which, notwithstanding worthiness of all his mercies. the ten thousand provocations of While his glory has been shinmankind, still allows the sun to ing in the seasons; while he has shine upon the evil and the good, been sustaining our feeble existand giveth rain to the just and the ence from day to day; while unjust. Nor has any notice been every rising sun, and every star taken of the seasons, as to their of the heavens has been proclaimbeauty, their variety, and their ing his praise; while the flow un |