The varied and rich profusion with which God had clothed His world!

(Thomas Guthrie, 1803-1873)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

As we looked down on the pleasant scene, we were astonished at the varied and rich profusion with which God had clothed His world.

Nature, like Joseph, was dressed in a coat of many colors-gray, black and yellow lichens clad the rock.

The glossy ivy, like an ambitious child, had planted its foot on the crag, and, hanging on by a thousand arms, had climbed to its stormy summit.

Mosses, of hues surpassing all the colors of the loom, spread an elastic carpet around the gushing fountain.

The wild thyme lent a bed to the weary, and its perfume to the air.

Heaths opened their blushing bosoms to the bee.

The primrose, modesty shrinking from observation, looked out from its leafy shade.

At the foot of the weathered stone, the fern raised its plumes, and on its summit the foxglove rang his beautiful bells; while the birch bent to kiss the stream, as it ran away laughing to hide itself in the lake below, or stretched out her arms to embrace the mountain ash and evergreen pine.

By a very slight exercise of imagination, in such a scene one could see Nature engaged in her adorations, and hear her singing, "The earth is full of the glory of God! How manifold are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! In wisdom You have made them all."

Insects-as well as angels,
the flowers that spangle the meadow-as well as the stars that spangle the sky,
the lamp of the glowworm-as well as the light of the sun,
the lark that sings in the air-and the seraph that is singing in Heaven,
the thunders that rend the clouds-or the trumpet that shall rend the tomb
-these and all things else, reveal God's attributes and proclaim His praise!

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6

Psalm 148 . . . Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars. Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; He gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds . . . Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. . . Praise the LORD.

 ~ ~ ~ ~

Something to ponder:
Mary Winslow: "We are not to be like the world around us-but are to see God in every thing and in every act, and walk humbly and closely with Him. "