The message contained in this chapter, was probably delivered to the people about the time of harvest. In some preceding years, the crops had been cut short by unfavourable weather, as well as by the incursions of enemies. It is said, in the third and fourth chapters, that for the wickedness of the people, " the showers had been withheld, and there had been no latter rain, all the birds of heaven were fled, and the fruitful field was become a wilderness." The failure of the harvests, in seasons past, had given them anxious apprehensions for the next. But having, beyond all expectation, received timely rains, they beheld their fields covered with corn, and their pastures clothed with flocks. And yet they remained as regardless of the divine government as before: Neither, said they, let us Now fear the Lord, who gives us rain in season, and bestows upon us the rich, but unexpected blessings of harvest.

There are two observations suggested to us in

our text.

I. That the regular return of harvest is a demonstration of the existence and providence of God. II. That the time of harvest naturally calls us to pious meditations and reflections.

I. The regular return of harvest is an obvious. proof of the existence and providence of God.

The Jews, who, with this evidence before their eyes, feared not God, are called "a foolish people, › and without understanding.

The fruits of the earth, so necessary to the support of animal life, depend on causes beyond the reach of human power. Our labour in the culture of the soil, is useless and vain without a friendly disposition of the seasons. But in the direction of the seasons, we can have no more influence than in the creation of worlds. There is nothing within. the sphere of human agency, that in the least con

tributes to hasten or restrain the showers of heaven, to increase or moderate the heat of the sun, to continue or change the course of the winds. The whole management of the natural world is in hands superiour to ours, in the hands of an invisible, almighty Being. The invisible things of God, are not more clearly seen from the creation of the world, than from the productions of nature. Had we been present, when God laid the foundation of the earth, we could not have had more convincing evidence, than what we now have in the stated returns of seed time and harvest, that there is a Being who fills, sustains, and rules the universe, who is above all, through all, and in us all.

The prophet remarks, that God reserves to us the appointed weeks of harvest.

That we may order our affairs with discretion, the world is governed by general, established laws. If the seasons should be thrown into confusion, or their regular succession frequently interrupted, there would be an end of human prudence and activity : We could never judge how to plan and pursue our business; when to sow our seed, or look for a harvést; and what provision to make, in one season, for our support till the return of the next. But as the system of God's government is uniform and steady, or subject only to small and occasional variations, we are able to form and prosecute our necessary designs with success.

We see that the seasons are ordered with wisdom superiour to ours. If we had power to influence them, yet we have not skill to guide them. Experience convinces us, how erroneously we have judged: But all our experience has not enabled us to judge perfectly for the future. A plentiful harvest often follows seasons, which to us appeared unfavourable; and the fruits of the earth as often are cut short after promising prospects. There are

many things in the natural world, so entirely out of our sight, that it is impossible for us to determine the manner in which it is best the seasons should be ordered. The weather, which we think unkind, may be necessary to the removal or prevention of evils, unknown to us, which might be fatal to the fruits of the earth :-That which is unfriendly to particular soils, may be adapted to general fertility: That which produces a scanty harvest, in one season, may conduce to the fruitfulness of succeeding

years.

Harvest, in its appointed weeks, teaches us the goodness of God.

"He has not left himself without witness, in that he does good, gives us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, and fills our hearts with food and gladness." We learn God's goodness from the effects of it, which we behold; and the blessings of it, which we enjoy. When we see a man of wealth dispersing abroad his charities among the indigent, we admire the goodness of his heart, and rejoice in his ability. Much greater evidence have we of the goodness of God, "who causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; who gives to the beast his food, and to man wine which cheers, and bread which strengthens his heart; who crowns the year with blessings, and whose paths drop fatness."

God has made us dependent on his care for all our supplies; and our necessary supplies he gives us, while we trust his care in the exercise of prudence and industry. "Trust in the Lord and do good: So shalt thou dwell in the land, and shalt be surely fed."

That divine promise, delivered to the world four thousand years ago, that "seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, shall not cease,' we see continually verified; and hence we learn,

that the God who governs the world, is constant to his word. If particular countries have, at times, felt the distresses of famine, yet of seed time and harvest there has never been such a general failure, as looked like an infraction on the truth of this ancient promise. Every harvest is a new instance of God's faithfulness, a new performance of his promise, and a new encouragement to our faith in his providence and word.

As the return of harvest gives us such immediate sensible evidence of the existence, providence, wisdom, bounty, and faithfulness of God; so,

II. It naturally calls us to pious meditations and reflections.

It was an instance of great stupidity in the Jews, that they said not, "Let us now fear the Lord, who reserveth to us the appointed weeks of the harvest."

1. The seasons are so ordered, as to remind us of the shortness of human foresight.

From past experience we expect a harvest in its appointed weeks: And rarely is our expectation frustrated. But the event is not always adjusted to the measure of our hopes. It often falls short, and often exceeds them. That rain and sunshine are necessary to the fruitfulness of the earth, we know by constant observation. But what proportion of drought and moisture, of heat and cold, is most friendly to vegetation, and most conducive to plenty, is a matter in which we often misjudge. The management of the seasons, however, is in unerring hands. Rational beings, in the care of infinite wisdom and goodness, are always safe, while they proceed in the line of their duty; and never ought they to indulge anxiety. With him who governs futurity, they may calmly trust all events. "Take no thought for your life," says the divine Saviour, "what ye shall eat, or drink, or put on. Behold the fowls of the air; they neither sow, nor reap,

nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.-Are ye not much better than they? Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and these things shall be added."

2. Our dependence is apparent, as in many other things, so especially in the return of harvest.

Now we see the fruits of the earth brought to maturity, and provision made for our support through the succeeding year. This is not the work of man, but of the great Governour of Nature, whose bountiful designs nothing can defeat. Our industry and prudence must do their part; but it is God alone who succeeds our labours. The friendly showers, and the quickening sunbeams are not under our command. Hail storms, mildews, and devouring insects, are not subject to our will. If God send his blessing, none can revoke it. If he withhold his smiles, our toil is fruitless. If he commissions storms or winds, frosts or insects, to lay waste our fields, our hopes are cut off. "These things are turned about by his counsels, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world."

At the time of harvest, it becomes us to reflect how insufficient we are to perfect our own designs, or to prevent the evils which may defeat them; and thus learn, in all our ways, to acknowledge God. 3. The scripture speaks of harvest as a season of gratitude and joy.

To express the happiness of mankind under the kingdom of the Messiah, the prophet says, "They joy before thee as the joy of harvest." By the same allusion the Psalmist describes the felicity of the Jews in their national deliverance from captivity." They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, VOL. I.

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