shining thro' a thin cloud, consisting of small hail stones or frozen ops of water, all of the same size." We are told that the religious Jews in many places, when they see a Rainbow, go out of their houses, and fall down and confess their sins; and acknowJedge, that God might justly destroy them with a flood, on account of them.* A Rainbow does not last lòng, it soon disappears. It is a very beautiful sight, and I hope you will take more notice of it, when you see a Rainbow again.

II. Notice the PURPOSE for which this RAINBOW was placed in the cloud.

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To be a sign or token, that the water should no more become a flood to destroy the earth. It was intended by God, in a most striking and solemn manner, to confirm the promise he had made to Noal. The old world was destroyed to be a monument of God's anger a gainst sin, but the present world remains as a monument of his mercy to mankind. This Vow was a token of God's covenant or agreement with man, and all living things. The word

* Mather's Christian Philosopher, p. 57. ·

word covenant sometimes means a mutual agreement between two or more persons. At other times it means a positive engagement. Such was the covenant established with Noah. God gives repeated assurances of the truth of the promise he had made, by saying, "I do set my bow in the cloud, the bow shall be seen in the cloud, it shall be a token of the covenant, and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting cove

nant."

This language is made use of in no less than seven verses, one after the other. The Rainbow appears in wet weather, "when the clouds return after the rain." Then it is that God gives us this token, that the rain shall not prevail. The thicker the cloud, the brighter the Rainbow. The Rainbow appears when one part of the sky is clear, which should teach us that in the midst of wrath, God remembers mercy. The Rainbow being a reflection of beams of the sun, should teach us that he who is the sun of Righteousness is the glory of this covenant. Christ is described as having a Rainbow on his head, which shews his majesty, and teaches

teaches us that he is the Mediator of the new covenant. How glorious must his throne

appear, for there is round his throne.

said to be a Rainbow

Yet he is still more beau

tiful. The chiefest among ten thousand, the altogether lovely. There are fiery colours in the Rainbow, then let us remember that though God has promised not to destroy the world by water, yet he hath declared that it shall be destroyed by fire at the last day. God says, it is his bow. The Rainbow is no sign of wrath, but of mercy, nor of terror, but of peace. It is a bow, but it hath neither string nor arrow. It is a bow unstrung, not in his hands, but in the cloud, to show that he will no more shoot forth the arrows of his vengeance upon the world. God looks upon this bow and remembers his coveLet us look upon it with thankfulness and praise, and remember the goodness, the mercy and faithfulness of God.

nant.

Still round the Throne thy Rainbow shines,
Fair emblem of thy kind designs!

Bright pledge that speaks thy cov❜nant sure,
Long as thy kingdom shall endure.

No more shall deluges of woe,
Thy new created world o'erflow!
Jesus our sun, his beams displays,
And gilds the clouds with beauteous rays!

No gems so bright!-no forms so fair!
Mercy and Truth still triumph there.
Thy saints shall bless the peaceful sign
When stars and suns forget to shine.

E'en here, while storms and gloomy shade,
And horrors all the scene o'erspread,
Faith views the throne with piercing eye,
And boast the Rainbow still is nigh! Doddridge,

Allow me to introduce the following obser vation of Mr. Montgomery the Poet. "Ia the BIBLE SOCIETY, all names and distincti, ons of sects are blended till they are lost, like the prismatic colours in a ray of pure and per fect light.In the MISSIONARY work, though divided, they are not discordant, but like the same colours, displayed and harmonized in the Rainbow, they form an arch of glory-ascending on the one hand from earth to hea ven, and on the other descending from heaven to earth-a bow of promise; a covenant of peace; a sign that the storm is passing away.

and

and the Sun of Righteousness with healing in

his wings breaking forth on all nations." III. CATECHETICAL QUESTIONS.

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1. What were the words of the Text? " I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth."

2. Where are these words to be found? Gen. chap. 9. verse 13.

3. For what reason did God place this bow in the cloud? For a token or sign that the promise he had made should stand for ever.

4. What promise was this which God had made? That the water should no more be come a flood to destroy all flesh.

5. What does God say he will do when the bow appears in the cloud? That he will look upon it, that he may remember the everlasting covenant.

6. Whose bow does God say this is? His own bow “I do set my bow in the cloud."

7. What is a Rainbow? A beautiful arch in the heavens, ornamented with various colours.

See Evan. Mag. p. 162, for 1814.

8.