Stroke after stroke, distinctly falling,
seemed to bring to me the echoes of a million holy telegraphic towers all
over the surface of the globe; and when I came to stand under the eaves of
the small sanctuary, the measured turning, in the belfry, of the wheel, by
revolutions such as I had seen long years ago in my childhood, filled my
eyes with gracious tokens, that were not drawn from me by the sublime
circling of the sun and moon, then moving east and west in their spheres.
The final tone of praise in the great ascription to God is, in its
fullness, supplied by a revelation greater than blessed the times of
David. A new and sweeter string is strung upon the lyre his royal fingers
so nobly swept, and the voice of thanksgiving is more highly raised for an
"unspeakable gift." The kingdoms of nature are the chords on the harp we
may sound to the Creator of all. There has been of late much discussion as
to the place nature should hold among religious influences and appeals,
some super-eminently exalting her, and others putting her in contrast and
almost opposition with all spirit, beauty and truth. This is no place, nor
has the present writer inclination, here, to take part in the grand
debate, infinitely interesting as it is, on either side.
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