God and man, since the rainbow is nothing but a phenomenon arising from a modification of the sun's rays of light falling upon drops of rain, and is nothing but a mere natural appearance: but when we know that spiritual states of mind are outwardly represented by the things that are made and appear in the world, our wonder will cease. The bow itself is not the covenant, but is, as stated, a token or outward sign of the covenant. As the rainbow shews correctly, by its colours, whether dim or bright, the mode in which the rays of light are received and reflected by the drops of rain in the cloud, so the bow is taken by Infinite Wisdom, as an outward representative sign or token of that spiritual covenant which the Lord in mercy makes with man. When the earth has been blessed with refreshing showers, and all vegetation seems thankful for the boon, how beautiful and grand is the appearance of the rainbow! it appears to smile on the earth below, and to exhibit its brilliant colours through the cloud in token of peace. As the rainbow is thus a modification of the rays of light, shewing that such rays are variously received and reflected in the colours of the bow, so it is as a token or representative sign of the state of man as to his regeneration, pointing out his reception of the rays of light from the Lord, the Sun of Righteousness, and reflecting them back as it were in the outward life and practice. Divine Truth, in Scriptural language, is the light from the Sun of righteousness, and it is truth that enlightens and regenerates the soul of man. Truth in itself is white as the light, yet, when received by man, it falls into, and mingles with, his cloudy and obscure perceptions; it falls as upon something dark and
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