Natural Phenomena and Their Spiritual LessonsJames Speirs, 1870 - 211 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
acquired action activity actual adapted analogous angels angle of incidence animal animalcule appear atmosphere attain beauty become belong caterpillar cloth colour conscious corre corresponding degree delight derived descending desire distinct divine earth effort elements evil exercise existence external mind fact faculties feeling fruit gift grasses green habits harmony heart heaven heavenly affections higher human imperfect individual influence insect intellectual interior internal John F. W. Herschel knowledge labour lark larva leaf leaves less light living Lord love and wisdom lower mental metamorphosis morning morphosis natural mind necessity ness objects observation operations ourselves outward particular perceptions perfection plane present principles realised received reception reflected regeneration relation represent respiration ripening rise root season selfish sense shadows and reflexions similar Skylarks society sparrows sphere stars storms of passion sunshine sweet symbolised tender thought tion tree turb typifies vegetable vidual voluntary whole worldly
Popular passages
Page 61 - When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth After soft showers; and sweet the coming on Of grateful evening
Page 81 - HAIL to thee, blithe spirit ! Bird thou never wert, That from heaven, or near it, Pourest thy full heart In profuse strains of unpremeditated art. Higher still and higher From the earth thou springest Like a cloud of fire; The blue deep thou wingest, And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.
Page 91 - The pale descending year, yet pleasing still, A gentler mood inspires ; for now the leaf Incessant rustles from the mournful grove ; Oft startling such as, studious, walk below, And slowly circles through the waving air.
Page 159 - In a deep pool, by happy chance we saw A two-fold Image ; on a grassy bank A snow-white Ram, and in the crystal flood Another and the same ! Most beautiful, On the green turf, with his imperial front Shaggy and bold, and wreathed horns superb, The breathing Creature stood ; as beautiful, Beneath him, shewed his shadowy Counterpart.
Page 202 - ... planetary system from the point of view which this relation affords us, it is no longer mere analogy which strikes us — no longer a general resemblance among them, as individuals independent of each other, and circulating about the sun, each according to its own peculiar nature, and connected with it by its own peculiar tie.
Page 83 - Leave to the nightingale her shady wood ; A privacy of glorious light is thine; Whence thou dost pour upon the world a flood Of harmony, with instinct more divine; Type of the wise who soar, but never roam; True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home...
Page 115 - There's not a flower of spring That dies ere June, but vaunts itself allied By issue and symbol, by significance And correspondence, to that spirit-world Outside the limits of our space and time, Whereto we are bound.
Page 197 - He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.
Page 162 - twas wondrous pitiful : She wish'd she had not heard it ; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man : she thank'd me; And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, I should but teach him how to tell my story, And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake"; She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd, And I lov'd her, that she did pity them.
Page 112 - They shall not build, and another inhabit: they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.