head of this most mighty and majestic angel: and the rainbow was celebrated by this very name (viz. that of a regal crown) among the ancients, as being the most significant emblem of empire and dominion, and is so spoken of in the history of Augustus. And, indeed, nothing can be more certain than that the rainbow (although both the Hebrews and the Romans regarded it on account of its apparent resemblance of a bow) forms a complete circle in the heavens, the half of which only being visible in our hemisphere, it appears to us a bow, while in reality it is not a bow but a circle. This, I conceive, is particularly worthy of notice, because, without it, we shall be unable to penetrate the mystery of that heavenly circle which God appointed to be a sacrament of his grace to the patriarch Noah. For that circle, formed in the shape of a crown, leads us to contemplate that kingdom of God in which mercy and grace, mingled with justice and sanctity, are the governing principles. Since therefore the Rainbow exhibits chiefly to our view two* predominant colours, the green are intermixed in the centre; and the red, which the red aptly sym bolizes the justice, sanctity, and severity of God, "Distended as the brow of God appeared," is finely poetical, but it has no Scriptural sanction. The Scriptural notion is that of a royal Diadem. * Subsequent discoveries have proved that there are " three primary colours in the unity of the light.”—Jones. + See Encyclopedia Britannica. Art. Chemistry. while the green, in direct opposition to it, as aptly symbolizes his clemency and grace. But the colour of green is predominant in the Rainbow,* as, in truth, Divine grace and clemency prevail, in the government of this world, over the justice and severity of God. Such was the covenant made with the whole race of the descendants of Noah, securing to them the exercise of clemency and compassion. But the mystery of that Testament and covenant is deeper still. For both the one and the other are founded in that gracious Testament, which God made, before the world was, in Christ Jesus, on behalf of his elect people who should thereafter believe in Christ Jesus, and embrace the terms of the true covenant of grace, entered into with fallen man on the basis of that testament. For all the longsuffering which God exercises in the world, supposes and is connected with that grace which he offers and performs to his elect in the true covenant of grace. The covenant therefore which was made with the descendants of Noah, was altogether of a symbolical nature, and the Rainbow itself, in the fullest sense of its symbo * "Caruleum et virentem vocat Ammianus, iridem satis accuratè describens, eique vindicans quinque colorum species, luteum, flavescentem vel fulvum, puniceum, purpureum; denique cœruleo concretum et viridi. Sed viridis prævalet: cæteri colores ad rubrum dilutius vel fortius transparentem facile referuntur. Vide illum, Lib. xx. Cap. xi. 1. lical character, is to be referred to that kingdom of grace, which God, in the economy of grace, after the most striking manner, exhibits in his Son Jesus Christ. Since in this kingdom, as it is manifested in the present dispensation of the church, grace and clemency so reign, that grace as it were absorbs justice; hence truly that crown of the rainbow, with which God as King is encircled, appears wholly of the colour of green, and indeed, as it is here described, of the most vivid green, that of the emerald, and of the most delightful and reviving aspect. Such is that grace which God dispenses to his elect in the present era of the church. Such were the sentiments of a most able commentator, not of the Hutchinsonian school, on the symbolical object of the Rainbow as introduced to notice in the book of Genesis and in the Revelation of St. John. And may it not be remarked, in addition to what he has said, that the Rainbow, being a combination of colours so mixed as to produce the loveliest effect; affords the most affecting emblem that can be conceived of the attributes of Deity, the sun of the spiritual heavens, so harmonized in the covenant of grace that an object is thereby presented to the soul, whose eyes have been Divinely capacitated for contemplating it, which will be for ever a source of unspeakable delight, and a theme for everlasting admiration and grateful thanksgiving? But the prevailing colour of the rainbow is green; and hence that which was seen by Ezekiel and St. John, surrounding the head of the glorified Jesus, is compared to that of the emerald. And though, in the covenant of grace, or in the Gospel which is its record, every Divine attribute has its due place and proportionate honour; yet mercy shines there with prevailing lustre. If we consult our own state of mind, this first claims attention, and attracts the regard of faith. If we consult the Scriptures, this has the prominent place in the circle of revealed truth. This softens, if I may so speak, the other attributes, and renders them grateful to the enfeebled but enraptured eye of penitent devotion in fallen man. The bow is placed where it may be seen by all, and is calculated, by its position in the heavens, to remind us of the gracious command of Him whose head is encircled with it, "Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." That Gospel owes its origin (I repeat a 1emark already made) to the very clouds of wrath, which poured their fury on Him who was made a curse for us. By him the curse is converted into a blessing, and the evidence of inviolable justice becomes evidence of abounding grace. Rom. v. 20, 21. I have hitherto omitted to mention the additional evidence, in support of the triunity of the Godhead, which the doctrine of the Rainbow symbolically affords.* "In optics," says a modern Philosopher, "we have three primary colours in the unity of the Light." Is it any wonder if every natural science should be found to bear its testimony in support of a doctrine which is essential to human happiness, but of which the human mind can form no ideas without some images of its truth and character exhibited in things which are subject to our understandings? We receive the doctrine on the testimony of God; but we are thankful for any scriptural illustrations which afford us conceptions of Triunity, while we are waiting for the time when That great mysterious Deity We all, with open face, shall see : The beatific sight Shall fill heaven's echoing courts with praise, Of everlasting light. There shall then be "no need of the light of the sun or of the moon;" the necessity of symbolic instruction will be over, when we shall see Him as He is. And Oh, how different, in the degree of its effect, will the direct vision of that state be, in comparison of the reflex vision of faith now enjoyed! Faith is indeed transforming in its * "In the cloud a bow Conspicuous, with THREE listed colours gay. Milton, B. ii. "His tripple coloured bow."-Ibid. |