Page:Natural Phenomena and their Spiritual Lessons.djvu/34

22 the worldly advantages and possessions to which the proprium is devoted are lost when the spirit quits the sphere to which they belong: while the death of the body no human skill can prevent or retard. These changes are wholly irrespective of the human will; but the evolution of the higher life from the lower, throughout the series, depends upon the voluntary surrender of the latter; we must lay it down of ourselves.

The entombment in the chrysalis, during which the pupa neither eats nor moves, represents the intervening state of trial and temptation referred to, when the lower delights are relinquished and the higher are not as yet realised. The interior affections then appear paralysed, and there is no conscious reception of inflowing good affections. The sunshine, though never actually withdrawn, is for the time wholly obscured; the singing-birds are mute, and the trees of the garden droop. It is a season of deep spiritual adversity. One function, however, that of respiration, the pupa retains during its suspended animation; and if that be obstructed, absolute death supervenes. Respiration is an exercise of the lungs corresponding to an analogous exercise of the understanding; and, in this instance, appears to indicate the tenacious power of faith in the divine love and protection by which we cling to the promises of Scripture, and are enabled to hold fast to the end,—the end of each specific trial. This arrives sooner or later, according to circumstances. Temperature is the principal agent in determining the period of the insect's imprisonment; and similarly does spiritual temperature determine the duration of the state of temptation. As in nature the extreme depth of