The First of April.THE RAINBOW TOKEN --- Genesis 9:13."I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token and a covenant between me and the earth." --- Genesis 9:13. The rainbow is a token of the covenant of preservation made with Noah, and with all the creatures of the earth; it is fixed and sure; it may be considered also as an emblem of the covenant of grace (Isaiah 54:9, 10); or rather, it may be an emblem of Christ himself (Revelation 10:1), as appears in many particulars. When we are apt to fear being overwhelmed by rain, Jehovah shows the seal of his promise that we shall not. Thus he removes our fears, when we weep for sin and are afraid of a flood of wrath, by reminding us of the covenant of grace established in Jesus. The thicker the cloud, afterwards the brighter the bow in the cloud; so when afflictions abound, consolations do much more abound. The bow appears when part of the sky is clear; which intimates mercy remembered in the midst of wrath. The rainbow is caused by the reflection of the beams of the sun; so all the glory of the covenant of grace, and the significancy of the seals are derived from Christ, the Sun of righteousness. The bow speaks of terror; but this is without string or arrow, is directed upwards, and not to the earth. God looks upon the bow to remember his covenant; so should we, that we may be mindful of the covenant of grace with faith and thankfulness.
Christ's open arms like rainbows stand, |