Preaching Nature

Rev. James Hamilton, a Scottish preacher from the 18th century, often brought phenomena of nature to bear on the business of the pulpit. In other words, he would use nature as an illustration of God's common grace and, sometimes, of his special grace to sinners. A poor woman from Dundee once came to his prayer meeting, and he was speaking to the people about a fig leaf which he held in his hand. She could not understand his point, and she protested, "Eh, Mr. Hamilton, to give them fig leaves, when their hungering for the bread of life!"