'TEL seller &< -** FRONTISPIECE. The various Uses of Fire. VOL. i. p. 7. REFLECTIONS ON THE WORKS AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD THROUGHOUT ALL NATURE, For every Day in the Year. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF C. C. STURM. A NEW EDITION, Carefully Revised and Improved, BY THE REV. T. SMITH. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. ROBINSON; G. WILKIE AND J. ROBIN- SON; J. WALKER; SCATCHERD AND LETTERMAN; J.RICHARDSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME; R. LEA; J. NUNN } AND J. BOOKER. 1808. I Stack CONTENTS OF VOL. I. JO Page MEDITATIONS on New-years day .... I The blessings granted to i(s ly God in winter . . 3 Daily proofs of Divine Providence 5 The various uses ofjire 7 Winter amusements 9 God's providential care of animals during the winter season 12 The pleasures of winter l6 Vegetables which preserve their verdure in winter . IQ Singular state of man when asleep 21 Advantages of the climate we inhabit .... 24 The fortuity irkich snow gives to the earth ... 27 Contemplation of the starry heavens .... 2Q Discoveries made ly the microscope 33 Advantages of night 36 Reflections on myself 39 The ill effects of extraordinary cold 42 The repose of nature during winter 44 The Laplanders 47 The wise ordinance of our globe 50 Short meditations on the works of God, drawn from the Holy Scriptures 53 Wonders of the human voice 56 The duty of reflection in winter . 59 The fear of spectres 6l Subterraneous fires 63 On comets 66 Snow 69 2091 008 CONTENTS. Page The rapidity with which human life passes away . 71 Frost sometimes seen on windows 74 The use of iread 76 Our duty in regard to sleep 79 Revolutions which are constantly in nature . . .81 Every thing in nature tends to the good of mankind 84 The influence which cold has upon health . . .87 A temperature always the same would not be good for the earth QO The use of stars Q3 The wonderful structure of the eye 97 On fogs . . . 100 The flux and reflux of the sea 102 The sun does not always appear 1 06 Earthquakes 108 The order established by God relative to the life and death of man 112 Reflections on ice . 115 The spherical form of the earth 118 On the short duration of snow 120 A short history of the creation 123 Bodily advantages which the leasts have over man 126 The moon 128 The rain waters and fertilizes the earth . . . 132 Emblems of death presented to our notice in winter 134 Means to procure fire 136 The equal distribution of the seasons 138 The utility of our senses 141 Elevation of the soul to God . 144 Causes of heat and cold 146 Singularities in the kingdom of minerals . . .149 Daily proofs experienced of Divine Providence . 151 Tranquillity of the night 154 Jointer is the image of our life . 156 The utility of mountains 159 Motives for confidence in God 162 An invitation to contemplate God in the works of nature . , . 165 CONTENTS. P-aes. Bad weather 108 State of some animals during winter . . . .170 Hinds and tempests 172 The aurora borcalis 176 The extreme smallness of certain bodies . . . .178 Winter subsides gradually 181 The human body relatively to its exterior parts . 184 The hope of spring 187 The hoar frost 18Q f'ariety of means which contribute to the fertility of nature 191 Advantages derived from the sea 1Q4 The difference between animals and plants . . . IQ6 The uniformity and variety in the works of nature 200 Seeds 203 On the size and distance of the sun 205 The imperfect knowledge we have of nature . . 20Q Utility of vegetables 211 The construction of the human heart .... 214 The change of seasons 210' Several thiugs which appear to be of no use . . 21Q Harmony between the moral and physical world . 222 The nature and properties of the air 225 There is nothing new under the sun 228 Caves in the mountains 230 Circulation of the sap in trees 232 Our ignorance offuturittf 235 The gradual approach of night 238 Magnificence of God in his works 240 The arrangement of the seasons in the other planets 243 Paternal cares of Providence for the preservation of our lives in every part of the tvorld .... 245 Humn for the commencement of spring .... 248 Abuse of animals 250 The motion of the earth 253 The immense riches of nature 256 Sun-rise 25Q Wonderful construction of the car 201 CONTENTS. Page The milky way 264 Reflections on the seeds of plants 266 Tfie Hue colour of the sky 269 'Utility and necessity of air 271 Different soils of the earth 273 Necessity of repose at night 276 The magnitude of our globe 278 Generation oflirds 281 Prognostics of the weather 284 The position of the sun 286 Permanency of corporeal beings ....... 288 7 'lie use of 'rain 20)0 On respiration 203 Proofs of the goodness of God derived from the works of creation 296 Beneficial influence of the heat of the sun . . . 2Q8 Relations that all creatures have to each other . .301 The constituent parts of water 304 The propagation of plants 307 Variety of 'features in tlie human face . . . .310 God's universal care of his creatures . . . .312 Flowers which lloom in April 315 Return of the birds 318 Utility of forests 321 Pleasures which the contemplation of nature affords 324 Animals should lead men to glorify God . . . 326 WORKS OF GOD. JANUARY I. Meditations on New-Year's Day. CONSIDERING this first day of the year as a re- commencement of my life, I presume, from the goodness of God, to anticipate a repetition of the great and numerous blessings I have received from my birth to the present period. What may 1 not hope from my heavenly Father, who, from the first . moment of my existence, nay, even before I was born, provided for me with so much tenderness and goodness ! In my parents he gave me friends, whose fostering care supported and brought me up, and whose disinterested affection protected me in the weak and helpless state of infancy. With- out their kind attentions and anxious solicitude, how could I have been preserved to enjoy the be- nefits I now possess ? Had I at that time been capable of reflection, I might, undoubtedly, have promised myself many agreeable hours in the course of my sublunary existence. Now that I am capable of it, I wish to devote myself entirely to a sense of my present VOL. I. B 2 JANUARY I. happiness, and the future hopes I am permitted to indulge. I enter with the present day into a new period of life; not, indeed, so much unprovided for, nor so completely helpless, as when I first came into the world, but with equal occasion for assistance in many respects. I require friends to strew the rugged path of life with unfading flowers, to support my sinking spirits in the day of afflic- tion, and to warn and defend me in the hour of danger : and I implicitly rely on the paternal goodness of my God for this best of blessings. Whatever may happen during the course of the year, he has undoubtedly chosen for me a friend, who will be my adviser in difficulties, and my consoler in misfortunes; who will share with me the sweets of prosperity, and in moments of weak- ness will aid and support my reason. Far from supposing myself to have been acci- dentally born of such parents, in such a part of the world, and at such a particular time ; I con- ceive the foundation of my future destiny to have been laid from the first moment of my existence ; and rest assured that the time, the place, the circumstances, and the consequences of my birth, had all been planned, by God, in the wisest man- ner. It was then that he fixed my fate, that he weighed the evils I was to endure, that he saw the pleasures and comforts which were to restore calm and serenity to my bosom. By his decree, many causes, then unknown, were to combine for my happiness ; and every thing relating to me was to contribute towards fulfilling his beneficent views. All, indeed, that relates to myself is hidden from Blessings granted by God in Winter. 3 me ; but all things are visible to the great Author of my being, and all are settled according to his decrees, which are full of wisdom and goodness. If, therefore, in the course of the present year, I experience any unforeseen misfortune, or taste of unexpected happiness, I shall consider it as result- ing entirely from the will of God. Should I be called to endure the chilling blasts of penury, I will remember the protection I received in the more critical state of infancy; or if my heart be wounded by the ingratitude of a friend, I will recol- lect that God is able to raise me up others, in whose tenderness I may enjoy delight and consolation. Though persecution may threaten, and dangers be- yond all human foresight assail me, I will yet rely on that Divine Being who protected my childhood and my youth from a thousand dangers, and trust that he will not be less the friend and supporter of my old age. What, then, can prevent my begin- ning this year with a tranquil mind ? I look for- ward without anxiety, and leave my fate to the guidance of Providence. JANUARY II. The Bktoings granted to us by God in Winter, and to which we pay too little Attention. IF we were to examine the works of God more attentively than we generally do, we should find, even in this season, many causes to rejoice in his goodness, and to admire the wonders of his wis- B 2 4 JANUARY n. dom. Few persons, without doubt, arc so insen- sible as not to feel emotions of pleasure and grati- tude, when beauteous nature displays the rich blessings of spring, summer, or autumn : but even hearts the most replete with sensibility, are rarely excited to grateful sensations, when they behold the trees stripped of their fruit, and the fields with- out verdure ; when the bleak wind whistles round their dwelling; and a chilling cold comes to freeze the earth and its inhabitants. But is it true that this season is so destitute of the blessings of heaven, as to be incapable of kindling gratitude and piety in the heart of man ? No, certainly. Let us only accustom ourselves to be more atten- tive to the works of God, more aifected with the numerous proofs of his goodness towards us, and we shall find many occasions, even in winter, to praise our Benefactor. Consider how unhappy we should be, if, during this inclement season, we had neither fire nor clothes to keep us warm. With what goodness the Lord prevents our wants, and furnishes us, even at a period the most void of resources, with the ne- cessaries and conveniences of life ! Whilst we. are enjoying the comfortable warmth of a fire, shall we not return thanks to the Lord, who gives us fuel with such profusion, that even the most indi- gent can obtain a necessary supply ? If it were given to mortals to examine and com- prehend those various links which form the harmo- nious chain of nature, how great would be our ad- miration of Jehovah's wisdom and goodness ! But, however incapable we are of forming to ourselves Daily Proofs of Divine Providence. 5 an idea of the whole of his works, the little we do understand gives us sufficient reason to acknow- ledge, that his government is infinitely wise and beneficent. Winter belongs to the plan he has formed. If this season did not exist, the budding spring and ripening summer would lose many of their most fascinating charms, the fertility of our lands would be much diminished, com- merce would fail in many provinces, and part of the umbrageous woods and towering forests would seem to have been created in vain. Considered in this light, winter is certainly very useful : and sup- posing that its advantages were not so apparent, it would be sufficient for us to reflect, that this season is the work of the Creator, as well as spring and summer ; and that all which proceeds from God must be for the best. JANUARY III. Daily Proofs of Divine Providence. NOT to acknowledge the hand of Providence, but in extraordinary cases, is to betray our ignor- ance and our weakness. In the ordinary course of nature, a variety of things occur which ought to fix our attention and excite our admiration. The formation of a child in the womb of its mother, is as great a miracle of divine wisdom and power, as the creation of the first man out of the dust. And, the preservation of our life, if we reflect on the various causes and effects which combine for that B 3 O JANUARY III. purpose, is no less wonderful than the resurrection of the dead. The only difference between them is, that one happens but seldom, whilst we every day witness the other. Hence it is that the former does not strike us more sensibly, nor raise our admira- tion as it would otherwise do. My own experience ought to convince me fully, that a Divine Providence watches over the preserva- tion of my existence. I am not certain of a single moment; since a thousand unknown and latent causes may hasten my end, congeal my blood, or stop my breath. Alas! I cannot but feel my utter incapacity of preserving my life, of removing my infirmities, and of dispersing the dangers with which I am threatened. Subject to so many men- tal and corporeal wants, and exposed to all the ills of affliction, disease, and imbecility, I am thorough- ly convinced, that, without the tender mercies of God, I should be completely wretched. The union of my body and soul, their reciprocal and con- tinual acting on each other, are inconceivable, and neither depend on my will nor my power. The beating of my pulse, and the circulation of fluids within me, go on without interruption, and without my being able to contribute to them in the smallest degree. Every thing convinces me that my facul- ties, my state, and the duration of my being, do not depend on my own will; but that the Al- mighty, by a secret and absolute power, maintains in me strength, motion, and existence. If my re- spiration be not stopped; if my blood still cir- culate ; if my limbs have not yet lost their acti- vity ; if the organs of my senses retain their pro- The rarious Uses of Fire. 1 per functions; and if my thinking and reasoning faculties be still preserved ; it is to God alone I am indebted for such inestimable blessings. But, why do I reflect so seldom, and with so little grati- tude, on the ways of Providence? Ought not the reflections which now offer themselves, to have ever been imprinted on my heart? Ought I not, at least, every morning and evening, to muse upon, to ad- mire, and gratefully to acknowledge the blessings of my Creator? How just that I should do so! and that, by this homage, I should distinguish myself from the insensible brute, which has not received the faculty of contemplating the works of God! JANUARY IV. The -carious Uses of Fire. FIRE is, in some degree, the universal instrument of all the arts, and contributes most essentially to the conveniences of life; and, in order that man might derive continual assistance from this element, the Creator has diffused its principles throughout nature, in the water, in the air, and in all oleagi- nous substances. How very useful are all those combustible mat- ters which supply us with fuel, and without a suf- ficiency of which, we should at once be deprived of the greatest advantages, and exposed to inconve- niences of a most serious nature! Were it not for the fire, which cheers and illumines our habitations in the dreary months of winter, a considerable por- 8 JANUARY IV. tion of our time must be passed in insupportable darkness. Deprived of artificial light, our most agreeable occupations must terminate at sun-set, and we should be reduced to the sad alternative of remaining motionless, or of wandering in terror and obscurity, exposed to a thousand dangers. The greatest part of the aliments the earth pro- duces would be unwholesome and void of nourish- ment, were they not softened and prepared by the action of fire : nor should we be able to obtain so many other necessaries and conveniences, if work- men and artists did not procure them for us by the assistance of this element. Without fire we should be incapable of giving to our garments so rich a diversity of colouring; our metals could neither be melted nor rendered ductile; glass could never be formed from the sand, nor could lime acquire the consistence of stone ; nature, herself, would be divested of her most attractive charms, and all her treasures would become comparatively useless. To prove the importance of this blessing, however, without traversing the various paths of nature, we need only contemplate our own apartment, in which a genial warmth is diffused, to shield us from the impressions of the external air. During hard frosts we should become inactive, and subject to many unpleasant sensations, if the fire did not communicate to us its invigorating influence; the sufferings of the aged and infirm must also become more acute ; and what would become of the little infant if its delicate limbs were not strengthened by gentle warmth ? O unfortunate poor! who suffer all the rigor of this inclement season, and who are. Winter Amusements. 9 ready to sacrifice a part of your small pittance of bread, in order to procure fuel to warm your shiver- ing limbs; how my heart bleeds for your calami- ties! Your distressed situation recals to my mind a portion of my own felicity, which has hitherto oc- cupied too little attention; and while it calls for the warmest gratitude towards my heavenly Father, it strongly urges me to relieve, according to my ability, those poignant distresses from which I am mercifully exempted. O my God, my Creator, and my Benefactor! to whose paternal care I am indebted for all the plea- sures and advantages derived from the element of fire ; condescend to look upon me, while my grate- ful heart expands with praises and thanksgivings. JANUARY V. Winter Ainusements. DURING this season, which many people, through prejudice, consider altogether cheerless and gloo- my; every one, according to his taste, endea- vours to procure such amusements as appear calculated to abridge the tediousness of the long winter evenings. Many, indeed, seem to think of nothing but compensating for the severity of the cold, by devoting themselves to dissipation, noisy company, or other transitory pleasures; and it is truly distressing to witness the efforts such charac- ters make to shorten, by indolence or frivolous pur- suits, those days which are already too short. 10 JANUARY V. The space of a day is generally filled up by a train of employments, which are unworthy the dignity of man, and the purposes of an immortal soul. Some hours after sun-rise, the voluptuary quits his bed. During breakfast, he forms projects for the amusements to which he means to sacrifice this new day. Then, abandoning himself to idle- ness, he waits the hour for a second repast: it comes, and he gives himself up, without bounds, to the pleasures of the table. Satisfied, or rather sur- feited, with the immoderate use he has made of it, he throws himself on a couch, in order to recruit his exhausted powers. The hour comes in which he is to go to a tumultuous company, unless the noisy circle is to assemble at his own house. He sits down to play ; and, for the first time since sun- rise, shows that he has a soul ; and, with cards in his hands, the hours appear to him to pass rapidly. At length this sensual creature goes from play to his supper, and from supper to bed ; but sleep does not tranquillize his spirits, nor wrap his senses in sweet oblivion : restlessness, or frightful dreams, disturb the hours allotted to repose. How ingenious is man in multiplying ways to shorten his time with trifling amusements ! Some- times the chase induces him to quit the town, that he may enjoy the gratification of pursuing the timid hare, or the panting deer, till the poor animal, completely exhausted, sinks at the feet of its cruel enemies, whose inhuman triumph disturbs the quiet of the country and the repose of nature. Some- times, allured by the meretricious charms of the ball, he loses his innocence, and becomes the sad Winter Amusements. 1 1 victim of disease and sorrow. Enchanted by the pleasures of public places, he imperceptibly imbibes sentiments and passions which render him incapa- ble of relishing genuine pleasure; and the feasts and other entertainments which he frequents too often bring sin in their train. Having noticed a sufficient number of winter diversions, I must beg leave to remind my fellow- creatures of their duty in regard to these amuse- ments. I do not blame the love of society, which is particularly necessary at this season ; but let not this inclination degenerate into a strong passion, lest it take possession of your whole soul. Sup- posing even, that in your social parties nothing passes contrary to virtue and morality; they may notwithstanding prove hurtful to you, by con- suming too much of your time, causing you to neglect your duties, or deranging your domestic economy. Pleasures are not to form our daily business, but are merely allowed by our Creator for purposes of relaxation. To cherish too keen a relish for them, therefore, instead of answering the purpose they were designed for, is to seek en- joyments, which may, in the end, prove sources of regret and remorse. I particularly advise you, to be very attentive to the choice of your social amusements. Do not waste your time in diver- sions which you cannot enjoy without endangering your virtue, your reputation, or the welfare of your family. Let not those foolish pleasures, which may wound your neighbour, excite his complaints, draw tears from his eyes, or make you neglect the duties of society and religion, ever find access 1 2 JANUARY VI. into your heart. Do not let even the most innocent pleasures so far take possession of you, as to make you insensible to the pure and solid pleasures of Christianity, or deprive you of your relish for serious occupations. O God ! govern my heart with thy gracious in- fluence, and grant that I may never forget thee in the enjoyment of earthly pleasures. May the re- membrance of thy presence guard me against temptations in the midst of the world ! May I ever be more attached to the exercise of my duties as a Christian, a citizen, and a father, than to those pleasures which so easily divert me from my obliga- tions, or, at least, diminish my zeal for the cause of virtue. Why should I be so earnest about trifling amusements, whilst, even in these winter days, I find purer pleasures within my reach? The con- templation of the works of God in nature, the stormy sky, the fields covered with snow, and a thousand other phenomena of winter, serve at once to amuse the mind, and to increase a spirit of de- votion : for, even in the most cheerless season, the works of the Lord are great ; and he who will re- flect upon them, will enjoy a continual variety of pleasures. JANUARY VI. God's providential Care of Animals during the Winter Season. MILLIONS of rational beings, dispersed over the different countries of the world, are provided, God's Care of Animals during the Whiter. 13 at this season, with all things necessary to their support and comfort. The greater the number of men is, the more varied are their wants, according to their condition, age, and mode of life: and in proportion as \vc feel our inability to form a plan, or take the requisite measures for our own pre- servation, our admiration and gratitude should be excited by those wise and beneficent arrangements which the Creator has made for this important purpose. But there would be a sort of selfishness in con- fining the divine goodness and wisdom to the pre- servation of the human race; without remember- ing the care which his providence also takes of other animals during winter; a care which ex- tends to creatures much greater in number on the earth, than the intelligent beings who inhabit it ; and which affords the most astonishing proofs of the divine wisdom, power, and goodness. That the prodigious number of animals inhabit- ing this terraqueous globe, should find food or habitation in summer, is not surprising; because all nature then is disposed to concur towards that end. But that, in this season, the same number of creatures those millions of quadrupeds, reptiles, birds, insects, and fishes should continue to exist, is a circumstance which must excite the astonish- ment of every being capable of reflection. Nature has provided most animals with a covering, by means of which they can sustain the cold, and pro- cure themselves sustenance in winter, as well as in summer. The bodies of wild beasts which inhabit forests and deserts, are so formed, that the hair VOL. I. C 14. JANUARY vi. which covers them falls off in summer, and grows again in winter, till it becomes a fur, which enables them to endure the most severe weather. Other kinds of animals find an asylum under the bark of trees, in crevices of old buildings, or in hollows of rocks and caves, when the cold obliges them to quit their summer dwelling. Into these retreats some carry before-hand a timely supply of food; some subsist on the fat they had accumulated during summer, and others pass the tedious chilly months in a state of torpid insensibility. Several species of birds possess an instinct which propels them at the commencement of winter to quit the northern countries, and they are then seen flying in immense flocks towards more genial climes ; while others, not designed to leave their native shores, find an ample supply of insects in moss, and in the crevices of the bark of trees. Several kinds of quadrupeds carry provision, in the summer time, into caves, and feed on it in winter : others arc obliged to seek their subsistence under the snow and ice. Various sorts of insects and fishes confined within frozen marshes and rivers, still preserve their vitality; and many means are probably used by an over-ruling Providence, for the preservation of its creatures, with which the sons of men are totally unac- quainted. Christian! adore, with me, our almighty and gracious Preserver; who, notwithstanding the sub- limity of his nature, and the grandeur of his ma- jesty, does not disdain attention to the weakest creature existing under heaven. From the elephant to the mite, all animals are indebted to him for God's Care of Animals during the Winter. 15 their life, their habitation, and support; and even where nature seems sterile and destitute of re- sources, his goodness provides means to supply her defects. Let this consideration strengthen our confidence in the Almighty, and banish from our hearts all painful solicitude concerning our pre- servation during the months of winter. That adorable Being who provides for the animal tribes will not abandon mankind : he who shows himself so great in little things, will appear still greater in matters of more importance. The God who provides a covering for animals, knows how to clothe us. He who points out to them a retreat in the caves of the mountains, will find for us an asylum to pass our days in quietness : and the same divine hand which has prepared for their sustenance, even under the snow and ice, will be able to provide for us in the most critical seasons. Finally, let these reflections induce us, according to the extent of our abilities, to imitate the bene- volent cares of Divine Providence, in contributing to the preservation and felicity of our fellow-crea- tures, and of all those animals who look up to us for protection and support. To refuse to these tha nourishment and indispensable conveniences which they require, is to act in manifest opposition to the will of our common Parent, whose provident re- gards extend to the most inferior classes of animated nature. And if animals have such powerful claims upon our attention, how much stronger is the ob- ligation to alleviate the distresses of mankind, to supply the wants of the indigent, and to relieve, by c 2 10 JANUARY vn. timely assistance, those who might otherwise sink under accumulated sufferings ! JANUARY VII. The Pleasures of Winter. EACH season has its peculiar pleasures and beau- ties: and even the winter, however destitute of charms it may appear to some people, fulfils, in this respect, the design of our Creator. For the sake of those, who, through ignorance or prejudice, murmur against this season, I will display the plea- sures it affords, both to our senses and to our hearts. Is it not a most agreeable sight to behold the morning dawn shining on a country covered with snow ? The thick fog which recently veiled the landscape is suddenly dissipated ; a light frost whitens the tops of the trees; and the hills and valleys are beautifully tinged by the reflection of that glorious luminary, whose benign influence, giving new life to every creature, invites the linnet to quit the sequestered grove, and the sparrow to flutter among the sparkling branches. In proportion as nature seemed dead in the ab- sence of the sun, so much the more lively she ap- pears, when re-animated by it ; while her new and white apparel delights the eyes of the contempla- tive traveller. Have you ever attentively con- ,sidered the formation of the snow? Have you re The Pleasures of Winter. 17 fleeted on the wonders which a single flake of this substance contains? Admire, on one hand, the regularity, the symmetry, of its form ; and, on the other, the infinite number of the same flakes which fall from the air. What an agreeable sight, to sec the hills, the forests, and the groves, clothed with a dazzling splendor! What a charm results from the assemblage of all these objects ! Behold, (for the eye can scarcely have enough of this sight, however accustomed to it) behold the brilliant dress of those hedges ! See the forests bending under the white curtain which covers them ! The whole offers to our view the appearance of a vast desert, over which a uniform veil of dazzling white ex- tends itself. What idea shall I form of those, who, at the sight of these phenomena, feel none of those pleas- ing sensations which the Creator meant to convey ? They who do nothing, at this moment, but mur- mur against the laws of nature, how much are they to be pitied! If the prospect of nature, in winter afford them no pleasure, I fear they will be equally insensible to the spring with all its charms. O ye who admire the designs of Providence, see how gracious the Lord is ! how adorable his wis- dom, and how unbounded his mercy, in all that relates to winter! Nature, however barren she ap- pear to us, is, notwithstanding, a divine master- piece ; and it i& our blindness only which con- ceals her beauties. In every part there shines some ray of the divine wisdom, and still more in what is concealed from us. We do not trace her through all her ways ; and we are only attentive to what c 3 18 dAN'UARV Vll. strikes our senses, and flatters our inclinatioh. And, in this respect, too many are like the irrational brutes, who see the sun, the snow, and the other phenomena of nature, without looking up to the Lord, as the source whence all things proceed in heaven and on earth. What sweet satisfaction must fill the minds of those persons who accustom themselves to meditate seriously on the works of God, at this season of the year! The air may be agitated by storms, the sky be clothed with blackness, and nature be despoiled of her richest charms ; but they will enjoy true pleasures, in discovering, throughout all things, traces of the wisdom, power, and goodness of their Creator. However limited their natural faculties may be, they will always find subjects to employ their minds. They will have no occasion to seek with eagerness the dissipations of the world, or the amusements of play and dancing ; they will find, either in retirement, or in the midst of their friends and children, pleasures ever genuine and ever varied. O my soul ! apply thyself to the enjoyment of these delights. Let the works of God frequently employ thy thoughts, and these reflections will soften the sorrows of life. Raise thyself to the Almighty by that chain of beings he has created, and let him be, at all times and seasons, the object of thy praise. Vegetables. 19 JANUARY VIII. Vegetables which preserve their Verdure in Winter. THE earth may now be compared to a mother who has been robbed of her most promising child- ren. She is desolate, and deprived of the charms which varied and embellished her surface. How- ever, she is not deprived of all her offspring. Here and there, some vegetables are still to be seen, which seem to defy the severity of winter. Hera the wild hawthorn shows its purple berries, and the laurcstina displays its blossoms in clusters, crowned with a foliage that never fades. The yew tree rises like a pyramid, and its leaves preserve their ver- dure ; the weak ivy still creeps along the walls, and clings immovable, whilst the tempest roars about it ; the laurel has lost none of its summer ornaments ; and the humble box tree shows here and there, in the midst of the snow, its evergreen branches. These trees, and some "others which preserve their verdure in the coldest climates, and in the severest seasons, may be considered emblem- atic of the durable advantages which he possesses whose mind is cultivated, and whose temper is sweet and serene. The splendor of dress, however it may dazzle the eyes of the vulgar, is trifling and transient ; the most brilliant tints are liable to fade ; and exterior beauty is but of short dura- tion ; but virtue has charms which survive them all. " The man who fears the Lord is like a tree planted by the side of a river: 'it brings forth fruit in due season, and the traveller blesses this 20 JANUARY VIII. shelter afforded by its evergreen and umbrageous branches." What a delightful image is this of a pious man ! He borrows not his value from the external and arbitrary goods of fortune ; but possesses true or- naments within himself. The storms of adversity may sometimes shake, but cannot overpower him ; and he soon rises again above the stormy regions. If unexpected misfortune reduce him to indigence, he is still rich, in the favour of God, a good con- science, and the hope of a blessed immortality. This meditation leads me to the idea of a bene- volent old man. In the winter of his life, he re- sembles the plants which preserve their verdure, even in this rigorous season. How many storms of fortune has he supported with constancy ! How many attracting objects has he seen wither ! Yet he exists, while most of his contemporaries have disappeared. A mild cheerfulness, the happy re- mains of his spring, is still legible in his coun- tenance. However wrinkled his forehead may be ; whatever ravages the hand of time may have im- printed upon his body ; he is still adorned with virtues which make amends for the loss of exterior charms. He grows young again in his progi-nv; and his wisdom, integrity, and experience, still serve for examples and lessons to his children's children. State of Man tvhen asleep. 21 JANUARY IX. The singular State of Man when asleep. WE need not have recourse to extraordinary events in order to learn the omnipotence and wis- dom of God. The most common occurrences, the daily changes which happen in nature, and in our own bodies, may suffice to convince us, in the strongest manner, that it is a Being infinite in wis- dom, goodness, and power, who has created the world, and who directs every event in it. Of the innumerable wonders of which he is the author, I will now mention one, which, though it occur daily, is nevertheless deserving of our regard and admiration. How often have those persons been refreshed by sleep, who possibly have never re- flected on that state ; or, at least, have not con- sidered it as one of the most remarkable effects of divine goodness! When balmy slumber weighs down their eye-lids, they think that nothing ex- traordinary happens, but suppose the animal ma- chine adapted to that situation, and impute their inclination for sleep to causes purely natural. But perhaps sleep may be considered in two different points of view. On one side, there is no- thing in it which may not result necessarily from our nature ; on the other, there is in this natural effect something so striking and wonderful, that it well deserves a closer examination. In the first instance, it is a proof of the wisdom of our Creator, that we go to sleep imperceptibly. Let us attempt to ascertain the precise moment when our facul- 22 JANUARY IX. ties arc seized by this power : that rery attention will preclude its approach ; nor shall we be able to sleep till the idea is completely dissipated. Sleep comes uncalled. It is the only change in our manner of existence in which reflection has no share ; and the more we endeavour to promote it, the less we succeed. Thus, God has directed sleep that it should become an agreeable necessity to man ; and he has made it independent both of our reason and our will. Let us pursue this medita- tion, and reflect on the wonderful state we are in during sleep. We live without knowing or feel- ing it. The beating of the heart, the circulation of the blood, the digestion, the secretion of the juices, in a word, all the animal functions, con- tinue and operate in the same order. The activity of the soul appears, for a time, in some degree sus- pended, and gradually loses all sensation, and every distinct idea. The senses deaden, and interrupt their usual operations. The muscles by degrees move more slowly, till all voluntary motion has ceased. This change begins in the forehead, then the muscles of the eye-lids, the neck, the arms, and the feet, lose their activity to such a degree, that man seems to be metamorphosed into the state of a plant. The situation of the brain becomes such, that it cannot transmit to the soul the same notions as when awake. The soul sees no object, though the optic nerve is not altered ; and it would dis- cover nothing, even if the eyes were not closed. The ears are open, and yet they do not hear. In a word, the state of a person asleep, is wonderful in all respects, and is visibly the image of that into State of Man when askep. 23 which we are brought by death. Sleep and death are so nearly alike, that it may be useful to con- sider their analogies. Who, in reality, can think of one without recollecting the other ? As im- perceptibly as we now fall into the arms of sleep, we shall one day fall into those of death. It is true, that death often gives warning of its approach several hours or days before : but the real mo- ment in which it seizes us, happens suddenly ; and when we appear to feel the first blow, it will be already the last. The senses, which lose their functions in sleep, are equally incapable of acting at the approach of death. In the same manner, the ideas are confused, and we forget the objects which surround us. The moment of dissolution may probably be as agreeable as that of falling into a profound slumber ; and the convulsions of the dying may possibly give them no more painful sensations than the circumstance of snoring to those who arc asleep. Let a devotional spirit cherish and frequently renew this meditation. Every time we retire to rest, let us reflect on all the wonders of balmy sk-ep, and bless that almighty Preserver, who does such great things for us while our senses arc wrapped in sweet oblivion. Great things, indeed ! for if he did not guard us with a protecting hand, to how many dangers should we be exposed during the night ! If God had not directed and supported the pulsation of our hearts, the circulation of our blood, and the motion of our muscles, the first sleep after we were born would infallibly have de- livered us into the arms of death. 24 JANUARY x. Serious reflection upon these things will point out the duties we owe to so great a Benefactor, and will impress our hearts with love and gratitude to that Adorable Being who proves himself to be our God in every circumstance and upon all occasions. JANUARY X. The Advantages of the Climate we inhabit. LET us learn to appreciate the peculiar hap- piness of our situation, while the blessings of our heavenly Father are poured upon us on every side. Our waving forests, fertile hills, and verdant meads ; the pure and temperate air which surrounds us ; the regular succession of day and night, and the variations which attend the revolving seasons, all announce the Creator's goodness, and the extent of our own felicity. Can we then be discontented with our lot, or complain of the economy with which God distributes his favours? or shall a murmur escape our lips because the rays of the sun do not cheer us with perpetual summer, or because an equal degree of warmth is not always felt under our zone ? What ingratitude, and at the same time what ignorance, does such conduct dis- play ! We know not, indeed, what we desire, nor of what we complain. Is it through pride or inattention that we do not acknowledge the divine goodness, which has fa- voured our country in so eminent a degree ? We frequently murmur at the severity of winter, and Advantages of the Climate we inhabit. 23 are absurd enough to envy the inhabitants of places where change of seasons is unknown : yet to the winter we are indebted for the peculiar salubrity of our climate. In hot countries epidemic dis- orders are more prevalent than in those where the sun shines with inferior ardour: the population is also comparatively thinner, and the natives are seldom distinguished by strength or longevity. And when the cold is at the highest possible de- gree with us, we are still happier than the inhabit- ants of those countries where it is so much greater, and lasts so much longer, that our severest winters would appear to them to have the mildness of autumn. Let us compare, in imagination, our lot with that of the, inhabitants of the northern part of our globe. Here the solar beams occasionally illumine our most cloudy days, and reanimate our spirits : there the day, dark and cheerless as the night, is never enlivened with a single ray. Here, indulging over the blazing hearth, or reposing in bed, we can defy the most rigorous cold : there the unhappy natives are exposed to beasts of prey, more terrible than the inclement air ; nor can their wretched huts afford a secure asylum against either of these enemies. With us the pleasures of society soften the inconveniences of winter ; while the unhappy mortals near the north pole, are almost shut out from the rest of the earth, and live di- spersed in clans. We, too, are blessed with the re- gular succession of day and night; whilst those unfortunate creatures pass most of their time in darkness. Finally (and this is the most essential advantage), after four or five stormy disagreeable VOL. I. D 26 JANUARY X. months, we enter into a season, the charms of which amply compensate for all \\ r c have suffered : they, on the contrary, arc doomed to exist amidst perpetual winter, and to contemplate nature in a state of constant death, without the most remote hope of ever seeing it revive. Let these considerations induce us to bless the bountiful hand which has appointed for us so happy a lot. Far from lamenting our fate, let us glorify the Lord, who has planned it with so much wisdom and goodness ; and if, at present, in our houses, or in the society of friends, we are enabled to pass the winter agreeably, let us think of those unfortunate people who are deprived of these plea- sures, to which custom, and the very enjoyment of them, make us insensible. When we examine na- ture, such as she appears in our country, let us say, penetrated with joy and gratitude, " I give thee thanks, O Lord, for having fixed me in a climate where thy bounty is so magnificently dis- played. May my joy, my gratitude, and my en- deavours to please thee, be proportionable to the blessings with which I am favoured preferably to other people ; may the fertility and beauty of the country I was born in, excite me to study and contemplate thy works and thy blessings ; and may I one day arrive at that heavenly habitation which my Saviour has prepared for me, and there adore, with all the nations of the world, the mira- cles of thy goodness." Snow. 27 JANUARY XI. The Fertility which Snow gives to the Earth. JUDGING from mere appearances, we might be induced to assert, that snow could not be use- ful tot the earth, but, on the contrary, that its cold humidity must be detrimental to trees and plants. The experience of centuries, however, dissipates this prejudice, and informs us that, to defend corn, plants, and trees from the dangerous effects of cold, nature could not have provided a better covering than snow : as this substance shelters the earth from freezing winds, maintains the warmth necessary for the conservation of seeds, and even contributes to swell them by the degree of nitre with which it is impregnated. Thus, at this early season, God pre- pares what is necessary for the support of the beings he has formed; and provides before-hand for our food, and that of an infinite number of animals. Nature is always active, even when she appears to us to rest, and she is doing us real services when she seems to refuse them. Let us admire in this the tender care of Divine Providence. Behold, in the severest season, the attention to our welfare, and how, without any labour of ours, nature si- lently prepares for us all its treasures. With such striking proofs of beneficent care, who can give way to fears and anxiety ? What God does every win- ter in nature, he does daily for the preservation of mankind. What at first view appears to us use- less or hurtful, contributes in the end to our happi- ness ; and, when we think that God does not inter- D2 28 JANUARY XI. est himself about us, it is then that he is forming plans which are hidden from us, and which, in dis- covering themselves, effect our deliverance from particular evils, and obtain for us such blessings as we did not dare to expect. In the mean time, God has not only designed that the snow should cover the earth, but that it should also make it fruitful. How much care and trouble it costs us to give the necessary manure to the fields : yet how easily is it done by nature ! The snow, which possesses this virtue, is much more useful than rain and other manures. When it is softened by the sun, or a temperate air dis- solves it by degrees, the nitre it contains pene- trates the earth to a considerable depth, and vivi- fies the various tribes of vegetative nature. Who is there that will not remember, on this oc- casion, the emblem under which God represents the wholesome efficacy of his word ? " As the rain com- eth down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall the word be that goeth out of my mouth : it shall not return unto me void, but shall accomplish that which I please, and prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it." We live at a time in which this prediction is ac- complished in a very striking manner : whole pro- vinces, kingdoms, and considerable portions of our globe which were formerly buried in the darkest ignorance, superstition, and incredulity, are now enlightened by the Gospel. We feel the happy in- fluence, even in our days, of the word of the living Contemplation, oftlte starry Heavens. 20 God. How many hardened hearts has it triumph- ed over ! How many good works, and pious fruits, has it produced ! O may the divine grace ever find in our hearts a soil well disposed to feel its salutary influence! JANUARY XII. Contemplation of the starry Heavens. THE sky exhibits to our view, in the night season, a most splendid and sublime scene, which must ex- cite the astonishment of every serious observer of nature. But whence comes it that so few consider the lirmament with attention? I am willing to be- lieve, that, in general, it proceeds from ignorance ; for it is impossible to be convinced of the greatness of the works of God, without feeling a species of divine rapture. O ! how I wish my reader to parti- cipate in this heavenly pleasure ! For this purpose, raise your thoughts towards yon azure canopy ; and the very MMfltofthe glorious bodies which are strewed in that immensity of space, may suffice to fill you with wonder and admiration at the great- ness of Him by whom they are, and were created. In the centre of our system the sun has esta- blished his throne. This majestic orb is more than a million of times larger than the earth, and is di- stant from it at least ninety-five millions of miles : yet notwithstanding this prodigious distance, it pro- duces the most sensible effects upon our sphere. D3 30 JANUARY xn. Round the sun revolve seven planets, with their attendant satellites : these are opaque bodies, which receive light, heat, and probably interior motion, from the central luminary. The seven primary planets are known by the names of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, the Earth, Mercury, and Georgium Sidus. Of these, Mercury is nearest the sun ; and for that reason is mostly invisible to the astronomer. As he is near fourteen times smaller than our earth, he contributes but little to adorn the sky. Venus follows him, and is sometimes called the morning, and sometimes the evening, star. She is one of the brightest of the heavenly bodies, whether she pre- cede the rising of the sun, or succeed his setting. She is larger than the earth, and is about sixty- eight millions of miles distant from the sun. Af- ter Venus comes our Earth ; round which the moon moves, as a secondary planet. Mars, which is the fourth planet, is seven times smaller than our globe ; and his distance from the sun is one hun- dred and forty-four millions of miles. Jupiter, with his belts, appears, to the naked eye, of greater magnitude than any of the fixed stars, and always distinguishes himself by his splendor in the starry heavens ; his light nearly equalling that of Venus in all her glory. How small is our earth in compa- rison with this planet ! There would not be less than fourteen hundred globes like ours necessary to form one equal in size to that of Jupiter. Saturn, whose distance from the sun is upwards of nine hundred millions of miles, was thought the remot- est planet, until the discovery of the Georgium Sidus ; whose distance is eighteen hundred millions Contemplation of the starry Heavens. 31 of miles, and its magnitude eighty-nine times greater than our earth. The sun, with all the planets which accompany It, is but a very small part of the immense fabric of the universe. Each star, which appears to us no larger than a brilliant set in a ring, is in reality an immense body probably equal to the sun both in size and splendor, and also the centre of a planet- ary system. It is in this light we must consider the stars which shine over our heads in a winter night. They are distinguished from the planets by their brilliancy, and because they never change their places in the sky. According to their appa- rent size, they are divided into six classes, which comprehend altogether about three thousand stars : but, notwithstanding the attempts of astronomers, they are certainly innumerable; many of them be- ing dispersed so widely in the immensity of space, that the most piercing eye cannot discover them without difficulty. Telescopes, indeed, have open- ed to us new paths in the heavens, and brought some thousands of stars into view ; but it would be a very senseless pride in man to try to fix the li- mits of the universe by those of his telescope. If we reflect on the distance between the fixed stars and our earth, we shall have new cause to admire the immensity of the creation. Our senses alone convince us, that the stars must be much remoter from us than the planets. Their apparent minuteness only proceeds from their distance from the earth. And, in reality, this distance cannot be measured; since a cannon-ball, supposing it always to preserve the same degree of velocity, would 32 JANUARY XII. scarcely, at the end of six hundred thousand years, reach the star nearest to our earth. What, then, must the stars be? Their prodigious distance, and their brightness, tell us, they are suns which beam upon us, not with borrowed light, but with rays essentially their own suns which the Crea- tor has sown by millions in immeasurable space, and which arc destined to communicate the bless- ings of, light and warmth to the terrestrial globes which revolve around them. In the mean time, all these observations, how- ever surprising they appear, lead us, at the ut- most, but to the first limits of the creation. If we could transport ourselves beyond the moon, and reach the highest star over our heads, we should discover new skies, new suns, new stars, new sys- tems of worlds, and those perhaps still more mag- nificent. Even there, however, the dominions of our great Creator would not terminate ; but we should find, with the greatest surprise, that we had only arrived at the frontiers of the place of worlds. The little we do know of his works, however, is sufficient to make us admire and adore his infinite wisdom, power, and goodness. Here, then, let us stop, and reflect, how great must be that Being who has created those immense globes ! who has regu- lated their course, and whose mighty hand directs and supports them ! And what is the clod of earth we inhabit, with all the magnificent scenes it exhi- bits, in comparison of the beauty of the firmament ? Though it were annihilated, its absence from the universe would be no more observed than that of a grain of sand from the, sea-shore. What are Discoveries made by the Microscope. 33 provinces and kingdoms in comparison of those worlds ? nothing but atoms, which wanton in the air, and are seen in the sun-beams. And what am I, when I reckon myself among this infinite num- ber of God's creatures ! How I am lost in my own nothingness ! But, however little I appear in this, how great do I find myself in other respects ! " How beautiful this starry firmament, which God has chosen for his throne ! How admirable the celestial bodies, whose splendor dazzles, and whose beauty enchants me. However, all beautiful as it is, and richly adorned, yet this sky is void of intel- ligence : it knows not its own beauty ; whilst I, formed out of the clay by my Creator's power, am endued with sense and reason." I can contemplate the beauty of those radiant orbs ; and, what is of more importance, I am in a certain degree ac- quainted with their sublime Author, and can dis- cover some rays of his glory. O may the study of his works, and the contemplation of his nature, be my constant employment, till, by a glorious change, I rise above the starry regions ! JANUARY XIII. Discoveries made by the Microscope. NATURE is the same in small objects as in those of greater magnitude ; and whether we con- template the structure of the mite or of the ele- phant, we shall find them both formed with the 34 JANUARY xnr. same degree of harmony and propriety. The only difference is, that the weakness of our sight prevents us from penetrating into the nature and organiza- tion of the small bodies, which often escape our observation, unless we have recourse to the assist- ance of glasses. Microscopes have made us ac- quainted with a new world of vegetables and ani- mals : they have taught us that many objects invi- sible to the naked eye, are possessed of form, parts, and extension. Let us mention some examples, to excite our devotion toward that God, whose glory manifests itself so wonderfully in the minutest ob- jects. Every grain of sand appears round, when we examine it with our eyes only, but, by the assist- ance of a glass, we may observe that one grain dif- fers from another both in size and figure ; some being perfectly round, some square, and others conical, but mostly irregular. And what is still more astonishing, by means of a microscope, which makes objects appear a million of times larger than they are, we may discover, in a grain of sand, a new animal world ; its cavities being, in reality, the dwelling-places of insects. In cheese, there are little worms called mites, which to the naked eye appear mere dots, but, seen through a microscope, they prove to be insects of a singular figure, which have not only eyes, mouth, and feet, but a trans- parent body, furnished with long hair, in the form of prickles. As for the vegetable kingdom, it is found in the mouldy substance which usually adheres to damp bodies. This exhibits a thick forest of trees and Discoveries made by the Microscope. 35 plants ; where the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits, can be clearly distinguished. The flowers have long, white, transparent stalks. Before they expand, the buds are but little green balls, and they do not become white till they have blown. You would as little expect to find these objects in mouldy substances, as that the dust which covers the wings of the butterfly should be a collection of little feathers, if the microscope had not proved the truth of it. But we have no occasion to car- ry our researches to remote objects : let us limit them to what relates to ourselves. Examine, with a microscope, the surface of your skin, and you will find that it resembles the scaly skin of a fish. It has been computed that a grain of sand could cover 250 of these scales, and that one only of these covers 500 pores, consequently, a space, equal to a grain of sand, contains 125,000 pores. Thus we discover the greatness of our Cre- ator even in those things which prejudice has taught us to consider as mere trifles : and while we contemplate the prodigious number of crea- tures which he has diffused over the earth, we should remember that those we see are, in all probability, the least of his works. How many interesting objects are concealed from our view ! Could we explore the bottom of the ocean, the beds of rivers, or transport ourselves to distant planets, how would our astonishment be increased by our enlarged view of animated nature ! ' How wonderfully we experience that God has displayed as much wisdom in the most minute objects as in the greatest." Nature proves herself as complete 36 JANUARY XIV. and regular in her smallest productions, as in those prodigious bodies whose circumference is calculated by millions. The Creator provides with the same goodness for the wants of the in- sect which crawls in the dust, as for those of the whale which resembles an island in the midst of the waves. In this respect, let us imitate the ex- ample of the Deity. Let our humanity and bene- volence be extended to the meanest of creatures, since our common Author vouchsafes to preserve their existence. JANUARY XIV. . The Advantages of Night. WE are certainly deprived of some pleasure, when the sun withdraws his cheerful light at an early hour, and the greatest part of our time is passed in darkness. Yet, we have no cause to complain of this arrangement in nature. As the mixture of pleasure and pain, of natural good and evil, is always wisely ordained ; so do we find the same provident goodness of the Almighty in this remarkable variation in our climate : and it may be reasonably asserted, that the winter nights are more advantageous than hurtful to us ; or, at least, that their apparent inconveniences are compensated or softened by a thousand blessings too little acknowledged. Should we be as well convinced of the utility of the sun, or would its The Advantages of Night. 37 light produce the same pleasing effects, if we were not taught its value by an occasional privation of its advantages? Each night may remind us of the mercy of God, which has diffused light and beau- ty over the earth for the benefit of his creatures ; and may also teach us to reflect on the misery we should endure if the gloom of night were not ap- pointed to be dispersed by returning day. And is not even darkness itself advantageous to us, by inviting, through the silence and tranquillity which attend it, to refreshing sleep. How many workmen are there who during the day exhaust their strength in our service, and whose labour, hard in itself, is rendered still more severe by many disagreeable sensations ! these bless the night which suspends their toils, and brings them balmy rest and refreshment. In general, we are too selfish, in measuring the advantages and inconve- niences of night, merely by the benefit or injury we suppose ourselves to derive from it. Though long nights may confessedly be dis- agreeable to some, to many others they are an im- portant blessing. In certain cases, night is pecu- liarly favorable to the hunter and the fisherman : without it, astronomers could never have guessed the distance, magnitude, revolutions, and infinite number of the heavenly bodies ; nor could the pilot receive direction, in his course, from the polar star, if day-light were perpetual. Considered in another sense, the night appears peculiarly beneficial in diminishing or terminat- ing those wants which in the day-time cost us much anxious solicitude. How expensive are those com- VOL, i. E 38 JANUARY XIV. forts and conveniences \vithout which we should scarcely think ourselves blest with existence ! How many families, oppressed by indigence, be- gin the day with anxiety, and end it in laborious toil ! but at the return of night, their cares and miseries are suspended : to be happy, they have only to retire to bed, and when sleep weighs down their eye-lids their wants are satisfied. Night equalizes all conditions : the monarch reposing beneath yon purple canopy, and the mendicant stretched on his bed of straw, alike enjoy a bless- ing which money cannot purchase. O ! how gracious is that Being who has com- bined all things for the happiness of his crea- tures ! The major part of evils, so called, are only such to those who suffer themselves to be blinded by prejudice or passion ; and, on impar- tial investigation, they appear to be real blessings to mankind. We may be assured that many millions of our fellow-creatures who have spent the day in unpro- fitable or fatiguing labour; that others who have groaned under the yoke of the oppressor of hu- manity ; and that a number of travellers, both by land and sea, will bless God at the approach of the season which brings with it the comforts of repose. We shall also bless him at the commence- ment of every night, if, having the wisdom to em- ploy the day well, we acquire a right to expect re- freshing sleep. In proportion to the shortness of the present days we should appreciate their va- lue, and employ them to advantage. The night approaches in which it will no longer be in our Reflections on Myself. 39 power to work or act. But even that will be to us a blessing, if we enjoy beyond the grave that peace and rest, which are reserved for every sin- cere Christian. JANUARY XV. Reflections on Myself. IT is equally reasonable and necessary that we should sometimes withdraw our attention from fo- reign objects, and fix it upon ourselves. For my own part, I am aware, it has too frequently hap- pened, that, while musing on the things around me, I have lost sight of myself; or, at least, I have been too unmindful of that gratitude and veneration which a contemplation of the starry heavens, and the numerous blessings of the earth, should naturally produce. I will now reflect on what most intimately concerns my structure, and convince myself, more and more, that, as a man, I am not less the master-piece of divine power and wisdom, than those prodigious bodies, whose mag- nitude astonishes the imagination. How admira- ble is the union of my body and soul, and how in- comprehensible their reciprocal action! I daily experience, that, when the rays of light reflected from exterior objects strike my eyes, my soul re- ceives the idea of the size, the form, and colour of those objects. I feel, that, when a certain un- dulating motion is made in the air, my soul re- ceives the idea of sound. By this means I have E2 40 JANUARY XV. the perception of a thousand changes which hap- pen around me, and even of the thoughts of other men. I experience, every moment, that, as soon as my soul wishes it, my body transports itself from one place to another ; that it exercises its power over my arms, my hands, and my feet : in a word, all my limbs are disposed to obey every impulse of my will. These are incontestable facts ; and yet I cannot explain the manner in which they are effected. In this mutual influence of body and soul, there is a wise and wonderful art, which I cannot fathom ; and the whole result of my in- quiries into it, is surprise and admiration. If I consider my body separately, I find it also a. master-piece of the creative hand. Here, nothing is superfluous, nothing is wanting : each limb is placed in the manner best adapted for or- nament and utility. Could I wish for a member more than those which compose a perfect body ? And suppose, on the other hand, that even one only were wanting, or transposed so that the $yes, for example, were set in the feet or placed where the ears are what inconvenience, what de- formity, would it occasion ! The divine wisdom therefore appears in the disposition of the external parts of my body ; but the arrangement of its in- terior parts is still more admirable. My body was designed to serve more than one purpose, and to fulfil a variety of functions. It was first to be the medium through which the soul was to be in- formed, in different ways, of the presence of ob- jects not within itself. The organs of sight, of smell, of hearing, of taste, and of feeling, answer Reflections on Myself. 41 this end ; and each of thern is a miracle of divine power and wisdom. But, in order that the body should transmit to the soul different sensations of exterior objects, it was necessary it should be movable; and, for this purpose, how many of its parts concur! The bones, the joints, the si- news, the muscles, or fleshy parts, susceptible of extension or contraction, give me the power of moving in a thousand ways. In the mean time, as a machine so wonderful as my body, must suf- fer continual waste, by its motions and functions, it was necessary, for its preservation, that its losses should be repaired ; therefore, other parts, be- sides those already mentioned, were necessary- some to receive aliment, others to comminute it, to separate its nutritious juices, and to circulate them through the whole body with such regula- rity, that every member may receive its proper share in the general distribution. All these parts are really found within myself, and perfectly ac- complish the respective purposes for which they were designed. I bless thee, O Lord, for having made me so wonderfully; and my soul acknowledges with pleasure, that all thy works are worthy of admi- ration. 42 JANUARY XVI. JANUARY XVI. The ill Effects of extraordinary Cold. WHY are we so ready to remark, to dwell upon, and murmur at, those effects of nature which some- times appear injurious, whilst we slightly pass over the numerous striking advantages which they procure for us ? In this respect, men act towards God as they generally do towards each other. A slight offence, the least injury from their best friend or benefactor, often effaces the remem- brance of the essential services they have formerly received. Their ingratitude and pride lessen the value of the latter, and make them consider the former as the greatest wrong. At this season of the year the remark seems peculiarly appropriate. Men are attentive only to the evil which the cold may occasion, without considering the good it may do to the earth ; or, at least, without think- ing of it with gratitude. If they discover the least damage, if any part of the great whole be in a suffering state, they think themselves authorized to murmur against God, without considering, that nature, taken as a whole, derives great advantage from the cold. Let us now weigh, without par- tiality, the advantages and the evils which may be attributed to it, and the result of our inquiry will convince us how little reason we have to arraign the government of a wise and gracious Provi- dence. It is true, that severe cold has its inconveni- ences and troublesome consequences. Sometimes /// Effects of extraordinary Cold. 43 the water freezes to such a depth that the springs become useless; the fish expire in the ponds; rivers, containing vast shoals of floating ice, swell above their banks, and inundate the adjacent country ; the stoppage of water-mills produces a scarcity of bread ; and fuel either totally fails, or becomes extremely dear. Vegetables suffer in a va- riety of ways : the winter seeds freeze ; and plants and shrubs, unless carefully covered, inevitably die. Several animals become the victims of cold and hunger ; and even the health and life of man are exposed to serious danger. These are some of the most striking evils which the severity of the season can occasion. But how many winters do we pass without them ! And though even some animals should die, and some plants perish with the cold, what is this in comparison with the ad- vantages we draw from it? Let us be more cir- cumspect in the judgement we form of the ways of God. Imperfectly as we are acquainted with the connexion between the things of this world, and unable as we are to comprehend, in its full extent, the chain of causes and effects ; how can we presume to decide upon what is truly advanta- geous or hurtful in nature ? And would it not be equally unjust and unreasonable, that a partial evil should lead us to blame the whole ? Let us rather confess our ignorance, and strengthen our- selves in the comfortable persuasion, that there is much more good than evil in the world, with more cause for content than subjects of affliction. And let us rest assured that many things which self-interest makes us consider as hurtful, contri- 41 JANUARY xvn. bute to the general good. Reasoning in this mari- ner, we shall enjoy tranquillity in the midst of all events ; and, whatever be our fate, we shall never cease to adore our wise and beneficent Creator. JANUARY XVII. The Repose of Nature during Winter. THE winter days are days of rest to nature. In the preceding months she employed herself in fulfilling the designs of the Almighty, by laboring in the service of his creatures. How rich was the spring in blossoms ! how many seeds it opened! and what abundance of fruit the summer ripened for us to gather in autumn ! Each month, each day, we receive some presents from the bounteous hand of nature. Is there a single instance in which she has not pleased our sight, delighted our smell, or indulged our taste ? and has she not often satisfied them all at the same time ? Like a careful and affectionate mother, she employed herself from the morning to the evening of the year, in procuring for her favorites, the neressa- ries, conveniences, and comforts of life. Clothing, food, amusement all have been drawn from her maternal bosom. For us she has caused the grass to grow ; and loaded the trees with blossoms, leaves, and fruit. For us the golden grain has covered the fields ; the vine has produced its in- vigorating fruit, and the whole creation has exhi- The Repose of Nature during Winter. 45 bited a thousand charms. Exhausted by so many labors, nature now reposes : but it is only to col- lect new strength for subsequent exertions : and the very rest she now enjoys, is, in fact, a secret activity, which silently prepares a new creation. Already, the necessary dispositions arc making, that the deserted earth may recover, at the end of a few months, the children she has lost. The corn, destined for our nourishment, already begins to bud ; and the plants intended to adorn our fields and gardens, insensibly expand their nu- merous fibres. Here, O beneficent Creator, I adore thy power and wisdom ! The repose which nature takes, is not less interesting to us, nor less worthy of entering into the plan of thy wise providence, than the activity she displays in spring and sum- mer. Thou hast combined the several revolu- tions of the earth : thou hast formed the most intimate connexion between them, and equally divided the seasons of rest and labour. It has been thy will that each sun should vary the scenes of nature, in the time and manner most proper for the perfection of the whole. If I have been so senseless as to blame any thing in the government of this world, pardon, O God, my te- merity. I discover, and am more and more per- suaded, that all the plans of thy providence, how- ever extraordinary they may appear to my weak reason, are replete with wisdom and goodness. Now that I behold the earth covered with a man- tle of snow, I wish to reflect on the benefits that will result from it : for I am well convinced, that 46 JANUARY XVII. without such seasons, the landscape could no more be embellished with fruits and flowers, nor would the cheerful song of harvest be again heard in our land. It is thou,O Lord, who, in granting repose to the earth, enrichest men with a thousand bless- ings. To myself also, O God, there will shortly come a period of rest from all my troubles, cares, and afflictions. Thou hast wisely ordained that the spring and summer of my life should be devoted to activity, and to the service of my fellow-creatures. ! that on the approach of my autumnal season, 1 may resemble one of those fertile trees which pour into our laps an abundance of fruit; and in my wintry days, when my head is whitened by the snows of time, may it be said of me, " Behold that venerable man, who has devoted his youth to the benefit of mankind ; whose faculties have been con- stantly exercised in active, social virtues ; and who is now hastening to the eternal mansions of pure felicity." The repose that I promise to myself here below, is little else than a preparation for new troubles ; but that which awaits me beyond the grave, and in the bosom of eternity, shall be sweet and uninter- rupted ; and the very remembrance of the sorrows and afflictions I suffered here, will fill my heart with inexpressible joy. In the firm hope of that repose which is reserved for me, may I apply my- self zealously to fulfil the duties to which I am called, and devote my powers to the glory of God, and to the good of my fellow-creatures ! The Laplanders. 47 JANUARY XVIII. The Laplanders. I ENTER upon this day's meditation with a lively sense of gratitude towards my Creator, and of pity to those of my fellow-creatures to whom nature seems to have distributed her blessings with a sparing hand. I shall, at present, fix my atten- tion on the Laplanders, and those who dwell in the vicinity of the arctic circle ; a race of mortals whose lot, compared with ours, seems to be il- lumed with very few rays of happiness. Their country is formed of a chain of mountains, occasionally intersected by vast bogs and marshes, and perpetually covered with snow and ice ; which are also widely diffused over the smaller hills and valleys. The rigors of winter are felt during the greatest part of the year ; the nights are tediously long, and even the day-light is dim and feeble. At this season the inhabitants seek shelter from the cold in their rude and simple tents or huts, which have neither door nor chimney : the fire-place, surrounded by stones, is placed in the centre, and the smoke escapes by an aperture which serves in- stead of a window. From this place they suspend, by iron chains, the caldrons which serve to cook their victuals, and to melt the ice which serves them for drink. The interior of the hut is lined with furs, to exclude the sharp air; and a few skins of animals spread upon the ground suffice instead of a bed. Confined to these wretched habitations, and enveloped by perpetual darkness, during six 48 JANUARY XVIII. months of the year, the natives hear no other sounds than the loud whistling of the wind, and the cry of the wolves, which run howling about in all directions in quest of prey. How could we endure so severe a climate and such a wretched mode of life ! How much should we think ourselves to be pitied, if we had nothing before our eyes but an immense extent of ice, and whole deserts covered with snow ; while the ab- sence of the sun rendered the cold still more in- supportable ; and if, instead of a convenient dwell- ing, we had only huts, or movable tents made of skins ; and no other resource for our subsistence, but that of long and dangerous hunting ; how hard should we doom our lot, thus deprived of all the pleasures procured by the arts, and of all the blessings of social and commercial life ! Are not these reflections calculated to make us observant of those numerous advantages of our own climate, so little attended to ? Ought they not to animate us to bless Divine Providence, for delivering us from such distresses and inconveni- ences, and for distinguishing us by a thousand benefits ? Yes, let us ever bless that wise Provi- dence : and when we feel the severity of the sea- son, let us be thankful that the cold is so moderate where we dwell, and that we have such numerous ways of guarding against it. Let us also bless the Almighty Ruler of the universe, for granting us, in the midst of the desolate images which winter pre- sents, the delightful prospect of returning spring, the mere idea of which tends to support and com- fort us under the present evil. The Laplanders. 4er tormented by his fear of rob- bers ; the misanthrope, by his distrust of all who surround him ; and the discontented man by his anxious solicitude respecting his future destiny ! Hence we may learn the nature of the human heart, and the absolute necessity of watching over our imagination. If it deceive us in the night, by exhibiting frightful phantoms, it often, in the day- time, produces illusions, by representing vice un- der the most attractive forms. Let us be as ready to avoid all temptations to evil, as we are to fly from the apparition of a spectre. But, in the former instance, man is bold and rash : and, in the latter, timid and fearful. Whence comes it, that this chimerical fear takes such a strong pos- session of some persons, who are not in the least affected by much more alarming circumstances ? The apprehension of beholding a single spirit causes us to shudder, whilst the certainty of be- ing one day transported into a world of incorpo- real beings, makes no impression on our minds. Nay, though we know that every step draws us nearer the presence of the eternal and infinite Spi- rit, we feel no apprehensions about it. If in the solemn gloom of midnight a departed friend were. to appear before us, and declare that we should shortly join him ; the most intrepid man would be overpowered with terror ; he would seriously reflect on the event, and would wait the issue with Subterraneous Fires. 63 great anxiety. Why then are we so inattentive to that divine voice which cries aloud, " Prepare, Israel, to meet thy God !" How inconsistent, to rest in security, when it would be prudent to fear ; and to tremble, when there is nothing to dread ! Let us not abandon ourselves to causeless and unnecessary alarms : but rather learn to fear that Almighty Being, at whose coming the bravest sinner shall stand appalled, and shall call upon the hills to hide, and the mountains to cover him. Let us dread the anger of our Creator, and we may safely banish every other fear, and exclaim with Davki, " The Lord is my light, whom shall 1 fear ? The Lord is the strength of my heart, of whom shall I be afraid ?" JANUARY XXIV. Subterraneous Fires. BY digging a little downward into the earth, a greater degree of cold is felt than on the surface ; because the latter is heated by the sun. Hence it is, that the inhabitants of hot countries can preserve ice, to cool their drink, the whole year. But if we dig fifty or sixty feet lower, the heat in- creases sensibly ; and at a greater depth, it be- comes so close, as to stop respiration, and extin- guish a candle. The cause of this heat cannot be easily ascertained. Those who assert that it results from subterraneous fires, seem to come. G2 64 JANUARY XXIV. nearest the truth : but how a fire so closely shut up can burn, what fuel can support it, and how it can be prevented from consuming every thing about it, are questions which cannot be easily resolved. There are various phenomena on our globe, however, that may be adduced in support of the doctrine ; particularly those eruptions of inflam- mable matter which have rendered the mountains of Etna in Sicily, and Vesuvius in the kingdom of Naples, peculiarly famous. The accounts given of these volcanoes are truly frightful. Some- times a black vapour only rises out of them ; at other times a hollow roaring is heard, followed by thunder, lightning, and a partial earthquake : then the vapour clears up, and becomes lumi- nous ; stones fly out with violence, and fall again into the gulf whence they were ejected. Some- times these eruptions are so violent, that large pieces of rock are hurled into the air, and turn round with the velocity of a foot-ball. The force of the interior air of these mountains is so prodi- gious, that, in the last century, pieces of rock, weighing three hundred pounds, were thrown up into the air, and fell at the distance of three miles. Even these eruptions, however, are not the worst ; for, at certain times, the vitrified entrails of the earth boil up, and rise till their formidable foam- ing runs over at the outside, and flows for the space of several miles through the neighbouring fields, overwhelming every thing in its passage. This torrent of liquid fire lasts for several days : one wave rolling over another, till it reaches the Subterraneous Fires. 65 sea: and even here, its violence is such, that it continues to flow for some time without being ex- tinguished in the waters of the ocean. Who can reflect without terror upon the disasters which such eruptions occasion ! Farms and villages, with their fertile plantations, are completely swallowed up ; the meadows are consumed ; the corn, olive trees, and vines, entirely destroyed. In one eruption of Etna, the torrent of burning lava spread itself over fourteen cities, and the roaring within the mountain was heard at twenty miles' distance. But wherefore these volcanoes, which spread such terror and devastation on the earth ? Why has the Lord created them ? Why, instead of putting bounds to their fury, has he permitted them thus to distress his creatures ? Alas ! what am / who presume to ask such questions ? or what right have I to arraign the plans of infinite wisdom ? I am well convinced these formidable objects resulted not from chance, and I ought to conclude that the Creator designed them for some wise purpose. Besides, even here I recognize the beneficent hand which provides for the welfare of mankind. Whatever mischiefs the eruptions of these mountains may occasion, they are nothing in comparison of the advantages they procure to our globe. The bosom of the earth being full of fire, it was absolutely necessary that there should be volcanoes, because they are the vents by which the force of this dreadful element is broken and weakened. And though the countries where sub- terraneous fires collect in the greatest quantities, G 3 66 JANUARY XXV. are subject to earthquakes, the shocks would be still more violent, if these volcanoes did not exist. Italy would not exhibit such fertile land- scapes, if the fire, which has its store-house in the bosom of the earth, did not occasionally issue from these volcanoes. And, after all, who knows if these frightful phenomena may not produce several other advantages concealed from us, and if their influence may not extend over the whole globe ? At least, this is enough to convince us that they contribute to fulfil the designs of our Divine Author, so full of wisdom and goodness. And if there still remain things to us obscure and impenetrable, let us put our hands upon our mouths, and say, " Lord, thy judgements are right and equitable, and thy ways impossible to discover : who would not fear thee, O God of heaven, who dost such terrible things !" JANUARY XXV. On Comets. THE extraordinary star which borrows its name from its surrounding vapour, is undoubtedly one of the celestial bodies that belong to the system of our world. It moves round the sun, as well as the other planets ; but it differs from all of them, by the peculiarity of its motion, its orbit, and its figure. Seen through a telescope, it appears full of spots, and inequalities ; but the mist which sur- rounds it often precludes us from discovering its On Comets. 67 real form. The size of comets is various ; some are scarce equal to stars of the third and fourth class ; others, on the contrary, are larger than those of the first magnitude. In the middle of the comet there appears a very thick nucleus, which sometimes separates, and becomes like the edge of the disk. Its form is not always perfectly round ; nor is its light always equally strong and brilliant. Its tail, always opposite to the sun, is of so thin and transparent a substance, that the fixed stars may be seen through it; and as it ex- tends sometimes from the horizon almost to the zenith, the whole body exhibits a very awful ap- pearance. The farther the tail is from the comet, the more it enlarges ; and its light decreases in proportion to the augmentation of its size. Some- times it separates into several divisions of rays. This is part of the result of some exact observa- tions made by astronomers ; but, undoubtedly, it is the least important of what should be known, in order to have a perfect knowledge of all that relates to those celestial bodies, many of which are placed beyond the reach of our sight. Is the comet an aqueous planet, or a burning globe ? Is that globe inhabited, which, sometimes near the sun, endures all its burning heat, and, at other times, going out of the line of the spheres, plunges into total darkness, where it seems as if the solar rays could never penetrate ? Or, has the Judge of the universe designed it for the pu- nishment of his creatures ? Is its coarse surface, exposed by turns to the most violent extremes of heat and cold, the abode of perverse and repro- 68 JANUARY xxv. bate beings ? Shall these wandering bodies one day serve to divert the course of the planets ; and, by that means, become the cause of their destruction ? Or, are. they deserts, void and shapeless, as the earth was before the Creator made it habitable and fertile ? And will not the fate of comets be determined till our globe shall be no more ? The impossibility of resolving these questions, ouht to convince us, that human knowledge is very limited. Men, however, too often lose sight of this truth : for, if it were present to their minds, the appearance of a comet would not ex- cite a thousand vain conjectures, so ill according with our confined understanding. Many consi- der a comet as the forerunner of divine judge- ments, and pretend to read in its awful aspect the destiny of nations and the fall of empires; while others consider it as an infallible presage of war, pestilence, inundation, or some other dreadful calamity. These superstitious people do not consider, that a comet is a very natural appear- ance, the return of which can be exactly calcu- lated ; and, consequently, cannot, in any respect, interrupt the ordinary course of things. They do not consider, that this body, as well as the planets, must have a design of very different im- portance from that which superstition gives it. What ! would the Supreme Wisdom have placed those prodigious bodies in the sky, merely to an- nounce to a small number of living creatures the fate that awaits them ? May the comet, after traversing the immense Snow. 69 space which now separates it from my sight, be to me, on its return, not a messenger of misfor- tune, but the herald of that adorable Being who prescribes to it its course ; who conducts it through the ethereal space ; and orders it some- times to approach the sun, and sometimes to remove to the farthest limits of the planetary system. JANUARY XXVI. Snow. ON reading the title of this meditation, some persons may inquire if it be worth while to exa- mine so common a phenomena of nature. It is my design, however, to draw their attention to this wonder, and to show that the formation of snow has sufficient charms to occupy and to in- terest a reflecting mind. Snow consists of aqueous particles frozen in the air, and only differs from ice in this, that the water which constitutes ice has been frozen in its ordinary state, of density, and the congela- tion of snow has taken place when its particles were separated and reduced to vapour. Re- peated experiments have demonstrated, that snow is about twenty-four times lighter than water, and that it occupies ten or twelve times more space, at the instant of falling, than the water produced from it when melted ; which could not be the case, if the snow were not a water ex- tremely rarefied. But snow is not mere water ; 70 JANUARY XXVI. for the construction of its particles, and the ef- fects it produces, are different from those of wa- ter and ice : and in this respect, the manner in which it is formed is peculiarly remarkable. When particles of vapour, collected together, freeze in the atmosphere, the nitre dispersed in the air unites itself with them in the form of a small hexagonal dart. While a great number of such little darts meet together, the particles of water which are amongst them become hard, and assume the form of the nitre. This accounts for those six-sided flakes, composed of points like small needles, to each side of which are attached smaller threads or filaments; but the form of these is frequently changed by being driven in various directions by the wind. How wonderful would these flakes of snow ap- pear if we were not annually accustomed to behold them. But should the frequent reproduction of curious objects render us inattentive to them ? Certainly not : but, on the contrary, we should be the more careful to examine them, and to ad- mire the power of that God, who, in every sea- son, shows himself so rich and inexhaustible, in means to provide for the conveniences and plea- sures of his creatures. Have we any reason to complain that winter does not supply a variety of amusements for the senses and the understand- ing ? Is it not an astonishing spectacle, to see that nature has formed even the flakes of snow with the most exact symmetry ? to see such pro- digious numbers of them fall from the sky ? and to observe the different forms which water is The Rapidity with which Life passes. 7 1 capable of assuming under the creating hand of God ? Sometimes it forms itself into hail : some- times hardens into ice ; and sometimes changes into innumerable flakes of snow. All these changes serve at the same time to improve and embellish the earth ; and, even in the smallest phenomena of nature, God shows himself great, and worthy of our incessant adoration. Con- vinced of these truths, let us no longer regard the snow with indifference or inattention ; but each time we behold it descending from th heavens, let us sincerely reflect on that divine and benevolent Being, who scattereth his snow like wool, and his hoar-frost like ashes ; who commandeth the cold to bless and fertilize the earth, and who is worthy to receive all praise, honour, and glory, for ever and ever. JANUARY XXVII. The Rapidity with which Human, Life passes away. Ouu life is short and transitory. This is an incontestable proposition ; though, to judge from the conduct of most people, one would not sup- pose it a received truth. Let us judge by our own experience. Ought not each step we have taken, from our births to the present moment, to have convinced us of the frailty of life? Let us con- sider only with what swiftness the clays, weeks, months, and years, have passed, or rather flown away. They disappeared before we were con- 72 JANUARY XXVII. scious of their lapse. Let us endeavour to recall them to our recollection. It is impossible to enu- merate their different epochs ; and if some very remarkable moments had not made a deep im- pression on our minds, we could not have related their history. How many were the years of our infancy, of which we can say nothing, but that they have glided away ! How many others have passed in the thoughtlessness of youth ; during which, misled by inclination, and devoted to plea- sure, we had neither the wish, nor the time, to look into ourselves ! In succeeding years, being of riper age, and more capable of reflection, we deemed it expedient to change our course of life, and to act like reasonable beings ; but the con- cerns of the world occupied our attention to such a degree, that meditation and amendment were still neglected ; and the increase of our families naturally augmented our solicitude and our efforts for their support. Insensibly the time draws nigh in which we shall arrive at old age ; and, perhaps, even then, we shall neither have leisure, nor power, to recollect the past, nor to improve the period to which we are arrived ; to muse upon what we have done, or neglected to do; in a word, to con- sider seriously the important end for which our Creator placed us in the world. In the mean time, what can ensure our ever attaining that ad- vanced age? A thousand accidents may break the brittle thread of life, before it comes to its full length. Hence the infant who has but just opened his eyes on the creation closes them in death, and is reduced to dust ; and the young man, who gave The Rapidity with which Life passes. 73 the most promising hopes, is cut off in the bloom of strength and beauty : some violent disease or unfortunate accident conveys him to the silent tomb. Dangers and accidents multiply with years ; negligence and excess lay the seeds of maladies, and dispose our bodies to receive those which are epidemical. The latter age is still more dan- gerous. In a word, half of those who are born into the world, are seen to perish within the short space of their first seventeen years ! O ! may this concise but faithful history of human life induce us to number and improve those days which are so short and important ; and to redeem that time which passes with such inconceivable rapidity. Even whilst we are making these reflections several moments are gliding imperceptibly away : yet what a precious treasure of hours and days might we amass, if of the numberless moments which may yet remain at our disposal, we were fre- quently to devote some to so beneficial a purpose. Let us seriously consider that every instant is a portion of life impossible to recall, but the re- membrance of which may be either the source of joy ur sorrow. What a celestial pleasure to be able to look happily on the past, and to say with veracity, " I have lived so many years, during which I have sown the rich seed of good works ; I do not wish to begin them again, but I do not regret that they have passed." That this language may be ours in the closing scenes of existence, let us pray for grace to fulfil the end for which life has been given us, and to devote the short space of time to the great interests of eternity. VOL. I. II 74> JANUARY xxvni. JANUARY XXVIII. The Frost sometimes seen on Windows. THIS little phenomenon discovers the beautiful order, variety, and simplicity which nature com- bines in her smallest productions. We frequently admire the extraordinary figures which appear upon frozen glass ; but \ve seldom consider them with that attention the subject requires, however unimportant it may appear in itself. The phe- nomenon in question has its principle in the flu- idity of fire. When confined in the warm air of a room, it tries to spread itself on all sides, and to penetrate that part where there is least matter homogeneal to its own. Hence it is that it even glides through the close contexture of glass, which contains neither air nor heat; and in its passage it leaves at the inside of the panes, and near any apertures, those particles of air and water to which it was united. It next forms itself into a cloud, which thickens in proportion as the fire passes out, till there remains too little in the apartment to preserve the thickened particles of water on the glass in a slate of fluidity : these then congeal, and the nitre in the air uniting with them produces those various and singular appearances with which the windows are covered. The beginning, or first sketch of these figures, is formed by very small filaments of ice, which insensibly unite, till the whole glass is covered with an icy crust. These filaments are the origin of all the figures ; and the first weaving of them may be distinctly seen. We The Frost sometimes seen on Windows. 75 at first perceive some extremely fine lines, from which proceed others, nearly resembling the fila- ments of a quill ; and these in their turn produce other branches. When it freezes hard, and the first coat of ice becomes thick, the most beautiful flowers and lines of every sort, sometimes straight, sometimes spiral, are produced. There is reason to believe, that this great variety of figures does not proceed entirely from the motion of the air, and the particles of fire, but, in some degree, from the imperceptible chinks or cletts which are in the glass. But, whatever be the cause of the phenomenon, it is certain this lusus naturae, or sport of nature, exhibits a great deal of art united with much simplicity. Some of my readers, considering this pheno- menon as of no other value than to amuse the eye for a short time, may condemn the sub- ject as trifling and unimportant: but it seems to me, that minute points of this sort have greatly the advantage of those which too often occupy our time. With what frivolous matters, what mere nothings, are we sometimes amused! Would not certain phenomena of nature, which we consider as trifles, be as well worth thinking or speaking of? Such researches are agreeable to a mind de- sirous of information, however small the object. Let us only divest ourselves of prejudice, and the puerile ideas we are apt to form of the works of nature, and we shall often discover master-pieces where ignorance perceives nothing but trifles ; for nature shows her wisdom even in her smallest works; and thus invariably distinguishes them H 2 7iow. WE see the instability of snow, and how suddenly the heat of the sun, mild and damp air, or heavy rains, cause it to disappear. Every thing around us changes its appearance in a lew hours ; and there scarcely remains the least trace of that snow which so recently covered the streets, vil- lages, and fields. Is not this sudden revolution calculated to make us reflect on the uncertainty and vanity of all earthly goods ? Certainly it is not without design On the short Duration of Snow. 121 that nature presents us with such emblems of the frailty of sublunary objects. Each season of the year, and every consequent variation, asserts, with a strong and persuasive voice, that " all is vanity." And we have only to look around us in order to be convinced that all things below the skies are frail and perishable. How soon are we deprived of the pleasures of sense ! and how frequently do they dis- appear when we have scarcely begun to taste their imaginary sweets ! The rising sun beholds us cheer- ful and contented ; but it frequently happens, be- fore his departing beams have tinged the western clouds with gold and purple, that we are over- whelmed with sorrow and distress. How often, in the course of our lives, have we experienced the mutability and uncertainty of terrestrial enjoyments ! Riches, on whtch we set so high a value, frequently make to themselves wings, and, with an eagle's rapid flight, abandon the unfortunate being who flattered himself with the firm expectation of retaining them in peace- able and uninterrupted possession. The transi- tion from the most splendid opulence to want and misery, is often as sudden as the appearance of a thaw after the most intense frost : and daily ex- perience demonstrates that health and life them- selves are equally transitory with all other sublu- nary blessings. These reflections, however, too seldom occur while we are in possession of earthly prosperity. We resemble those persons who, in a line winter morning, venture to set out on a journey, with- out considering the sudden changes of weather VOL. I. M 122 FEBRUARY XIII. so likely to happen at this season. When fortune smiles upon us, and joy and pleasure surround our habitation, we think we have nothing to fear ; and do not consider how suddenly the hap- piest situation may be changed into misery. And, supposing we have not hitherto had an opportu- nity of proving this by sad experience, it is cer- tain, at least, that a time will come when \ve shall be convinced, by ourselves, of the nothing- ness and frailty of all terrestrial things. To those who are at present in the spring or summer of life, winter will soon come ; and they will then feel how transient those enjoyments are on which they have depended with so much confidence : they will learn that all earthly pleasures are like snow, which dazzles the eye indeed, but soon dissolves and is no more. The instability of the snow may also afford an- other important reflection, by reminding us of our extreme weakness, Of how little avail would be the utmost efforts of human strength and industry to clear the earth from snow and ice ! Yet God effects this change with infinite ease: he com- mands a southern gale to blow, and a thaw im- mediately takes place. Now has not this God, who does such great things in nature, the same power in the world of spirits, and in the ordering of our destiny ? He has but to speak the word, and cmr troubles cease. A short History of the Creation. 1 2$ FEBRUARY XIV. A short History of the Creation. TH ERE was a time when our earth and the celes- tial globes had no existence ; but all was a shape- less and confused mass, commonly called a chaos. On tlie first day of the creation, God gave mo- tion to this mass, and separated the .fiery and lu- minous parts. These particles, separated from other matter, became united, without, however, yet forming particular bodies. God called the light day, and the darkness night. Hitherto the fluid and solid bodies remained mixed together. But now God separated them ; collected the wa- ters from our atmosphere ; and raised vapours from the earth, which, gradually condensing, be- came clouds, and formed that lower firmament which we call -sky. These were the works of the second day. As the water still covered the face of the earth, God destined the third day for their separation* Accordingly, they were collected in different re- servoirs, whilst the dry land exhibited a pictur- esque display of mountains, valleys, fields, and forests. Each tree, at this time, also bore its pe- culiar fruit ; and the numerous vegetables which adorned the landscape contained the seeds neces- sary for their future propagation. On the fourth day God formed, from that ntess of light which he had separated from the darkness, luminous bodies, to distinguish day from night, and to regulate the seasons of the year. Then M 2 124- FEBRUARY XIV. first appeared the sun, whose benignant heat warms and fertilizes the earth, and whose rays enlighten us during the da)-. The moon appears to have been formed out of the dark matter of the chaos. Hitherto God had produced nothing but inani- mate creatures upon the earth : but the fifth day was occupied in giving existence to a part of the animals. The waters were, accordingly, reple- nished with fish of various kinds and sizes, pos- sessing bodies analogous to the element in which they were to live ; and the air was peopled with all kinds of fowls, which received an instinct to perpetuate their respective species. Nothing now remained but to cover the earth also with living creatures ; and these God created on the sixth day ; forming out of the earth a multitude of wild and domestic animals, to serve as well for tillage, as for the food and support of man. Finally, he produced an infinite multitude of insects and rep- tiles : and all these animals, when created, were in a state of complete perfection. Every thing being thus prepared, the time was come for intro- ducing man into the world, who was to be the lord of all these creatures. God then created the first man ; and, as he belonged both to the intellectual and corporeal world, he gave him not only a body formed out of the earth, but also a reasonable soul : after which he formed a woman out of one of his ribs, and presented her to him as his companion. These two beings, by which God terminated his works of the creation, were the most admirable master-pieces of his power and wisdom. A short History of the Creation. 125 Is it possible to reflect on this history without being struck with admiration and astonishment at the infinite power and \visdom manifested in the works of the creation ? On whatever side we cast our eyes, we discover the Lord God Al- mighty, to whose immense power nothing is com- parable. The heavens declare his glory, and the firmament showeth his handy work. All the crea- tures are so many proofs of his adorable perfec- tions, and, in some sense or other, seem to bear his image and impression. It is only by consi- dering creatures in this point of view, and draw- ing this use from the contemplation of them, that we become worthy to inhabit this immense uni- verse. And how can we possibly acknowledge the greatness and glory of God, in the works of creation, without being penetrated with the most lively sentiments of veneration, love, gratitude, and perfect confidence ? These are objects wor- thy of the most profound respect, and warmest affection. God is the fertile source of all that is beautiful and delightful in nature. It is the Lord who is alone worthy of homage, praise, and adoration. This is the employment for which we were created, and to which the whole creation invites us. If we obey our Creator, if we endea- vour to conform ourselves to the rules of wisdom and order that he has followed in the formation and arrangement of the universe, it will be the best manner of praising him ; and if, full of filial confidence, we trust without fear in his tender mercies, it is the highest mark of respect and veneration he requires of us. M 3 126 .FEBRUARY XV. FEBRUARY XV. Bodily Advantages which the Beasts have over Man. IN carefully examining the bodies of beasts, we discover various advantages which they have over mankind. In the first place, their bodies are in- contestably more solid, strong, and durable. Most of them are able, as soon as they come into the world, to use their limbs, to seek their food, and to act conformably to the instinct given them by the Creator. The cruel disorders which so often embitter the existence, and destroy the constitu- tions of the human race, are unknown to them: and the instinct, sagacity, and address which they exhibit in their motions, and in the use of their senses, are truly wonderful to the sons of men. How delicate is their smell ! How subtle and piercing their sight ! What agility and swiftness in their motions, whethi-r they fly or run ! If we also consider the wonderful organization, the ad- mirable make, the noble and majestic form of some animals, it will be found, that, in regard to the body, we have few prerogatives over them, and that they have even many advantages over us. There are some people who complain of the lot of man, and who are discontented, because God has not given him the swiftness of birds, the strength of the horse, the distinguishing smell of the dog, the piercing sight of the eagle, and the fleetness of the stag. Such complaints, however, merely result from ignorance and stupidity : for all who are enabled to appreciate the possession Advantages of Beasts over Man. 1 27 of a rational soul, must be fully convinced of the immense advantages we have over the brute crea- tion, notwithstanding their surprising agility and address. Why has the Creator given them certain prerogatives peculiar to their bodies ? why has he endowed them with such great strength, senses so exquisite, so much lightness and address in their motions ? why has he impressed upon them such wonderful instinct, and so much sagacity for obtaining their food ? It could only be to make them in some measure amends for the want of reason, and other faculties of the human mind, with which we are blessed. By the use of our un- derstanding, we can preserve ourselves from many maladies, and guard against many dangers. We may, by observing rules, or having recourse to me- dicine, cure our disorders and infirmities, or, at least, relieve them. Our intellectual faculties enable us to procure and enjoy a thousand conve- niences ; and a social intercourse with our fellow- mortals is equally conducive to our welfare and happiness. Brutes are deprived of all these ad- vantages, by not having received the inestimable gift of reason : and their situation might probably have been miserable, had not the Creator ordained some- thing to compensate to them for the want of under- standing. On this account he has, in some re- spects, been more liberal towards them than to- wards us in the distribution of corporeal advan- tages. In addition to a construction, form, and senses adapted to their wants, he has given them a variety of instincts, industry, and an admirable sagacity, by which they can distinguish between 128 FEBRUARY XYI. noxious and salutary food, procure their own nourishment, and provide for their various neces- sities : advantages which we have not in an equal degree, and without which we should remain per' fectly satisfied, while recollecting that we have received privileges of incomparably greater value. Here we ought again to admire the paternal care of a gracious Providence towards men. It is for us, that God has formed the brutes with such wonderful art : it is in order to be of more essen* tial service to us, that they are endowed with so much strength, agility, and industry ; with bodies so robust, and senses so exquisite. We should soon be liable to all sorts of inconveniences ; we should be deprived of a number of great advan- tages, in regard to our support and our occupa- tions ; if the animals, whose daily service is so necessary to us, had fewer bodily perfections. Let us consider, also, that the advantages which the brutes enjoy are limited to the present world ; whereas we are created for a better, where our bodies, raised to the highest degree of glory and perfection, Avill be freed from all the defects and all the wants they are subject to upon earth. FEBRUARY XVI. The Moan. TH E moon, next to the sun, is, of all the celestial bodies, that which has the most salutary influence upon our globe;, and, if it were not in itself an Tie Moon. 1 29 object worthy our attention, it would become so at least by the great advantages we derive from it. Even with the naked eye, and without a telescope, we can discover several phenomena in the moon. It is a round opaque body, which borrows its light from the sun, and is apparent to every part of the earth in twenty-four hours (as the earth moves round its axis), and completes its o\vn revolution in about twenty-nine days and a half. But what the naked eye may observe in the moon, is not to be compared to what we discover by the assistance of telescopes and calculations. How much are we obliged to those enlightened men, who, to extend our knowledge, and to render the glory of our Creator more manifest to the eyes of mankind, have made inquiries and discoveries which enable us to form the highest notions of the celestial bo- dies ! By means of their laborious observations, we know that the moon, which appears so small to the naked eye, is, however, a body of considerable mag- nitude, with relation to the earth. Its diameter is two thousand one hundred and eighty miles ; its proportional size as one is to forty-eight; and, though the moon is nearer to us than any other planet, it is two hundred and forty thousand miles distant from this earth. There are several spots in the moon visible to the naked eye. Some of these are pale and dark ; others are more or less luminous, according to the light they reflect. The bright spots are probably high mountains, which reflect the light of the sun from their lofty summits ; and the dark spots are either deep val- leys, or fluid transparent bodies, such as seas, 130 FEBRUARY XVI. which, conformably to their nature, absorb a great deal of light, and reflect very little back. These discoveries, to which no solid objection can be made, prove that the moon is not so incon- siderable a body as ignorant people imagine. The size, the distance, and all that we know of it, gives us, on the contrary, a new proof of the unlimited power and wisdom of our Creator. But can this vast planet .be merely designed to illumine our globe during the night ? This body which, in many respects, resembles our earth, and seems calculated for the same ends, can it be created merely to produce the ebbing and flowing of the sea, and some other advantages which we derive from it ? Is it probable that a surface of some hundreds of thousands of square miles should be entirely destitute of living creatures. Would it not be inconsistent with the Divine wisdom and goodness to leave such an immense space empty and desert ? Let us rather believe that God has established his empire in the moon, as well as among us. Without doubt, there are innume- rable creatures upon it, who adore with us the same Lord and Father ; who are, like us, the ob- jects of his providential care ; and for whose hap- piness God provides with the same goodness as he does for ours. But as our knowledge in this re- spect is still very imperfect, let us confine our- selves to the advantages which accrue to us from the moon. The tender mercy of Providence to- wards man manifests itself very sensibly in this case. He placed the moon so near us, that she alone might shed more light upon our earth, than The Moon. 131 all the fixed stars together : and by this means he has not only afforded us an agreeable object, but a thousand conveniences and advantages ; since, by moon-light, we can undertake journeys \\her- ever occasion calls us, prolong our work, and di- spatch much business even during the night. Be- sides, in what disorder and confusion should we be, in regard to the division of time, were it not for the regularity with which the changes of the moon succeed each other. It is true, that the calculations of astronomers save us the trouble, on that account, of observing the variations of that planet. But all the use of almanacks is ow- ing to the observations made on the course of the moon. Almighty God ! I desire to adore thy wisdom and goodness in the light of the moon as in that of the sun. The more seriously I contemplate thy works in the firmament, the more is my soul impressed with exalted ideas of thy grandeur and thy glory. O ! that, soaring above all terrestrial objects, I may be enabled to raise the eyes of my understanding to thee, who hast created all these globes, and ar- ranged them for the benefit of man. When I be- hold the moon and the stars illuminating the long nights of winter, may I muse upon the immense extent of thy empire, and, in the spirit of un- feigned devotion, aspire to those blissful regions, where I hope hereafter to contemplate the won- ders of thy power, and the glories of thy grace. 132 FEBRUARY XYI1. FEBRUARY XVII. The Rain waters and fertilizes the Earth. THE fertility of the earth depends chiefly on the moisture it receives from rain and other aqueous vapours. If the watering of the fields were left to human industry, it would be an endless trouble; and, notwithstanding every effort, drought and fa- mine would soon destroy us. In vain would man- kind use all their power : it would not be suffi- cient to water what they had sown and planted. They might drain the pumps and the rivers, with- out giving water enough to the vegetables to keep them from withering and dying. How necessary, therefore, was it, that the vapours should be col- lected into clouds, as in reservoirs, and fall after- wards, by the assistance of the winds, upon the earth, to refresh the trees and plants ! Every shower of rain enriches the earth, which would otherwise have a sad and languishing appearance. The treasures which its surface so liberally be- stows upon us, are infinitely more valuable than all the metals and precious stones contained in its bowels. Society might subsist very well without gold or silver, but not without corn, vegetables, and pasture. Let us here reflect on the inexpressible blessings which rain produces on our globe. A seasonable shower renews the face of the earth, and has much more effect than the dew, which, in the night- time, moistens the grass and the leaves. The fur- rowed fields drink with avidity the beneficent rains The Rain waters and fertilizes the Earth. 133 poured upon them. The principles of fertility unfold themselves in the seeds, and second the la- bour of man. The husbandman ploughs, sows, and plants ; and God gives the increase. Men do what is in their power ; and, whatever is beyond their ability, the Lord himself performs. In win- ter he covers the seeds as with a garment; in sum- mer he warms and refreshes them by the rays of the sun, and by timely showers. He crowns the year with his goodness, and grants his blessings so successively, that mankind are not merely nou- rished, but their hearts are filled with joy and gladness. Nor is the Divine blessing confined to cultivated lands : it extends also to the fields and pastures of the desert. Even those countries which are forsaken by man, and from which our fellow- creatures derive no direct advantage, are objects of providential care. And such is the goodness of God, that the hills and valleys rejoice together, and are adorned with smiling verdure : the show- ers do not fall upon them without effect ; for, if they do not produce fruit for our support, they are, at least, immense reservoirs of water for our earth ; and they produce a great variety of whole- some plants and simples conducive to the health of man, and serviceable as food for animals. Let us never forget the provident goodness of our heavenly Father. How often, in this month particularly, is the earth watered with rain ; but how seldom do we reflect as we ought upon this blessing! Let us learn to reflect on its real value, and consider how gloomy, barren, and desert, .all nature would be, if the sky were to us like brass, VOL. I. N 134- FEBRUARY XVIII. and the earth as iron : all the plants and trees would perish ; every living creature would faint ; the rivers would be dried up ; and we should in- hale death from the surrounding atmosphere. As often as the showers water the earth, we receive fresh proofs of Divine favor : yet when the winter rains are heavy and of long duration, we are apt to complain and murmur, and sometimes presume to arraign the government of the Most High ! Rather let us bless and admire the goodness of Him by whose command the seasons are renewed, and fol- low each other in regular succession: who, for our sakes, causes the rain to fertilize the earth ; who opens his liberal hand to do good to our needy race ; and whose blessings fill our land with happiness and plenty. Let us adore the beneficent Creator, and sing, to his honor, hymns of praise and thanksgiving. What has he not already done for us ! and what may we not still expect from his goodness ! FEBRUARY XVIII. Emblems of Death presented to our Notice in Winter. WE continually require warnings to induce us to meditate upon the end of our days. We are na- turally inclined to avert our eyes from the prospect of approaching dissolution ; and, if it were other- wise, the avocations and pleasures of life scarcely allow time for such reflections as this important subject demands. It is, however, necessary, for our repose and safety, that we should think fre- Emblems of Death in Winter. 135 quently of this great event, in order to lessen our fears of it. Let us, therefore, take advantage of the present season for that purpose, and consider, as emblems of death, some of the objects which are daily presented to our view. Nature is now deprived of the beauty and charms with which it was adorned in summer : the fields and gardens, where we walked with so much pleasure, are use- less, deserted, and altogether uninviting ; and the 'days are too short and disagreeable to make us wish to pass them in the country. Is not this a lively image of our state, when arrived at the win- ter of our days ? All the charms we are so vain of in the spring or summer of life, disappear ; the vexations, peevishness, and infirmities of age, no longer permit us to enjoy or relish the amusements of youth ; and few young people find pleasure in our company : the short and gloomy days of age are a burden to us ; and, if we are reasonable, our wishes tend towards a better life. As the days, at this season, possess so few charms, we have no right to complain of their shortness : and when we contemplate human life as a continual struggle with sin and misery, we should bless the wisdom which has confined it within such narrow limits. The path that leads to heaven is narrow and full of thorns : should we not adore our God for making it so short ? Several kinds of animals pass the winter in a profound sleep, from which they do not awake till they feel the mild and enlivening warmth of spring; so will our lifeless bodies rest in the grave, till the day of judgement shall awaken us from the sleep of death. N 2 136 FEBRUARY XIX. In winter, the night steals upon us unexpect- edly, and interrupts us in the midst of our occu- pations. Thus the night of death may probably overtake us when we least expect it. In the midst of projects for the future ; in the midst of our grandest designs and most important enterprises, death may suddenly surprise us. God grant we may be found occupied in such concerns as may conduce to our eternal felicity ! The most melan- choly circumstance of the winter nights is cer- tainly their length, which deprives us so long of the sun; and, perhaps, one reason for dreading death, is the thought of lying so long in the grave. But, as the winter nights glide imperceptibly away in a sweet sleep, so will death insensibly pass by, and \ve shall assuredly arise in the broad light of the new creation. These are the edifying and useful re- flections with which winter presents us. Let us not be afraid to contemplate these images of mortal- ity ; but rather let us endeavour to profit by them. Let the thought of our latter end be familiar to us, in every situation of life : then shall we think of death without fear : it will be a comfort to us in affliction, a friend and faithful counsellor in prosperity, and a shield against the fiery darts of temptation. FEBRUARY XIX. Means to procure Fire, IN these long winter nights, and during the severe cold weather, fire is a blessing, for which we can- Means to procure Fire. 1 37 not be too grateful. How wretched and miserable would our lives be at this season, if God had not given to fire the property of enlightening and warming our houses ; and if this element were not abundantly diffused through all nature ! It is- con- tained in sulphur, in animal fat, ih oil, in bees' wax, in bitumens, and in all vegetables ; although it appear inactive, and its effects are not exter- nally perceptible. But the collision of bodies discovers its presence, and demonstrates that fire must be diffused through every part of the atmo- sphere, as may be perceived between the points which come into contact. By the quick and re- peated friction of hard bodies, such as steel and Hint, the fire contained in them is put in motion ; and the particles which fly ^ut of the bodies, and are violently agitated against each other, acquire force capable of inflaming any thing. This is the common method of obtaining fire for our domes- tic uses. But we are generally content with en- joying the continual service this element renders us, in the preparation of our food, in warming us, and in lighting our apartments, without being at the trouble to inquire how fire is produced. If we were more attentive to the causes of certain natural phenomena, we should every where find traces of infinite goodness and wisdom. Cer- tainly it does not require much reflection to dis- cover them in this instance. It is with a benefi- cent view that God has spread fire all around us, and throughout all nature, in order to be at hand for every necessary purpose, and that it might be enjoyed on "all occasions. This matter assumes 138 FEBRUARY XX. every kind of form for our use; and, by uniting with many other bodies, it procures us the most essential advantages. How happy should we be if we only accustomed ourselves to be more ob- servant of the benefits we daily receive from the liberal hand of God ! But, alas ! it is their constant and daily recurrence which renders us careless and indifferent respecting them. These proofs, however, which we daily receive of God's goodness, are what we can the least dispense with ; and, from that single circumstance, they merit our particular acknowledgement. Let us, then, often think of our wise and merciful Preserver ; and, in enjoying his blessings, even those which appear the most inconsiderable, let us accustom ourselves to raise oar hearts to him, and to ho- nour him as the source of all srood. FEBRUARY XX. TJie Equal Distribution of the Seasons. WHEN the sun appears remote from us, and the severe cold binds and shuts up our fields ; there are some countries where the inhabitants enjoy all the beauties of spring; others, where they are gathering rich harvests ; and others, , where au- tumn fills their granaries with delicious fruit. It is in this manner that Divine wisdom has regu- lated the change of seasons, and distributed the same favor to all his creatures at different times. The Equal Distribution of the Seasons. 1 39 His impartial love extends itself to all the beings he has made, without respect to rank, nation, or merit. It is sufficient that they require his bless- ing, for him to take pleasure in bestowing it. His beneficent views extend over the deserts of Ara- bia with as much goodness as over the smiling countries of Europe ; and his government is the same from pole to pole. But it may be asked, if God distribute the pleasures of this life equally, why are some coun- tries deprived of the pleasures of spring, while we enjoy them in such abundance ? why are the rays of the sun so partially diffused, that in some climates there is darkness, and in others light, for whole months together ? why are not the frozen countries, near the pole, as beautiful and fertile as our plains and valleys ? Who art thou, O man, who darest to propose such questions ? what right hast thou to demand an account of an infinitely wise Being, for the manner in which he rules the world? Vain mortal! learn to be humble, and to acknowledge traces of sovereign wisdom in the very things wherein thy weak understanding ima- gined there were defects. Perhaps thou supposes! Providence has refused, to certain parts of the earth, advantages and happiness which have been lavished with profusion elsewhere. Not so : God has given to each country what was necessary to the life and welfare of his creatures ; all is planned according to the climate in which they live ; and Providence has every where provided for their pre- servation and support. The hours of the day vary in different parts of the world, according to cev- 140 FEBRUARY XX. tain rules ; but all the zones have nearly the same number. There is scarcely any inhabited country which the sun shines more upon than another ; all the difference is, that they enjoy his presence at different times. With the inhabitants of the tor- rid zone the days and nights are always of equal length ; while the neighbouring zones possess this equality twice a year. It is true, that the sun quits them alternately, and gives summer to one side of the earth, while he abandons the other to winter ; but he never fails to return regularly, from one of the limits of his annual course to the other ; and if the winter days are shorter than the nights, sum- mer makes ample amends in that respect. Even the inhabitants of the frigid zone, who are deprived of the light of the sun for several months, see it afterwards on their horizon several following months ; and, though they have some hours loss of day-light, they are made amends for it by long twi- lights. O Lord ! the earth is full of thy mercies ! Thy goodness is diffused over all the heavens, and ex- tends to the very clouds. What country is there, in the whole universe, which has not experienced the effect of thy goodness ? what province, through- out thy immense empire, is there, in which there may not be seen traces of thy beneficence? where is the creature, where is the man, who, at each season, cannot see and feel how good thou art ? I rejoice at living under thy merciful government : I rejoice in the numberless blessings which thou scatterest over all the earth, for the happiness of thy creatures. How is it possible I should not The Utility of our Senses. Ill wish that all my fellow-mortals throughout the world, may be as happy, as tranquil, and content, as I am ? Yes, thou knowest ; thou, O God ! who seest my heart, thou knowest that I am neither covetous nor selfish enough to behold with regret the happiness of others, or to wish their welfare inferior to my own! O God of mercy, grant that I may become more and more like thee. As thou lovest all thy creatures, and as, without re- spect to persons, thou doest to each all the good it is capable of enjoying, be pleased to kindle in my heart the same universal love toward my fel- low-creatures, that I may do them all the good in my power ; and, at least, that I may send up to thee my ardent prayers for the happiness of all mankind. FEBRUARY XXI. The Utility of our Senses. I HAVE senses ; that is to say, I am a being, who, by means of several wonderful organs of my body, can procure myself a variety of sensations. By my eyes I can acquire the perception of light and colours ; by my ears, that of different sounds ; by my smell and taste, that of agreeable or disagree- able emanations, of savours and odours, of sweet and bitter, and other similar properties of the bo- dies I make use of: and, lastly, by my feeling, I have the perception of heat and cold, hardness and softness, siccity and moisture, &c. H2 FEBRUARY XXI. How wretched should I be were I deprived of the organs of sight, hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling ! If I had not sight, how could 1 escape that multitude of dangers which surround me, or form to myself any idea of the magnificence of the heavens, the beauty of the country, and all the agreeable objects with which the earth is filled? Without the faculty of hearing, how could I per- ceive the dangers which threaten me at a distance ? how could I communicate my thoughts to others ? or how enjoy the harmony and fascinating charms of music ? and how, during my juvenile years, could I have learnt languages, obtained the talent of reading, and many other faculties, which distin- guish me so advantageously from the brute crea- tion ? Had I not been furnished with the organs of tasting and smelling, how could I have distin- guished, in my food, what was wholesome or inju- rious ? or how enjoyed the aromatic perfumes of spring, and a thousand objects which now a fiord the most pleasing sensations ? Finally, without the sense of feeling-, how could I have discovered, either when sleeping or awase, what might prove injurious to me ? or how could I have taken mea- sures for my own preservation ? I cannot there- fore be too thankful, that I can see, hear, feel, and speak. I adore my merciful Creator, and desire to acknowledge and celebrate his bounty. My mouth shall glorify him in songs of praise and thanksgiving ; and my ears shall be attentive to the universal hymn which all nature chants to his honor. O may 1 never be insensible to the value of my senses, nor make an improper use of The Utility of our Senses. MS them ! Thou, my Creator, hast given them to me for the noblest purposes. How unworthy should I be of thy boundless goodness, and of the admi- rable formation of my body, if I only employed my senses in brutal enjoyments, without proposing to myself any higher views! How wretched should I be, if I only sought my happiness in sensuality, and preferred it to the more sublime gratifications of the mind ! for there will come a time, when my eyes will no longer be affected by external objects; when the harmonious sounds of music will no longer please my ear; nor the most exquisite dain- ties, or delicious wines, regale my palate. A time will come, when my senses will take no pleasure or satisfaction in any earthly thing. How wretch- ed should I then be, if I knew nothing that could nourish my mind or comfort my soul ! Divine Spirit, direct and lead me so to make use of my senses, that I may never lose sight of the great pur- pose of my existence. In the use of these organs may I habituate myself to those occupations in which I hope to be employed in the kingdom of heaven. At this moment, while I enjoy and acknowledge the perfect use of all my senses, it becomes me to reflect on those who are either wholly or partially deprived of some of these blessing*. O ye blind, ye deaf, ye dumb ! it is impossible to muse upon your condition without sentiments of commisera- tion for you, and of gratitude for my own hap- piness. O God ! how can I sufficiently express my sense of thy goodness, when I compare my lot with that of these unhappy people ? Pity those, O 144 FEBRUARY XXII. Lord ! who are afflicted through the deficiency of their organs ; compensate their imperfections by other advantages ; and enable them, by faith in thy dear Son, to anticipate a fulness of joy at thy riaht hand. FEBRUARY XXII. Elevation of the Soul to God. WH EN I am enabled to elevate my soul to God, J begin to answer the end for which I was placed in this world, and enjoy an antepast of that feli- city which awaits me in the celestial regions. How trifling and contemptible do the vain amuse- ments of the age appear, when my heart accustoms itself to seek its felicity in the Creator, and how am I humbled in my own eyes when I compare my meanness and obscurity with the infinite ma- jesty of heaven ! How is my natural pride morti- fied when I seem to lose myself in the ocean of Divine perfections ; and what ardent desires are kindled in my breast for the arrival of that blessed day when I shall be eternally united to the Su- preme Being! But am I sufficiently sensible of the inestimable advantage of reflecting often on God, to induce me to form the resolution of doing it as I ought ? Alas ! instead of filling my mind with this great and sublime object, I too often fix my thoughts on earthly and perishable things : instead of finding delight in meditating on my Creator, I take pleasure in nothing but what flat- Elevation of the Soul to God. 145 tors my senses: instead of admiring that Being in whom is centred all that can be conceived lovely, and who alone can make me perfectly blest, I fix my heart on the world, and passionately love those objects which cannot ensure my happiness, and which I cannot long enjoy. May my past expe- rience teach me wisdom hereafter ! Hitherto I have only loved temporal blessings, and have wholly given up myself to them : I have sought my peace and happiness in things even more frail and perishable than myself. But, through the grace of God, my eyes are now opened I con- template a Being, the centre of all perfection, who has made me out of nothing, and given me a soul, whose desires can only be satisfied with infinite blessings. To that Being I consecrate my heart, devoting myself entirely, and for ever, to him. In him alone will I hereafter seek my joy and com- fort. Those earthly enjoyments, which I have hitherto imprudently preferred to heavenly bless- ings, I will exchange for more real and solid ad- vantages. I will make use of the first, as it is the will of my Creator ; but it shall never be in preference to the love of God : on the contrary, every creature affords me an opportunity to raise my thoughts to the Creator, and excites me to bless the goodness of him who has given to earthly things the power to cheer my soul. If pleasures, en- joyed only by means of a frail and perishable body, can affect me so sensibly, how superior must be the delights of a future happy state, disencum- bered from this earthly tabernacle ! What inef- fable sensations shall I experience, when my soul, VOL. i. o 14-tJ FEBRUARY XXIII. freed from its fetters, will be able to contemplate, at liberty, the face of the Lord ! If a single ray of light be so enlivening, what will the sun itself be ! If, even in this world, God is so admirable in his works, what will he be in the mansions of eternal glory ! O how my soul pants to enjoy this felicity in the presence of the Almighty ! Fly sviiftly round ye hours and days of darkness which I must pass be- low, and let that blessed moment appear, when, freed from the burden of this gross body, my spi- rit shall ascend above the starry heavens, to ob- tain a more perfect knowledge of my God, and to offer my adorations at the footstool of his throne ! FEBRUARY XXIII. Causes of Heat and Cold. WHENCE proceeds the transition from excessive heat to intense cold ? or by what means does nature effect these revolutions ? The temperature of the atmosphere during winter, depends on the situation of the sun : for, when our globe in its annual course round that luminary, is so placed, that its northern hemisphere is turned from it, or that the rays fall obliquely upon those parts, and when the sun is but a few hours above our hori- zon, it is impossible that any considerable degree of warmth should be produced. The heat, how- over, does not depend entirely on the situation or Causes of Heat and Cold. 147 distance of the sun ; for, although that luminary passes annually through the same constellations, and is not farther from us one year than another, the degrees of cold in our winters are very differ- ent : some winters are as mild as autumn, and in others deep seas are frozen, and men and animals can scarcely protect themselves from the severity of the cold. Even in the countries where, most of the year, the days and nights are of equal length, the power of the sun is too weak to melt the ice on the tops of the mountains : the severest winter reigns at their summit, and the hottest summer in the valleys, though the same rays fall equally on both places. If the sun were the only cause of heat and cold, these phenomena would be inexplicable. Nature is rich in means; and a thousand causes, unknown to us, may probably second her operations. But we know, at least, that the na- ture of the air and the winds have great influ- ence in regard to the heat and cold of a country. Hence it often happens to be cold in the longest days of summer, when the atmosphere is loaded with vapours, and the sky has been long darkened with clouds, or when the north wind blows strong- ly. Hence also, even in winter, the cold is not severe when the southerly winds bring us warm air. The soil of a country contributes essen- tially to the temperature of its atmosphere. For instance, in Siberia, where the earth abounds with nitre and other salts, it is always colder than in countries nearer to the pole, and where the rays of the sun fall more obliquely. It may 02 148 FEBRUARY XXI 1 1. be added, that the natural and internal warmth of the earth cause a considerable variation in the temperature of different countries. These causes, and, perhaps, many others un- known to us, occasion the vicissitudes of heat and cold upon the earth. But who can discover all the springs of the great machine of the universe, or explain their different effects ? Most of the phenomena puzzle and confound us, and we. are obliged to confess, that all the sagacity of the greatest philosophers is incapable of penetrating into the depths of nature. We see but a parr, and, undoubtedly, the smallest part, of her opera- tions ; and, certainly, it is for very wise reasons, that the Creator has concealed from us the causes of so many effects which we see in the course of nature, and of providence. He designs by this to teach us to look into ourselves. Of what utility, indeed, would the most perfect knowledge of nature be to us, if we neglected to rectify, and be- come acquainted with, our own hearts ? We know enough of nature to teach us wisdom and contentment; perhaps a more perfect acquaint- ance with her mysteries might inflate our minds, disturb our repose, and cause us to forget our Creator. Let us therefore endeavour to make a good use of the little we know, by becoming bet- ter, and thus glorifying the Supreme Being. If, after all our inquiries and reflections, many things still remain concealed, let us draw this natural conclusion that the wisdom of God surpasses all our conceptions : that it is infinite ; and that our understandings are limited. Thus, under a due Singularities in the Kingdom of Minerals. 1 49 conviction of our weakness and incapacity, \ve shall feel it our greatest duty to humble ourselves, and adore the most high God. FEBRUARY XXIV. Singularities in the Kingdom of Minerals. IT would be difficult, if not impossible, for our weak and limited understandings to take in at once the whole kingdom of nature, and to learn, altogether, the wonderful properties of things. We shall more easily acquire this knowledge by beginning with certain detached objects, some particular beauties, and occupying our attention, at first, with the most striking phenomena. Let us then, at present, reflect on some curiosities among minerals, and we shall discover among them, as every where else, proofs of the infinite- wisdom of God. Among these there are few more M orthy our attention than the loadstone. When sus- pended, it turns itself constantly one end towards the north, and the other towards the south ; and it is in those two ends or poles that it has the strong- est power of attraction. It is also remarkable, that it attracts nothing but iron ; and that, if two load- stones are put together, their opposite poies, viz. the southern and northern, attract one another ; whereas the poles of the same name, viz. the two southern, or the two northern, invariably repel each other. 03 150 FEBRUARY XXIV. There are properties found in quicksilver equal- ly wonderful : it takes every form one wishes to give it ; but it always ends by reassuming its own natural form. In the fire, it rises into vapour; and when shaken a long time, it changes into dust : by being dissolved, it becomes a hard and trans- parent crystal ; but it can always be restored to its former state of fluidity. Gold is the first and most valuable of metals, not only from its scarcity, but on account of its wonderful properties. It is the heaviest and most unalterable of all bodies ; so that it can stand the action of the hottest fire for two months together, without sustaining any sensi- ble diminution in its weight. Its parts are so fine, that one grain of beaten gold can cover fifty square inches, in such a manner, that the naked eye may distinguish, on the two surfaces, four millions of particles; and its ductility is such, that a single grain may be drawn out into a thread five hun- dred feet long. The wonderful form of common salt, brilliant stones, singular figures of earth, where metals are concealed, petrified bodies that are often found on high mountains some hundred miles from the sea, which is their original source, and a hun- dred other singularities in the mineral world, seem formed to awaken our curiosity. No employment whatever has more charms, is more satisfactory, or has more variety in it, than an attentive observation of nature. Supposing we were to live ages on the earth, and that we were to employ every day, and every hour, in studying only the singularities amongst minerals ; at the end Daily Proofs of Divine Providence. 151 of that time, a thousand would remain undis- covered and unexplained, and would, more and more, excite our curiosity. But as tbe duration of human life scarcely extends to half a century, let us make good use of the little time granted us ; and let us devote it, as much as our first duties will permit, to the contemplation of nature, and thus enjoy the most innocent and lasting pleasures of the mind. The satisfaction we shall find in it will increase more and more, in proportion as we reflect more attentively on the views God has pro- posed to himself in his works ; for the wonders of nature are infinitely and admirably more sublime, than all the productions of human art. The latter do not always promote our welfare, or make us better, but are often mere objects of fruitless admiration. But all the works of nature, and even the most singular, tend to the universal good of the world. They exist, not only to be seen, but also to be enjoyed ; and all, without exception, proclaim the goodness, as well as the wisdom, of God. FEBRUARY XXV. Daily Proofs experienced of Divine Providence. SHALL we attempt to enumerate all the blessings which the mercy of Gpd has heaped upon us, from the first moment of our existence to the pre- sent time ? As well might we expect to count the stars as to reckon the blessings we have received, 152 FEBRUARY XXV. even in a single year. How then can we hope to enumerate those which have descended upon our heads, in the course, perhaps, of a long life? What mercies received during our infancy, though now forgotten ! nights passed quietly in a sound sleep ; fond that nourished and strengthened our bodies; and deliverances from many visible and invisible dangers. How often has God provided for our ne- cessities, and confounded our incredulity, when we thought it impossible ! Nothing has happened to us unnoticed by the eye of Heaven. Every day of our lives has augmented the sum of God's mercies ; his goodness toward us is renewed each time that the rising or the setting sun illumines our horizon ; and who knows how often Divine Providence has interfered to shield us from dangers of which we had no conception ? What shall we then say of the blessings of the Lord, in having redeemed us, through Jesus Christ? and in having given us the Gospel, to teach us the way of salvation ? What a mercy that we were not born in the dark regions of Pagan superstition, but in the glo- rious light of Christianity; and that the Deity him- self continually labours to sanctify our hearts and to perfect us in love ! Are not these indisput- able proofs of his goodness and his tender compas- sion ? Allowing that it is impracticable to calculate the immensity of blessings which we receive from God during our sublunary existence, let us limit ourselves to a single day, and endeavour to sum up the mercies which even that point of time brings with it. Among these we must enumerate light, Daily Proofs of Divine Providence. 153 air, food, strength to labour, the dwelling we inha- bit, the relations on whom our happiness depends, and the numerous and varied pleasures of life. Let us also muse on the blessing of respiration, nor erroneously conceive it a matter of small import- ance. We respire, at least, twelve times every minute : consequently each minute brings twelve blessings indispensably necessary for the preserva- tion of our lives. With respiration, also, God gra- ciously preserves our understanding, will, and the use of our several members. Physicians compute that there are six thousand parts in our bodies, which, of course, are supported by Divine power ; and supposing that each minute the soul performs only thirty operations, what wonders of preserva- tion burst upon our astonished view ! According to this computation, we receive, every minute, from our Creator, twelve blessings relative to re- spiration ; thirty relative to our understanding and will ; and six thousand relative to the different parts of our bodies : consequently God bestows upon us, each minute, six thousand and forty-two blessings, which amount to three hundred and sixty-two thousand five hundred and twenty every hour of our lives ! O may these daily proofs of the providence and goodness of God make the strongest and most lasting impressions on our hearts : and this will undoubtedly be the case, if our souls be suscepti- ble of any emotions of gratitude. If we have any sense of the greatness of God's mercy and our own umvorthiness, it is impossible we should not feel the highest gratitude towards the Preserver of our 154 FEBRUARY XXVI. lives. But, in order to maintain in our hearts a lively remembrance of God's blessings, let us fre- quently compute them. The more we think of them, the more we shall be disposed to magnify the Lord our God, and the more delighted we shall be in celebrating his praise. FEBRUARY XXVI. Tranquillity of the Night. IT is impossible to reflect without admiration and gratitude on the tender care of Providence, in se- curing our repose during the absence of the day. At the approach of night, a calm and solemn still- ness is diffused over all nature, which announces a suspension of labour, and invites to the refresh- ment of sleep. The birds retire to their nests, the flocks lie down in their folds, and horses, oxen, and other domestic animals, whose activity might disturb us, sleep securely around our dwellings, while nature, in behalf of man, suspends noise, dazzling light, and all such impressions as might keep the senses in action. But this tranquillity, in the night, is not equally agreeable to every body. Many, who, from pain, sickness, and other acci- dents, pass restless nights, wish this melancholy silence interrupted. Their sufferings and uneasi- ness seem to increase, while others are asleep around them : they reckon the hours, and impa- tiently wish for day, in the hope that society will afford them some relief. Many wicked people, Tranquillity of the Right. 153 also, who pass the day in continual riot and dissi- pation, find the tranquillity of the night painful and troublesome : it awakens their conscience ; and the least noise terrifies them. I bless thee, O God, for making the repose of night so agreeable and refreshing ! The health and peace of mind I enjoy, procure me the sweet- est sleep. When I have gone through the labours of the day, the approach of night makes me adore thy goodness, which has disposed all things so hap- pily to procure me a quiet repose. I lie down with tranquillity, while wicked men and robbers walk in the dark paths of rapine and injustice. I enjoy a balmy slumber, while many sick people, stretched on a bed of pain and misery, would con- -ider the smallest rest as a blessing, and cannot ob- tain it; while the intemperate man is still load- ing himself with meat and drink ; while the miser is tormenting himself with sordid care, and with the fear of one day wanting the necessaries of life ; and while the discontented and ambitious man re- volves in his mind the most distant plans of future elevation and greatness. But how often docs man interrupt the tranquil- lity of night by levity or wickedness! The bois- terous noise of drunkards, and the wild spirit of libertines, often disturb the repose of others, and deprive them of the blessings of sleep. Ought we not to respect the order God has so wisely esta- blished in nature, too much to disturb it in the levity of our hearts ? Ought not love to our fel- low-creatures to prevent us from disturbing their sleep, and, by that means, perhaps, hurting both 156 FEBRUARY XXVII. health and life? Alas! this ill-timed noise may in one place, disturb a dying person ; in another, alarm a woman in labour, or terrify a mother suckling her child. The repose I hope for in the grave, will be very different : there I shall sleep in peace, and shall not be awakened till the voice of my Judge shall call me back to life. How happy are the faith- ful whom death has conducted to God ! They are released from all the miseries to which we are sub- ject in this world. Here the very happiest life is passed in alternate hopes and fears, and our repose is disturbed by numberless troubles and anxieties : the righteous, on the contrary, whose bodies rest quietly in the grave, are free from all misery ; and never more will cares, sorrow, or pain, imbittcr their felicity. FEBRUARY XXVII. Winter is the Image of our Life. IN these winter days there are continual changes flakes of snow and showers of rain, storms and calms, cloudy days and serene skies, succeed each other. The snow has scarcely covered the earth with a mantle of dazzling whiteness, when the rain comes to destroy it ; and the sun has no sooner displayed his animating beams, than he recedes from our view. Similar vicissitudes arc observ- able in the moral world ; and the dark, tedious, and gloomy days of winter are strikingly emblem- Winter is the Image of our Life. 157 atic of many scones in human life. But as storms and darkness are necessary, and conform- able to the wise laws of nature, so are the disa- greeable accidents and adversities which we some- times experience in the world. Who can prevent the day from being obscured by dark clouds? or our happiness from being disturbed, sometimes by man, and sometimes by accidents ? How is it possible the sky should be always calm and se- rene ? or that our minds should enjoy uninter- rupted repose ? The present constitution of our nature will as little admit of our being always free from pain and disagreeable sensations, as the con- stitution of the corporeal world would admit of the atmosphere never being loaded with clouds. Passions, which sometimes produce good, but often also bad effects, are exactly in the moral world what storms are in nature; and as winter and frost are sources of fertility, so are afflictions and sufferings the means to attain wisdom and virtue. Darkness teaches us the value of light. A conti- nual light would dazzle and fatigue our eyes. A serene day never gives us so much pleasure as when it has been preceded by dark and cloudy weather. In the same manner, we should be less sensible of the blessing of health, were we not taught to appreciate it by the painful effects of sickness. The excellence and advantage of friend- ship would touch us less sensibly, if we did not sometimes meet with faithless friends. After all, it is certain, that we are too much inclined to exaggerate our evils. The events and accidents which happen to us, are seldom as melancholy VOL. I. P 158 FEBRUARY XXVII. as \ve imagine. Self-love, pride, and excess of delicacy, blind us to such a degree, tliat we con- sider all unpleasant occurrences as real and great evils ; while, on the contrary, we take no notice of our real advantages, and the sweets which at- tend us through life. It is at least certain, that all our troubles ought to be reckoned as nothing, in comparison of the multitude of blessings and pleasures that are bestowed upon us by Divine Providence. Those very evils, of which we com- plain, will prove real, though disguised, blessings, it we know how to make a wise use of them ; just as the snow, the frost, the tempest, and other va- riations of the present season, are means which God makes use of to grant us new favours. Though the skies be, for a long time, dark and stormy, the clouds must finally disperse, and the cheering beams of the sun will reanimate the face of na- ture : and it may also be remarked, that the hea- vier the showers are, the sooner the clouds are drained ; and the darker they are, the sooner arc they dissipated by the solar rays. Misfortunes iill up but a short space of our lives ; and when they appear to us the heaviest, when we seem sinking under them, it is a proof that they are soon to end. I will accept, then, without murmuring, the portion of evil it ha^ pleased the Almighty t;> allot me. I should be unreasonable to expect nothing but pit-azures and days of happiness. No, my God, let rain and sunshine, darkness and light, succeed alternately through the course of my life : I hope to be perfectly resigned ! If The Utility of Mountains. 159 thou thinkcst proper to rouse and shake my soul by the storms of adversity, thy will be done ! What matter whether the cup that is given me be more or less bitter, that my troubles be more or less durable, while I am on this side the grave ? I know in whom I have believed : I know, O my God, that thou wilt one day grant me eternal salvation ! Those who sow in tears, shall here- after reap in joy. When the short miseries of life arc over, I shall see how advantageous they have been ; and I shall bless God for having conducted me to heaven through paths of sorrow and tribu- lation. These reflections will support me in every mis- fortune. As the expectation of spring makes the gloomy appearance of winter supportable, so decs the sweet hope of futurity encourage me to bear, with resignation and fortitude, the present mise- ries. Through the darkness of this life, the de- lightful prospect of a happy hereafter opens to my view. What I already discover of eternity sheds some rays of light on the path in which I walk ; and by this way I shall imperceptibly arrive at the blessed regions of peace, light, and happiness. FEBRUARY XXVIII. The Utility of Mountains. WOULD it not be more advantageous to our globe, if its surface were not so uneven, and if it were not disfigured by so many mountains ? I have somo r 2 160 . FERRUARY XXVIII. times thought, that our sight would extend farther, that we should travel more conveniently, and that we should enjoy many other advantages, if the earth were only a vast plain. But, perhaps, I am mistaken in this opinion. I wish, then, to inquire into the utility of mountains, in order to see whe- ther I have any reason to be discontented with the present arrangement of our globe. It is evident, that from the mountains and hills those springs flow, which are produced either by heavy snows or by the clouds with'which those heights are always covered : and these springs are known to keep up the course of our brooks and rivers. Those chains of high mountains which extend from east to west, and which traverse a great tract of country, serve to hinder the disper- sion of vapours, and to condense them into waters. They may therefore be considered as so many stills, which prepare and render the water sweet for the use of man and beast. Their declivities give a moderate fall to the springs, which, flowing thence, render the neighbouring valleys fertile and irriguous. They also afford habitations to a variety of animals, whose flesh and skins are very profitable to us, and which are there supported and nou- rished without our labour or expense. The sides of the mountains are clothed with trees, plants, and an innumerable quantity of salutary herbs and roots, which are not cultivated with equal success in the plains ; and in their bowels metals and mi- nerals form themselves, which would not propa- gate so well in low and level countries, for want of necessary moisture. Mountains serve also to The Utility of Mountains. 1 o 1 shelter us from the cold and piercing blasts of the north and east winds. They are the fosterers of the most exquisite vines ; and their bosoms contain precious stones. They are, in a manner, the bulwarks of nature, to guard countries from the fury of seas and tempests; and, like ramparts and natural fortifications, they defend several states from the invasion of enemies, and the am- bition of conquerors. Perhaps, too, they may pre- serve the equilibrium of our globe. It is true, that some mountains are dangerous and formidable : they occasion many earthquake s, and those volcanoes which spread Hames and de- struction around. But we must consider, that, as sulphur, saltpetre, and other minerals, not only contribute greatly to the fertility of the earth, but are also necessary to the life and moistening of all sorts of plants, it was propc r there should be a kind of universal magazine, where these materials should be deposited, in order to be afterwards scattered by the winds over the whole earth. And though some inconveniences may result from them, these cannot furnish any reasonable objection against the wisdom and goodness of God, since the blessings we derive from them are infinitely superior to the evils they occasion. In this re- spect, then, we have no reason to complain of the formation of our globe. It there were no moun- tains, we should be deprived of several sorts of stones and fossils ; there would be neither rivers, springs, nor lakes ; the sea itself would become a stagnated marsh ; we should want a great number of the finest and most salutary plants, and several 162 FEBRUARY XXIX. sorts of animals : and the privation of even one of these things might render our lives gloomy and mi- serable. Let us, therefore, conclude, that moun- tains, as well as every other created thing, exhibit the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator. Lord God Almighty, I adore thee, and ac- knowledge, with the most profound veneration, the wonders of thy wisdom. All that exists, every thing thou hast created, from the smallest grain of sand to the highest mountain, combines and is in harmony with each other, and full of benefit to thy creatures. On the heights, as well as in the depths, on mountains, and in valleys, above and below the earth, thou showest thyself the glorious Benefactor of thy creatures. FEBRUARY XXIX. Motives for Confidence in God. WHEN I reflect on the infinite perfections which are manifested in the plan of the universe, and on the manner in which God conducts and governs it, my confidence in him must necessarily increase and strengthen more and more. How easy ought I to be, in regard to my life, since it is in the hands of that great Being, of whose power, wisdom, and goodness, I have as many proofs as there are crea- tures before me ! What wishes can I form for my happiness, which may not be fulfilled by that God whose unlimited power has raised so many millions of worlds out of nothing ? Are there any trou- .Motives for Confidence in God. lo'3 blcs, sorrows, or difficulties, from \\hich I may not be happily drawn, by that infinite wisdom which has spiead the heavens, and formed every creature in so wonderful a manner ? What can hinder me from committing my way unto the Lord ? What can prevent me from having re- course to him in all my troubles and distresses, and from hoping that he will hear my prayer ? It is true, I am a very weak creature ; I am lost in the immense multitude of his works ; and when I represent to myself his greatness, and the infi- nite extent of his government, I often say to my- self, Who am I, to dare to hope that this great Being will always listen to me, and that he will deign to cast his eyes on me, every time my trou- bles compel me to have recourse to him ? But, on the other hand, I comfort myself, when I con- sider that his greatness, his majesty, and the go- vernment of so many millions of worlds, do not hinder him from extending his cares to the small- est worm ; why, then, may he not give some at- tention to me, who, though insignificant, have received from him, both as a man and as a Chris- tian, prerogatives much superior to other crea- tures ? Here my conscience reproaches me with being a sinner; with ha\ing, a thousand and a thou- sand times, wilfully transgressed the commands of my Creator ; and thence being, without com- parison, more unworthy of his goodness than the lowest creatures, since they have not offended him, nor ever could be guilty of sin against him. My conscience represents the justice of God, in as 168- FEBRUARY XXIX. strong colours as the whole world delineates to me his poiier and goodness : it makes me apprehend that he may use his power, in giving me as a ter- rible example of his vengeance to the whole earth ; and, it is true, wherever I turn my eyes, I can no where find any relief from these dreadful thoughts, to quiet my perturbed mind, or give me a just subject of consolation. But it is here that the salutary truths of the Gospel come to my assist- ance. Eternal thanks be rendered to thee, O merciful Redeemer ! The knowledge of God, which, without thee, could only serve to trouble and affright me, is become, by thy sufferings and death, a source of joy and comfort to my soul. It is through thee alone that I can look up to this God, whose greatness all the world proclaims ; that I can consider him as a Father, put my trust in him, and hope that he will grant me happiness, not only in this life, but to all eternity. It is under impressions such as these, that a most enchanting prospect opens to my view, even while I survey the scenes of this frail and perishing world. If the earth he full of the goodness of tin: Lord, heaven will be abundantly more so : and on my arrival there, I shall be completely satisfied with the perfection of his love, while his wisdom shall appear before me in all its splendor, and I shall contemplate the grandeur, pomp, and beau- ty of many worlds, of which, at present, through the weakness of my optics and my understanding, I can obtain but a transient glance. Then shall my heart dilate with sentiments of gratitude and veneration ; and my lips shall celebrate, in the Contemplation of God in Nature. 165 noblest accents, the eternal praises of my Cre- ator. MARCH I. An Invitation to contemplate God in the Works of Nature. O YE who adore with me the Lord by whom the heavens and the earth were created, come and reflect on his works ! Behold the wonders he has done ! Acknowledge, and have a lively sense of his mercies ! Of all the knowledge we can ac- quire, this is the most important, the most easy and agreeable. \Ve could well dispense with many sciences which we take pains to learn ; but the knowledge of God and his works is absolutely necessary, if we wish to fulfil the end of our crea- tion, and by that means secure our present and eternal happiness. We do well, undoubtedly, to seek to know God, as he has revealed himself in his divine word : but we shall not receive that revela- tion with an entire conviction of heart, unless we join to it this other revelation, by which he has made himself manifest to us throughout all na- ture, as our Lord, our Father, and Benefactor. This is the best preparation to understand, and to receive, the Gospel of Jesus Christ; because, in teaching his disciples the truths of religion, the divine Redeemer often spoke of the works of na- ture, and made use of the objects which the phy- sical and moral world afforded to lead his hearers to reflect on spiritual and heavenly things. . 166 MARCH I. In general it is a noble employment, and well worthy of man, to study the book of nature con- tinually ; to learn in it the truths which may remind us of the immense greatness of God, and our own littleness his blessings, and the obliga- tions they impose on us. It is shameful for man to be inattentive to the wonders which surround him on every side, and to be as insensible to them as the brutes that perish. If reason have been given to us, it is that we may make use of it in ac- knowledging the perfections of God in his works. "What employment can be more pleasing to the human mind, than meditations on the admirable works of the Most High ? to contemplate, in the heavens, the earth, the waters, the night and day in a word, throughout all nature the wisdom, power, and goodness of our Creator and Pre- server ? \Yhat can be conceived more delightful, than to discover, in the whole creation, in all the natural world, in every thing we see, traces of the providence and tender mercies of the father of all beings ? There are no amusements, no worldly joys, of which we are not soon tired : but the pleasure we feel in contemplating the works of the Lord, is ever new ; and were we thus to employ ourselves during thousands of years, we should be so little fatigued with the repetition of the subject, that it would daily exhibit new and more interesting charms. It is in this light I often represent to myself the felicity of the saints in heaven. I ardently wish to be with them, be- cause I am persuaded it is in their society only, that my insatiable desire of increasing in know- Contemplation of God in Xatitre. 167 ldge and wisdom, can be fully satisfied. But whilst we arc at a distance from this felicity, let us, at least, endeavour to come as near to it as possible, by habituating ourselves, in time, to what shall be the employment of all the blessed saints and angels in eternity. Let us adore God in his marvellous works, and aspire after a more perfect knowledge of his perfections. Let us reflect on his greatness ; admire his power and wisdom in each of his creatures ; and observe, in every season of the year, his goodness and tender mercies towards all his creatures. This employment will make us, not only happy, but virtuous ; for, if we have God and his works con- tinually in our sight, with what love and venera- tion shall we be penetrated ! with what confi- dence shall we resign ourselves to him ! with what zeal and transport shall we sing his praise ! O God, who art so worthy of all adoration, I will continually reflect, with gratitude and veneration, on the wonders of thy power and wisdom, which fill the universe. I will raise myself from earth to heaven, by the chain of beings thou hast formed, in order to know, to feel, and to enjoy thy good- ness. Every thing around me, every thing within myself, will serve to lead me to thee as the source of all ; every thing will more and more contribute to inflame my soul with love and piety. These, O heavenly Father, are the engagements I make before heaven and earth, in presence of every crea- ture thou hast formed. The sun which shines upon me, the air which I breathe, the earth which sus- tains me ; all nature, so wisely framed for my 168 MARCH II. wants and pleasures ; shall one day rise as wit- nesses against me, if I neglect to contemplate and admire thy works. MARCH II. Bad Weather. NATURE, still deprived of her ornaments, exhi- bits a wild and gloomy aspect. Thick clouds ob- scure the azure canopy of heaven, and the atmo- sphere is loaded with snow and vapours. The morn- ings are wrapped up in impenetrable fogs ; and the sun scarcely peeps through the general obscurity, before dark and stormy clouds arise, to prevent the earth from feeling his genial influence. How little warmth does he diffuse ! Scarcely a herb ventures to spring up every thing remains life- less, dreary, and destitute of charms ! " When shall we hail the return of lovely spring? When will those fine days arrive, when the early flowers shall expand to our view, and allure us into the fields and gardens ?" I doubt not but many use this language, and bear with impatience the gloomy days of March. But let us consider, that even this temperature of the air, which we dislike, contributes to the general good, and is part of the plan formed by the Almighty in his government. Were it not for these days, which appear to us so disagreeable, all our hopes of the advantages of summer would assuredly vanish. Storms are blessings of nature, and frosts are means which she makes use of to fertilize the Bad Weather. 169 earth. If the air were at present milder, and the weather liner, millions of insects would be hatch- ed, which would be very hurtful to the seeds sown in the earth, and to the blossoms. What a risk also would the buds run, which the mild weather had brought forth, should there afterwards come a frost ? But such is our blindness and ignor- ance, that we murmur against God when we ought to adore and bless him ; and we consider as imperfections those very things which should lead us to acknowledge his wisdom and goodness. We seldom know what we desire. To punish us for our imprudent and unreasonable wishes, God need only to grant them. If the spring already displayed the whole of its charms, how many of the following days would lose their value ! How soon should we be weary of the genial showers, and how seriously would our health be affected by the speedy transition from intense cold to ex- cessive heat ! It is a blessing of God a blessing, of which, with many others, we are too regardless, that spring draws on imperceptibly : its delay keeps us in the most agreeable expectation, and our pleasure is the greater when it comes. The rough, stormy weather of March is a remain of the severity of winter: but it prepares us for the enjoyment of fine days, and is the precursor of that delightful calm which spring diffuses upon our happy country. O God my Creator, I will adore and magnify thy name in these stormy days : being more and more convinced of the wisdom and excellence of thy government. I desire to rejoice that in ajl VOL. I. Q 170 MARCH III. times and seasons, in tempests and in calms, in snows and in rains, as well as in the most delight* ful weather, thou art my unchangeable Father, Preserver, and Friend. The present uncomfort- able season will soon be succeeded by the lovely days of spring; and experience convinces me, that human life is, in reality, a continual vicissi- tude of pleasant and stormy days. MARCH III. The State of some Animals during Winter. WE do not, at present, see any of those insects or birds, millions of which exist, during summer, in the air, on the earth, and in the waters. At the approach of winter they retire from our cli- mate, the temperature of which no longer agrees with them, and in which they can no longer find a sufficient supply of food. The first stormy day is a signal to them for the suspension of their labours, and a change of habitation. Let us not, however, erroneously suppose, that these crea- tures are destroyed by the rigors of winter : for Providence takes care that none of them shall perish. The bodies of some animals are so organized, that the same causes which deprive them of food, effect such changes in them as preclude the ne- cessity of alimentary sustenance. The cold be- numbs them, and they fall into a profound sleep, which continues till returning warmth opens the earth, reproduces the things necessary for their The State of some Animals during Winter. 171 support, and awakens them from their torpidity. These animals hide themselves in the sand, in pits or hollow places, or in the bottom of ponds or marshes, where they cannot be found out or dis- turbed. Their state is a kind of death, or rather a swoon; and they do not revive till the gentle warmth of spring penetrates to their retreats. Some sorts of birds, at the approach of winter, undertake long journeys, to seek, in other cli- mates a more temperate air and suitable food. Some fly in large flocks from one country to an- other. Several go to Africa, crossing the Medi- terranean, and return to our countries, in the ensuing spring. Lord, how admirable is thy wisdom ! how ten- der and beneficent thy mercy to the least of thy creatures ! Thou hast impressed upon certain animals that wonderful instinct which warns them of the day in which they should abandon their summer habitations, in order to pass their winter in a more favorable clime. Thou hast pointed out to others the places where they may pass in safety their night of winter in a sound sleep : and thou revivest them again when the season of their new life arrives. Every time I reflect upon these changes, I am naturally led to think of what will happen to myself at my death ; for my state, in some measure, resembles that of these birds. At the end of my life, I also shall quit my home, my pleasures, and my companions, to go into a bet- ter world : my body also shall sleep for some time ; but, at the moment of the new creation, I shall awake, and, clothed with the strength and 172 MARCH ir. beauty of youth, begin a life that will be eternal. What happens to animals affords me another edifying reflection : I perceive that God watches over the very smallest link of the immense chain of beings ; I discover with what paternal goodness he provides for the preservation of the weakest and lowest of his creatures, in situations wherein it would appear impossible to mere human wis- dom. Would it not, then, be doing injustice to the wise providence of my Creator, to doubt his care of me, and to abandon myself to trouble and anxiety respecting my subsistence? Certainly, that God who gives to birds and insects their food in due season ; that God who provides them re- treats, and places of rest, in pits and rocks; who directs them to find their food in different coun- tries ; that same God will take care of me in every time of need and distress. I have a perfect confidence that he will provide all that is neces- sary for my support ; and even when I see the least likelihood of it, he will find me a place of refuge, where I may rest in peace and safety. MARCH IV. Winds and Tempests. WITH what violence is the air agitated ! Hear how the winds roar in the upper regions ! Behold how the clouds gather ! how rapidly they fly ! what deluges of rain they pour upon the earth ! How terrible is the force of the winds ! they tear Winds, and Tempests. 173 up the largest oaks; they throw down palaces; they shake the foundations of the earth ; and, perhaps, alas ! at this moment, some unfortunate vessel is plunged into the .abyss, by the violence of the storm ; the winds bellow above it ; a terrific gulf yawns underneath ; and all around the waves of the sea rise mountains high. Oh ! in what .distress are those unhappy people ! How they .wring their hands! how they shudder at every rising wave that threatens to bury them in the deep ! Before the fury of the tempest abates, some millions of families may be ruined ; and more still may be plunged into the deepest mi- sery, by the death of their relations and friends. But why does the wise and beneficent Sovereign of the world thus permit the winds to spread ter- ror and destruction by sea and land ? Mad ques- tion! What temerity, to presume to arraign and censure the government of a Being infinitely wise ! Ought we not rather to reflect on his ways with respectful silence, and be persuaded they are al- ways replete with goodness ? If whirlwinds and tempests make terrible ravages ; if they shatter vessels, or plunge them to the bottom of the sea ; if they overthrow buildings, and destroy men and animals, have we a right, on these accounts, to blame the government of the Lord ? They who calculate with so much care the mischief this element occasions, have they also reckoned the advantages which accrue from it ? Audacious mortals! admire and adore the Sove- reign of the world, who can even make storms contribute to the good of the universe. It is, Q3 174" MARCH IV. in reality, by the particular direction of Provi- dence, that, towards spring, storms and tempests usually arise. At the return of that beautiful season, the moist and mild air opens the earth, which had been closed all the winter. By this change of temperature, the air, which the cold had purified, is again filled with noxious vapours. Plagues and epidemic disorders would soon de- stroy men and animals, if the air, by being agi- tated with storms, were not restored to its purity and salubrity. By this mean, however, not only the stagnated vapours are put in motion, but other vapours, of different kinds, being violently agi- tated, make a happy mixture, equally conducive to the health of mankind, and to the fertilization of the earth. Is it not, besides, a great advantage, that the winds serve, in some degree, as wings for ships ; and that these floating houses, laden with the riches of different parts of the world, can often, in less than twenty-four hours, retake a passage of more than fifty leagues ? Thus, even in the midst of storms and tempests, the Lord is beneficent to his creatures. Whenever, therefore, I hear the winds roar above me, I will acknow- ledge his goodness, and reflect with pious grati- tude on the wisdom of his government. How ad- mirable are his ways, even in respect to storms and whirlwinds! Thou, O Lord, takest the winds out of thy treasures : thou bringest them from the extremities of the earth ; thou appointest the course they are to take ; thou settest bounds to them, and orderest them to be calm, when they have fulfilled thy designs. Wherefore, then, Winds and Tempests. 175 should I be terrified or alarmed, when thou di- rectest these ministers of thy will to execute thy orders ? O my soul ! though the tempest should howl around thee, the rocks rend, the earth trem- ble, and a veil of darkness be thrown over the face of nature, let nothing dismay thee, nor disturb thy tranquillity : but trust implicitly in the Lord of hosts, and repose thy cares on the paternal bosom of Him who rules and governs the uni- verse. Cannot he who appoints the courses of the stars and the winds, point out a path to thee, in which thou mayest walk with confidence and se- curity ? However stormy, then, my life may be in this world, does it become me to murmur at it, or to indulge a spirit of fear ? No : that God who imposes silence on the most impetuous winds, can easily check the tempest of sorrow which threatens to overwhelm me: and, when the violence of afflictions shall have sufficiently tried me, I may behold a serene and luminous day, and enjoy a perfect calm. Alas ! how many, who are now crossing the sea for the good of society, are struggling with the waves, in trembling expectation of being in a moment swallowed up ! I imagine their distress, while, safe at home, I listen to the roaring of the tempest. Sovereign Disposer of all events ! Ruler of the winds and seas ! deign to hear the prayers they offer unto thee in their distress ; and graciously extend to them that merciful regard which can so easily effect their deliverance. 176 MARCH V. MARCH V. The Aurora Borealis. JN winter, towards the vernal equinox, a sort of luminous, transparent, and variegated clouds fre- quently appear in the sky. A splendid light from the north gradually communicates itself to the clouds in that quarter, till, at length, streams of a pale light issue from those clouds, and extend to the zenith. This ethereal phenomenon, called the North- ern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is, in some re- spects, one of those natural effects the cause of which cannot be exactly determined. Some na- turalists suppose it to be a magnetic substance, which, accumulating and thickening towards the north, may shed a certain light at a distaace: others suppose, with greater probability, that the Aurora Borealis is occasioned by nitrous and frozen particles, which, rising in the air, and being joined to the vapours, and to the fat and oily exhalations sent forth by the whales and other immense cetaceous fishes which abound in the north, are lighted up and made brilliant by that light which the Laplanders almost continu- ally enjoy : lastly, some philosophers pretend, that this phenomenon is only an inflammation of the atmosphere, and a storm not yet come to ma- turity. The uncertainty in which the best in- formed and most learned men are respecting this phenomenon, may afford us a lesson of instruc- tion. How many things do we see in the air, in Tiie Aurora Borealis. 177 tlie sky, and upon earth, which are still mysteries, even to the most eminent naturalists ! These phenomena ought to humble the human mind, which pride and vain curiosity often prevent from acknowledging how limited its faculties are. A thousand inconsiderable things confound the most learned in their meditations, and elude their deepest researches. There are a thousand objects, which, indeed, we acknowledge to be planned with much wisdom, and to be very useful; but we seldom arrive at discovering their true principles, their purpose, and their connexion with the corporeal world and its several parts. However, this ig- norance does not affect our happiness ; and though, for example, we cannot exactly deter- mine whence the Aurora Borealis proceeds, we may live peaceably and happily without that knowledge : and, notwithstanding our ignorance of many other subjects, we know, at least, that every phenomenon of the physical and intellec- tual world, happens only by the will of an all- wise, almighty, and perfect Being, who directs them for the good of the universe. We have no occasion to know more in a life so short as ours ; and this is, doubtless, sufficient to induce us to adore and bless him who is the Author of things so wonderful, and so far beyond our comprehen- sion. How thankful ought I to be that I was not born in those dark ages of ignorance and superstition, where whole nations were overwhelmed with terror and consternation by these phenomena. This magnificent spectacle delineated to their per- 17B MARCH VI. turbcd imaginations whole armies fighting in the air, and hence they drew the most direful omens and prognostics. The Aurora Borealis was to them a prophet, which foretold sometimes war, some- times famine, and sometimes epidemic disorders. For my own part, however, I find, in the mild and majestic splendor of this light, a token of the power and goodness of God. I behold those ce- lestial lights without fear, because I know that the Lord of heaven has not created any thing to be a torment and misfortune to his creatures : and, it is highly probable that the inhabitants of the northern regions, may derive great advan- tages from these phenomena, though in our country they have so little influence. MARCH VI. TJie extreme Smallness of certain Sadies. THE vaulted sky; the depths of space, and its unlimited extent; those vast bodies which shine in the firmament ; the variety of creatures which cover our globe, and which fill the air and the water ; all declare the glory of the mighty God, and announce the infinity of his power. But it must not be supposed, that the power and wisdom of the Creator is only visible in the immense size of the world : even in the smallest objects, in the most inconsiderable parts of the natural world, the greatest subjects of admiration are to be found. The construction of a grain of sand, seen through T/ie extreme Staallness of certain Bodies. 179 a glass which magnifies objects a million of times, is sufficient to fill the greatest mind with astonish- ment. Who, indeed, would not be surprised to learn, that an insect lives in the midst of a grain of sand which the naked eye can scarcely dis- cover? Examine also, with a microscope which magnifies some millions of times, the mould on a bit of bread, and you will discover a thick forest of fruit trees ; the branches, leaves, and fruit of which may easily be distinguished. But even in your own body you may perceive objects of in- conceivable smallness, which, perhaps, you have not yet taken notice of, and yet deserve all your admiration. It is covered with an innumerable multitude of pores, of which the naked eye can only distinguish a small part. The epidermis re- sembles the scales of a fish : and it has been calcu- lated, that a grain of sand would cover 250 of those scales, and that one single scale would cover 500 of those interstices, or pores, which give pas- sage to the sweat and insensible perspiration. Have you ever reflected on the wonderful construction of the hairs of your head ? Inconsiderable as these appear, they may justly be reckoned among the master-pieces of Divine workmanship. They are hollow tubes furnished with bulbs or roots, consisting of a marrowy substance, and furnished with a variety of little threads, or filaments, which unite in them. In that whitish matter called tar- tar, which settles upon the teeth, a great number of small animals have been discovered by a good microscope; and it has even been found that in a portion of this substance not larger than a grain of 180 MARCH VI. gunpowder, there were a million of those animal- cu\x. Are not these circumstances calculated to hum- ble us in our own eyes, and raise our ideas of the Supreme Being ? Every thing ought to convince us that there are a thousand objects in nature which are to us impenetrable mysteries ; that a thousand discoveries remain to be made; and that things which are not entirely unknown to us we still know but superficially. There are. perhaps, a multitude of wonders in our own bo- dies, which no one has thought of or suspected. How many imperceptible objects may there not be in nature, out of the reach of the microscope and of our understanding, which, it' known to us, would afford new proofs of the greatness of God ! But the little we do know may suffice to convince us, that in small things, as well as in great, the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Lord are moht admirably manifested. The sand of the sea declares the glory of the mighty God, as well as the expanse of the heavens, the splendor of the sun, or the fury of the tempests. The smallest \vorm bids us give glory to his Creator. The trees, in the magnificence of their clothing, the grain and the seeds, in their minuteness, cry aloud with united voice, " It is God who Lath made us: give glory to our Creator." Even the most dimi- nutive creature upon earth reminds us of his greatness. His power and wisdom are equally admirable in the formation of the gnat, as in the construction of the elephant ; in the humble form of a blade of grass, as in the majestic height of the Winter subsides gradually. 181 oak ; in a grain of sand, as in the highest moun- tain. No creature he has formed can be un- worthy our attention. Who can tell if the object of the most insignificant appearance may not con- tain the greatest wonders ? A being that God hath vouchsafed to form, is it not, from that very circumstance, worthy of our observation ? O Lord ! I am myself a minute being, in com- parison of the innumerable worlds which have risen under thy creative hand ; notwithstanding thy good providence preserves me, and directs my movements with the same wisdom that di- rects and sustains the harmony of the spheres ! What am I, O God, that thou shouldst be thus mindful of me ? and how can I, who am but dust and ashes, sufficiently express my gratitude for the innumerable mercies I have received from thy hands ? MARCH VII. Winter subsides gradually. THE same wisdom which, at the beginning of winter, caused the cold to increase gradually, has ordained that it shall also diminish by de- grees ; so that this severe season now draws insen- sibly towards its end. The sun already remains longer above our horizon, and reflects more heat upon the earth. Flakes of snow no longer cloud and darken the atmosphere ; but the nights are only attended with a white frost, which vanishes with the mid-day sun. The air becomes serene : VOL. I. R 182 MARCH vir. and the fogs and vapours either disperse, or fall in fertile showers of rain. The earth becomes lighter, more movable, and fitter to receive moisture : the seeds, also, begin to shoot : the branches which recently appeared dead, put forth their tender buds ; and a few blades of grass ven- ture to spring out of the earth. We see the pre- parations which nature is making to restore ver- dure to the fields, foliage to the trees, and flowers to the gardens. She silently labours to bring back the spring, though tempests, hail, and frosty nights, still oppose it in some measure. She will soon lose her sad and gloomy appearance ; and the earth will shine again in all the beauty of youth. Every change in nature is made thus gradu- ally ; every effect which we perceive, has been prepared by preceding effects ; and a thousand little circumstances which escape our observation, succeed one another, till the end which nature proposes to herself is fulfilled. An infinite multi- tude of springs must be put in motion, before a single blade of grass can shoot, or a bud be un- folded. All the changes in winter, so disagreeable to us, must necessarily take place, in order to open to us a promising prospect. Storms, rain, snow, and frost, were essential, that the earth might rest and recover its strength and fertility. Neither could these changes happen sooner or later, be more or less sudden, or have a longer or shorter duration, without injuring, in some sense, the fertility of the earth. Now that the advan- tages of these plans of nature open insensibly to our view, ' we acknowledge her designs ; and the Winter subsides gradually. 1 83 happy consequences of the winter plainly demon- strate that it is a real blessing to the earth. As the seasons, so do the periods and events of our existence continually vary. In the life of every man, there is so admirable and mysterious a chain of causes and effects, that nothing but futurity can discover to us why such and such events were necessary and beneficial. I see, perhaps, at present, why God caused me to be born of such parents rather than others ; why precisely such a town should be the place of my birth ; why such and such unhappy accidents happen to me ; and why it was necessary I should embrace such a kind of life in preference to any other. All this was then concealed from me : but now I comprehend that the past was neces- sary for the present, and for the future ; and that several events which did not at all seem to agree with the plan of my life, were, however, indispen- sable, to make me as happy as I now am. I also gradually approach the moment in which all the events of my life will be laid open and explained. Perhaps I am very near the period wherein the winter of my life will draw to its end, and I shall be on the point of entering anew world. O my God ! grant that my heart may then be full of hope and joy : and, when all the visible creation disappears from my sight, grant me a glimpse of a blessed eternity ; and give me such a foretaste of it as may raise me above every earthly and pe- rishable object. n 2 184- MARCH vm. MARCH VIII. The Human "Body, relatively to its exterior Parts. Now that nature does not appear in full beauty, while the fields and gardens afford no charms to unbend my mind agreeably, I will meditate on myself, and reflect on the formation of my body. This will furnish me with the best opportunity of acknowledging the power and wisdom of God : and I shall learn, at the same time, to be sensible of the value of my life. Of all the visible parts of the body, the head holds the first rank, not only from its beauty, but because it contains the principles of sensa- tion and motion. All the sentiments and passions of the soul are painted on the face, which is the most beautiful part of man, and wherein are placed the organs of the principal senses, by means of which we receive the impression of out- ward objects. The several motions of the lips and tongue, whether they touch the palate or the teeth, serve for articulation, and enable us to give different inflections to the voice. With the teeth we can either cut or grind our food : and the great number of glands in the mouth furnishes the saliva necessary for digestion. The head is placed on the neck ; where it turns, as on a pivot, to which side we please. After the neck come the should- ers, so formed as to bear heavy loads. To the shoulders the arms arc united ; and to those the hands, which are so constructed as to perform a variety of movements to touch, take, raise up, Exterior of the Human Body. 1 S3 draw back, repel, &c. the joints and bones serv- ing to support and facilitate these motions. The chest contains and guards the heart and lungs, and, for that purpose, is composed of strong ribs and bones. The midriff separates the chest and the belly, which contain the stomach, liver, spleen, and intestines. All this mass rests upon the hips, thighs, and legs, which, as \vcll as the arms, have several joints to make the motions easy. The feet support the whole ; and the toes also contribute to it, as they serve to fix the feet firmly on the ground. The flesh and skin cover the whole body. The hair of the head, and the down on other parts, guard from the bad effects of cold. What a variety is discoverable in these exterior parts of the body ! and yet these are only the principal and most essential of them. Their form, construction, order, situation, motions, and har- mony, all afford incontestable proofs of the wisdom and goodness of our Creator. No part of the hu- man body is imperfect or deformed ; none useless ; no one hurts the other. If, for example, we were deprived of the use of our hands, or if they were not provided with so many joints, we should be unable to do many things we do. If we were to preserve our reason, and yet be quadrupeds or reptiles, we should be unfit for arts or trades; we could neither act, move, nor turn, as we wished. If we had but one eye, in the middle of our fore- heads, it would be impossible to see to the right or left, to take in so large a view, or distinguish so many objects at one time. In a word, all the 186 MARCH VIII. parts of the body arc so constructed and arranged as to concur to the beauty and perfection of the whole, and are most excellently adapted for their different purposes. Let us, therefore, bless our Creator, who has made us so wonderfully : and, while we feel the happiness of our formation, let the sense of his goodness never be effaced from our minds. O that we may recollect it whenever we con- template our bodies, or make use of our mem- bers; that, instead of misemploying any of em- powers, we may continually employ ourselves in such actions as may tend to the good of society, and be ever solicitous to glorify the Deity with our bodies and spirits, which are his peculiar pro- perty. As a farther stimulus to make this noble use of our bodies, let us reflect, that, after they have lain some time in the grave, they shall be raised again incomparably more perfect and glorious. Shall we then dishonour a body which is hereafter to be conformed to the image of our adorable Saviour, and translated to a world of holy spirits ? shall we abuse the members which are destined for heavenly and sublime employments ? No ; the hope of future bliss should teach us to consider our bodies as temples of the Deity, and to pre- serve them pure and undefiled till the second coming of Jesus Christ. Tie Hope of Spring. 1 87 MARCH IX. The Hope of Spring. EVERY day brings us nearer to the anticipated pleasures of spring, and strengthens our hope of speedily seeing the time in which we may respire more freely, and contemplate nature with more joy and satisfaction. This sweet expectation is almost the only one which does not deceive us, being founded on the invariable laws of nature. The charms of this hope arc felt in every heart without distinction ; for the mendicant, as well as the monarch, may behold the spring approach- ing with unmixed joy, and promise himself sure pleasures in it. This hope is not attended with impatience, because it extends very far, and takes in a multitude of objects. The coming of spring procures us a thousand new delights the beauty tind perfume of the flowers ; the singing of the birds; and the universal prospect of mirth and pleasure. Most earthly hopes are attended with anxieties; but that of spring is as satisfactory as it is innocent and pure; for nature seldom de- ceives us. On the contrary, her presents gene- rally surpass our expectations, both in number and quantity. Let us, therefore, in these bois- terous days of March, give ourselves up entirely to the sweet hope of spring, and the joy which it inspires. It is a great blessing of Providence, that, in all the changes of seasons, and the vicis- situdes of life, we can still nourish hope in our hearts. Winter, which now draws near its end,. 188 MARCH IX. would have been infinitely more melancholy with- out this comfortable prospect. Encouraged by the hope of spring, we have patiently borne tin- inconveniences of cold and bad weather, and are now on the point of seeing that hope abundantly realized. After a few more disagreeable days, the sky will become serene, the air milder ; the sun will reanimate the face of nature, and the earth will re-assume her ornaments. O merciful God ! I sincerely "thank thee for those sources of joy and consolation which thou hast appointed to soften the evils of life. With what goodness dost thou veil future evils from our eyes, while our spirits arc cheered by a glimpse of the blessings and comforts designed for us ! Without hope, the world would, indeed, be a vale of misery, and life itself a continued series of pain and sorrow. But thou hast given us hope, as an agreeable companion, through our pilgrimage. When all around us is gloomy, this opens a cheer- ful prospect of futurity, which revives our languid souls, and enables us to walk with content through the thorny paths of life. How often, O heavenly Father ! hast thou thus raised my dejected heart, and strengthened my courage when ready to fail me ! I adore thee for every ray of hope which has animated my soul; for every blessing I have re- ceived, and for all those which are still reserved for me. What words, indeed, can express the sublime and magnificent hopes, which, as a Chris- tian, I am authorized to indulge ! Blessed be thy mercy, thou divine Redeemer, which has entitled me to expect a felicity, permanent and complete. TJie Hoar Frost. 1 89 beyond the grave! Adored be thy name for the blessed hope of a glorious immortality ! What would life be, without this inestimable blessing? What would be the happiness of the present world, had we no hope of eternal and unfading joys here- after ? And if we possess this comfortable hope, ought we not to account our present calamities as nothing ? Though the winter of life should prove long and rigorous, hope will point to the beauties of the coming spring, and enable us pa- tiently to await the renewal and perfection of our existence in a future and a better world. MARCH X. The Hoar Frost. IT is very usual, at this season, for the bushes, and other things exposed to the morning or evening air, to acquire a sort of crust on the sur- face, like what is commonly called iceingon sweet- meats. This appearance, which we term hoar frost, is merely occasioned by exhalations con- densed and frozen by the coldness of the atmo- sphere. The dew which (however imperceptible it may be) falls every day, becomes congealed in cold weather, and assumes that white appear- ance so often seen in a morning ; and as large bodies retain their heat the longest, we generally perceive more of this frost upon the grass and bushes than on the larger trees. When the dew fixes on bodies considerably colder than itself, it 1 90 MARCH X. communicates its heat to them immediately ; and, of course, the dew, having lost the cause of its fluidity, its particles contract, draw close, and form a light coat of ice. If to those vapours dis- posed to freeze, others be joined which iiave not that disposition, the latter instantly lose their fluidity, and settling irregularly on, or beside, the former, together form a slender coating of ice. In this manner our hair, as well as that of ani-> nials, is sometimes covered with hoar frost : the perspirable matter exposed to the cold air be- comes congealed, and this effect is produced. It is thus also that we account for the shining threads often seen in winter on buildings. If the walls have a certain degree of cold, the aqueous va- pours which are settled on them, condense and freeze. But when the cold is very intense and it freezes hard, this effect does not follow, because the vapours are already frozen in the air ; and even supposing them to light upon the wall, they cannot remain there, because they only touch it with some of their parts. However, it sometimes happens, in hard frosts, that the walls become white, as if covered with snow : but this is a cer- tain token that the severity of the cold is going to abate. Here, again, let us acknowledge the wise and beneficent views of our Creator. In his hand, and under his direction, all the effects of nature, at every season, tend towards the general good, and the fertility of the earth ; and since every phenomenon, in each link of the great chain of creation, contributes to the perfection of the Means of fertilizing Nature. 1 9 1 whole, is it not reasonable to acknowledge the wisdom of God in the minutest parts, and to ce- lebrate, with grateful hearts, every blessing which he bestows upon us ? MARCH XI. Variety of Cleans which contribute to the Fertility of Nature. THE wisdom of Providence makes use of several means to render the earth fruitful. Sometimes the clouds fall in rain, in order to purify the air from hurtful vapours, to soften the ground, and to supply it with fresh and nourishing juices. At other times, when the benefit of rain is withheld, a gentle dew moistens and fertilizes the soil, and revives the plants which were ready to wither away. God has ordained that each season should have peculiar means of diffusing fertility. The snow, which in winter covers our fields and mea- dows, not only serves as a defence from the severe cold, but, by means of the salts with which it is mixed, contributes essentially to the fertility of the land. The frequent tempests that are felt in spring, preserve the air from corruption, dry the earth, and disperse the rain over the whole sur- face of the globe : and even those storms which occur in summer, and excite the terror of fearful persons, are, in reality, productive of many im- portant advantages. With every thunder-shower the Creator spreads his precious blessings on the 192 MARCH XI. earth. We may, without extravagance, assert, that there is no revolution in the air, or on the earth, which does not, directly or indirectly, contribute to the fertility of our globe. Each season brings back the phenomena peculiar to itself; and each phenomenon of nature produces effects, the happy influence of which is more or less visible. Even those plagues which cause the entire destruction of certain countries, are only particular evils, which contribute to fulfil bene- ficent views, as tbcre result from them advantages to the world, when considered in the whole. Infinitely wise and beneficent Creator! I desire, at all times and in all places, to acknowledge thy tender care and merciful interference. Lord of times and seasons ! thy praise ascends from the orbit of the earth to the heaven of heavens ! Our globe rolls in the starry expanse, sometimes blooming with flowers, sometimes covered with snow; here clothed with luxuriant vineyards, there deformed by thorns and. briers: yet it per- petually chants thy praise, in notes responsive to the music of the spheres. When the snow and ice transform our meadows into deserts ; when the tempest roars in the air ; when thy lightnings cause the hearts of men to tremble; when the rivers, leaving their beds, overflow entire coun- tries ; and all the elements seem to conspire for the destruction of the world ; it is then that thou art preparing, for the inhabitants of the earth, health, peace, joy, and abundance! Here I represent to myself the different means, by which God fertilizes the moral world. In or- Means of fertilizing Nature. 193 dcr to lead mankind to a sense of their destination, to a horror of sin, and to the practice of virtue, he sometimes makes use of violent, and sometimes of mild methods. Sometimes he thinks proper to punish the sinner severely, to lay heavy judge- ments, and chastisements of a long duration, upon him, in order to awaken him from his slumber. He speaks to hardened hearts, as to the Israelites from mount Sinai, with lightnings, and with a voice of thunder. With others he makes use of opposite measures ; rescuing them from vice and vanity, and alluring them to himself, by a display of blessings and goodness. Of this truth / am a living witness ; and I acknowledge, O Lord ! to the praise of thy mercy, that thbu hast done every thing to lead me to thee. Sometimes it has pleased thee to lay thy heavy hand upon me, and to humble my pride by paternal chastisement. Thou hast appointed sickness, and other misfor- tunes, to lead me to reflect upon my errors. At other times thou hast endeavoured to draw me by milder ways : thou hast loaded me with blessings, and thy mercies, like the refreshing showers of spring, have fallen abundantly upon me. But what hast thou obtained from me, in giving me so many means of grace ? Have I borne the fruit which a good soil never refuses when the sky is favourable to it ! Hitherto my heart has too much resembled a rock, which thunders could not shake, nor showers penetrate: but I trust I shall henceforth become more docile and obe- dient. The longer I defer my repentance, the more will my sins and follies increase, and the VOL. i. s 194 MARCH XII. more difficult it will be to banish them from my heart. I ask but one favour, O my God ! it is, that thou wilt never cease to strive with me. Thou mayst either intimidate me by threats, or encourage me by thy promises ; lead me to thee by the rigors of punishment, or by the persuasion of mercies ; I will bless all the means of salvation thou mayst choose : only grant that I may re- turn to thee, and become fruitful in good works. MARCH XII. Advantages derived from the. Sea. A SUPERFICIAL view of our globe might induce us to suppose that the proportion of water is con- siderably too great, and that it would have been more advantageous to mankind, had the Creator changed into firm land that enormous space which comprehends the ocean', seas, lakes, and rivers. But, in this, as in a thousand other instances, we only show our ignorance and want of judgement. If the ocean were reduced one half, it could only produce half the vapours it now exhales ; consequently, we could not have so many rivers, nor would the earth be sufficiently watered : for the quantity of the waters which rise is in proportion to the surface of the sea, and the heat which attracts them. Thus the Creator has wisely ordained that the sea should be large enough to furnish the ne- cessary vapours for watering the earth, which would not have been possible, if it had occupied Advantages derived from the Sea. 19-5 a less space. The sea, then, has been made a ge- neral reservoir of waters, in order that the heat of the sun should draw up those vapours from it, \vhich afterwards fall in rain, or, when they gather at the tops of mountains, become sources of rivers. If the extent of the sea were more confined, there would be many more deserts and barren coun- tries, because^ there would be less rain, and fewer rivers. And what would become of the advan- tages which result from commerce, if this mass of water did not exist? God did not design that one part of the globe should be totally independent of the rest : on the contrary, he ordained that there should be an intercourse between all the people of the earth. On this account, he intersected the globe with seas, to open a communication be- tween the inhabitants of the remotest countries. How could we procure our foreign treasures, if we had no other mode of conveyance than horses and carriages ? or how could commerce itself exist, if navigation had not opened the way for it ? In this division of water and land on our globe, I can see a new proof of the wisdom and goodness of the Creator. However distant I may be from the sea, I daily experience its salutary effects. Oh ! why are we not more grateful to God for this blessing? The knowledge of his adorable at- tributes which the earth and seas impress upon us, surely ought to excite us to glorify his holy name ! Lord, my heart is disposed to render the thanks due unto thee ; assist me, by thy Holy Spirit, that my gratitude may be acceptable. Perhaps I am not as sensible of this blessing as I ought : s 2 196 MARCH XIII. other nations, probably, feel the value of it mor* than I do. But, were not any people to remem- ber thy mercies, the sea itself would bear testi- mony of thy power, and be the herald of thy won- derful goodness : for all thy creatures, the sea, the earth, and all their inhabitants, celebrate thy praise. MARCH XIII. The Difference between Animals and Plants. THE difference between animals and plants is so great, and so obvious, that it requires but a very slight observation to be convinced of it. Un- doubtedly, one remarkable difference consists in the animals having the faculty of moving and changing place, of which the vegetables are to- tally deprived. But a more essential difference is, that animals have the faculty of feeling, which cannot be attributed to plants. To this must be added, the manner of being nourished. Ani- mals, by means of exterior organs, are capable of choosing their proper food ; plants, on the con- trary, are obliged to take what nourishment the earth affords, without any choice. This is given them from the moisture of the earth, and by the action of the veins in the leaves, which attract and imbibe the nourishing juices with which the atmosphere is filled. The number of species is much greater in the animal than in the vegetable kingdom : among insects alone, there may; per- haps, be a greater number of classes (including those which can only be seen with a microscope) Difference between Animals find Plants. 107 than there are of visible plants on the surface of the globe. Besides, animals have less conformity with each other than plants ; which renders their classification more difficult. Another circum- stance which marks the difference between the two kingdoms, is the manner in which they pro- pagate, very distinct from each other, notwith- standing the accidental similarity found be- tween them. Who can avoid observing another remarkable difference as to the place where they live ? The earth is the only place where plants can grow and multiply. Most of them rise above its surface, and are fastened to the soil by roots more or less strong: others are entirely under ground : a small number grow in the water; but, in order to live, it is necessary they should take root in the earth. Animals, on the contrary, are less limited in place. An innumerable multitude people the surface and the interior parts of the earth : some inhabit the bottom of the sea; others live in the waters at a considerable depth : many live in the air, in vegetables, in the bodies of men and animals, in fluids, and even in stones. If we consider animals and plants, in respect to size, we shall find a difference still more striking. Be- tween the size of a whale and that of a mite, the distinction is much greater than between the highest oak and a bit of moss. Lastly, it is par- ticularly in the form of plants and animals that the general and most obvious difference subsists. Most of the latter have, in that respect, so di- stinct a character, that it is impossible to con- found them with vegetables. However, let us not S3 198 MARCH XIII. imagine we have perfectly discovered the limits which divide the animal from the vegetable king- dom, or that we have found out all that distin- guishes them. Nature, to diversify her works, makes use of almost imperceptible shades. In the chain of beings, perfection increases success- ively, and rises by millions of degrees ; so that a mpre perfect species differs very little from that which occupies the space immediately below it. How narrow are the limits which separate the animal from the vegetable world ! There are plants which appear sensible, and animals which seem deprived of sensation. Nothing demon- strates the truth of this more than the discove- ries which have been made in corals. These were formerly considered as marine plants ; but sub- sequent observations have induced our natural- ists to assign them a place in the animal kingdom ; for that which was once supposed a flower, is now known to be a real animal. Thus every order of creatures rises insensibly to perfection by numberless degrees. The more observations are made, the more reason is there to be convinced that it is impossible to fix the exact limits of the three kingdoms the mineral, the vegetable, and animal; and that amongst most creatures there is more conformity than dissimilarity. It is, at least, certain, that the limits which divide the more perfect creatures from those that are a de- gree less so, become at last imperceptible to un- derstandings limited as ours. These observations ought to convince us, that the world, with all the creatures it contains, is the work of an infinite Difference Lctn-ten Animals and Plants. 1 99 Being. So much harmony and such differences, so much variety with so much uniformity, could only proceed from the almighty, omniscient, and perfect Being, who created the universe and all that is in it. Let our hearts rise towards him. Let us go from the stone to the plant, from the plant to the brute, from the brute to man, and from man to the celestial spirits ; then take our flight towards the everlasting, incommensurable Being, the Creator of the world, the Preserver of plants, the Protector of animals, the Father of mankind, the. King of spirits. Measure, if possible, measure his greatness, and try to fathom the depth of his wisdom. Most holy God ! cre- ated beings are too weak to comprehend thy works: they are immense; and to tell them all, would be to be infinite like thyself. Therefore, the less capable we are of conceiving how far thy wisdom extends, the more we ought to reflect on thy greatness ; and, above all, to imitate thy goodness as much as is in our power. We see that no creature is deprived of the merciful care of the Lord : it is extended to the stone and the plant, as well as to man and animals. In his sight there is, in some respects, no distinction : his mercy is over all his works. Let us, in this also, endeavour to imitate our Maker. We oc- cupy, it is true, a distinguished rank among cre- ated beings ; but, let us take care not to be cruel or tyrannical towards creatures who appear in- ferior to us. Let us rather endeavour to enjoy, with gratitude and moderation, all things design- ed by God for our use and comfort. 200 MARCH XIV. MARCH XIV. - The Uniformity and Variety in the Works of Nature. THE heavens above and the earth on which we tread, though they present, at different times, varied spectacles, and a diversity of magnificence, remain unchanged from year to year, and lose nothing in the lapse of revolving ages. At one time the sky is obscured by mists, or covered with heavy clouds ; at another, it is perfectly se- rene, of a pure azure, or painted with the most brilliant colours. The darkness of night, and the light of noon ; the dazzling splendor of the sun, and the paler light of the moon, succeed each other regularly. The immeasurable space of the heavens appears sometimes a desert, and some- times strewed with an infinite number of stars. To how many changes and revolutions also is our earth subject ! For some months uniform, and unadorned, the severity of the winter having robbed it of its beauty; but the spring will soon renew its youth ; the summer will show it still more rich and beautiful; and, in some months after, autumn will pour upon us every sort of fruit. What variety also on our globe between one country and another! Here, a flat monoto- nous landscape presents plains beyond the limits of sight ; there, high mountains rise, crowned with forests, while the valleys at their bases are watered with brooks and rivers. Here, gulfs and precipices; there, stagnant lakes; and farther off, impetuous torrents. On every side is seen a Uniformity and Variety in Nature. 201 variety which pleases the eye, and opens the heart to sensations of pure and sweet delight. This same assemblage of uniformity and variety is found in all the vegetables on our globe. They receive from their common parent the same na- ture, and the same food ; they have all the same manner of springing up and growing ; yet what a prodigious difference between a blade of grass and the towering oak ! All together are ranged under certain classes. Those of the same species are, indeed, very like one another; and yet what differences we see in them ! It is the same in re- spect to animals. The wisdom of the Creator has divided them also into classes; and, whatever variety may exist among them, they still preserve essential resemblances. And however man may be elevated above animals in certain respects, there are many things which he enjoys in common with the meanest of them. Like them he requires constant nourishment, and, like them, cannot exist without air, water, the productions of the earth, and the benign influence of the sun. Plants grow, ripen, fade, and die ; and those laws of nature extend to animals, and even to mankind. If we next examine the varieties in the human species, what an astonishing assemblage of con- formity and diversity ! Human nature, at all times and among all people, is generally the same ; and yet we find, that, of this innumerable multitude of men spread over the earth, each individual has a form peculiar to himself; paiti- cular talents and countenance, which, to a cer- 202 MARCH XIV. tain degree, serve to distinguish him from any other. It seems as if the wisdom of the Creator chose to vary all his works, as far as was com- patible with the essential construction peculiar to each species. All the creatures on our globe are divided into three classes minerals, vegeta- bles, and animals ; and these classes are subdi- vided into genera and species. Hence it is, that there is no creature on earth alone, or without resemblance to its own species : there is no spe- cies which has not some connexion with others, or a general affinity with the rest of the world. From this assemblage of uniformity and diver- sity, which is of infinite extent, the order and beauty of the universe are derived. The differ- ence between the countries of our globe, evinces the wisdom of the Most High ; who chose that each being should have its certain place, and has so fixed their destination, that it would be impossible to change the connexion or distinction subsisting between them. Even the minutest works of nature, such as only can be seen through a mi- croscope, discover such union and variety toge- ther, as must necessarily raise our souls to the contemplation of the infinite wisdom of the Cre- ator. O Lord my God ! thou hast regulated all with consummate wisdom, and hast arranged every tiling for the general welfare of thy creatures. Notwithstanding the superficial manner in which I have considered thy works, my soul is filled with wonder and admiration. What then would be my emotions, were I capable of penetrating more Seeds. 203 deeply into the essence of beings, in order to understand their harmonious structure. O that I may be truly thankful for the slight acquaintance with them which thou hast vouchsafed to grant ine; and may I ever consider it as one of my first duties and greatest privileges to acknowledge thee in every object of nature ! Soon will the landscape be adorned with all the variegated beauties of spring : O ! that while I anticipate the blessing, my soul may rejoice under a lively sense of thy wisdom and matchless beneficence. MARCH XV. Seeds. ALL vegetables spring from seeds ; but the greater number of these are not sown, and are even invi- sible to us. It is nature that disperses them. With this view she has furnished some seeds with a sort of light down, or little feathers, which serve as wings for the wind to carry them away, and disperse them in various directions. Other seeds, though small, are heavy enough to fall perpendi- cularly on the earth, and to sink of themselves into it. Others, of a larger or lighter sort, which might be carried away by the gales, have one or more little hooks to catch, and prevent them from going too far from their place. Some are enclosed in elastic cases, which, as soon as they are touch- ed, or acquire a certain degree either of dryness. or moisture, burst asunder, and drive the seed to 201 MARCH XV. a convenient distance. And what is still more admirable, nature seems to have committed the business of sowing to certain birds, which deposit the kernels of the fruits they have eaten in a proper soil, where they take root, spring up, and flourish. Ravens have been seen to plant oaks in the following manner : they make a hole with their bill, and drop an acorn into it, which they afterwards cover with earth and moss. It must not be supposed that they do this with an intention to plant trees; but they are led to it merely by instinct. They bury the acorn for their food : it shoots, and becomes an oak. Many seeds, by their agreeable taste and smell, invite the birds to swallow them ; and thus transport them hither and thither, and render them fruit- ful by the heat of their bowels. After having kept them for some time in their stomachs, they let them fall on the ground, where they take root, thrive, blossom, and produce new seeds. Let us here admire the wise and tender care of Providence. If the sowing of seeds in meadows and forests had been entirely left to mankind, in what a bad condition would they have been ! Observe how, at the return of spring, the grass and flowers spring up, and adorn the earth, with- out our having, in any degree, contributed to- wards it. Tender and merciful Father ! how great is thy love towards thy creatures ! and how admirable is thy wisdom ! But this is not all that is to be admired in re- spect to seeds. It is remarkable, that the whole plant, however large it may be, is all concealed On the Size and Distance of the Sun. 205 in the narrow space of the seed. The whole trunk of the oak, its leaves, branches, and root, are already in the acorn. As the preservation and propagation of all species depends greatly on the seed, the Creator has taken care to protect it suf- ficiently. The plants which remain all the year in the ground, how carefully are their blossoms and seeds enclosed during winter in the buds, where they are well protected, and covered with close coats of a curious texture. As for those plants which cannot bear the cold winter, they are preserved under ground by their roots or fruit, till the mild warmth of spring causes them to bud again. Some seeds are lodged in the mid- dle of the fruit; others in pods and shells; some in wooden sheaths and capsules. But every seed is protected and preserved in the manner most suitable to its nature. Creator of the universe! the minutest works of nature evince thy wisdom and goodness ! At present, while the husband- man is occupied in depositing a variety of seeds in the earth, may I reflect that it is thou alone who canst sow the seed of righteousness in my heart, and cause it to bring forth fruit to tho glory of thy holy name. MARCH XVI. On the Size and Distance of the Sun. IF we have never seriously considered the ex ~ treme smallness of our globe, and our own co m " VOL. I. T 206 MARCH XVI. para-five insignificance in the scale of creation, we may be sensibly affected, both with the one and the other, by reflecting on that immense body which communicates light and heat, not only to our earth, but also to a multitude of other worlds. The sun is almost in the centre of the planetary system, and, in some degree, monarch of many worlds ; for the primary and secondary planets are only worlds, which receive their light, heat, and motion, from the sun. This alone is suffi- cient to prove the prodigious size of that lumi- nary ; which is still more confirmed by its being visibly great, notwithstanding the immense di- stance it is from us. But there can remain no doubt, if we admit the calculations of astrono- mers ; the result of which is, that the diameter of the sun is at least a hundred times larger than that of the earth : and, consequently, the globe of the sun must be at least a million of times larger than ours. Astronomers vary in opinion as to its distance; but, the most accurate com- putation makes it about eighty-two millions of miles. This distance is perfectly suited to the effects of the sun, and its influence upon us. Some planets are nearer to it ; but if our earth were in their situation, it would be reduced to ashes. Other planets are so remote, that, if our globe were at an equal distance, it would be en- veloped in a frightful and perpetual darkness, and would be totally uninhabitable. We have reason, however, to believe, that those worlds which are more or less near the sun than we are, have been adapted by the Creator for inhabitants. Either On the Size and Distance of the Sun. 207 their constitution or their atmosphere being dif- ferent from ours, or the inhabitants being of an- other nature, are enabled to support the extremes of heat and cold. But, perhaps, what has been said of the size and distance of the sun, may appear exagger- ated ; for our eyes can discover nothing so large as the earth we inhabit : it is to that we compare the sun, which is a million of times larger. It appears small to us at such a distance: and, thence, we are tempted to believe our eyes ra- ther than our reason. If God had placed us on a planet, which, in comparison of the earth, was as small as the earth is in comparison of the sun, the magnitude of the earth would have appeared as improbable to us as that of the sun does now. It is not wonderful, then, that we should be struck vuth astonishment in reflecting on the size and distance of that body. But it was not merely to excite our admiration that God placed it in the heavens. This admiration should lead us to the great Being who is the Creator, the Guide, and Preserver, of the sun. In comparison of his greatness, the magnitude of the sun is but a speck : and its brightness but a shadow, com- pared to the dazzling splendor of the Lord. What must be the greatness, the power, and glory, of him who created the sun ! Let us en- deavour to pursue this idea : let us dwell on it, and we shall find it infinitely more incomprehen- sible than the size of the sun. If the earth be so small in comparison of that globe of fire, how in- expressibly little must it be in comparison of the T2 208 MAKCH XVI. Lord ! If there be such immensity of space be- tween the sun and the earth, what an inconceiv- able distance must there be between us and infi- nity ! " Who is like unto thee, O Lord ! who can be compared to thee \" No praise can equal thy greatness ; no understanding, however sublime, can reach that height ! O Thou, the life and light of every being, splendor, majesty, and glory, surround Thee ! " Thou deckest thyself with light as it were with a garment." Let it be our con- stant employment to praise the Lord every time we feel the salutary effects of the sun, which is the master-piece of his workmanship. Let this testimony of the greatness of God, which we every moment feel, teach us how worthy he is to be adored ; how tender the mercies with which he watches over us ; and how greatly he merits our entire love and confidence! But, in admiring the sun, let us not forget to think of our Divine Redeemer, that Sun of Righteousness, who vi- sited us in our distress, and whose light diffuses health and salvation. The effects of his grace are as necessary to our salvation, as those of the sun to our natural existence. We should inevi- tably have been plunged into a night of the deep< est obscurity anight of unpardoned sin and un- pitied despair, had he not, by his incarnation, doctrines, and atonement, brought light, life, and righteousness into the world. The imperfect Knowledge we have of Nature. 209 MARCH XVII. Tlie imperfect Knowledge we have of Nature. WHY has not the Creator given us faculties by which \ve might acquire a more profound know- ledge of the corporeal world ? The limits of our understanding, in this respect, seem ill calculated to accomplish the end designed. The Deity re- quires that we should contemplate his perfec- tions, and magnify his name. But would not a more perfect knowledge of his works in creation be the true mean of becoming acquainted with his glorious attributes ? And is it not reason- able to conclude, that a comprehensive view of all his wonders, an accurate perception of every part, and a discovery of all the laws and springs of nature, would best enable us to admire his greatness, and to celebrate his praise ? If, at present, we admire the infinite grandeur of God, while our knowledge of his works is so extremely limited, how would our sentiments expand, how absorbed should we be in the contemplation of his attributes, and what pious awe would mingle with our adorations, were we capable of pene- trating and explaining all the phenomena of na- ture! This opinion, however, may probably be er- roneous: at least, it is certain, that, since God has not thought proper to give us a more perfect knowledge of nature, we may glorify him more with our present powers, than we should do with those we are so anxious to possess. Ought we T3 210 MARCH XVII. to be surprised, that, in our present state, we cannot discover the first principles of nature ? The organs of our senses are too weak to pene- trate into the source of things, and we cannot form to ourselves a corporeal idea of objects which our senses are not able to discern. Now, there are an infinite number of things in the world which our senses cannot distinguish. When we attempt to represent the infinitely great, and the infinitely small, in nature, our imagination is confounded. When we reflect on the swiftness of light, our senses are incapable of following such velocity ; and when we try to form an idea of the veins and circulation of blood in those animals whose bodies are said to be a million of times smaller than a grain of sand, we feel, most sensi- bly, the weakness of our mental faculties. Now, as nature rises from the infinitely small to the in- finitely great, is it wonderful that we cannot dis- cover its true principles ? But supposing the Almighty had endued us with such energy of thought, and clearness of comprehension, as would have enabled us to take in the universe with all its constituent and relative parts, so that we might have penetrated the most obscure re- cesses of nature, and discovered all its laws, what would have been the result ? It is true, we should have had an opportunity of admiring, in its full extent, the wisdom of the Creator in his plan of the world : but this admiration would have been of short continuance, it being the nature of mu- table beings, like ourselves, to admire things no longer than while they appear above their com-. Utility of Vegetables. 21 1 prehension. Had we possessed a distinct idea of the whole system of nature, we might probably have thought ourselves capable of forming a simi- lar plan, and, forgetting the immense distance between ourselves and the Divine Architect, we might have withheld, or neglected, the tribute due to his holy name. We have, therefore, no reason to complain of our imperfect knowledge of na- ture : but ought rather to bless God for it. If the nature of things were more fully known to us, perhaps we should not be so sensibly touched with gratitude towards God as we are at present ; nor should we enjoy so much pleasure in the con- templation of the varied scenes which surround us. But, at present, as we have only learned the first rudiments of the book of nature, we feel, not only the greatness of our Creator, but our own insignificance. Each observation, each dis- covery we make, fills us with new admiration of his power and wisdom : and our wishes natur- ally rise toward those blessed regions where we shall obtain a more perfect knowledge of his works. MARCH XVIII. Utility of Vegetables. WHEN I consider the great number and variety of vegetables, I discover, as in every thing else, the beneficent designs of my Creator. What, in- deed, could he intend by covering the earth with .so many different herbs, plants, and fruits, but 212 MARCH xvm. the advantage and happiness of his creatures ? Plants are so numerous and diversified, that up- wards of thirty thousand species have already been enumerated, and daily discoveries are con- stantly swelling the surprising list. Their in- crease, indeed, appears infinite, when it is con- sidered that one grain of Indian wheat is capable of producing two thousand others ; and that a single poppy seed, in two or three years, will mul- tiply itself sufficiently to sow a large field. Such a prodigious increase of the vegetable tribes, together with their utility from the earliest ages, clearly demonstrates the design of the Creator, and ought to excite our gratitude for that provi- dent care which has furnished us, in plants and fruits, with a wholesome, nutritive food, and which has rendered the vegetable kingdom so essentially useful to our comforts and conveni- ences, that we are, in a great measure, indebted to it for our clothing, furniture, and habitations. Every part of a plant is useful. The roots supply us with food, medicine, pitch, dyes, and all sorts of utensils ; the -wood is formed into buildings, furniture, and instruments, charcoal, and medicaments, and furnishes us with fuel in the rigorous months of winter ; the bark is of par- ticular use in tanning, as well as in the cure of some disorders : and the ashes serve to fertilize and ameliorate the soil, to bleach cloth, and to make saltpetre. The resin is used in painting, and in the formation of pitch, tar, and balsams; turpentine is useful in medicine; colopkonia, or hard resin, for varnishing and cementing, and for Utility of Vegetables. 2 1 3 rendering the strings of musical instruments more sonorous; and mastic is a necessary ingredient in perfumes. Flowers, justly admired both for their beauty and fragrance, are useful in pharmacy, and supply the bees with wax and honey ; and fruits, whether fresh from the trees, boiled, dried, or preserved, are grateful to the stomach and beneficial to the constitution. But it is not man alone to whom the vegetable tribes afford so many advantages ; they are of still greater use to animals, most of which have no other food. Hence it is that fields and meadows are so nu- merous, and so richly clothed with a variety of plants and herbs, that the different animals may select such nourishment as is most suitable to their respective wants. Where, O heavenly Father, can we find suit- able expressions to celebrate thy goodness ? Who can enumerate all the blessings the vegetable world affords us ? It is, at least, manifest, that the arrangements thou hast made, in this re- spect, tend to the advantage of all thy creatures. Thou hast provided for the wants of every indi- vidual ; thou hast assigned to each that which is most proper for its food and preservation ; there is not a plant upon earth that has not its parti- cular use and destination. The verdant lawns, the flowery meads, the richly cultivated fields, are all calculated to in- spire the soul with sentiments of gratitude and veneration. Here thy liberal hand has showered unnumbered blessings on thy needy creatures; here thou hast collected whatever is necessary for 214 MARCH xix. their support and comfort; and here each wav- ing tree, each opening flower, each bending ear of corn, and every springing herb, combine to cele- brate thy goodness ! May I no longer remain insensible to their voice, but adore thee for all thy mercies, and henceforth repose implicitly on thy protecting care ! MARCH XIX. Tlie Construction of the Human Heart. WITH what wonderful and inimitable skill is that muscular body constructed, which is situated in the cavity of the breast, and is called the heart ! Its form is something like an obtuse pyramid ; and it is so placed that the point inclines a little to the left side. Its substance appears to be a series of fleshy fibres, interwoven in such a man- ner, that the external fibres extend from the left side of the heart towards the right, and the inter- nal fibres from the right side towards the left. This substance has within it two cavities, called ventricles, separated from one another by a fleshy partition. Here is a vein which conducts the blood of the upper parts of the body into the right ventricle of the heart ; another which brings back the blood from the lower parts into that same cavity ; an artery which sends it from thence into the lungs ; and another vein through which it runs from the lungs into the left ven- tricle, whence it is sent over the whole body The Construction of the Human Heart. 2 1 5 through the great artery. On the side of the right ventricle is a sort of musculous bag, called the auricle, which receives the blood before it en- ters the right ventricle. Another auricle, not less useful, hangs at the left ventricle, that the blood may stop there during a new contraction. The heart is in perpetual motion, from the first to the last moment of our existence ; and its con- tractions propel the blood, which is incessantly passing through it, to all parts of the body, and cause it to circulate through every vein. In a state of health it contracts itself at least sixty times in a minute, and consequently three thou- sand six hundred tinier in an hour; and at each contraction it throws out about two ounces of blood. The force exerted for this purpose must be very considerable, though neither its quan- tity, nor that of the blood propelled, can be ac- curately determined. The structure of the heart, equally admirable and incomprehensible, demonstrates the absurdity of the supposition that it was formed without de- sign, or that it might have been the production of blind chance. O thou eternal God ! I here behold a convincing proof of thy matchless wis- dom and power; and, filled with reverential asto- nishment, I cannot help exclaiming, How great is the Creator of men ! How marvellous are his works, and how infinite is his magnificence! May these sentiments continually occupy my mind whilst meditating on the admirable con- struction of my body ; and may I with every breath, if possible, praise and adore that Divine Being in 216 MARCH XX. whose hand are all the pulsations of my heart, and whose wisdom regulates the circulation of my blood ! At his command the contractions and dilatations of the heart are arrested, the crimson fluid congeals in our veins, and the vital functions cease; for in Him alone we live, move, and have our being. O that my soul may be indelibly impressed with love and gratitude, and that I may consecrate my person, my services, and my possessions, to the Author and Preserver of my existence ! MARCH XX. The Change of Seasons. IN the warmest as well as in the coldest cli- mates, there are but two seasons which materi- ally differ from each other. The coldest coun- tries have a summer of about four months, dur- ing which the days are very long, and the heat excessive. The rest of the year may be consi- dered as winter ; for so rapid is the transition from oppressive heat to extreme cold, and from the most intense cold to violent heat, that spring and autumn are scarcely perceptible. The hot- test countries have a dry and scorching season during seven or eight months, when the rainy season commences, and continues four or five months; this being the only distinction between their summer and winter. It is only in temperate climates that there are four distinct seasons in the year. The summer The Change of Seasons. Ill heats gradually diminish ; so that the autumnal fruits have time to ripen by degrees, without being hurt by the cold of winter. In the same manner, in spring, plants have time to shoot, and grow insensibly, without being destroyed by late frosts, or too much hastened by early heats. In Europe these four seasons are most perceptible; particularly in Italy, and in the south of France. By degrees, as we advance northward or south- ward, the spring and autumn are less distinct. From the middle of May to the 24th of June, it seldom rains ; after which, the violent rains re- turn, and continue to the end of July. The months of February and April are generally very uncertain. If the melted snow and rains remain- ed on the ground, without falling away or eva- porating, the water would annually rise in most places to the height of twenty-one inches. This change of seasons is peculiarly deserving of admi- ration. It cannot be attributed to chance ; for, in fortuitous events, there can neither be order nor constancy : now, in every country through- out the world, the seasons succeed each other with the same regularity as the nights and days, and change the appearance of the earth precisely at the appointed time. We see it successively adorned with herbs and leaves, with flowers and fruits. Afterwards it is stripped of all its orna- ments, till spring returns, and, in some degree, revives it. Spring, summer, and autumn, pro- vide; food for men and animals, in giving them abundance of fruits : and though nature appears dead in winter, that season is not without its VOL. I. u 218 MARCH XX. blessings; for it moistens and fertilizes the earth, and, by that preparation, renders it capable of producing plants and fruits in due season. Awake, O my soul ! to praise and bless thy God and Benefactor. It is now that charming season recommences, which opens such an agree- able prospect, and makes amends for the sad winter days that are past : the spring approaches every day, and with it a thousand pleasures and innumerable blessings. How many have wished to live to see this renewal of nature, and to reco- ver, in the fine days of spring, from all they had suffered during winter; but they have not had the consolation to see this day, and their lives were ended before the winter was over. More favored than many millions of my fellow-creatures, who have been carried off by death, I still live, and may indulge the joy with which spring inspires me. But how often have I witnessed the return of this season, without thinking of the goodness of my Creator, without opening my heart to gra- titude and love ! Possibly, this is the last spring I shall see upon earth ! perhaps, before the ver- nal equinox returns, I shall repose in the silent grave ! Let this thought lead me to appreciate the happiness now granted me; to be the more sensibly touched with the goodness of my Cre- ator; to enjoy, with more circumspection, the pleasures of spring; and to redeem, with more care, every moment of this transitory life. There is another reflection which this subject may give rise to. As the seasons succeed each other in nature, so do they in the course of our Several Things ichich appear to be of no Use. 219 lives ; but with this difference, that those which ure past never return. The spring of my youth, which beauty, sprightliness, and the graces at- tended, is already past; the summer and autumn of life, seasons in which I ought to show fruits of maturity to the world, are rapidly approaching ; and it is very uncertain whether I shall attain the winter of old age. Perhaps I may die in the vi- gour of life. Thy will be done, O Lord ! Pro- vided I persist, to the end, in faith, virtue, and piety, my life (however short) will be sufficiently long and happy. MARCH XXI. Several Things ivhich appear to be of no Use. IF there be a wise providence which governs the world, it must extend even to the minutest things, and the most trifling events, in order that nothing under its agency may occur without manifest utility. Some discontented being may reply, " But, how many useless things are there in the world ! The north wind blasts and dis- perses the blossoms of the trees, which wither and become useless. Seeds, which might have produced new plants, perish without yielding fruit. Innumerable multitudes of insects are not only of no use, but are even hurtful to man, to beasts, and to vegetables. Many men and ani- mals only show themselves upon the earth, and suddenly disappear : others are born deformed and monstrous, or become impotent. How many v 2 220 MARCH xxi. faculties and talents are lost for want of an op- portunity to make use of them : how many good projects and useful undertakings fail before they arrive at maturity ! Could all this take place, if a Being infinitely wise governed the universe ? But have you, who thus presumptuously ques- tion God and his providence, a sufficient know- ledge of all things, and the relations they have among themselves, to be able to say what is really injurious, or absolutely useless? Rather, while reflecting on the weakness and narrow limits of the human understanding, learn the duty of re- spectful silence, and admire those works of the Lord, whose wisdom is demonstrated in an infi- nite number of things, the utility of which is so manifest as to be universally known and acknow- ledged. Let it also be considered that a thing may be useful in different ways, but that, while it serves one purpose, it cannot, at the same time, serve another. The insect, which, at its birth, becomes the prey of the swallow, cannot certainly produce a new generation : the efforts made by the alchymist to find the philosopher's stone have not succeeded in making gold more plentiful : but the insect is at least useful, in serving as food for the swallow ; and to the experiments of al- chymists we are indebted for many valuable dis- coveries. Our tears cannot soften the severe and cruel man, who abuses his power to oppress the weak ; but, though our intercessions in favor of a miserable person prove useless, our tears will not be lost they serve to keep up the sensibility of our hearts ; and there is a Being who will col- Several Things which appear to be of no Use. 221 lect those precious gems, to ornament that crown which will one day be placed on the head of the merciful. Let us, therefore, never suppose there is any thing in the world entirely useless. There may, indeed, be certain things which appear not to answer the purpose intended ; but they un- doubtedly fulfil the purpose proposed by God, and in the very way he determined. There may be also cases in which God appears not to have perfectly attained the end he proposed. But in order that certain things may take effect, and be realized, it may, perhaps, be necessary that others should, in some measure, fail, or be defective. And if it be incontestable that true wisdom does not merely attend to the present, but carries its views to futurity ; if God be infinitely wise, and his wisdom must be shown to the world as in a mirror; there must necessarily happen certain things, which, separately considered, appear not to fulfil their design, because they cannot do so but in connexion with others, 'ihe share that these things have in the execution of the whole plan, may be so imperceptible, and so little kno\vn, as entirely to escape our observation. But surely it does not follow that they do not in reality contribute to it. We must, on the con- trary, conclude that God would not be infinitely wise, and that he could not act on a well-formed plan, if there did not often happen things which appear to us useless. Thfs persuasion will contribute very materially to our peace and happiness. Every day events occur in nature, and in the course of human life, v3 222 MARCH XXII. which, being incomprehensible to our understand- ings, appear useless and without design ; and it is perfectly natural that those things which weaken our confidence in the Almighty, should be disa- greeable and distressing to our minds. But the more we are convinced by reason, daily experi- ence, and the declarations of holy writ, of the goodness of God, and the wisdom of his govern- ment, the more contented and tranquil we shall be, either in prosperity or adversity. It will then no longer be difficult to acknowledge that, in every thing which he does or permits, he proposes to himself infinitely wise ends, which are always, in one way or another, beneficial to mankind. If we see many apparently useless things, many events which appear inexplicable, or even entirely con- trary to God's plan, far from finding fault, we shall adore his wisdom, and render due glory to his name. He has never been mistaken in the government of the universe. All he does, all he permits, is still justified by the event. Let us then refer it to his wisdom, and ever trust to ii, without having the temerity to criticise his dis- pensations. Such submission and such depend- ence are the only means of tranquillity here, and happiness hereafter. MARCH XXII. Harmony between the Moral and Physical World. THE wisdom of God has established a great affi- nity between the world and its inhabitants, to show The Moral and Physical World. 223 that the one was manifestly made for the other : nor can it escape our observation, that a mutual connexion and perfect harmony subsist among all the works of our Creator. Human nature and the surface of the earth have very near rela- tions to each other, and a striking analogy. As the bodies of plants and animals form, grow, ar- rive at maturity, and perish; so arc men subser- vient also to similar laws. As there is a great diversity of climates and soils, some barren and others fruitful ; so is there similar variety in the minds, talents, and faculties of men. Such has been the plan of the Creator; and there is in this variety more goodness and wisdom than we think of at first sight. Far from appearing de- fective, we should find it all perfection, if we had a thorough knowledge of things. Should any one inquire why the Almighty has not given the same faculties, and the same degree of understanding, to all mankind; we might answer, Who art thou, blind and weak mortal, that darest to question God on what he has done ? Shall the creature sav to the Creator, Why hast thou made me thus ? We might as well ask, Why has not God ordained that all the kingdoms and countries on earth should be equally agreeable and fruitful ? Why in certain places is the soil so rich and fertile, while in others it is so barren and ungrateful, that all attempts to improve it are completely thrown away ? Let us not doubt that this diversity is extremely proper, and worthy our admiration, though not always conformable to our way of thinking. The most barren and desert coun- 224 MARCH XXII. tries have their use and beauty in the eyes of the Creator. The same may be said of the most sa- vage and uncultivated nations : all hold their proper places in the immensity of created beings, and their variety serves to declare the infinite wis- dom of God. But as it is evidently the intention of Divine Providence that the earth should be cultivated, and produce abundance of fruits for the preserva- tion of men and animals ; and as it is for the same purpose that God has given us corn to sow in the ground; so also, and with more reason, does his wisdom require that human fiature should be cul- tivated, and that our souls should be made fruit- ful, and enabled to yield an excellent harvest of virtue and piety. It is with that design that he has given to mankind lessons of true religion; which, if they find a soil well disposed to receive them, produce exquisite fruit, like the corn that is sown in fertile ground. Hence also it is that the Gospel appears to produce its effects in pro- portion to the natural faculties of men, and the dispositions with which they receive it. There are many tracts of country, even in our day, which remain barren and uncultivated, although Providence denies them none of the blessings which might contribute to their fertility. It is thus that multitudes of human beings remain in ignorance, notwithstanding the publication of the Gospel; and even among the most polished nations of Christendom the efficacy of that divine revelation is, and ever will be, very different, ac- cording to the diversity of characters to whom it The Nature and Properties of Air. 225 is preached. Some do not comprehend it, and have no sense of the salutary virtue of the truths of our holy religion. Others receive those truths with eagerness and joy, but these impressions arc of short duration. With others the passions and cares of the world stifle the divine word. Finally, there are some (but these form the smallest num- ber), who receive it in an honest and upright heart, with conviction, contrition, and sincerity. To these alone it becomes " the power of God unto salvation." But to which of these classes do / belong ? What impression has the doctrine of salvation made upon my soul ? What fruit has the good seed of the Gospel produced in my heart? These are questions which my conscience ought to an- swer honestly and sincerely; but of which my conduct through life will be the best proof. MARCH XXIII. The Nature and Properties of Air. AIR is that fluid and subtile body which sur- rounds our globe, and which every living crea- ture respires. Although it is so near us that it surrounds us on all sides, and we continually ex- perience its effects, our knowledge of its true na- ture is very imperfect. We know, however, that it is a corporeal substance; for when we pass our hand rapidly through it, we find a sensible resist- ance : and we are certain that it is fluid, and that 226 MARCH XXIII. its particles do not cohere, but pass easily over one another, and by this means yield to every impression. If it were otherwise, we could nei- ther breathe nor go through it with facility. Gravity is a property common to the air as to all other bodies; for although it is about 8l6 times lighter than water, its weight is neverthe- less very considerable. The force with which air weighs on any surface of a foot square, is equal to 2160 pounds; and a man whose surface is about fourteen square feet, supports continually a mass of atmospheric air of 30,240 pounds weight. This, perhaps, may appear incredible : but the resistance of the air which is within our bodies, prevents our feeling the pressure of the external air ; for the air contained in the human body preserves an equilibrium with that which surrounds us on all sides. The elasticity of the air is no less certain : it continually endeavours to extend itself into a larger space ; and though it may be easily com- pressed, as soon as the pressure is removed it im- mediately expands. Fire and heat show this property in the air ; and by means of these it may be made to occupy a space five or six hun- dred thousand times greater than what it occu- pied before, without losing any of its elastic force by this prodigious dilatation. These are phenomena highly worthy our ad- miration ; and in them we find the causes of many astonishing effects: It is in the air that our globe is supported, and those clouds are collected which exhibit so many beautiful forms and co~ The Nature and Properties of Air. 227 lours, and which, as they are rarefied or con- densed, suspend the vapours, or pour them in rain, hail, or snow, upon the earth. Without the air our senses would be of no utility, animal life could not be supported, and neither fire nor water could exist. Thus we perceive that air, like all other created objects, proclaims the grandeur, power, and good- ness of God ; and to his matchless wisdom we are indebted for this element, and its adaptation to so many different uses. lie who creates and governs the rain, the snow, the winds, the thunder, and the lightning, displays the riches of his wis- dom in the whole economy of nature, and calls upon mortals to admire the wonders of his hand. How wisely has he ordained the quantity, gravity, elasticity, and motion of the air! and how merci- fully has he ordained it to contribute to the com- fort and welfare of his creatures ! Is it possible for us who respire this element, and who derive so many advantages from it, to be ungrateful to the divine Author of the blessing? Conscious that such ingratitude would render us unworthy the air \ve breathe, let us resolve, with the inspired Psalmist, to sing unto the Lord as long as we live, and to praise his name as long as we have any being. 228 MARCH XXIV. MARCH XXIV. Tliere is Nothing new under the Sun. IT is certain that, in respect to us, many new things occur upon the earth. The aspect of na- ture is annually changed, and each succeeding spring and summer present us with new flowers to embroider our fields, and new fruits to enrich our gardens and orchards. Each day brings new events and new revolutions. The situations of objects change daily, or rather present themselves to our senses under different forms. But it is only relatively to our limited understandings and knowledge, that it can really be said there is any new thing under the sun. Nothing is more cer- tain than the saying of Solomon, that, " What has been will be, and what has been done will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." God, whose wisdom is infinite, has not thought proper to multiply beings unnecessarily : there are as many as our wants, our pleasure, or our curiosity require. We cannot even gain a super- ficial knowledge of all the works of our Creator; much less are we able to exhaust them. Our senses arc not refined enough to perceive all that God has formed; nor are our understandings suf- ficiently strong to conceive a perfect idea of all created beings: we therefore sometimes imagine that there are many new things under the sun; for, as the whole creation is immense, and as we cannot take in all its parts at one view, we fancy that each point we perceive for the first time, is TJiere is Nothing new under the Sun. 229 new, because every part of the world exhibits a wonderful variety and diversity. Nature does not require a continued and endless creation: it is enough that the Supreme Being should preserve the order which he established at the beginning. God is an artist who has no need of a number of springs to vary his works ; for, though they suc- ceed each other, and return with the greatest re- gularity, they are so infinitely diversified as to appear always ne\v. Let us be content to enjoy with gratitude the things he has created, without undertaking to fathom their depths, or attempting to comprehend their vast extent. The impossibility of our enumerating all the objects of the creation is, in some sort, the seal by which we may conclude that the world is the work of God; and it, at the same time, affords an incontrovertible proof of the weakness of our understandings. But have there not been disco- veries made lately, which were formerly entirely unknown ? Do not all the kingdoms of nature now present phenomena to us o( which our an- cestors had no idea? To such interrogatories it may be replied, that these discoveries are rather the result of our wants than of our sagacity. In proportion as our wants become multiplied, new means were necessary to supply them, and these were kindly furnished by our provident Creator : but we ought to recollect that the means existed before we discovered them. Those mine- rals, plants, and animals, with which we have re- cently become acquainted, had an existence in the bosom of the earth, or on its surface, before VOL. i. x 230 MARCH XXV. the researches and labours of men placed them before our eyes. Besides, it is extremely probable that many objects which we arrange in the cata- logue of new discoveries, were not altogether un- known to the ancients. If the world were the work of chance, we should occasionally discover new productions. Why do we not see new kinds of animals, plants, and stones ? It is because all has been planned by the wisdom of God. What he at first ordained is found sufficient for our conve- nience and use; and all his works are so perfect, that none of them require to be renewed or cre- ated again. Nothing was made by chance; all events have been determined by infinite wisdom, and are linked together in one chain. The whole fabric of the world is preserved by the providence of its Creator, and by the concurrence of general and particular laws. Every object in the empire of nature is stamped with wisdom, order, and greatness. In all, and by all, God is praised and magnified. To him be glory, now and for ever- more. MARCH XXV. Cares in the Mountains. CAVES are generally found in mountains, and seldom, or not at all, in plains. They are formed, like precipices, by the falling in of rocks ; or, like an abyss, by the action of fire. Caves, therefore, may be formed by the same causes which produce the quaking, opening, and falling in of the earth ; Caves in the Mountains. 231 and these causes are the explosion of volcanoes, the action of subterraneous vapours, and earth- quakes : for they make disorder, and throw down buildings ; which must necessarily form caves, holes, and chasms of every description. But why are these caves? Of what use are they ? Suppose even that ice could discover no use in them, we ought still to be convinced that they were formed for wise purposes. For as no- thing on the earth is really useless, these caves must, of necessity, have their uses ; and it is not very difficult to ascertain the end they are de- signed to answer. Here the waters are collected, which are afterwards diffused over the earth to supply a deficiency of rain. The caves in the mountains keep up the course of the waters in subterraneous canals; which is an object of great importance: for as soon as that circulation is stopped, shocks and earthquakes ensue, which spread terror and desolation over the globe. The air, contained and confined within the earth, escapes through dens and caves. These open- ings, therefore, are indispensably necessary, that the air may penetrate into the mountains, to give a passage to the winds, and a vent to exhalations ; for, if the apertures in caves did not admit a free circulation, the air contained in them would cor- rupt, or would occasion tremors and concussions of the earth. These caves often fill with water, whence rivers and lakes are afterwards formed. Such is the lake Zirchnitzer in Carniola, which fills at certain times, and at others dries up, or is lost under the neighbouring mountains, in such a 232 MAKCH XXVI. manner, that it is sometimes navigable, and at other seasons may be ploughed. How many ani- mals would perish, if the excavations of the moun- tains did not serve them for asylums and retreats during winter ! Were there no caves, we should be deprived of several minerals, and many other useful productions, which cannot be formed, or become perfect, but in subterraneous caverns. We see, then, that, even in this respect, the wis- dom and goodness of our Creator are evidently manifested : and we have an additional proof that there is nothing useless in nature, nothing too much, nor any thing which is not ordained with wisdom, and for the general good. The more we employ ourselves in such researches, the more we shall adore the matchless perfections of God. Let us therefore enter more deeply into these sublime meditations ; and while we admire the various phenomena which we discover on or under the earth, let us adore and celebrate the power and goodness of their Divine Author. MARCH XXVI. Circulation of the Sap in Trees. THE trees, which for several months appeared en- tirely dead, begin insensibly to revive ; and in a few weeks we shall discover more evident signs of life ; as their buds will then become larger, and gradu- ally expand their precious blossoms. We have it in our power to obserre this revolution in the be- Circulation of the Sap in Trees. 233 ginning of each spring; but, perhaps, have been hitherto ignorant by what means it operates. The effects we observe in spring, in trees and other ve- getables, are produced by the sap, which is put in motion by the air and increase of heat. As the life of animals depends on the circulation of their blood, so also the life and growth of plants and trees depend on the circulation of the sap. For this purpose God has formed and disposed all parts of vegetables, so as to concur towards the preparation, preservation, and circulation, of this nourishing juice. It is chiefly by the bark, that the sap in spring rises from the roots into the bodies of trees, and even conveys, throughout the year, all the nou- rishment to the branches and fruit. The wood}' part of the tree is composed of small longitudinal fibres, which extend in a direct line the whole length of the tree, from the root to the top, and are very closely joined together. Among these fibres some are so small and fine, that one of them, though scarcely as thick as a hair, contains more than eight thousand fibrilla;. An innumer- able multitude of little tubes, which contain the nutritious juice, and facilitate its circulation, ex- tend through all the branches, and ascend to the very top of the tree; some conducting the sap from the root upward, and others returning it back again. The sap rises through the ascend- ing veins in the heat of the day, and comes down the others in the cool of the evening. The leaves serve for the same purpose ; and their chief use is to make the sap circulate ; not only that which x3 234- MARCH XXVI. proceeds from the root, but also what the tree re- ceives outwardly, by means of dew, rain, and the moisture of the atmosphere. Thus this nourish- ing juice appears to be spread through every part of the tree : but it could not rise through the tubes, if there were not openings in them at the top. It is through these pores that the watery parts of the sap evaporates; while the oily, sul- phureous, and earthy particles unite together to nourish the tree, transform themselves into its substance, and give it a continual increase. If the juice do not reach it, if the circulation be stopped, or if the interior organization be destroyed, whe- ther by intense cold, frost, age, wounds, or any external injury, the tree dies. After these reflections, can we regard the trees at this season, with the same indifference as for- merly? Will the change about to take place in them appear so little worthy our notice ? and can we observe the renewal of all nature, with- out thinking of that God, who gives life to every creature ; who provides juices analogous to trees; who communicates to the sap the power of cir- culating through the veins, and of giving to trees life, nourishment, and growth? Alas! that it should be possible to see all these things every year, without giving proper attention to them! At the return of many springs I have had the opportunity to observe this quickening virtue which appears in plants and trees : but I have thought no more about it than the animals which graze in the fields; and, what is still more won- derful, I have been equally inattentive to the Our Ignorance of Futurity. 235 preservation of my own life, the growth of my body, and the circulation of my blood ! As I have the happiness of again beholding the vernal season, may I contemplate its objects in a more reasonable and Christian manner; and may I gratefully acknowledge in the works of nature, that adorable Being whose greatness and magnifi- cence are proclaimed by all his creatures. But all my wishes will be utterly fruitless, if the Lord him- self who is the God of all mercy, do not incline my heart to acknowledge and glorify his great and holy name. Now, that all nature revives, grant O God, that my soul may be quickened by thy Spirit. May the new existence, which the vege- tables receive at this lovely season, be a signal to awaken me from my slumber, to allure me to virtue, and to excite me to lead a life of spiritual activity agreeable to thy blessed will. MARCH XXVII. Our Ignorance of Futurity. IF we are ignorant of future events, we must not seek the cause of it merely in the nature of our souls the faculties and knowledge of which are very limited ; but also in the express and infi- nitely wise purpose of the Creator. lie knew the strength of man, and he would not give him more knowledge than he was able to bear. Knowledge is to the soul, what the light of the sun is to the eyes: too great a degree of splcn- 236 MARCH XXVII. dor would prove injurious, without being useful. It would be very dangerous to the virtue of man, if he had the faculty of foreseeing what was to happen to him ; for outward circumstances have generally some influence on our mode of think- ing, and on the resolutions we form. In propor- tion therefore as we might become acquainted with the secrets of futurity, our temptations would be multiplied, our virtue would be ex- posed to danger, and our lives rendered miser- able. Supposing that future events should all be plea- sant and felicitous, it may be remarked, that while we do not foresee this greater happiness which awaits us, we enjoy with gratitude the present advantages we possess ; but were the curtain of destiny drawn aside, and future blessings exhi- bited to our view, we should immedfately cease to enjoy the present: we should no longer be contented, happy, or grateful ; we should anx- iously and impatiently, expect the fortune design- ed us ; and our days would pass heavily, and without enjoyment. If, on the other hand, future events were to be gloomy and afflictive, our fore- knowledge would only serve to give us an antepast of sorrow, and to render us completely wretched in expectation. Days which might have been spent in peace and tranquillity, had the future been concealed, would be spent in painful anxi- ety, and depression of mind. In a word, the idea of the misfortunes reserved for us, would prevent our enjoying present happiness, and would make us insensible to it. How great, therefore, is the Our Ignorance of Futurity. 237 wisdom and goodness of God, in having thrown a veil over futurity, and only letting us know our fate by degrees, as the destined events occur! Let us never wish to anticipate the happiness which awaits us, nor to feel the weight of misfortunes before they happen : let us, on the contrary, every time we think of futurity, bless our Cre- ator, that our ignorance of it has spared us so many cares, fears, and sorrows. Why should we wish to see through the veil which covers futu- rity ? If we be certain of a reconciliation with God through our adorable Redeemer, we may also be certain, that all future events, whether pleasing or painful, will infallibly contribute to our real welfare. And is it not a merciful and gra- cious God who directs all events, and who rules futurity ? He sees at once the whole course of our lives; not only the past, but even what is to come, as far as eternity itself. When we lie down to sleep, let us recommend ourselves to the care of our heavenly Father, without troubling our- selves about what may happen in the night ; and when we awake, let us trust in him, without being anxious for the events which may mark the day. In the midst of the dangers which surround, and the misfortunes which threaten us, let us re- member the goodness of God, and rest assured that he will either remove them, or turn them to our advantage. And though we do not know what evils await us, we need have no anxiety on that account ; for God is acquainted with them, and will assuredly enable us to bear them, by his divine support and assistance. To this wise and 238 MARCH XXVIII. merciful Disposer of all events, therefore, we may commit ourselves, and all our concerns, with the most unbounded confidence. Whatever Omnipotence has decreed in respect to us, must necessarily happen : it is the portion allotted, and proper for us. The cup that is pre- sented, let us receive willingly, and without mur- muring, convinced that it is for our good. Let us resign ourselves to the Lord, and depend on him entirely for whatever he may please to decree as to the circumstances of life or death. Whether we live or die, the joys of paradise will constitute our portion and inheritance. Let this thought tranquillize our souls, and induce them to sub- mit, on all occasions, to the will of our Creator. Be calm, then, my soul. Our glory is to submit to the will of our Creator. He is our heavenly Father, and will safely guide us, through all dangers, to the happiness allotted for us. MARCH XXVIII. The gradual Approach of Night. NIGHT, in itself, is a blessing from the Creator; and the ordination of its gradual approach is equally replete with wisdom and divine benefi- cence. A sudden transition from the light of day to the darkness of night would be both inconve- nient and terrific. So rapid a change would occasion a general interruption to the labours of man ; which, in certain affairs necessary to be The gradual Approach of Night. 239 finished, and not admitting of delay, would be extremely prejudicial: men and animals would also be overwhelmed with consternation, and the suddenness of the transition would seriously in- jure the organs of sight. Darkness, therefore, is not permitted to surprise us suddenly, but ad- vances by slow gradations, and the twilight which precedes it, affords us time to complete our most pressing business, and to make the requisite ar- rangements ; so that the approach of night does not materially interrupt or incommode us. But whence proceed those remains of light, which, at the end of each day, in some degree temper and soften the melancholy appearance of night ? We no longer see the sun, and yet we are cheered by a portion of its lustre. Let us, in this, admire the wise and beneficent arrangements of nature. The atmosphere which surrounds us has been so formed as to render us this essential service. The rays of the sun which are projected on the superior surface of the atmosphere, do not continue their course in a direct line, but are bent ; and this leads them whither their first direction would not have carried them. The atmosphere, having thus bent, and turned back a great number of rays which otherwise would not have reached us, reflects them afterwards to our sight ; and, by this means, we enjoy light much longer, and the time for labour is considerably prolonged. Thus a gracious Providence has planned, not only the great revolutions of the seasons, but also the daily transition from light to darkness, in a 2 1-0 MARCH XXIX. manner the most advantageous to us. Let us, therefore, gratefully acknowledge the goodness of our Creator, and adore his wisdom in this bene- ficial arrangement. The gradual approach of night, in the inanimate part of the creation, should lead us to reflect on the evening of life : that also comes on by degrees, and we shall be almost imperceptibly surrounded by the shades of death. God grant that the great work we have to do may then be happily ended ; and that we may have fulfilled our allotted task. We must work while it is yet day : for the night com- cth in which no man can work. MARCH XXIX. 7 he Magnificence of God in his Works. WHY is such magnificence displayed in the works of the Creator ? Why do we discover, on all sides, innumerable objects, each of which appears to exceed in fascinating and attractive splendor, while each possesses charms peculiar to itself? And whence is it that we continually find new subjects of wonder and admiration ? It is, doubt- less, that we may incessantly admire and adore the great Being, who is infinitely more beautiful, more sublime, and more magnificent, than all we discover in nature : it is, that we may continu- ally say to ourselves, If the works are so com- plete, what must the Creator be ? If such be the beauty of creatures, what must be the incxpres- The Magnificence of God in his Works. 24-1 sible beauty, the infinite greatness, of Him who beholds, with one glance, the whole creation? if the brightness of the sun dazzle and confound our sight, we may naturally conclude that He who lighted up that glorious orb, dwells in light inaccessible, where no mortal eye has seen or can behold him. We cannot suppose he is less wonderful than the creatures he has formed ; and the more striking and marvellous his works, the more worthy of admiration is his own Divine Nature. Could we thoroughly comprehend his greatness, he would not be a Gotl, or we should not be men. How, then, can we better enlarge our minds, and accumulate a treasure of ideas, than in contemplating that God, whose grandeur and magnificence are altogether unlimited ? Is it not in such contemplations that the faculties of our souls may best acquire that force and energy which will make us capable of enjoying infinite happiness ? The more extensive our knowledge here, and the more our minds are enlarged in the contemplation of the greatest of all beings, so much the more we shall be able to comprehend him in a future state. Let us, therefore, always divide our attention between God and nature ; but only in order to consider in the latter, as in a glass, the image of that Being whom we cannot contemplate face to face. Let us collect the various beauties and perfections which are scat- tered over the vast empire of the creation ; and when their innumerable multitude strikes us with astonishment, we shall say to ourselves, that, compared with the perfections of their Creator, VOL. I. Y 24-2 MARCH XXIX. they are less than a drop to the ocean. Let us consider in created beings, what is amiable and lovely, abstracting what is finite and limited, in order to form a more just and proper idea of the excellence of the Ruler of the universe: and, when the faults and imperfections of his creatures may have lessened our admiration of their beauty, let us exclaim, If the creation be so beautiful, notwithstanding its defects, how great and worthy of admiration must He be, whose splendor is with- out spot, more pure than light itself, and more brilliant than the meridian sun ! O my soul ! collect all thy powers to devote thyself entirely to the contemplation of the ador- able God. Take no rest till thou hast begun to soar toward the boundless perfections of Him wh'o is raised infinitely above the most perfect of crea- tures. Let it be thy principal study to acquaint thyself with this supreme and matchless Being : because this is the only knowledge that can satisfy thy desires, fill thee with a tranquil joy which nothing can disturb, and even give thee an ante- past of that more perfect knowledge with which thou wilt be blessed at the foot of his throne, and which will constitute thy felicity to all eternity. Yes, my gracious God and King ! I will bless thy holy name with all my powers on earth, and will celebrate thy praise for ever and ever. I will proclaim thy magnificence, and thy wonderful works, that men may acknowledge and admire the prodigies of thy power and goodness. My lips shall sing thy praises, that my brethren may bless thy name both now and for ever. Arrangement of Seasons in other Planets. 243 MARCH XXX. The Arrangement of the Seasons in the other Planets. TH E diurnal rotation of the earth on its axis, and its annual course round the sun, arc pro- ductive of the greatest blessings, and naturally lead us to conclude that the other planets possess similar advantages. All of them, except Mercury, have been observed to turn round their axes, and in all probability he is subject to the same general law, though his motion has not yet been disco- vered. All the planets move in their orbits round the sun ; and even the secondary planets take the same course round their primaries. Now, as the diurnal motion of our earth produces the constant vicissitudes of day and night, and its annual mo- tion the change of seasons, it is highly probable that the same things occur in the other planets. Venus turns round on her axis in twenty-three hours and twenty-two minutes ; Mars, in twenty- four hours thirty-nine minutes; Jupiter, in nine hours fifty-six minutes; Saturn, in ten hours; and the moon in twenty-eight days. If, then, we divide the day, that is, the time during which these revolutions are made, into twenty-four equal parts, each of which is called an hour, the hours of Venus will be a little shorter, those of Mars rather longer, and those of Saturn and Jupiter not half so long as in our planet ; whilst those of the moon will each be more than equal to one of our days. It is also to be remarked, that the position of the axis of each planet is inclined, like Y2 lM-4- MAllCH XXX. that of our earth ; whence it naturally follows, that, during their course round the sun, their northern side is sometimes more, sometimes less, enlightened. Is it not, therefore, probable, that, in all the planets, the revolutions of seasons, and the alternate length and shortness of days, take place, as on our earth. Should it be asked, To what purpose are all these reflections ? it may be replied, They would be useful if they only served to increase our know- ledge ; but they will appear still more important, if we think of the consequences resulting from them. May we not conclude, that the other planets are -also inhabited by living creatures ? All the planets are like the earth. They are alike warmed and illuminated by the sun ; and have their nights and days, their summers and winters. But of what use would all this be, if they were not inhabited ? What an idea should this give us of the greatness of the Creator ! How immense are his dominions ! and how impossible to fathom the wonders of his power and goodness ! When we reflect on these worlds, where his glory dis- plays itself as much, and perhaps more, than on our globe, we must be struck with astonishment, and adore him with sentiments of the most pro- found veneration. Though the inhabitants of our earth should re- main ungratefully silent, the praises of Jehovah, would be celebrated in all those worlds which roll above our heads. O ! let us join our hymns to theirs, and celebrate our God with endless thanksgivings. Let us invite all creatures who, Cure of Providence in preserving Man's Life. 24-5 like ourselves, have proceeded from his hands, to magnify the Most High, and to render the honors due to his holy name. MARCH XXXI. T/ie paternal Care of Providence for the Preserva- tion of our Lives in every part of the World. WE know, at present, a great part of our globe, and new regions continue to be discovered from time to time; but no place has yet been found, where nature does not produce the necessaries of life. We know countries where the sun burns up almost every thing ; where little is to be seen but mountains and sandy deserts ; where the earth is almost entirely stripped of the verdure with which it is so richly adorned in our climate. There arc other countries which are scarcely ever cheered by the rays of the sun ; where an almost conti- nual winter benumbs every thing ; where there is neither culture, fruit, nor harvest. And yet there are men and animals there, who do not fail of sub- sistence. The productions denied them by Pro- vidence, because they would have been burnt by the sun, or frozen by the severe cold, are supplied by gifts more suitable to those climates, and on which both men and animals can subsist. The inhabitants carefully seek what nature has pro- vided for them, and know how to appropriate it, so as to obtain all things necessary to their sub- istence, or essential to their convenience. Y3 2-K) MARCH XXXI. In Lapland, Providence has contrived, that an evil, in some respects very inconvenient to the inhabitants, becomes a mean of their preserva- tion. That country is infested with innumerable swarms of gnats, from which the Laplanders de- fend themselves by keeping up a continual smoke iu their huts, and by daubing their faces with pitch. These insects deposit their eggs on the water, and, by that means, draw a great number of aquatic birds, which feed on them, and which being afterwards taken by the Laplanders, become themselves the chief food of those people. The Greenlanders generally prefer animal to vegetable food ; and, it is true, there are very few vegetables in that barren country. There are, however, some plants of which the inhabitants make great use; particularly sorrel, angelica, and scurvy-grass, or cochlearia. But their principal nutriment is a species of fish called angmarset, which nearly resembles the miller's thumb. After these have been dried in the open air upon the rocks, they serve instead of bread or greens ; and arc preserved for winter in great leathern sacks. In Iceland, where there is no agriculture, owing to the severe cold, the people live on dried fish in- stead of bread. The Dalecarians, who inhabit the northern parts of Sweden, having no wheat, make bread of the bark of birch and pine, and a certain root which grows in the marshes. The inhabitants of Kamschatka feed on the stalk of the acanthus, which they eat raw, after having peeled it. In Siberia, they make much use of the roots of mountain-lily, which they call martagon. Care of Providence in presenting Man's Life. 217 Adorable Father of mankind! such are the tender mercies of thy providence for our preser- vation ! With what goodness hast thou spread over the whole earth that which is requisite for our subsistence! Thy wisdom saw, before the foundation of the world, the dangers to which the lives of mortals would be exposed, and or- dained that we should every where h'nd sufficient food. Such) relations, connexions, and commu- nications were formed, by thy decree, between the inhabitants of the earth, that people who are separated from one another by vast seas, labour for their mutual subsistence and convenience. Can we sufficiently admire and revere the divine wisdom, which has given us bodies so formed as not to be confined to any particular food, but to be able to make use of every kind of aliment ? Thus, by a goodness which cannot be too highly praised, man does not live by bread alone, but by every word, or appointment, which proceeds from the mouth of God ; that is, by every thing he has ordained nature to produce, and to which he has given a nutritive quality. To him all crea- tures turn their eyes, expecting to receive proper nourishment; and when he opens his hand, he liberally supplies thoir wants. Merciful and com- passionate Father! enable us to adore thee, with our latest breath, for the numerous blessings, and means of subsistence, which thy goodness has pro- vided for us ! ( 243 ) Hymn for the Commencement of Spring. BLESSED be the Lord who has created the spring, and richly adorned the face of the earth ! To him be ascribed all glory, honor, and power, for he mercifully provides for the felicity of all animated beings. The God who created, also preserves and blesses the works of his hands: Celebrate his praises all ye creatures ! In those happy days, when man had not yet rebelled against his Maker, free from sin and its dreadful consequences, the earth resembled a pa- radise ; and even now, though sadly deformed by the effects of transgression, it exhibits the hand of its Divine Author, and is still the entrance to heaven. The fields, which recently appeared dead and cheerless, now begin to revive and bloom ; each succeeding day produces new blessings; and qua- drupeds, fowls, and reptiles, seem to rejoice in their existence. The face of the earth is, in fact, renewed ; the sky is cloudless and serene ; the mountains, groves, and valleys, resound with me- lodious warblings : and the Lord of the creation looks with an eye of mercy upon all his works. The verdant fields, the embroidered meads, and shady groves, however attractive in themselves, are still destitute of intelligmce, and the irra- tional part of the creation are unacquainted with the Being who formed them : man alone rejoices in his God, is conscious of his existence, and aspires to live eternally in his presence. Let us therefore celebrate the God of nature, who is Hymn for the Commencement of Spring. 249 nigh unto us, even at the moment that adoring legions of angels fall prostrate before his exalted throne : he is present every where ; in heaven, on earth, and in the seas. Let us incessantly glorify him and sing his praise; for at all times, and in all situations, he is near us by his power, his love, and his matchless bounty. It is God who commandeth the clouds to ex- tend themselves over the fields, and to pour down their fertilizing showers on the thirsty land, that man may be enriched by his gifts. At his man- date, also, the hail, the winds, and the dew, be- come sources of happiness to the human race. Even when the tempest rises, and the pealing thunder appals the heart of man, fertility and blessedness spring from the bosom of storms and darkness. The sun revisits us with increased splendor ; and the terrific claps of thunder are succeeded by songs of joy. God is the only source of true felicity, and all our happiness originates in him who enables us to draw the blessings of salvation from the eternal springs. Blessed is the mortal, therefore, who submits with resignation to his holy government, and who is prepared to leave this world in the joyful hope of being united to his Father and Creator, by the redeeming love of Jesus Christ ! 250 APUIL i. APRIL I. Abuse of Animals. THE abuses of animals are so frequent and vari- ous, that it would be almost impossible to enu- merate them. They may, however, be chiefly confined to two points; that of too much, or too little value being set on them; and, in either case, we act contrary to the intention of the Creator. On one hand, we have too little regard for the brute creation, when, under pretence of being permitted the use of them by God, we as- sume an unlimited power over them, and think we have a right to treat them according to our caprice. But how can we prove that we have this right? and even supposing that we had, would it be just, that our power should degene- rate into tyrannic cruelty? All who are not enslaved by passions, or corrupted by vicious habits, are naturally inclined to compassion to- wards every being that has life and feeling. This disposition, undoubtedly, does honour to man, and is so deeply engraven on our minds, that any one who eradicated it, would prove to what a de- greee he was degraded and fallen from the dignity of his nature. He would have but one step more to make to deny to man the compassion he re- fuses to beasts, and he would then be a monster. Experience but too well justifies this remark, and many examples of such ferocity may be easily recollected. History furnishes us with them in abundance. We there find, that in countries Abuse of Animals. 251 where the people took pleasure in the combats of animals, they also distinguished themselves in cru- elty towards their fellow-creatures. So true it is, that our treatment of beasts has an influence on our moral characters, and on the gentleness of our manners. It may be said that we have a right to destroy hurtful animals. I confess it: but does it follow that we are authorized to tear from them, with- out pity or regret, a life which is so dear to every creature; and that, when necessity forces us to it, we shall find a barbarous pleasure in it, or think we have a right, in thus depriving them of life, to make them suffer torments more cruel than death itself? I grant that the Creator has given us the animals for our use and pleasure, and that their labours are designed to lighten ours; but it does not follow that we may unne- cessarily fatigue them, exhaust them with labour beyond their strength, refuse them sustenance merited by their services, or aggravate their suf- ferings by severe treatment. But no more need be said in regard to this first kind of abuse. People sometimes fall into the other extreme. Those animals of a social character, which are most connected with us, which live in our houses, and which peculiarly contribute to our amuse- ment or utility, sometimes inspire us with an ex- travagant and ridiculous affection. I am almost ashamed to say, there are men and women extra- vagant enough to love those creatures to such a degree as to sacrifice to them, without scruple, the essential duties they owe to their fellow-crea- 252 APRIL I. turcs. Let war be kindled between nations ; let armies destroy one another; the news will not make the least impression on a lady, who some days before was inconsolable for the loss of her lap-dog ! Much might be said upon this subject : but I shall wave it, and conclude these reflections by a remark of much greater importance. Pa- rents, guardians, and teachers, cannot abstain too scrupulously from every abuse of animals in the presence of children. It is the more necessary to insist on this, as the practice of it is so much ne- glected, and the rising generation are frequently influenced by such pernicious examples as are productive of the most baleful consequences. No animal should be put to death in their presence ; much less should they be employed to perform so cruel a task. Let them be taught to treat ani- mals as beings which have life and feeling, and towards which we have certain duties to fulfil. But, on the other hand, let due care be taken that they do not attach themselves too much to animals, or grow passionately fond of them, as they are sometimes apt to do. In guarding care- fully against children's making a bad use of ani- mals, either way, they should also be taught to make a good use of them, that they may, from their earliest age, be accustomed to acknowledge, even in those creatures, an impression of the per- fections of the Creator. The Motion of the Earth. 253 APRIL II. The Motion of the Earth. WHEN the delightful prospect of the rising sun renews, each morning, in our souls the gratitude and admiration due to the sublime Author of the universe, we may, at the same time, observe that the place in which this magnificent sight is be- held, changes with the seasons. To be convinced of this, we need only examine the place where the sun rises in spring and autumn ; and we shall per- ceive it afterwards, in summer more to the north, and in winter more to the south. We may thence reasonably conclude that some motion must be the cause of these changes ; for we cannot see a body of any sort change its place, without a mo- tion taking place, either in itself, or in us who observe it. Many people suppose that it is the sun which moves, as it is seen sometimes on one side and sometimes on another. But as the same phenomenon must take place, supposing the sun to remain immovable, and that we with the earth were turning round it, we ought to depend less on our own conjectures, than on the repeated observations made by astronomers upon this sub- ject, which sufficiently prove the motion of the' earth. Let us, in the first place, represent to ourselves the immense space in which the celestial bodies are placed : it is either empty, or filled with a substance, infinitely subtle, called ether. It is in this space that our globe floats, as well as all the VOL. i. z 254 APRIL II. other planets which compose the solar system. The sun, the dimensions of which have been al- ready mentioned, is placed in the centre, sur- rounded by its worlds, which it surpasses greatly in size. The principle of gravity which our globe has, in common with all other bodies, draws it towards the centre; or the sun attracts the earth, by the superior power which greater bodies have over the lesser : so that as the earth tends to fly off from the sun, it is counteracted by the supe- rior power of that luminary. Thus the earth is made to describe a circle round the sun, some- what analogous to the curve described by a can- non-ball, which, though it soon falls on the ground, would probably continue the same line for the space of some miles, if it were sent off from the top of a high mountain. Suppose a greater height, it would go farther in proportion. Add still to that height, and it would go as far as our antipodes, to return at last to the point whence it set out. All these effects take place from the laws of gravitation, or the attractive power of our globe ; and it is in this manner that the earth describes its orbit round the sun. This orbit is not a per- fect circle, but an ellipsis; which occasions our being farther from the sun at one time than an- other. This orbit is forty-four thousand semidia- meters of our globe ; and in making its revolution round the sun, the earth takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds, the space of time which is the measure of one year : after which revolution we find the sun again in the same The Motion of the Earth. 255 place : for, in each point of the orbit of the earth, the sun appears to us at the opposite side of the sky; so that, while the earth insensibly continues its motion, we are apt to imagine it is the sun which moves. In spring the sun is equally distant from the poles ; which causes equal nights and days; in summer it is 23 degrees 30 minutes nearer the north, which occasions our longest days ; in autumn it returns to an equal distance between the poles; and, in winter, it removes as far towards the south as it had approached the north, and it is then that our days are the shortest. If such be the order and plan of the great work of the creation, how much reason have we to admire and adore the supreme wisdom and good- ness of the Creator! How precious to us ought every new-acquired knowledge to be, that dis- covers to us the Father of nature by his marvel- lous works. We find him every where; and are every where obliged to cry out, Lord, thou hast formed all things with admirable wisdom ! Let us then in the fullest assurance, and with the most unbounded confidence, commit the care of our lives to Him who governs the world with so much wisdom. The sun and planets invari- ably obey his laws, and shall we presume to op- pose his will, or to violate his commands ? When we undertake a voyage, we have need to take re- fuge from surrounding perils in his paternal care : and how much more need have we of his protec- tion, in the course of so many thousand leagues which the annual rotation of our globe causes us z2 256 APRIL III. to pass through ! Is it not an important blessing, though too little thought of, that we have been hitherto preserved in so formidable a voyage ? Shall less striking phenomena, and dangers of smaller magnitude, appal our minds after such demonstrations of the protection of the Almighty in the most important revolutions of nature ? Let us henceforth banish all distrust, and sur- mount every fear, by faith in the Creator of the heavens and the earth ; and may we be enabled to call him our Father through the reconciliation of his Son, Jesus Christ ! APRIL III. The immense Riches of Nature. To be convinced of the extreme liberality of Nature in the dispensation of her gifts, it would be sufficient to reflect on the prodigious number of human creatures who receive their food, rai- ment, and all the pleasures they enjoy, from that beneficent mother. But as this is, perhaps, one of those things which, because they happen every day, no longer make a suitable impression upon our hearts, we will turn our reflections on crea- tures which arc partly made for our use, and some of which are the objects of our contempt. This meditation will teach us that all the beings diffused over our globe proclaim the goodness of their Author, and may incite us to glorify his di- vine name, if our hearts be susceptible of feeling. The immense Ricltes of Nature. 257 An innumerable quantity of living creatures, inhabitants of the earth, the air, and the waters, are daily indebted to Nature foi their subsist- ence. Even the animals which we take care to feed, properly speaking owe their food to her; as the forests produce acorns, the mountains grass, and the lields a variety of herbage, with- out any culture. All the genera of fish subsist without the aid of man, unless he choose to feed a few particular sorts for his own amusement. Amongst birds, the most numerous, and, perhaps, the most despicable tribe is that of sparrows: their number is so prodigious, that the produce of all the lields in the empire of France would not suffice for their support during the space of one year. It is Nature who takes from her immense magazine what is necessary for their support ; and they are but the smallest part of her depend- ants. The number of insects is so immense, that many centuries may elapse before their several species and classes can be perfectly known. How numerous are the flies ! and how many species of insects float in the air, which occasionally annoy us by their stings ! The blood which they ex- tract from us is a very accidental food to them ; and it may be supposed, that, for one that lives on it, there are millions which never tasted hu- man blood, nor that of any other animal. On what do all those creatures subsist ? Every hand- ful of earth contains living insects ; and in every drop of water creatures may be discovered whose means of propagation and support appear altoge- ther incomprehensible ! z3 258 APRIL HI. Immensely rich as Nature is in living animals, she is equally fruitful in means for their subsist- ence ; or rather, it is the Creator who has poured into her bosom this inexhaustible source of riches. He provides food and shelter for all his creatures; clothing the fields with herbage, and directing the animal tribes to select their proper elements: for none of them are so insignificant in his sight, as to induce him to neglect their wants, or to with- hold from them his tender regards. Herein is manifested the greatness of the Creator, which so easily performs what all the monarchs and people of the earth, combined together, could not ac- complish. He satisfies every living creature : he feeds the ravens that call upon him, and every insect that exists in the air, in the earth, or in the water ! And will he not do for us what he does for them ? If ever doubts or fears possess our souls, let us reflect upon the multitudes which he daily supports. Let the birds of the air, the wild beasts of the desert, and those millions of crea- tures which man takes no care of, teach us the art of living contentedly. He who adorns the flowers of the field, and provides suitable nou- rishment for all animals this great Author of nature assuredly knows our wants. Let us, there- fore, apply to him in all our afflictions, and let our prayers be uttered in the language of humble faith and holy sincerity. Sun-rise. 259 APRIL IV. Sun -rise, HAVE you ever witnessed the superb spectacle which the rising sun every day affords ? or has indolence, indifference, or the love of sleep, pre- vented you from contemplating this wonder of nature ? Perhaps you may be ranked amongst the number of those who never thought a sight of Aurora worthy the sacrifice of some hours' sleep ; or you are like others, who, satisfied with the light of the sun, do not trouble themselves with inquiring into the cause of this great effect. Or, perhaps, you may be classed with millions of your fellow-creatures, who behold this glorious object every day without its exciting any emotion or pleasing reflections in their minds. To whatever class you belong, suffer yourself now to be roused from this state of insensibility, and learn what thoughts this interesting appearance ought to ex- cite in your mind. There is no phenomenon in nature more beau- tiful and splendid than the rising sun. The rich- est dress that human art can invent, the finest de- corations, the most pompous equipage, the, most superb ornaments of royal palaces, vanish and sink to nothing, when compared with this beauty of nature. At first the eastern region of the sky, clothed in the purple of Aurora, announces the sun's approach. The sky gradually assumes the tint of the rose, and soon flames like burnished gold ; while the solar rays dispel the mist, and 260 APRIL IV. diffuse light and heat over the whole horizon. At length, the sun himself appears in all the splendor of majesty, and rises visibly higher and higher in the heavens; while the birds express their joy by sweet and melodious warblings, the flocks and herds bound playfully over the smiling meads, and all the animated tribes seem influ- enced by a renovation of strength and spirits. Let our songs of praise also ascend to heaven, and celebrate the praises of that Adorable Being, by whose command the sun rises, and whose hand so guides its diurnal and its annual course, that we draw from it the happy revolution of night and day, and the regular succession of the seasons. Let us raise ourselves towards the Father of lights, set forth his majesty, and celebrate him by a pious confession of our dependence on him, und by actions which are pleasing in his sight. Behold ! all nature proclaims order and harmony : the sun and all the planets run their appointed course ; each season produces its respective fruits, and every day renews the splendor of the sun. Shall n-e, then, in the midst of the active creation, distinguish ourselves by silent ingratitude and su- pine indifference ? Rather let our virtue, faith, and pious zeal, convince the infidel how worthy of adoration that Being is, whom he despises : and let the tranquillity of our souls demonstrate the mild and merciful nature of that God, before whom the libertine justly trembles. Let us act, towards our fellow-creatures, as God does to us, and be to them what the sun is to the whole uni- verse. As he daily sheds his benign influence on Wonderful Construction of the Ear. 26 1 the earth ; as he rises for the ungrateful as well as the righteous; as he shines on the humble valley, as on the highest mountain ; so let our lives be useful, beneficent, and consolatory to others. Let us each day increase the charitable disposition of our hearts ; let us do good to all, according to our abilities ; and let us endeavour so to live and act that our lives may be a blessing to mankind. APRIL V. Wonderful Construction of the Ear. ALTHOUGH the ear, it is true, with respect to beauty, must give place to the eye, it is perfectly formed, and is no less a master-piece of creative wisdom. This will appear from its position; for it is placed in the most convenient part of the body, near to the brain, the common seat of all the senses. The external form of the ear merits our attention and admiration ; its substance is between the flexible softness of flesh, and the hardness of bone. Were it flesh only, its upper part would fall down over the orifice, and prevent the com- munication of sounds; if, on the.contrary, it were composed of solid bones, it would be very pain- ful and inconvenient to lie on either side. For this reason the Creator has formed the outward part of the ear of a cartilaginous substance ; which has the consistence, the polish, and the folds, most proper to reflect sounds; for the 262 AIMUL V. chief use of the external part is to collect the vibrations of the air, and convey them to the orifice of the ear. The interior construction of this organ is still more surprising. Within the cavity of the ear is an opening, called the audi- tory canal, the entrance to which is defended by small hairs, to prevent insects from penetrating into it; and for the same purpose it is moistened with a bitter glutinous matter, called ear-wax, which separates itself from the glands. The drum of the ear is placed obliquely in the auditory pipe, and really resembles the instrument from which it derived its appellation : for, in the first place, there is, in the cavity of the auditory canal, a bony ring, on which is stretched a round mem- brane, dry and thin : in the second place, there is, under that skin, a string stretched tight, which does here the same service as that of the drum, for it increases, by its vibrations, the vibra- tion of the drum of the ear, and serves sometimes to extend, and sometimes to relax, the membrane. In the cavity under the skin of the drum, there are some very small but remarkable bones, called auditory bones, and distinguished by the following names the hammer, the anvil, the orbicular bone, and the stirrup. Their use is, to contribute to the vibration and the extension of the skin of the drum, or tympanum. Behind the cavity of the drum, there is another opening called the Eusta- chian tube, which communicates with a pipe which leads to the palate, and is equally necessary to produce the sensation of exterior sounds. Next comes the snail, which rises in a spiral line ; and Wonderful Construction of the Ear. 263 behind is the auditory pipe, which terminates in the brain. Hearing is, in itself, a thing worthy of admira- tion. By a portion of air, extremely small, which we put in motion, without knowing how, we can, in an instant, make our thoughts, desires, and conceptions known to another; and this in as perfect a manner as if his soul could see into ours. But, to comprehend the 'action of the air, in the propagation of sounds, more clearly, we must re- member, that the air is not a solid but a fluid body. Throw a stone into calm water, and it will cause undulations, which will extend, more or less, according to the degree of force with which the stone was thrown in. Let us now sup- pose that a word spoken produces a similar effect in the air to that of the stone in the water. While the speaker is uttering the word, he expels, with more or less force, a quantity of air out of his mouth. This communicates an undulatory mo- tion to the external air in which it meets, and the air thus put in motion, shakes the stretched mem- brane of the drum in the ear: this membrane, thus shaken, communicates vibrations to the air which resides in the cavity of the drum, and that strikes the hammer; the hammer, in its turn, strikes the other little bones; the stirrup transmits to the nerves, through the oval orifice, the motion it has received ; and they then vibrate like the strings of a violin: this motion gains strength in the labyrinth, and reaches to what is properly called the auditory nerve. The soul then expe- riences a sensation proportionable to the force or 264 APRIL VI. weakness of the impression received ; and, by virtue of a mysterious law of the Creator, it forms to itself representations of objects and of truths. How deplorable would our case have been, had the Creator denied us the faculty of hearing ! a faculty, in certain respects, more important than that of sight. Through the eye we receive only sensible and corporeal ideas ; but by the car we form conceptions of spiritual and invisible objects. If, therefore, we had been born deaf, it would have been extremely difficult for us to have re- ceived any instructions relative to the being of a God, the nature of the soul, or the way of salva- tion. In order to make his goodness more ap- parent to mankind, the Supreme Being now and then permits a person to be born deaf. Let serious reflection on the lot of such people lead us to ap- preciate the sense, of which they are deprived; and let |us evince our gratitude for so great a blessing, by making a proper use of it. APRIL VI. The Milky Way. WHEN we examine the sky in a clear night, we perceive a pale irregular light, and a certain num- ber of stars, whose mingled rays compose this luminous tract, which is commonly called the milky way. The stars themselves are too remote Tht 3//% Way. 2(J5 to be perceived separately by the naked eye ; and between those which are visible through a glass, there are spaces apparently filled by an immense number of other stars, which even a good telescope cannot render distinctly perceptible. It is true, that the number already discovered is prodigious; but if we could make our observations on another side of the globe, nearer to the antarctic pole, we should discover a great number of stars which have never appeared on our hemisphere : and even then we should not know half, perhaps not a thousandth part of the radiant bodies which shine in the immense expanse of heaven. All the stars which we perceive in the milky way appear no more than luminous points, and even instruments of the greatest power afford no augmentation of this apparent magnitude ; yet each of these, in all probability, is considerably larger than the whole terraqueous globe. If an inhabitant of our globe could travel in the air, and could attain the height of 160 millions of miles, the fixed stars would still appear only like shining specks. However incredible this may seem, it is not a chimerical idea, but a fact, which has. actually been proved ; for, about the tenth of December, we were more than 160 millions of miles nearer the northern part of the sky than we sh'all be the tenth of June, and, notwithstanding that differ- ence, we did not perceive any difference of size in those stars. This milky way, so inconsiderable in compari- son of the whole space of the heavens, is sufficient to prove the greatness of the Supreme Being; VOL. I. 2 A 266 APRIL VII. and every star discoverable in it teaches us the wisdom and goodness of God. Yet -what are these in comparison of the immense quantity of globes and worlds which roll in the firmament? Here reason stops, and is confounded. To admire and adore is all that is left to mortals. Whenever I behold the starry sky, may I raise my thoughts to thee, my adorable Creator ! With shame and regret, I confess that I have hitherto too seldom contemplated thy greatness, or admired thy power in the beauteous scene of the firmament. Pardon this insensibility this ingratitude. Loose a soul confined by earthly ties, and raise it to thyself, O Creator of heaven and earth ! Humble me by a due sense of my own unworthiness, and afterwards elevate me by the blessed assurance that my ransomed soul shall, one day, soar beyond the highest region of the stars ! APRIL VII. Reflections on the Seeds of Plants. THE vegetable kingdom, to an attentive ob- server of the works of God, is a school where he learns the profound wisdom and unlimited power of that supreme Being;. Though we were to live a hundred years upon earth, and it were possible to devote every day to the study of one particu- lar plant, there would still remain, at the end of that time, many things we either had not observ- Reflections on the Seeds of Plants. 267 til, or had not been capable of perceiving. Let us reflect on the production of plants ; let us ex- amine their interior construction, and the forma- tion of their several parts ; let us consider the sim- plicity and variety discernible in them, from the blade of grass to the lofty and umbrageous oak ; let us try to learn the manner in which they grow, and are preserved, and the different uses they are of to men and animals. Each of these articles will sufficiently employ our faculties, and make us sensible of the infinite power, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator. We shall every where discover, with admiration, the most incompre- hensible order, and the most excellent designs. Though we were to know no more of plants than those phenomena visible to every eye : though we were only to know that a grain of corn, sown in the ground, shoots first a root into the earth, and then a stem upwards, which bears branches, leaves, and fruit, wherein are contained the seeds of new plants ; this alone might suffice- to evince the wisdom of the Creator. Let us at- tentively consider all the changes which a grain of wheat undergoes in the earth. We sow it in the ground at a certain time; and this is all we can do. But what are the operations of nature, after we have thus left it to itself ? As soon as the earth supplies it with sufficient moisture, it swells, and bursts open the outer coat, which concealed the root, the stalk, and the leaves. The root pe- netrates into the earth, and prepares nutriment for the stem, which now makes an effort to rise above the surface of the ground. When it has sprung 2 A 2 268 APRIL VII. up, it gradually increases till it attains its proper height, and begins to unfold its leaves, which at first are white, then yellow, and at last tinged with green. If we confine our observations to this single grain of wheat, so necessary to our subsist- ence, what admirable wisdom we shall discover in it ! As soon as the outer skin is rent, and the root has penetrated the earth, the stem ventures to spring up, in the form of a very slender stalk : yet, weak as it appears, it is already strong enough to bear the intemperance of the seasons. By degrees it grows up, and becomes an ear of corn, the sight of which is so pleasing to man- kind. The grain is enclosed with leaves, which serve as a shell till it is strong enough to break through them; and it is armed with points, to defend it from the birds. The fields where corn is sown should remind us of those grounds where our Creator sows another kind of seed. Human bodies, when deposited in the grave, may be considered as seeds which are to spring up and be matured in eternity. We have as little reason, on looking at a grain of wheat, to expect it to produce an ear of corn (though the essential parts of it are in the grain), as we have to believe that our bodies, reduced to dust, will one day become glorified bodies. The time, how- ever, will come, when the seed will unfold itself. Our dust will be raised again, and we shall live, through Jesus Christ. Our bodies must decay, and turn to dust ; but we shall not lie eternally in the grave: our souls shall repose, after the labours of this life, on the bosom of our God. Eye hath The blue Colour of the Sky. 269 not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive any thing equal to such a salvation. APRIL VIII. The blue Colour of the Sky. WERE we to judge from the first, impression of our senses, we might consider the sky as an im- mense vault, painted blue, and studded with bril- liants. It is true, such an idea could hardly be formed but by the common people and child- ren : yet there are many who think themselves superior to those, who, notwithstanding, form very absurd notions of the sky. The reason why it appears of an azure colour is, because our atmo- sphere is not perfectly transparent. Were it pos- sible for us to elevate ourselves very high above the surface of the earth, the air would be found more rare in proportion to our ascent, till it would become incapable of assisting in respiration, and would at length terminate in pure ether. The higher we climb on mountains, the lighter the atmosphere grows, and the paler the bright azure of the sky appears. And if we could rise to the region of pure ether, this colour would be entirely lost: the sky would seem to us as black as night; for so do all objects appear that do not reflect any rays of light. Consequently, if the air that surrounds us were as transparent as ether, the sky would not appear blue. Our air is filled with innumerable minute particles, which, when illu- 2 A3 270 APRIL VIII. mined by the sun, receive a motion, which pro- duces new rays ; and those particles, though dark in themselves, become visible to us when thus lighted up. Their colour is blue; which is the reason that a forest, when we are near to it, ap- pears green ; but as we retire it appears of a bluish colour. However pale and subtle the blue rays of air may be, so great a quantity of them strike on our eyes, when we are in the open air, that the effect resulting from them is a dark blue. These reflections may lead some to consider the sky differently from what they have hitherto done. It may hence be concluded, that there is no phe- nomenon in nature, not even the. colour of the sky, in which we may not discover order, utility, and some wise purpose. As greeii is the best colour that could have been chosen for beauti- fying the earth, so the fine azure of the heavens is best calculated to charm the eye. How dreadful is the appearance of the sky when covered with stormy clouds ! but what beauty, majesty, and simplicity, in the colour of it, when the weather is calm and serene! The apartments of kings, decorated by the most skilful painters, are nothing, when compared to the majestic simplicity of the celestial vault. When the eye has for a longtime contemplated the beauties of the earth, it satiates, and becomes tired ; but the more we contemplate the heavens, the more charms we discover in them. O thou almighty Creator! who hast so richly adorned the sky, may I meditate on thy perfec- tions, and adore thy holy name whenever I con- template this display of celestial beauty ! The Utility and Necessity of Air. 271 APRIL IX. The Utility and Necessity of Air. AIR is the element to which this lower world owes its life, beauty, and preservation. All the changes we observe in the different beings upon our globe, depend on air. It is indispensably ne- cessary to the existence of animals; for the great- er part of them would expire" in half a minute, if they were deprived of it, and the others would not support its loss above two days at the most. Not only terrestrial creatures, and those which inhabit the air, require this element, but it is ab- solutely necessary to the inhabitants of the water, which require a change of fresh air as much as other animals. Birds cannot fly but as they are supported by the air: hence their lunluub, a plant, an herb, a piece of water, or a marsh, that does not serve for dwelling and food to some living creatures. In a tree, for example, there are (beside the fruit), leaves, bark, and wood ; and each of these parts supports an innu- merable multitude of creatures. Caterpillars feed on the leaves ; certain worms subsist on the bark ; others inhabit the woody part ; and there is, in fact, nothing in nature that is not useful to some species of animal. How benevolent, then, must He be who never forgets any of the creatures which he has formed, but who constantly watches over, and kindly provides for their necessities ! What is there more pleasant than light ? " Truly, the light is sweet; and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun." Its rays illumine the immense expanse of the heavens ; and cheers our sight as long as the day continues. Light disco- vers to us all the riches of the divine works. Without it nature would be a desert, and its in- numerable beauties would for ever remain un- known. With what goodness has God provided for the gratification of our senses! For example, he has chosen the mildest and properest colours to please and refresh the sight. Experience proves, that blue and green reflect those rays which are least injurious to the eyes, and which they can con- template the longest without being fatigued. Hence, the Divine Goodness has clothed the heavens with blue, and the earth with green two colours which are the most pleasing and suit- able to the organs of sight. They are sufficiently APRIL XX. vivid to make agreeable impressions on the eye, and not too bright to injure it : at the same time they have a variety of shades, sufficient to distin- guish objects, and to prevent a tedious uniform- ity. Besides plants of different green shades, the earth produces the most beautiful flowers; which not only delight our eyes with thousands of ele- gant tints, but which also perfume the air, and resale our senses with the most delicious odours. Even the ear is not unemployed : it is charmed with the song's of birds, which fill the groves and - .vith their melodious warblings. \Vith a heart full of gratitude and joy I exalt thee, O God ! and celebrate thy goodness. How great is thy mercy ! how tender and gracious thy fatherly protection! None of thy creatures are concealed from thee : none of them are de- spised or disregarded ; but all, without exception, are the objects of thy providence, and the subjects of thy merciful love. May thy beneficence ever be the subject of my meditations : and may my soul incessantly bless thee, and rejoice in the re- membrance of thy goodness! APRIL XX. Beneficial Influence of the Heat of the Sun. AT the approach of spring, revolutions pass before our eyes which must fill every attentive observer with astonishment. Nature gradually recovers the life she seemed to have lost in winter. The Benefits of the Heat of the Sun. 2f f) earth is clothed with verdure ; and the trees arc covered with blossoms. On all sides new gene- rations of insects, and other animals, arc seen bursting upon our view, rejoicing in their exist- ence, and endowed with a thousand different in- stincts. Every thing is animated : every thing revives. And this new life, which appears in the noblest parts of nature, is produced by the re- turn of warmth, which awakens animals and plants, and puts their renewed strength in mo- tion. This admirable revolution is occasioned by the sun, which is the source of life, sensation, and joy, as its salutary and enlivening rays arc spread over all nature. The seeds feel its effect, and open in the bosom of the earth. It is from thence that the plants and vegetables shoot, spring up, and grow. Its approach revives and strength- ens animals. Every living creature that exists or vegetates, feels the benign influence of this pow- erful luminary. How melancholy would be our lot, if deprived of the genial rays of the sun ! How dreary and sad would the earth appear, now become an uninhabitable desert ! Into what a lifeless state would most creatures fall, and how wretched and languid would such existence be ! What a source of joy and gladness would the heart of man be deprived of, if he could not enjoy the solar rays, or the light of a serene day ! Nothing would compensate for the loss of it. The mildest night, the gentlest artificial warmth, could not supply the place of that vivi- fying virtue which the light of the sun commu- nicates to every being, and which has a salutary effect, very different from that of terrestrial fire. 300 APRIL XX. Men and animals know and feel it. A valetudina- rian, shut up warm in his room, with every pos- sible assistance, will not gain as much strength in many weeks, as he would in a very short time from the warmth of the sun in the fine weather of spring. Plants forced in hot-beds never gain such a degree of strength and consistence as those which grow in the sun : in the latter, every thing combines for the perfection of plants and ani- mals ; whereas, in artificial heat, we see nothing but the weak and languishing efforts of an ineffec- tual substitute. But would the sun exist, and could it communicate light and heat to us, if God, the Creator of all things, had not formed it, and given it the power of diffusing over the whole earth its quickening virtue ? It is from the Lord we receive all the blessings which are de- rived from the sun : it is he who created it, who rules its course, and who preserves its light and splendor. Each morn he causes it to appear again, and in each season makes us feel its happy effects. Without the Supreme Being there would be neither sun nor light, heat nor spring. The sun's beneficent warmth, its beautiful and clear light, should lead to the Being of beings, the Source of every blessing, and the Father of light. The Pagans were too blind to acknowledge God as author of the sun : they stopped at the effect without acknowledging the cause. But we know there would be no sun if he did not exist ; that it would neither give light nor heat, if not ordained by God. We know that vegetation, in- crease, growth, all the blessings which surround us, all our agreeable sensations, all that charms Mutual Relations of Creatures. 301 or delights us, proceed from him. The sun is but the instrument of his goodness, the minister of his , will, and the herald of his glory. The world would, undoubtedly, be a cheerless desert, if deprived of the light and heat of- the sun; and the heart of man would be a barren and joyless waste, were it not for the quickening grace and salutary influences of the Sun of Right- eousness. Let us therefore recollect, if we pos- sess any life, virtue, or happiness, it is alone from Him we have received them. All other means which we can employ to obtain wisdom, happi- ness, or piety, will be found altogether unavailing. We shall resemble dead trees, without fruit or foliage, if we be not quickened by his mighty power. Lord Jesus! lift upon me the light of thy countenance ; and mercifully grant, that, as all nature languishes for the presence of the sun, and longs for his appearance, my soul may long to experience thy benign and refreshing influence, which alone can comfort my feeble spirit, purify and strengthen my wavering heart, and make me fruitful in every good word and work. APRIL XXI. Relations that all Creatures have to each otJier. THE prodigious number of creatures upon the earth, is, in itself, well worthy our admiration ; but what should strike us more forcibly, is the VOL. I. 2 D 302 APRIL XXI. proportion between all these, and the wise rela- tions which connect this infinite multitude of different beings in such a manner that they form but one regular and perfect whole. The extent of the animal kingdom is incompre- hensible, and yet all creatures find sufficient nu- triment. No species, however few there are of them ; no individuals, however persecuted they may be; are ever extinct. It is true, that many serve as food to others ; but the number of beasts of prey is not considerable : most of them are soli- tary, and do not multiply rapidly. Those even that are most numerous, arc content with little food, and obtain it with much art and trouble. Several of them have enemies, which prevent them from becoming too numerous ; or else the weak and timid animals supply in number what they want in strength, and escape their perse- cutors by all sorts of stratagems and cunning. It may also be observed, that for the better pre- servation and increase of the species, there is such an equal proportion between the sexes, that every animal finds a mate with which it may associate. The mineral kingdom serves for the preserva- tion of the animal, and they both tend to the good and benefit of mankind. The most useful plants, such as corn, grow every where, multiply the easiest, and are the least liable to spoil : the animals which arc most necessary to mankind are scattered every where in abundance. The pro- ductions of different climates are suited to the particular wants of mankind. Thus the hottest countries abound in cooling fruits. In regions Mutual Relations of Creatures. 303 liable to great drought, there are plants and trees which are, in a manner, springs of water, and which suffice to quench the thirst of im n raid ani- mals. If in any place there be a deficiency of wood for fuel, peat and turf are found in abun- dance; and if some countries are destitute of rain and other sources of fertility, they arc recom- pensed by beneficial inundations, as those of the Nile in Egypt. In mankind also, there is the most exact proportion between the ' sexes ; the num- ber of males being to that of females as twenty- six to twenty-five. In civil society, wealth ami talents are so admirably distributed, that, as each individual may be happy, according to his cir- cumstances, so nothing essential is wanting to society in general. If the inclinations and dispo- sitions of men were not so varied; if their tastes and tempers did not lead them to embrace differ- ent kinds of life ; if there were not such variety in their genius and way of thinking, in their beau- ty, riches, and other external circumstances; hu- man society would soon resemble a melancholy desert. There, is no class of men who can live without society. Each country has its peculiar advantages ; and, if they were common to all, there would be neither connexion nor commerce between men. In a word, on whatever side we cast our eyes, we every where find the most ad- mirable harmony and proportion. Notwithstand- ing the infinite variety of creatures, and the con- tinual interruption of many of the laws of nature, it appears, that, in this immense universe, all is perfect, all is planned and contrived for the ge- 2 D2 j04- APRIL XXII. neral good, all is in the most regular and exact order. On whatever side I cast my eyes, I see nothing but the wisest and most delightful har- mony: it shines on all sides; it embellishes every thing. Nothing is unconnected : every thing com- bines to the same end. The whole is linked to- gether with astonishing art. Wise Author of Nature ! we should be un- worthy to contemplate the magnificence and har- mony of thy works, if we did not adore thee with the most profound admiration. During our sublunary existence we shall know only in part, and see only the outlines of thy stu- pendous works. What we discover is trifling, in- deed, in comparison of what is hidden from our eyes ; and yet the glimpse which we now have, evinces thy perfections to be impenetrable and incomprehensible. Lord ! open our eyes, that we may see the miracles of thy divine wisdom. Teach us to acknowledge this wisdom in the harmo- nious arrangement of nature; and, above all things, teach us to admire that ineffable goodness, which has regulated the whole in such a manner as to be most beneficial to thy creatures. APRIL XXII. The Constituent Parts of Water. WHEN we drink water, we think we enjoy a pure and simple element : in this, however, we are mistaken; for naturalists assure us, that each The Constituent Parts of IVutcr. 305 drop of water is a little world, in which the four elements and the three kingdoms of nature are united. There is scarcely any water which is not full of heterogeneous matter, very plainly visible when distilled or filtered. However incredible this may appear, it has been proved, beyond all doubt, \ He has placed the irrational creatures under their command, in order to make them serve for the support and convenience of man. What par- ticularly merits our attention is, that all the ha- bitable parts of the earth furnish a sufficient de- gree of nutriment to the creatures which occupy them. Not only the fertile bosom of the earth, but the vast expanse of the air, and the depths of the sea, abound in food suitable for the mainte- nance of the innumerable multitudes that exist in those elements. The treasures of Divine Good- ness are infinite. The provision which God has prepared for his creatures, is adequate to all their wants, and can never be exhausted. The world does not decay ; the sun returns with its accustomed light and heat ; the fertility of the VOL, i. - 2 E 314 APRIL XXV. earth never diminishes ; the seasons succeed re- gularly; and the fields never fail to pay their an- nual tribute of provision, for the preservation and support of the animal world. Whether we con- sider the continuance, the profusion, or the va- riety, of the means of sustenance which nature every where provides, we perceive, throughout, the traces of a beneficent and universal Provi- dence. All things which surround us, and which serve to support us, and procure the comforts and pleasures of life, are so many visible means, so many channels, through which our invisible Bene- factor continually dispenses his favours. The agents of nature are the ministers which fulfil the designs of his providence ; the world is his magazine, whence we draw all that is necessary ; and it is to his goodness and tender mercies, that we are indebted for all our blessings. " Father of all beings ! how extensive, how great, how inexpressible, are thy mercies ! It is in thee we live, we move, and have our being ; and thou sustainest all things by thy mighty word. At thy command, the dew moistens and refreshes the thorn as well as the cedar. The lot of mortals is in thy hand, and from thee alone they derive their felicity. Thou art their sove- reign good ; and thy paternal care extends to all mankind. Thy impartial goodness causes the sun to rise upon the unrighteous, even in the mo- ment that he offends thee. It is by thy command that the zephyr cools and refreshes us ; that the rose embalms the air with its perfume ; that the most delicious fruits please our palates; and that Plotters which blown in April. 315 the dew of heaven revives us. Thy gifts are pro- portioned to the necessities of thy creatures, and the righteous experience the salutary influences of thy grace. Thou givest to the bee the nectar of the flowers; to the worm, the drop that allays its thirst; and to the world, the cheering rays of the sun.- O Thou who possesses! sovereign felicity, and dost not disdain to communicate happiness to the poorest insect, which could not exist a mo- ment without thy support; permit me to sing a new hymn to thy praise, and condescend to ac- cept my feeble accents. Penetrated with joy and gratitude, I would celebrate thy name, magnify thy goodness, and ascribe to thee incessant ado. ration, praise, and glory." APRIL XXVI. Flowers which bloom in April. TH E nearer we approach that charming month which presents to us the country, the fields, and gardens, in full beauty, the more we see the wild and melancholy aspect of nature wear off. Every morning brings forth some new creation : each day nature approaches nearer to perfection. Already the grass begins to shoot, and the sheep run eagerly to feed. The corn begins to appear in the fields, and the gardens become cheerful and pleasant. Here and there the expanding flowers court our attention. The sweetly modest violet, one of the first children of the spring, re- 2 E2 316 APRIL XXVI. gales our senses with its delicious odours; and the flowerets of the beauteous hyacinth insensibly rising above the leaves, delights us with the rich- ness of their tints, and the fragrance of their per- fume. The imperial-Crown, flower casts around it a multitude of starry leaves : its stem rises high ; and its red and yellow bell-shaped blos- som, inclining towards the earth, forms a sort of crown, surmounted by a tuft of leaves. From the midst of its foliage, the auricula raises its stem, supporting a bunch of flowers, the circu- lar edge of which exceeds the richness of velvet and the softness 'of satin ; and the elegance of its form and the sweetness of its perfume, amply compensate for the shortness of its stature. The tulip comes out more slowly : it does not yet ven- ture to open, because the night air, or cold rains, might spoil the brilliancy of its colours. The ranunculus, the pink, and the rose, do not blow, till milder days allow them to appear in full beauty. An attentive observer will find many reasons to admire the wisdom and goodness of his Creator. It is for very wise purposes that, at the return of spring, each plant begins precisely in the time and the order prescribed, to unfold its leaves and flowers, and to prepare every thing for the production of its fruits. There is a constant suc- cession of vegetables from the beginning to the end of the year. Some are scarcely visible when others prepare to appear ; and these are followed by several hundreds of others, which spring up, each in its turn, at the appointed time. Whilst Flowers which bloom in April. 317 the fruit of one plant is ripening, nature excites another to propagate, that its fruits may be ready by the time the former has fulfilled its destination. Thus nature continually presents us with an agree- able succession of flowers and fruit. She leaves no void ; and, from one end of the year to the other, she watches over the successive genera- tions of plants. But why has not our Creator given us the en- joyment of more plants at once ? The reason is evident : for if all the flowers and fruits came at the same time, would there not be seasons en- tirely destitute of vegetables ? Should we not be deprived of the pleasure which those agreeable and progressive changes procure us, by preventing the disgust inseparable from sameness ? How many plants would perish, if they were now ex- posed to the cold nights which are sometimes felt in the commencement of spring ! Would so many millions of animals and insects find subsistence, if all the plants blossomed and bore fruit at the same time ? The beneficent Creator proposed to make provision for our support, and to contribute to our pleasure ; and to fulfil these two designs, it was indispensably necessary that the different species in the vegetable kingdom should be produced, not at the same time, but successively and by degrees. The spring flowers which we, at present, con- template with admiration, should lead us to re- flect upon the spring and blossom of life. In these gay and brilliant tribes, youth may behold an image, of themselves. Like them they are 2 3 318 APRIL XXVII. placed in a fertile soil, and have a thousand charms for which they are beloved and admired : but as the cruel north wind sweeps over the fair- est flowers, blasting, in its course, the sweet vio- let, the rich hyacinth, and the elegant auricula ; so it should be remembered that the pride of beauty and the vivacity of youth, are frequently nipped in the bud. Young man, be not vain of thy form. Do not venture to join too soon in the sports of thy companions, perhaps more ro- bust than thou art. Be not vain of the flower of thy youth. Life is like unto grass : it flourishoth as the flowers of the field : " As soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more*." APRIL XXVII. Return of the Birds. AT the commencement of winter, whole tribes of birds emigrate to other countries ; some in search of a warmer climate, and others to find conveni- ent asylums from the rigor of the air, in caves, excavations, and other sequestered places. Those volatilcs return to us as the gentle mildness of the spring advances ; some being awakened from their torpidity, and the others brought back by a secret instinct from those distant regions which have supplied their temporary wants: it is also worthy P$alm ciii. 15, 16. Return of the Birds. 3 1 9 of remark, that those which retire latest are gene- rally the earliest in their return. The air will soon be re-peopled with its feathered choristers; the nightingale will fill the groves with sounds of melody, the twittering swallow will resume her former nest, and the stork return to the habita- tion which she quitted at the beginning of winter. In a few weeks the skies will resound again with, the songs of birds, and their return will fill the plains and the valleys with joy and gladness. Two things particularly are remarkable in this emigration of birds. The first is, that they know exactly the time when they ought to return : " The stork in the heavens knoweth her appoint- ed time; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe the time of their coming*." Undoubtedly, the temperature of the air, in re- spect to heat and cold, and the natural inclina- tion of those creatures to produce and to bring up their young, are their greatest motives for changing their place ; but it is, in other respects, a very extraordinary instinct, and in some degree inexplicable. It is no less wonderful, that those animals, void of reason, know so exactly what route to take, and how far to go. Without com- pass, guide, or provision, they undertake and finish, in the most regular order, a journey of several hundred miles. Who has taught them to follow a certain track in an element so inconstant as the air? Who informs them how far they have travelled, and how far they have yet to go ? * Jeremiah, viii. 7. 320 APRIL XXVII. Who is it that guides, feeds, and 1'urniahcs them with all necessaries for their journey ? Do not these animals effect what men themselves would be unable to do ? To undertake journeys of such a length, what experience, what assistance, what directions and preparations, we require ! Can \ve, even with the assistance of our reason, with a compass, and geographical maps, follow so invariably the road over seas and mountains, as the birds do without assistance? In whatever light we consider these facts, we plainly disco- ver a power superior to mere animal instinct, and are compelled to acknowledge, that an Al- mighty Being has impressed on the mind of these birds, an impulse which they blindly obey. O Lord ! we here discover thy sacred influ- ence. Thou hast appointed to each of these ani- mals the country, and the identical spot, where IK- may find nutriment and habitation. Thou hear- est their cries when they stand in need of food, and thy merciful hand conducts them safely through their distant migrations. Great and adorable Parent, may I be enabled to cast myself and all my concern? into thy hands, with the most filial confidence. During my earthly pilgrimage, vouchsafe to lead me in the way which is pleasing to thee, and suffer me not to murmur in the course of my journey. Di- rected by thee I shall fear no evil, but trust, through thy goodness, to find with my subsist- ence, some degree of repose and comfort. Should my sublunary life prove restless and wandering, do thou cheer me with the hope that I shall Utility of Forests. 321 eventually arrive at the regions of consummate happiness and undisturbed tranquillity. APRIL XXVIII. Utility of Forests. DURING the winter, which has just passed, we experienced the great advantages of forests; as they furnished us with a provision of fuel at a time when we could not otherwise have guarded ourselves against cold. But it would be a mis- take to suppose that this is their only, or even their principal use: for if God had proposed no other end in creating them, why should those im- mense forests exist, which form an uninterrupted chain through whole provinces and kingdoms, and of which the smallest part is used for firing ? It is, therefore, evident, that the Creator, in forming these vast forests, proposed to himself to make them of use to mankind in other ways. Perhaps one end of their creation may be the pleasure we derive from their appearance. They form one of the greatest beauties of nature; and it is always regarded as an imperfection in a country to be destitute of woods and thickets. Our im- patience, when the leaves in spring are backward in appearing, and the pleasure we feel when they begin to unfold, make us sensible how much they adorn and embellish nature. In reflecting on the use of woods, we ought not to forget the fruits which numerous species of trees produce. It is 322 APRIL XXVIII. true, there arc some, whose fruits do not appear to be of any direct use to men ; yet the tar* themselves are valuable, on account of their beauty, their shade, and their timber. It will also appear, upon proper reflection, that those trees which we call barren, are, notwithstanding, of great utility. They nourish and support an infinite number of insects, and these become food for birds, which are designed to afibnl us the most exquisite dainties. The acorns of various species of oak, chesnuts, and similar productions, are the favourite food of pigs and wild boars: and have we not experienced, that these fruits, when properly prepared, may even serve as sus- tenance for man ? They serve, besides, to pre- serve seeds for the forests. How many animals would be deprived of their proper food and habi- tations, if there were no forests! How many conveniences, utensils, and medicines, should we be deprived of, had we not the wood, the bark, and the roots of trees! and how cheerless and uninteresting would the face of the earili appear, were it not diversified with fields and forests, plains and woods ! Forests, therefore, are of so much use to mankind, that nature has taken upon itself the care of perpetuating them. If their preservation and increase had been left to the industry and vigilance of man, the woods must have been at an end long ago. But the Creator reserved the forest trees to himself. He alone planted, and he alone supports them. It is he who disperses their little seeds over an exten- sive country, and gives them wings, that they Utility of Forests. 323 may be more easily wafted by the winds to the distant places destined to receive them. He alone causes those vast trunks to shoot out, and rise so majestically in the air, that their tops seem to reach the very clouds. He alone has planted them so firmly, that their branching roots en- able them to resist the utmost efforts of the winds, and to brave the storms of revolving ages; and he alone brings the rain and the dew out of his treasures, to clothe them every year with fresh verdure, and to maintain a sort of immortality among them. Merciful Father ! thy goodness extends over all the earth, and every region, however remote or wild, exhibits vestiges of thy wise and benefi- cent government. In all situations, in fields as well as in forests, in the barren desert and in the flowery plain, thou hast erected monuments of thy goodness, because thou art the God of love and mercy. Now that the genial season ap- proaches, in which we may walk under the lofty and umbrageous oaks, we desire to lift our hearts to thec, and to sing hymns of gratitude to thy holy name. O Lord ! help us to magnify thee for thy blessings in general, and for the forests which thou hast created for the benefit of thy creatures. 324- APRIL XXIX. APRIL XXIX. Pleasures which the Contemplation of Mature afford*. NATURE offers to all her children, with maternal goodness, the first, the most innocent, the least expensive, and most universal, of all pleasures. Such our first parents enjoyed in Paradise ; and it is only the depravity of man which makes him seek other recreations. Men are apt to despise the daily blessings they enjoy, however excel- lent ; and they only think of multiplying and va- rying their amusements. It is certain, however, that the pleasure I speak of is preferable to all others; it is almost impossible not to find charms in the contemplation of nature. And that it may be enjoyed without expense, is manifest: the poor, as well as the rich may indulge in it. But this is the very circumstance which depreciates its value. \Ve are foolish enough to disregard that in which others have an equal participa- tion ; whilst, if we were reasonable, nothing would give more value to a blessing than the thought that it contributes to the happiness of our fellow-creatures as well as our own. Com- pared with this noble and sensible pleasure, how vain and frivolous are those far-fetched amuse- ments, which, after being obtained with so much trouble and expense, leave a certain vacuum in the soul, and always end in vexation and disgust ! Pleu.Miivs which arc only the work of our own imagination, arc of short duration, and vanish like a dream; the charms and illusions of which Pleasure of Contemplating Nature. 325 are lost at the moment of waking : but the plea- sures of reason and of the heart those which we enjoy in contemplating the works of God are solid and lasting, because they open to us an in- exhaustible source of new delights. The starry sky ; the earth enamelled with flowers ; the melo- dious songs of the birds; the various landscapes and prospects, vying with each other in pictur- esque beauty ; may continually furnish new sub- jects of satisfaction and fill our souls with delight. If we are insensible to these, it is certainly our own fault ; it is because we behold the works of nature with an inattentive and indifferent eye. The duty of a Christian consists in enjoying, in- nocently, all that surrounds him. He knows how to draw resources from every thing, and has the art of being happy under any circumstances, at little expense, and without danger to his virtue. Beneficent Creator ! thou rememberest us in this lovely season, and providest for us an abun- dance of the most solid pleasures. A thousand sources of delight are open, and joy and gladness surround us on every side. If we wish to raise ourselves to thee, to indulge holy meditations, to feel celestial pleasures, all nature furnishes the opportunity. May we ever prefer this noble en- joyment to all sensual pleasures ! In these days of spring, may the sight of beauteous nature affect us more than those seducing pleasures which only flatter the senses without interesting the mind ! Lord teach us to acknowledge and to feel thy power and goodness; that, in studying to VOL. I. 2 F 326 APRIL XXX. find thce in all thy works, we may open to our- selves a pure and inexhaustible source of delight, and enjoy a foretaste of that fulness of joy which we shall experience in thy presence for ever- more ! APRIL XXX. Animals should lead Jleti to glorify God. IT is not sufficient to retrain from abusing ani- mals; we should also make the best possible use of them : and how can this be done so completely as by making them subjects to glorify God ? All creatures may lead to this, but particularly those which are animated. On every plant, tree, flowor, and stone, the greatness and glory of the Creator are visibly imprinted ; and we need only to open our eyes to see it. But in the animal kingdom it is more particularly obvious. Ex- amine the construction of one animated being. \Vhat art, what beauty, what admirable wisdom shall we discover ! And how will these wonders multiply, if we think of the almost infinite num- ber and astonishing vaiiety of animals! From the elephant to the smallest mite, which is only risible through a microscope, how many degrees, how many links are there which form one im- mense chain ! What connexion, order, and rela- tion between all those creatures ! All is har- mony ! And if, at first sight, we think we discover Animals should lead Men to glorify God. 327 any imperfection in certain things, we soon find it was only our ignorance which led us to form an erroneous judgement. It is not necessary that each individual should become a profound naturalist, or make deep researches into the nature of animals ; on the contrary, it may suffice to attend to the most familiar objects, and such as come under the observation of all. We see, for example, a mul- titude of animals, all admirably formed ; which, live, feel, and move, as we do ; which, like us, are liable to hunger, thirst, and cold ; and which, consequently, require that their wants should be regularly supplied. To all these creatures God has given life, he preserves their existence, pro- vides for their wants, and watches over them, as the master of a family over his household. May \venot hence conclude that God has the goodness, the tenderness of a father? Shall we not also conclude, that we ought to love this God, who is mercy itself ! If the Creator extend his care to animals, what will he not do for us ? If it be his study to render the lives of these creatures happy and easy, what may ice not expect from his bene- ficence ? Let the timid and distrustful man blush at his anxieties he who, as soon as he finds him- self not in affluence, falls into apprehensions, and fears that God will let him perish for want. That beneficent Being who supplies the wants of so many animals, will he not furnish us with all that tve require? Let us indulge another reflection upon the in- stinct of beasts, and thence take occasion to ad- 2i-2 328 APRIL XXX. mire and adore that great Being who so wisely combines the means with the end. As the instinct of animals tends to their preservation, it appears most evidently in the love and tender solicitude which they feel for their young. Our Lord himself, to express the most tender and pa- ternal care, makes use of the image of a hen gathering her chickens under her wings. It is, indeed, a most affecting sight to behold the natu- ral and strong affection which the hen has for her young ones, and the constant care which she takes of them ; she never takes her eyes off them : she runs to their assistance at the least appear- ance of danger; flies at the aggressor with asto- nishing courage; and hazards her own life to save that of her chickens : she calls them and encourages them by her maternal voice; she spreads out her wings to receive and conceal them ; she neglects all sorts of convenience to herselt ; and, in the most uneasy posture, she thinks of no- thing but the safety and welfare of the objects of her affection. Who does not here acknowledge the hand of God ? Without the maternal care of the hen, without that instinct, so superior to every thing, the chickens, the whole species, would infallibly perish. Can it be said, that what the hen does for her young is the result of understanding and reflection; that she judges, reasons, foresees, com- bines, and draws consequences ? Certainly not. And though, at first sight, every thing seems to proceed from the tenderness and understanding of the bird, yet we must acknowledge in it a su- Animals should lead men to glorify God. 329 perior hand, which shows itself without our know- ing in what manner it acts. These examples are sufficient for the proposed end ; therefore, without extending the subject further, I will conclude in a few words : It is the indispensable duty of man to seek in the brute creation to glorify God; and this duty we should ever hold sacred, as it will constantly prove both instructive and delightful. END OF THE FIRST VOLUME, 2 F 3 University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. RHTD LD-imi A 000 049 529 1