REFLECTIONS, &c.

THE

MAY I.

THE SYSTEM OF THE WORLD.

'HE sun, of all parts of the system of the world, is that which interests us the most. Its form is spherical, and it is composed of a fiery substance which never consumes. There are spots in certain parts of it (as may be seen through telescopes), which shew that it moves round its own axis. This body is one hundred millions of miles distant from us. It is a million of times larger than our earth, the circumference of which is more than 24,000 miles; it communicates its light to nineteen opaque globes, which take their course round it at different distances, and are called planets. The nearest to it is Mercury, which is in a manner buried in the rays of the sun; and this being so close to it, is the reason, that, of all the planets, we know the least of it. A little further is Venus, which is called the Morning Star, poetically Lucifer, when she rises before the sun, and the Evening Star, poetically Hesperus, when she sets after the sun. Next to Venus comes our globe, the surface of which is composed of land and water, mountains and valleys; and the interior part consists of beds

VOL. II.

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beds and strata of different substances. This earth is the abode of a multitude of creatures, both animate and inanimate, metals, plants, and animals. The moon turns in a particular orbit round us, and accompanies our globe in the whole circle it describes round the sun. It is fifty times smaller than the earth; and there are visibly distinguished in it some parts that are light and shining, and others that are dark and dull: The first supposed to be continents, and the other seas. For, if the moon was composed only of one substance; if it was a body entirely solid, or entirely fluid, it would reflect the rays of the sun all the same way, and we should not see those spots in it. A fluid body, such as water, absorbs a great quantity of rays, and only reflects a part of them: It is therefore very apparent, that the dark parts of the moon are seas, and that the bright parts are land. Among the light parts, some are more brilliant than others, and even cast a shade. They must then be higher than others, and resemble our mountains. Some of these mountains are alone, others are contiguous, and sometimes form very long chains. In the seas of the moon, some parts are observed to be less dark, and appear, consequently, to be like our islands. The four last planets of our solar system are, Mars; Jupiter, with his four moons, or satellites; Saturn, with five; and the Georgium Sidus, with two already discovered, and probably more. There are spots also visible to us in them. Georgium Sidus is so far from the sun, that he requires no less than 82 years to finish his revolution. This vast domain of the sun, which, without reckoning comets, extends to more than 400 millions of miles, is however but a part of the universe. For each of the fixed stars, the number of which is perhaps more than the grains of sand

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on the sea shore, may be considered as a sun, which equals ours, or perhaps surpasses it.

Such is the wonderful greatness of the works of God, and thus the heavens declare the glory of the Lord! With what splendour does the majesty of the Creator shine in those wonderful works, which invite us so strongly to pay a tribute of admiration and praise to the great Being who made them! Is there any thing in nature more proper to inspire us with sublime ideas of the Deity, than the sight of the celestial sky! Can we ever raise our eyes to heaven, without having the most lively sense of the magnificence and greatness of him who gave being to all things, and who governs them with incomprehensible power, wisdom, and goodness! What are poor miserable mortals, lost in the immensity of the creation, who crawl like insects on a grain of sand! What are we, in comparison of those innumerable solar systems, which contain so many vast globes within their circle! What are we, especially in comparison of the Creator of all these worlds, these suns, and these skies, which, if we attempt to measure, trouble and confound the understanding! And yet this sovereign Ruler of the immense universe deigns to honour us with his protection and paternal care. How adorable are all his mercies!

MAY II.

REFLECTIONS ON THE BLOSSOMS OF TREES.

AT this instant, in which our gardens and fields are adorned with all the ornaments of spring, all Europe appears with equal pomp, and every where presents the most cheerful prospect. The power of the first word pronounced by the Creator, when

he formed the world, produced all these magnificent effects. One hand alone, the hand of the Creator and Monarch of the world, has in a few days renewed, and in a manner created the earth again, for the use and pleasure of his intelligent creatures. Come, O man! come and try what thy wisdom and power can do. Art thou able to make a single tree blossom, to call from the earth the smallest blade of grass, to order a single tulip to appear in all its beauty? Draw near, learned artists, skilful painters, and contemplate these flowers, examine these master-pieces with the most scrupulous attention; is any thing wanting to their perfection? Do you find any fault in the mixing of the colours, in their form or proportion? Could your pencil express the dazzling red of the peach blossom? Could you imitate the fine enamel, the uniformity and simplicity with which a cherrytree in blossom is adorned? But why do I say, imitate? Are you even capable of feeling all the magnificence of renewed nature, or of forming to yourself a just idea of its inimitable art? If there were no stronger proofs on earth of the power and wisdom of God, the flowers of spring alone would be sufficient to convince us of it. Each tree that blossoms, each herb and flower proclaims his goodness and wisdom, which is over all the earth. We remark an infinite variety in the blossoms of trees. All are beautiful; but their beauties are differ

ent.

One surpasses another; but there are none which has not something pleasing peculiar to itself. However great the Creator in the dispensing his gifts, he still reserves to himself the liberty of bestowing more or some than others. But this difference is only in respect to accessory qualities. Such a tree, for example, has blossoms of a dazzling white; another has red stripes and shades,