them to seize their prey, they have a long neck and a large bill in short, nature has completely formed them for their particular mode of living.

The nautilus is a shell-fish something resembling the snail species; when they wish to ascend, they place themselves in front of their shell, and to render it more light, empty out the water through an opening. When they wish to descend, they retire to the bottom of their little house, which filling with water, becomes heavy and sinks. If they wish, to sail, they skilfully turn their shell, which becomes a little gondola, and they stretch out a thin light membrane, which swells before the wind, serving as a sail; and perhaps it might be this little nautilus that first taught men the art of sailing.

It is the same with the actions of animals as with their structure. The same wisdom which has formed their body has constructed their limbs, and appointed them their use; has also regulated the different actions that they perform, and directs them towards the end proposed in their creation. The brute is guided by the invisible hand of the Creator, and produces works which excite our admiration, and seems to be actuated by reason. It ceases to work when necessary, regulates its labour according to circumstances, and yet only follows certain secret springs that make it move. It acts as a machine which cannot judge of the work which it executes; and is directed by the adorable wisdom of the Creator, who has placed each insect as he has each planet, in a sphere from which it cannot deviate. When I observe then the different instincts and industry of animals, my soul is filled with veneration, and I seem to see the immediate operation of a Divine Power, which is only visible by its wonderful effects; and whoever attentively considers the different works of nature, must every where discover the evidences of God, and abundant cause to love and admire his sempiternal wisdom and goodness.

JULY XXVI.

The Human Countenance.

THE external appearance of the human body at once declares the superiority of man over all living creatures. His

face directed towards the heavens, prepares us to expect that dignified expression which is so legibly inscribed upon his features; and from the countenance of man we may judge of his important destination and high prerogatives.

While the soul enjoys undisturbed tranquillity, the features of the face are calm and composed; but when agitated by emotions, and tossed by contending passions, the countenance becomes a living picture, in which every sensation is depicted with equal force and delicacy. Each affection of the mind has its particular impression, and every change of countenance denotes some secret emotion of the heart. The eye may in particular be regarded as the immediate organ of the soul; as a mirror, in which the most tumultuous passions and the gentlest affections are reflected without disguise. Hence it may be called with propriety the true interpreter of the soul, and organ of the understanding. The colour and motions of the eye contribute much to mark the character of the countenance. The human eyes are in proportion nearer to one another than those of any other living creatures; the space between the eyes of most of these being so great as to prevent their seeing an object with both their eyes at the same time, unless it is placed at a great distance.

Next to the eyes, the eye-brows tend to fix the character of the countenance. Their colour renders them particularly striking; they form the shade of the picture, which thus acquires greater force of colouring. The eye-lashes, when long and thick, give beauty and additional charms to the eye. No animals, but men and monkeys, have both eyelids ornamented with eye-lashes: other creatures having them only on the lower eye-lid. The eye-brows are elevated, depressed, and contracted, by means of the muscles upon the forehead. The lids are of use to defend the eye, and prevent the cornea from becoming dry.

The forehead forms a very considerable part of the face, and when well formed adds much to its beauty: it should neither project much, nor e quite flat; neither be very large, nor yet small; fine hair adds much to its beauty.

The nose is the most prominent and least moveable part of the face; hence it adds more to the beauty than the expression of the countenance. The mouth and lips are on the contrary extremely susceptible of changes; and if the

eyes express the passions of the soul, the mouth seems more peculiarly to correspond with the emotions of the heart. The rosy bloom of the lips, and the ivory white of the teeth, complete the charms of the human face.

Without considering the several uses of these parts, we have ample testimony of their divine origin; and in contemplating the beauty of the human countenance, our admiration increases in thinking of that Being by whose wisdom and goodness we are so exquisitely formed. Whilst we examine each feature, let us meditate upon those high prerogatives which we enjoy over the animal world, and upon the noble purposes for which we are created. Our eye commands the face of nature, and glances from earth to heaven; our lips dance to the music of hymns in praise of our God; and every feature of the mind-illumined face displays that goodness of heart, and purity and intelligence of soul, which amiable modesty, retiring from the gaze of men, in vain attempts to conceal.

JULY XXVII.

Gravity of Bodies.

ALL bodies possess a force which acts at all times, in all places, and in all directions. If a body attempts to move more forcibly towards one point than to another, it is said to gravitate towards that point. Experience teaches us, that bodies have a tendency to descend; or that if they are from the surface of the earth without being supported they fall down perpendicularly. It is not in the body itself that we must seek the cause of its gravity; for a body which falls remains in the state in which it was first placed, till some external cause changes its direction. It is equally impossible that the air should be the cause of this gravity; for, possessing weight itself, it would rather retard the velocity of falling bodies. We must therefore look for the cause elsewhere. Perhaps the opinion approaching nearest to truth, is that which supposes the earth has the property of attracting bodies placed at a certain distance. Or perhaps we may impute the cause of gravity to some foreign matter distributed through all bodies.

But though we cannot exactly ascertain its cause, nothing

is more clear than the advantages which result from it. Without the power of gravity we should not be able to move as we do. Our centre of gravity is about the middle of our bodies; when we raise the right foot, we must bear this centre upon our left. If we bend our body forward, we are in danger of falling; but, by extending our right leg, we prevent our fall and make a step. Thus our walking is in some measure a continual series of interrupted falls. Hence, when we ascend a hill, we bend our body forward; and backward when we descend. In carrying a burthen on our shoulders we incline forwards, and lean back when we carry it in our arms. All this proceeds from the laws of gravity, which regulate the motions of animals, when they walk, swim, or fly.

The same laws are also extended to the heavenly bodies. The sun attracts the planets, and each planet attracts its satellites; or, what is the same thing, the planets gravitate towards the sun, and the satellites towards the planets; for a body made to revolve in a circle would always fly off from the centre in a right line, if it met with no obstruction. The planets revolve in their orbits with the greatest velocity. It seems as if a motion as rapid as that of the moon should whirl her from us to an immense distance in the immeasurable space, if there was not force which continually impelled her towards our globe, and which was strong enough to counteract the force tending to propel her from the earth. And this force is the gravitation of the moon towards the earth. If our earth was either lighter or heavier than it is, it would approach too near to, or fly off too far from, the sun: in the one case, nobody could support the heat; in the other, cold would be equally unbearable: either every thing upon the globe would be consumed by heat, or frozen by excess of cold.

Here again we have fresh cause to admire and adore that Wisdom, which, by means apparently so simple, regulates the motions of animals, and wields the vast globes that roll in the firmament. By the laws of gravity alone the smallest particles of dust are prevented from being lost, either from our earth, or from any of the globes which continually revolve around us. We here see the greatness of that power and wisdom which produce the most astonishing effects by means which appear to us the most insignificant.

JULY XXVIII.

Many Effects in Nature proceed from the same Cause.

UNIVERSAL nature is an endless chain of causes and effects; and as all parts of the universe bear a relation to each other, every motion and every event depends upon a preceding cause, and itself becomes the cause of effects which follow its action. The whole constitution of the world is well calculated to convince us that it is not chance, but a Divine Wisdom surpassing all conception, which first erected this wonderful edifice; impressed motion upon its different parts, and determined the great chain of events to depend upon and succeed each other with order and regularity. It is not difficult to acquire this degree of knowledge; for though our acquaintance with nature is very limited, we yet are able to perceive that many important effects depend upon causes evident to human intelligence. As a proof of this we may instance many natural phenomena.

What a variety of effects are produced by the heat of the sun! It not only contributes to the life of an innumerable multitude of animals, but also to the vegetation of plants; to the ripening of seeds and fruits; the fluidity of water; the elevation of vapours; and to the formation of clouds, without which we should have neither rain nor dew.

The air also is so constituted as to answer various ends. By means of this element, animals are preserved alive, and all the vital functions performed with vigour. It is by means of the air that the fire burns, and combustion is supported; that sound is conveyed in undulations to the ear; that winged creatures fly from place to place; and that man traverses the vast extent of the ocean. It is the air which supports the clouds, till, becoming too heavy, they fall in rain; it is that which prolongs our day by means of the twilight; and without air the gifts of speech and of hearing would be useless. All these, and many other advantages, depend upon the air in which we live and breathe. Is not then this wonderful element, which surrounds our globe, and is too subtile for our eyes to behold, and yet so strong that nothing can resist its force, a most evident proof of the wisdom of God?