case they perhaps might be consumed by the heat, in the other wrapped in cold and darkness, we have reason to believe that those spheres which move round the sun, whether nearer to him or more remote than our earth, are so constituted, that neither the globe itself, nor its inhabitants, suffer from their situation.

Perhaps it will be urged, that what we have stated respecting the magnitude and distance of the sun is exaggerated: for we can discover nothing so great as the earth which we inhabit, and with which we compare the sun, which is a million times greater. This luminary from its prodigious distance appearing so small, ignorant people are disposed rather to believe that which they can see with their own eyes, than give credit to calculations which their reason cannot comprehend. But had we been placed on a planet whose magnitude bore the same proportion to the earth as the earth now does to the sun, we should have been equally incredulous as to the dimensions of this earth, compared with that we then inhabited. It is far from being strange, then, that we should be astonished when we are told of the distance and vast magnitude of the sun.

This admiration ought to make us ascend to that Being which is its Creator, Director, and Conservator; compared with which, the grandeur and brilliancy of the sun are as nothing: consider the glory of him who created it, and you will find infinitely more incomprehensibilities than when you only reflect upon the grandeur of the sun. If the earth, compared with the sun, is so small, what must be the littleness of man compared with his Creator! If the space between the earth and the sun is found to be so immense, what an inconceivable distance is there between man and the infinite God!

Who is like unto thee, O Lord! What can be compared unto thee? Thy glory is exalted beyond the reach of praise, and thy grandeur above the comprehension of man. Glory, splendour, and majesty surround thee, the principle and source of life; and light encircles thee as a garment.' But whilst we admire the sun as he shines above the horizon, let us not forget our divine Redeemer, that sun of righteousness which visited us in our afflictions, and whose rays impart life, health, and eternal salvation; and without which, deprived of light, virtue, and consolation, we should still wander in darkness, ignorance, and the grossest sin!

MARCH XVII.

UPON THE IMPERFECT KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE OF NATURE.

Why has not the Creator given us the power of investigating and explaining all the phenomena of nature, for which purpose the limits of our understanding are too confined? He wills that we should become acquainted with his perfections, that we might magnify his name. Would not then the most certain means of knowing and ap

preciating his attributes be, to have a more intimate acquaintance with the works of the creation? It seems to me as if I could much more admire the grandeur of the Supreme Being, and contribute much more to the exaltation of his holy name, if I was enabled to comprehend the whole, to know the perfections of each part, and to discover all the laws and springs of nature. If I now can admire the infinite greatness of God, when I only know a small part of his works, what would my sentiments be, how absorbed in the meditation of his glorious attributes, with what awe and veneration should I adore him, if I could fully penetrate into the wonders of nature, and explain with certainty the phenomena she brings forth !

But perhaps this mode of judging is erroneous; for since God has not thought fit to give us a more profound knowledge of nature, we are to suppose he prefers the degree of adoration and glorification he now receives from our limited faculties, to that he would have, were we to enjoy a more perfect state. Have we any reason to be surprised that in our present condition we are ignorant of the first principles of nature? Our senses are unable to penetrate into the essence of things, and we cannot form an idea of objects which our senses are incapable of observing. And there is an abundance of things which our senses cannot discern. If we wish to represent to our imagination any thing infinitely great, or infinitely small, they elude our grasp. If we reflect upon the rapidity with which the rays of light pass, we are incapable of following the velocity; and when we wish to conceive an idea of the vessels and circulation of blood in a creature a million times less than a grain of sand, we feel the inadequacy of our mental powers. Hence, as nature ascends from what is infinitely small to what is infinitely great, we shall not be surprised that we cannot penetrate its real principles.

Notwithstanding this imperfection in our abilities, we have no reason to complain that our knowledge of nature is so slight; we have always before us a vast field of improvement, in which we are incited to labour by every thing than can arouse and interest. Our faculties are so formed, that by cultivation they improve, and are capable of expanding to a greater degree than is generally supposed; we are continually adding new truths to former experience, and as we proceed we discover more to encourage our researches; and the more enlightened we become, the farther we penetrate into the mysteries of nature, the more we find to raise our ideas of the glory, the power, and the goodness of the Almighty Creator. May we always, O God! be favoured with the light of thy Holy Spirit, to guide us on our way; to enable us rightly to direct that knowledge we are enabled to acquire, and never to mistake or pervert those abilities with which we have been blessed, on the proper or improper use of which depends our future misery or felicity!

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MARCH XVIII.

THE UTILITY OF VEGETABLES.

If we consider the great number and diversified appearance of vegetables, we shall perceive, as in every thing else, the beneficent designs of the Creator. What other end could he have in view in covering the earth with so many different herbs, plants, and fruits, than the advantage and felicity of his creatures? Such is the number and variety of plants, that upwards of 30,000 species have already been enumerated; and every day more are added to the list. Their increase seems infinite: who, for example, is not astonished when he is told that one single grain of maize (Indian wheat) produces 2000 more; that one poppy-seed multiplies itself so, that, in two or three years, it produces sufficient to sow a large field? Hence, no one can doubt the care of Providence, particularly when they consider the use that has been made of vegetables from the earliest ages.

Do not fruits and vegetables daily furnish us with the most salubrious and nourishing aliment? And are we not indebted to the vegetable kingdom for the greater part of our clothing, furniture, and habitations? Every part of a plant is of some utility. The roots afford us food, medicines, pitch, dyes, and various utensils. With the wood we construct our buildings, furniture, and different instruments, machines, &c.; it likewise serves us for fuel, and from it we procure charcoal and medicines. The bark is of particular use in tanning, as well as in the cure of some diseases. The ashes are useful in fertilizing and ameliorating the soil, bleaching cloth, and making saltpetre. The resin is used in painting, and enters into the composition of pitch, tar, and balsams. Turpentine is used as a medicament, and colophonia (hard resin) to varnish, to solder, and to rub the strings of musical instruments; and mastic is used in perfumes.

Flowers, delightful both for their beauty and fragrance, are very useful in medicines, and supply the bees with their wax and honey. Fruits are singularly beneficial and grateful, whether fresh from the trees, boiled, dried, or preserved. But it is not man alone which receives advantage from the vegetable kingdom; the greater part of animals derive their nourishment from that source. For this purpose we find fields and meadows innumerable, covered with every variety of plants and vegetables. The wants of every individual are provided for; each knows the kind of vegetables most suited to its nature; and no one can number the blessings afforded by this kingdom, nor find expressions to celebrate the goodness of God.

MARCH XIX.

STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN HEART.

How wonderfully and exquisitely formed is that muscular body, situated within the cavity of the chest, and called the heart? Its figure is somewhat conical, and it is externally divided into two parts: the base, which is uppermost, and attached to vessels; and the apex, which is loose and pointing to the left side, against which it beats. Its substance is muscular, being composed of fleshy fibres, interwoven with each other. It is divided internally into cavities, called auricles and ventricles; from which vessels proceed to convey the blood to the different parts of the body. The ventricles are situated in the substance of the heart, and are separated from each other by a thick muscular substance; they are divided into right and left, and each communicates with its adjoining auricle, one of which is situated on each side the base of the heart. The right auricle receives the blood from the head and superior parts of the body, by means of a large vein; and in the same manner the blood is returned to it from the inferior parts, by all the veins emptying their stores into one, which terminates in this cavity; which, having received a sufficient portion of blood, contracts, and by this motion empties itself into the right ventricle, which also contracting propels the blood into an artery, which immediately conveys it into the lungs, where it undergoes certain changes, and then passes through veins into the left auricle of the heart, thence into the left ventricle, by the contraction of which it is forced into an artery, through whose ramifications it is dispersed to all parts of the body, from which it is again returned to the right auricle; thus keeping up a perpetual circulation: for, whilst life remains, the action of the heart never ceases. In a state of health the heart contracts about seventy times in a minute, and is supposed at each contraction to propel about two ounces of blood; to do which, the force it exerts is very considerable, though neither the quantity of force exerted, nor of blood propelled, is accurately determined.

The heart comprises within itself a world of wonders; and whilst we admire its admirable structure and properties, we are naturally led to consider the wisdom and power of Him who formed it, from whom first proceeded the circulation of the blood and the pulsation of the heart; who commands it to be still, and all the functions instantly cease to act: in God alone we live, move, and have our being; and may we never, whilst the vital stream flows through our veins, forget his goodness, or repay his love with ingratitude!

MARCH XX.

THE CHANGE OF SEASONS.

The coldest as well as the warmest climates have but two seasons in the year, which are essentially different. In the coldest countries the summer continues about four months, during which the heat is very powerful; the rest of their year may be considered as winter. Their spring and autumn are scarcely perceptible, because in the space of only a few days an excessive heat succeeds the greatest degree of cold, and the extreme of heat is succeeded as rapidly by the extreme of cold. The hottest countries have a dry and scorching season for seven or eight months; when the rains descend, and continue four or five months, this being the only distinction between their summer and winter.

It is only in temperate climates that we find four distinct seasons of the year. The heat of summer slowly departs, by which the fruits of autumn are rendered mature, without suffering from the winter's cold. And in spring plants are enabled to germinate, uninjured by remaining frosts, and not hastened into premature efflorescence by too early warmth. In Europe, we observe these seasons most distinctly in Italy and the south of France. In the temperate regions summer and winter generally commence with abundant rains, which continue for a considerable time. From the middle of May to the latter end of June it seldom rains; but after this time heavy rains sometimes set in, and continue till the end of July. The months of February and April are usually very variable.

The change of seasons deserves our utmost attention and admiration it is not effected by blind chance, for in fortuitous events there is neither order, constancy, nor regularity; whereas in every country of the earth the seasons succeed each other regularly as the day follows the night, and precisely in the expected time the aspect of the earth changes. We see it successively adorned with herbs and leaves, with flowers and fruits: it is then deprived of its ornaments till spring returns to restore them with increased beauty. Spring, summer, and autumn, nourish and gratify the animal creation by the fruits which blossom, increase, and ripen in luxuriant abundance. And though in winter nature seems to droop and to be dead, this season is not without its benefits.

Now that this month is so far advanced, we may begin to hail the near approach of spring, and all its accompanying pleasures, with transport and delight. How many are there who have longed to see this restoration of nature, and hoped to be recovered from the sufferings they endured during the winter, to whom this consolation has been denied, the thread of their lives being snapped ere the vernal breezes have refreshed the earth! Perhaps this is the last spring we shall be permitted to see, the last time we shall enjoy the freshness of the morning air, breathing the sweets of the opening flowers. Before