. hard treatment we sometimes experience may be a means of increasing our wisdom and our virtues. Darkness teaches us how to esteem and value the presence of light, the continued brightness of which would dazzle and fatigue our sight; and a fine serene day never gives us more pleasure than when it is preceded by gloomy and tempestuous weather. Neither should we be so sensible of the blessings of health if we had not learned its value by painful experience. We are in general too apt to exaggerate our evils, and magnify our sufferings; the events of the world, and the accidents of life, are rarely so lamentable, as in the gloominess of our thoughts, and the ardency of our imagination, we represent them. We are so blinded by pride, self-love, and affectation, that we consider every little evil that befals us as of the first consequence; whilst we never think of the many adadvantages and comforts with which we are favoured, and which far exceed the trifling inconveniences we may suffer. Even what we regard as the greatest evils may be converted to our ultimate gain, if we conform ourselves to the views of Divine Wisdom. Do we not see the snow, the tempests, the winds, and the frost, and all the changes of the season, are the means which God uses to grant new favours ? When the sky has long been lowering, and the clouds gather thick, when the storm and the tempest have threat. ened, how soon has light been restored to the heavens, and joy and gladness again smiled on the earth! The heavier the showers are, the sooner the clouds are drained; the more intense the darkness, the greater is the pleasure when the sun restores the day. Adversity only fills up a part of our life, and often when the storm threatens to break over our heads we are going to be relieved from our trouble. Let us therefore bow without murmuring to the dispensations of Providence, and cheerfully submit to The Utility of Mountains, : 109 the evils we cannot avoid if it please the Almighty Disposer of events that our path through life shall be dark, with few rays of comfort and of happiness to cheer us on our gloomy way, let us not repine; but steadily hold on our course, unmoved by the laugh, the scorn, and the censure of the world, as the rock rears its head above the waves, and remains regardless of their idle foaming, whilst the storm rages around. FEBRUARY XXVIII. The Utility of Mountains. WOULD it be more advantageous to our globe if the surface were more even, and not subject to so many inequalities? If the superfices of the earth had been smoother, so as to form one vast extended plain, might not our sight have reached farther, and our travelling from place to place been more facilitated, be sides many other advantages which we should have experienced? These are important questions, and deserve our serious consideration: let us now, therefore, see whether we have any cause to be discontented with the present arrangement of our globe. From mountains and hills flow innumerable springs, which uniting form vast lakes and rivers. Those im mense chains of mountains which extend from east to west, traversing a great extent of country, are supposed to condense into water the moist exhalations from the earth, and thus prevent their being dissipated from the summits of the mountains there is thus a perpetual supply of streams, which descend to irrigate and fertilise the valleys below. Besides their being the source of fountains and rivulets, they are also of great use in being the abode and shelter of many animals which are of great advantage and service to man. They supply, without its costing us any labour, food and support to many animals which we esteem both for their flesh` and their skins, Upon the sides of mountains grow and flourish trees, plants, and a variety of herbs and salutary roots, which cannot be so well cultivated in the plains. Within their bosom, also, are contained various metals and minerals; and mountains are highly useful in sheltering us from the cold piercing blast of the north and east winds; and to many countries they are more effectual and durable barriers against the inroads of hostile nations than the strongest ramparts and most powerful engines of war; and they are, at the same time, the most sure bulwarks against the ravages of the sea, the inundation of floods, and the devastation of the winds. They form the most grand and striking objects of nature; for who can contemplate the Alps, the Cordeliers, and the Andes, without feeling emotions of sublimity? or view, without astonishment and rapture, Plinlimmon and Benlomond, whose summits are lost in the clouds? It is true that some mountains, such as Ætna and Vesuvius, are terrible from their explosions, and dreadful from the materials they contain ; causing horrible shakings of the earth, and hurling fire and destruction far around. But as we have reason to believe this partial evil is for the general good and advantage of man, we have no cause to complain of this peculiar arrangement of the earth. Mountains then, we find, are essential to the due preservation of the earth; procure us numberless advantages; and display, equally with the rest of the creation, the wisdom, power, and goodness of God. On the heights, as well as in the depths; on the mountains, and in the valleys; above the earth, as well as beneath it; the Lord manifests himself the benefactor .of his creatures, and gives occasion to bless and celebrate his name for ever and ever. |