FEBRUARY V. THE WONDERFUL STRUCTURE OF THE EYE. THE eye infinitely surpasses all the works of human industry. Its structure is the most astonishing thing that the understanding of man can properly comprehend. The most eminent artist cannot invent a machine of this nature, but what must be infinitely inferior to the eye. Whatever sagacity or industry he may have, he can execute nothing but what must have the imperfections common to the works of men. We cannot, it is true, discover perfectly all the art which the Divine wisdom has employed in the formation of this beautiful organ; but the little that we know of it, will suffice to convince us of the infinite understanding, goodness, and power of our Creator. What is most essential is, to avail ourselves of that knowledge, however little it may be, to magnify the name of the Most High. First of all, the disposition of the external parts of the eye is admirable. What intrenchments, and fortifications, has the Creator provided for the safety of our eyes! They are placed in the head at a certain depth; and encompassed with hard and solid boncs, that they may not be easily injured. The eyebrows contribute much to the safety and preservation of this organ. The hairs which form an arch above the eye, hinder, not only the drops of sweat from the forehead, from falling into it, but also dust, and such like matters. The eyelids are another defence: and besides, as they shut when we go to sleep, they prevent the ac Wonderful Structure of the Eye. tion of the light from interrupting our repose. The eyelashes are instrumental to the perfection of the eye: they protect it from the injury it might receive from too much light, by excluding the superfluous rays: they also prevent the dust from falling into the eye. But, the internal structure is yet more admirable. The whole eye is composed of tunics, muscles, and veins. The tunic or exterior membrane of the eye, which is called the Cornea, is transparent; and so hard that it is capable of resisting severe blows. Behind this there is another, termed the Uvea, which is circular and coloured. In the centre of this there is an opening, which is termed the Pupil of the eye; and appears to be black. Behind this opening is th Crystalline Humour, which is perfectly transparent, of a lenticular shape, and is composed of many small Lamina or layers exceedingly thin; and placed one on the other. Under the Crystalline, there is a limpid and transparent substance, which is called the Vitreous Humour, because it resembles melted glass. The cavity, or outward chamber, between the Cornea and the Crystalline, contains a humour, fluid and as limpid as water, and which, on this account, is termed the Aqueous Humour: this may be reproduced after having run out through a wound of the Cornea. Six muscles, admirably well arranged, move the eye on all sides; elevate, depress, turn it to the right or left, obliquely, or round, according as necessity may require. What is most wonderful, is the Retina, a membrane which lines the bottom of the eye. It is Wonderful Structure of the Eye. no other than a web of extremely fine fibres attached to a nerve which comes from the brain, and which is called the Optic Nerve. Vision takes place on the Retina, because the objects are painted in the bottom of the eye on that tunic; and although the images of external objects are painted in an inverted order on the Retina, we nevertheless see them in their true situation. To form an idea of the extreme minuteness of the image thus painted on the Retina, we have only to consider that the space of half a mile, i. e. more than eight hundred yards, painted on the bottom of the eye, occupies but the tenth part of an inch! I render thee thanks, O Lord my God, that thou hast formed my eye in so wonderful a manner! My soul acknowledges thy infinite wisdom, power, and goodness, in the arrangement of all the parts of my body. Until now, I have not considered my eye as it should be considered, i. e. as a master-piece of thy handy work; and as a demonstrative proof, that my body, even in its smaller parts, is not the work of chance; and that thou hast not formed it without proposing to accomplish the most excellent ends. But, at present, I begin to get a glimpse of the wonders of thy goodness; and I am struck with astonishment, in considering myself, and the other works which thou hast formed. Incline me to remember thy benefits with more gratitude, and to glorify thee by the use of my eyes! Teach me to use them in such a manner, as to answer the end for which thou hast given them; that I may never abuse them, and that this beautiful organ may never be profaned or dis The Fog or Mist. honoured by any fault of mine! Grant that I may hereafter use my eyes to consider thy works; and that as often as I contemplate the heavens, the earth, or myself, I may be excited to love and praise thy admirable goodness! And, when I see the different woes and miseries, under which many of my fellow-creatures groan, let not my eyes, refuse tears, nor my heart be shut up against compassion. But, may tears of joy flow from my eyes, as often as I receive any new mark of thy goodness; or am enabled to do any good to the poor and afflicted, to relieve them in their distresses, and to wipe away their tears. Thus shall I fill the intentions of thy goodness, and enjoy the approbation of my God. FEBRUARY VI. THE FOG OR MIST. AMONG the many meteors which we see in winter, one merits our particular attention; the Fog. This is only a collection of aqueous and sulphureous vapours, which fill the lower region of the atmosphere, and are then condensed. This condensation, is principally caused by cold: and in order to form Fogs, the air must be sensibly colder than the earth, whence exhalations continually arise. Fogs not only diffuse a gentle humidity over the earth, but furnish our eyes with a very pleasing sight. Every object whether near or remote, the heavens or the earth, appears to The Fog or Mist. be confusedly enveloped with a kind of grey curtain. Around and above us, we see nothing but obscurity; and the eye wanders from place to place without being able to distinguish the objects. The rising sun labours a long time to pierce these mists, and restore to the earth the appearance it had before: at length he succeeds in dissipating these vapours: sometimes they descend upon the earth; at other times they arise to the middle region of the air. Objects, by little and little emerge from that uniform obscurity, with which they were encompassed, and appear in their usual form. The heavens regain all their brightness and serenity; and it is only close to the ground, or on the roofs of houses, that we perceive any traces of that fog, which for several hours had covered the horizon. At the appearance of this meteor, I recal to mind that dreary time when the sciences were, so to speak, covered with the impenetrable mist of superstition and ignorance. In what thick darkness were whole provinces and kingdoms, before the Sun of Truth could shew himself in all his splendor! The light of the human mind was so very imperfect, and its sight so bounded; that men did not know the things with which they are encompassed; and the power of error was such, that no ray of light could penetrate those souls which were darkened by prejudice and supersti tion. At last the Sun appeared, and suddenly illuminated all those countries, which during whole ages had been buried in the deepest shades. We became capable of distinguishing truth from error; a blessed eternity was opened to our view; and we began to |