its infancy becomes the prey of the swallow, cannot certainly produce a new generation. The efforts made by the alchemist to find the philosopher's stone, have not succeeded in the making of gold: but the insect is at least useful in serving as food for the swallow; and the attempts of the chemist have, at least, obtained for us that fine porcelain we enjoy at present. Our tears cannot soften the severe and cruel man, who abuses his power to oppress the weak; but, though our intercessions, in favour of a miserable person, prove useless, yet our tears will not be lost: they serve to keep up the sensibility of our hearts; and there is a Being who will gather those precious tears, to fill the crown which will one day adorn the head of the merciful. Let us, therefore, never think there is any thing in the world entirely useless. There may indeed be certain things which appear not to answer quite the purpose intended: but they serve, nevertheless, the purpose proposed by God; and in the very way he determined on. There may also be cases in which God appears not to have perfectly attained the end he proposed. In order that certain things may take effect, and realize, it may perhaps be necessary that other should in some measure fail, or be defective. But if it be incon testible, that true wisdom does not merely attend to the present, but carries its views to futurity; if God is infinitely wise, and that his wisdom must be shewn to the world as in a glass; there must necessarily happen certain things which, considered separately, appear not to fulfil their design thoroughly, because they cannot do it but in connection with others. The share that these things have in the execution of the whole plan may be so imperceptible, and so little known, that they entirely escape our observa、 tion. But it does not follow from thence, that they do not in reality contribute to it, We must,

on the contrary, conclude, that God would not be infinitely wise, and that he could not act on a well-formed plan, if there did not often happen things which appear to us useless. This persuasion will contribute much to our peace and happiness. Every day, there happens in nature, and in the course of human life, events, the cause and connection of which appear to us incomprehensi ble, and which we should be sometimes tempted to think useless, and without design. It is natural we should find every thing disagreeable and diswhich could weaken our confidence in God. And, the more we are convinced by reason, by daily experience, and by the promises of the gospel, of the goodness of God, and the wis dom of his government, the more content and tranquil we shall be, either in prosperity or adver. sity. It will then no longer be difficult to acknowledge, that, in every thing which God does, or permits, he proposes to himself ends infinitely wise, which are always, in one way or another, beneficial to mankind. If we see many apparently useless things, many events which appear inexpli. cable, or even entirely contrary to God's plan, far from finding fauit, we shall constantly adore his wisdom, and render due glory to him. He has never been mistaken in the government of the universe. All he does, all he permits, is still justified by the event. Let us then refer it to his wisdom, and ever trust to it, without having the temerity to criticise his dispensations. It is the only means of tranquillity here, and happiness hereafter.

MARCH XXII.

Harmony between the Moral and Physical World.

THE wisdom of God has ordained there should be a great affinity between the world and its inhabitants, to shew that the one was manifestly

made for the other. There is a connection and perfect harmony in all the Creator's works. Human nature, and the surface or the earth, have very near relations to each other, and a striking analogy. As the bodies of plants and animals form, grow, arrive at maturity, and perish; so are men subservient also to this law of nature. As there is a great diversity of climates and soils, some barren, and others fruitful; so is there an equal variety in the minds, talents, and faculties of men. Such has been the plan of the Creator; and there is, in this variety, more goodness and wisdom than we think of at first sight. Far from appearing defective, we should find it all perfection, if we had a thorough knowledge of things. If any body was tempted to object to God's not having given the same faculties, the same degree of understanding, to all mankind; we might answer, Who art thou, blind and weak mortal, that darest to question God on what he has done? Shall the creature say to the Creator, Why hast thou made me thus? We might as well ask, Why God has not ordained that all the kingdoms and countries on earth should be equally agreeable and fruitful? Why, in certain places, the soil is rich and fertile, while in others it is so barren and ungrateful, that all attempts to im prove it are thrown away? Let us not doubt that this difference is very right, and worthy our admiration, though it is not always conformable to our way of thinking. The most barren and desert countries have their use and beauty in the eyes of the Creator. It is the same in respect to the most savage and uncultivated nations. All hold their proper place in the immensity of created beings; and their variety serves to declare the wisdom of God, which is infinite. But, as it is evidently the intention of Divine Providence that the earth should be cultivated, and produce abundance of fruits for the preservation of men ind animals; as it is for the same purpose that

God has given us the corn to sow in the ground; so also, and with more reason, does his wisdom require that human nature should be cultivated, and that our souls should be made fruitful, and enabled to reap the excellent harvest of virtue and piety. It is with that design that he has given to mankind lessons of true religion; which, if they find a soil well disposed to receive them, produce excellent fruit, like the corn which is sowed in fertile ground. From thence it is, that the gospel also can have no efficacy in the world, but in proportion to the natural faculties of men, and the dispositions with which they receive it.

There are still, in our days, vast countries, bar. ren and uncultivated, although Providence denies them nothing that they require to make them fruitful. It is thus that, notwithstanding the publication of the gospel, there are still so many people who remain in ignorance. Even among the most polished nations of Christianity, the efficacy of the gospel is unequal, and will ever be so, according to the diversity of characters to whom it is made known. Some do not comprehend it, and have no sense of the salutary virtae of the truths of our holy religion. Others receive those truths with eagerness and joy; but those impressions do not last. With others, the pas sions and cares of the world stifle the divine word. And, lastly, some (but it is the smallest number) receive it with an honest and upright heart, with wisdom, with conviction, and sincerity. It is for them alone, that it becomes "the power of God unto salvation."

But to which of these do I belong? What impression has the doctrine of salvation made upon my soul? What fruit has the good seed of the gospel produced in my heart? These are ques tions which my conscience ought to answer honestly and sincerely; but of which my conduet through life will be the best proof.

MARCH XXIII.

The Nature and Properties of Air.

AIR is that fluid and subtile body which sur. rounds all our globe, and which every living creature breathes. Although it is so near us, that it surrounds us on all sides, and that we continually experience its effects, we do not, however, know its real nature. What we do know is, that air must be something corporeal; for we may be convinced of it, when we move our hand quick, and drive it towards our face. It is not less certain, that air is fluid; that its parts are separate, pass easily one over another, and by this means yield to every impression. If it was otherwise, if it was a solid body, we could neither breathe nor go through it. Weight is a property common to that, as to all other bodies. Although air is a thousand times lighter than water, its weight is nevertheless very considerable. The force with which air weighs on any surface of a foot square is two thousand pounds. A man, six feet high, whose surface is about fourteen feet square, sup. ports continually a mass of air of 280 stone weight. This, perhaps, may appear incredible. But the resistance of the air which is in our bodies prevents our feeling the weight of the outward air; for the air contained in the human body preserves the balance with that which surrounds us on all sides. The elasticity of the air is no less certain. It continually endeavours to extend itself into a larger space; and though it lets itself be compressed, it never fails to unloose itself as soon as the pressure is removed. Fire and heat shew this property in the air; and, by means of these, it may occupy a space of five or six hundred thousand times greater than what it