Thus, every thing on earth is in motion; every thing grows and decays by turns. In a word, to be born, and to die, is what continually passes on the theatre of the world. But this does not happen accidentally or without order or design. Every thing acts according to certain laws, which tend to certain ends. Every thing combines, every thing concurs, in the most perfect manner, to the glory of the Creator. All contribute to, all end in the happiness of the universe. These continual revolutions are useful warnings to us. They teach us that this world cannot be our place of destination. When we consider the continual vicissitudes which all here below must undergo, is it not the most affecting lesson for us, on the vanity of all earthly things, on the uncertainty and shortness of life, on the necessity of a better state, an everlasting life in the world to come? Yes, every thing points out to us our destination, and declares we are but sojourners and travellers on the earth.

With what consolation my soul is penetrated when, in the midst of the revolutions of the world, I lift up my eyes towards Thee, O Lord! towards Thee, who art both immutable and eternal! Let the mountains be shaken, and fall down; let the sea be troubled, and the waves roar; let all that is earthly be destroyed, and return to dust; still Thou art, and ever must be invariably the same.

MAY IV.

An Invitation to seek God in the Works of
Nature.

AWAKE, O my soul, awake from the slumber in which thou hast been so long plunged, and be attentive to all around thee. Consider thyself, and all other creatures. Reflect on their origin,

their construction, their form, their use, and a thousand other circumstances, which must fill every attentive observer of the works of God with admiration. When thou seest the sky, with its variety of lively colours, the stars which shine so bright, the light which discovers to thee the objects around; ask thyself, from whence proceeds all this? Who formed that immense expanse of the heavens? Who placed in the sky those innumerable fires, those stars, which, though at so prodigious a distance, dart their rays even unto us? Who ordered the stars to move with so much regularity, and the sun to give light and heat to the earth? Is it not Thee, adorable Creator? Yes, it is thy mighty word, that called forth all things, and ordained them to exist and live. What must be thy greatness, thy incom. prehensible greatness, O Lord God! to enable Thee to make all these out of nothing! How infinite thy goodness to have so planned every thing, that all contribute to our happiness! Stupendous mountains! What mighty hand fixed your foundations? Who raised your heads to the very clouds? Who adorned you with forests, with fruit trees, with plants, and flowers? Who covered your tops with snow and ice? Who caused to flow out of your bowels those springs and rivers, which water and enrich the ground? It is thy hand, O Almighty Creator! which has done all these wonders: and I adore that divine hand, with sentiments of admiration, respect, and gratitude. Flowers of the field! who gave you your magnificent clothing? How happens it that you were produced out of a little earth and a few drops of water? From whence have you that variety of perfumes, which embalm the air, and delight us; those lively colours which charm our sight, and which no human art can imitate? This is thy work, O Lord! Every thing on earth proceeds from Thee. And you, O ye ani.

mated beings, who people the air, the waters, and the land, to whom do you owe your existence, your construction, and those instincts, so various and so wonderful, which astonish our reason, and are so well adapted to our nature and way of life? What a multitude of wonders may I not observe in myself? How does a handful of dust become a body well organized? How is it that one of its parts has sight; that another, by means of the undulation of air, is informed of the thoughts of other people? How is it that I have the faculty of communicating ideas and desires? How does a little matter, bruised by my teeth, afford me so many agreeable sensations? I acknowledge the hand of my Creator in all these incomprehensible wonders. His wisdom, power, and goodness, all combine to render us happy.

MAY V.

The Dawn of Day.

THE morning dawn discovers to the world a new and magnificent creation. The shades of night deprive us of the sight and enjoyment of the earth and sky. But when the light of day returns, we behold all nature renewed and embellished. On a sudden, we see the earth arrayed in all its magnificence; the mountains crowned with forests; the hillocks clothed with vines; the fields covered with their harvests; and the meadows watered with rivulets. The horizon. glows; the clouds are all tinged with variety of the liveliest colours; cheerful flowery vales are discovered at a distance; light vapours arise and change to gold; and the dew drops that fall on the flowers, take the mild lustre of pearls. By degrees, as the light increases, the spectacle becomes more magnificent. We go from light to

light, till at last nature presents us with her most glorious object. The sun rises; and the first ray that escapes over the mountain which had concealed it from us, darts rapidly from one end of the horizon to the other. More rays follow, and strengthen the first. By degrees the disk of the sun comes out, and shews itself entire; then advances and runs its course, with a majesty which the human eye can no longer support. Were any one suddenly to see this delightful scene, for the first time, from the top of a hill, what would he think? what would he do? Doubtless, he would prostrate himself, full of sweet emotion and pious respect, to adore that God who is the Author of the sun. Eternal Being! (would he cry) in the beauties of the rising day I acknowledge thy power and wisdom. With the lark, who, towering in the air, salutes the morn, and proclaims its arrival by the sweetness of its notes, I soar towards Thee, O Lord! who art the Father of the whole creation. The joy and gladness of all nature, the animation of every being, invites me also to raise my soul towards Thee with the most lively transports of gratitude and joy. At this moment, while the sun is darting his first rays upon the earth, millions of creatures praise and adore Thee. Can I then be still insensible to all these wonders! From Thee proceeds each beauty of the morning dawn; from Thee, who art the source of light. It is Thou who hast given it those lively colours, and impressed a sense of them on our souls. Thou hast given us souls of a heavenly nature, capable of tracing Thee in all thy works. Our eyes seem to behold Thee in the splendour of the rising sun. If Thou didst not exist, there would be neither sun, nor dawn, nor creation.

But are not those indolent men much to be pitied, who never gave themselves the heavenly pleasure of contemplating the rising sun? O if

they were but rational enough to indulge in the pure and delightful enjoyment which this magnificent object of nature is so calculated to inspire! If they could but feel, that the sight of beautiful nature must naturally fill the heart with pious delight, and profound veneration for the Creator! If they could, in fine, comprehend, that one single thought, which rises in the soul, on seeing the dawn of day, may become the happy beginning of a Christian life, would it not be worth giving up some hours of sleep for it.

MAY VI.

Wonders of Vision.

KO objects can become visible to us, unless rays of light proceed from them, and fall upon our eyes. Those rays which enter into our eye, pass through the cornea, through the watery humour, through the pupil, and penetrate at last even into the chrystalline. After having been sufficiently refracted and collected together in this place, they paint on the retina (behind the vitreous humour) the image of the outward objects, and they draw it with a perfect exactness and clearness. The rays then touch the optic nerve, which is as sensible as the finest string of a harpsi chord. This nerve, by its motions and vibrations, produces different sensations in the soul, and excites perceptions and ideas in it, conformable to the impressions which the outward objects make upon the brain. What has just been said of the sight, shews that it well deserves some reflection upon it. The image of all our outward objects is painted on the retina upside down, and yet we see them right, and in their real situation. How is it, that the largest objects are painted in our eyes extremely small, and yet we see every thing