reach the highest star over our heads, we should discover new skies, new suns, new stars, new systems of worlds, and perhaps still more magnificent. Even there, however, the dominions of our great Creator would not end; and we should find, with the greatest surprise, that we had only arrived at the frontiers of the worldly space. But the little we do know of his works, is sufficient to make us admire the infinite wisdom, power, and goodness of our adorable Creator. Let us stop here, then, and reflect how great must be that being who has created these immense globes! who has regulated their course, and whose.mighty hand directs and supports them! And what is the clod of earth we inhabit, with the magnificent scene it presents us, in comparison of the beauty of the firmament? If this earth were annihilated, its absence would be no more observed than that of a grain of sand from the sea shore. What are provinces and kingdoms in comparison of those worlds? Nothing but atoms which play in the air, and are seen in the sun beams. And what am I, when I reckon myself among this infinite number of God's creatures? How am I lost in my own nothingness! But however little I appear in this, how great do I find myself in other respects!"How beautiful this starry firmament which God has chosen for his throne! What is more admirable than the celestial bodies! Their splendour dazzles me; their beauty enchants me. However, all beautiful as it is, and richly adorned, yet is this sky void of intelligence. It knows not its own beauty; while I, mere clay, whom God has moulded with his hands, am endowed with sense and reason." I can contemplate the beauty of these shining orbs: Still more, I am already, to a certain degree, acquainted with their sublime Author; Author; and I partly see some rays of his glory. I will endeavour to be more and more acquainted with his works, and make it my employment, till, by a glorious change, I rise above the starry regions. ..<.<.<.<>......... JANUARY XIII. DISCOVERIES MADE BY MEANS OF THE NATURE is in small objects what she is in the great ones. There is no less order and harmony in the construction of the mite than in that of the elephant. The only difference is, that the weakness of our sight prevents us from penetrating into the nature and organization of small bodies, which often escape our eyes, and which we can only perceive by the assistance of glasses. Microscopes have made us acquainted with a new world of vegetables and animals. They teach us, that objects, which the naked eye cannot discover, have extent, parts, and form. Let us mention some examples of it, to lead us to praise God, whose glory manifests itself so wonderfully in small objects. Every grain of sand appears round, when we examine it with our eyes only, but, by the assistance of a glass, we may observe that every grain is different, both in size and shape. Some are perfectly round, others square, others conical, but mostly irregular. And what is still more astonishing is, that, by means of a microscope, which makes objects appear a million of times larger than they are, we may discover, in the grains of sand, a new animal world: For it has been found, that their cavities contain insects. In cheese, there are little worms called mites, which, to the naked eye, appear mere dots, while, with a microscope, they are proved to be insects of a singular figure. They have not only eyes, mouth, and feet, but a transparent body, furnished with long hair in the form of prickles. As for the region of plants, it is found in the mouldy substance which usually sticks to damp bodies. It shews you a thick forest of trees and plants, where the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit, can be clearly distinguished. The flowers have long white transparent stalks. Before it opens, the bud is but a little green ball; and it does not become white till it has blown. You would as little expect to find these objects in mouldy substances, as that the meal which covers the wings of a butterfly should be a heap of little feathers, if the micriscope had not proved the truth of it. But we have no occasion to carry our researches to remote subjects. Let us limit them to what relates to ourselves. Examine with a micriscope, the surface of your skin, and you will find that it resembles the scaly skin of a fish. It has been computed that a grain of sand could cover 250 of these scales, and that one only of these scales, covers 500 pores, and consequently that a space, equal to a grain of sand, contains 125,000 pores. Thus we see how great our Creator is, even in things which prejudice makes us consider as trifles. What an immense number of creatures has he spread over the earth! Those we see are but the least, and perhaps the meanest of God's works. How many objects in nature are concealed from us! We already know above thirty thousand plants, and of insects several millions of species. But what is that in comparison of the whole? If the bottom of the sea, and of rivers, could be open to our sight; if we could transport ourselves to other planets; how would our astonishment increase at the immense number of God's crea tures. tures. How wonderfully we experience that he has displayed as much wisdom in the most minute objects as in the greatest! Nature proves herself as complete and regular in her smallest productions as in those prodigious bodies, whose circumference is calculated by millions. The Creator provides with the same goodness for the wants of the insect, which crawls in the dust, as for those of the whale, which appears like an island in the midst of the waves. Let us imitate in this the example of the Deity. Let the least of creatures. feel our benevolence, since our common Author vouchsafes to preserve their existence. JANUARY XIV. THE ADVANTAGES OF NIGHT. WE are, it is true, deprived of some pleasures, now that the sun withdraws its light from us so soon, and that the greatest part of our time is passed in darkness. Nevertheless, we have no cause to complain of this arrangement in nature. As the mixture of pleasure and pain, of good and evil, is always wisely ordained; so do we find the same provident, goodness of our Creator in this remarkable variation in our climate. And it may be reasonably maintained, that the winter nights are more advantageous than hurtful to us; or, at least, that their apparent inconveniencies are compensated or softened by a thousand blessings too little acknowledged. Should we be as well convinced as we are of the use of the sun; and would its light excite in us the same sensation of pleasure, if the being deprived of it did not lead us to feel the advantage of it? Each night may remind us of the mercy of God, who, for the good of mankind, has spread light and beauty over the earth; it may remind us of the misery in which we should languish, if day did not succeed the darkness. And does not even darkness obtain for us a great advantage, by inviting us (from the tranquillity and repose which attends it) to enjoy a sweet sleep? How many workmen, who, in the day, waste their strength in our service, and whose labour, hard in itself, is also attended with disagreeable sensations! O how they bless the night, which suspends their labour, and brings them ease and sleep! In general, we are too selfish, in measuring the advantages and inconveniencies of night, merely by the use or hurt we think we draw from it. If long nights are disagreeable to some, to how many others are they a blessing! In certain points, the night is favourable to the huntsman and fisherman. Without it the astronomer could not have formed an idea of the distance, the size, the course, and the infinite number of planets and stars; nor could the pilot make use of the northern star, if it was always daylight. Considered in another way, night still appears to me a benefit to mankind, in lessening our wants, and in putting an end to those, which in the day time cost us many cares. What expence does not conveniencies and custom require, without which we should scarce think we enjoyed life! How many families, oppressed with want, begin the day with anxiety, and end it in hard labour! Night comes, and suspends care and misery. To be happy, nothing but a bed is wanting; and if sleep closes our eyes, all our wants are satisfied. Night, in some degree, equals the beggar with the monarch. Both enjoy a blessing which cannot be purchased. O how gracious that being who combines all things for the happiness |