MARCH XXX.

Arrangements of the Seasons in different Planets.

THE diurnal rotation of the earth round its axis, and its annual revolution round the sun, affords us the greatest advantages; which would induce us to suppose that the other planets enjoy similar blessings. All of them, except Mercury, have been observed to turn round their axes in different spaces of time; and most probably he is subject to the same general law, though his precise motion has not yet been determined. All the planets move in their own orbits round the sun, and even the secondary planets make a similar revolution round their primaries. And as the diurnal rotation of our earth effects the constant vicissitudes of day and night, and its annual revolution the change of seasons, we have just reason to conclude that simi. lar changes take place in the other planets.

Venus turns round her axis in little more than 23 hours; Mars in 24 hours 39 minutes; Jupiter in 9 hours 56 minutes; the Moon in about 28 days. If we were to divide the day, that is, the time in which these revolutions are made, into twenty-four equal part, seach of which shall be called an hour, the hours of Venus will be a little less, those of Mars rather greater, and those of Jupiter not half so long as the days in our planet; whilst those of the moon will each be more than equal to one of our days. We may also observe that the axis of each planet is in. clined like that of our earth; whence it follows, that during their revolution round the sun, their north pole is sometimes more, sometimes less, enlightened. It is then reasonable to suppose that they experience a change of season, as well as the alternation of long and short days.

Perhaps it will be asked, "Why all these reflec

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tions?" They would be useful, if only to extend our knowledge; but they will be still more important, if we think of the consequences which must result from them. Shall we not have reason to conclude, that other planets besides our own are inhabited by living creatures? All the planets resemble our earth; like it enjoy the light and genial warmth of the sun, have the alternation of night and day, and the succession of summer and winter: but what end would all these phenomena answer unless the planets were inhabited ? Considering them as so many peopled worlds, what a sublime idea we conceive of the grandeur of God, and the extent of his empire! How impossible to fathom his bounty, or penetrate the limits of his power! His glory, reflected from so many worlds, fills us with amaze, and calls forth every sentiment of awe, veneration and gratitude. Supposing that his praise is celebrated in all the worlds which roll above and round us, let us not be surpassed in our adoration, but in holy emulation mingle our hymns with those of the inhabitants of these numerous worlds, and celebrate the Lord God of the universe, with etermal thanksgiving!

MARCH XXXI.

Care of Providence for the Preservation of his Creatures experienced in every Country of the World.

By this time we have become acquainted with the greatest part of the earth; and new regions have, from time to time, been discovered; yet no place has been found where nature does not produce the necessaries of life. We hear of countries where the scorching

rays of the sun have destroyed all verdure, and where the eye sees little but mountains and vast plains of sand and there are countries which seldom experience the light of the sun, or feel the grateful warmth of his rays; where a winter, almost perpetual, torpifies, and where no culture calls to cheerful em. ployment, nor fruits or harvest are ever seen. Yet in

these both men and animals exist, without any want of nourishment: the productions that nature has denied them, because they would be either parched by the heat of the sun or destroyed by extreme cold, arè supplied by gifts adapted to the nature of the climate, and suitable for the nourishment of the inhabitants; who collect with care what nature presents to them, and know how to appropriate it, so as to obtain all that is necessary to their subsistence, or essential to their convenience.

In Lapland, the providence of God has so ordered, that what at first seems to be an evil, and certainly is very troublesome to the people, is the means of their support. The Laplanders are infested with innumer. able multitudes of flies, furnished with stings, from which they defend themselves by raising in their huts a continual thick smoke, and besmearing their faces with pitch. These insects deposit their eggs on the water, which attract a great number of water-fowl that feed on them, and, being taken by the Lap. landers, become their principal source of nourishment. The Greenlanders generally prefer animal to vegetable food, and very few vegetables grow in these sterile countries. There are, however, some plants, of which the inhabitants make great use, particularly sorrel, angelica, and scurvy-grass (cochlearia). Their principal nutriment is a species of fish called augmarset, much resembling the kind known by the name of miller's.thumb. When they have dried these upon

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the rocks, they constantly use them instead of bread, and preserve them for the winter in large sacks of leather, or wrapped in old garments. In Iceland, where also, because of the intense cold, there is no agriculture, the people eat dried fish instead of bread. The Dalecarlians, who inhabit the northern parts of Sweden, having no corn, make their bread of the bark of the pine and birch, and a certain root which grows in the marshes. The inhabitants of Kamschatka feed on the stem of the acanthus, which they first peel and then eat raw. The natives of Siberia make use of the roots of a species of lily, which they call martagon.

Adorable Father of mankind! how tender and merciful are thy cares for our preservation! With what goodness thou hast distributed to every part of the earth all that is necessary for the subsistence of thy creatures! Thy wisdom knew, before the foundation of the world, the dangers to which the life of man must be continually exposed, and ordained that he should every-where be supported. Such relations, connections, intercourse, and communications, are established amongst the inhabitants of the earth, that people separated by the most distant seas labour for the convenience and support of each other.

We have likewise abundant cause to be thankful that we are so constituted as not to be limited to any particular kind of food, but are capable of using every species of aliment. And let us adore the inexpres sible goodness of God, who has permitted us to receive his all-sustaining word; for which, and the various blessings and abundant means of subsistence with which his liberal hand has supplied us, let us offer up praise and thanksgiving with our latest breath, and for ever rejoice in his holy name!

APRIL 1.

Hymn for the Commencement of Spring.

PRAISE ye the Lord, who has created the spring, who has adorned the face of the earth! To him belongeth all glory, honour, and power; for he maketh the beings which he has formed happy. The Lord has created, has preserved, and still loves and blesses, this world, the work of his hands: celebrate him all ye creatures!

In those days of felicity when man had not yet rebelled against his Maker, free from the pollutions of sia and its consequences, the earth resembled a para. dise. Even now, though deformed by sin, and the reward of sin, we still see the hand of the Divine Author, and the earth is still the entrance to Heaven.

The fields, which have so long seemed dead, begin to revive and bloom; every day produces new blessings, and all created beings rejoice in their existence. The face of the earth is renewed; the sky is pure and serene; the mountains, the valleys, and the groves, resound with melody and the Lord of the creation regards with an eye of mercy all his works.

But the fields are destitute of intelligence, and the irrational part of the creation know not the Being which formed them; man alone, rejoices in his God, experiences his existence, and aspires to live for ever in his presence.

Let us celebrate the God of nature: he is nigh unto us: let all his hosts praise him! He is present every-where; in heaven, on earth, and in the seas. Let us for ever glorify him and sing his praises; for wherever we are, there also He is, ever near us by his power, his love, and his bounty!

The Lord commandeth the clouds to extend themselves over the fields; he watereth the thirsty land,