niles, the fixed stars would still appear no larger than Juminous specks. Incredible as this assertion may appear, it is not a chimerical idea, but a fact which is effectively proved; for about the 10th of December we are more than one hundred and sixty millions of miles nearer the northern part of the heavens than we are on the 10th of June; and yet we never perceive any increase of magnitude in the stars.

The milky way, though little compared with the rest of the heavens, is amply sufficient to manifest the grandeur of the Supreme Being; and each one of the stars we there discover displays the wisdom and goodness of the Almighty. And what are these stars in comparison of the immense number of worlds revolv ing in the firmament of heaven? Reason herself is confounded in the contemplation, and lost in admiration: we can only wonder and adore.

Often then as we behold the starry sky, let us raise our souls to thee, O adorable Creator and confess with shame how seldom we have thought of thee; how dittle we have reverenced thy grandeur or praised thy majesty! Pardon our insensibility, and forgive our ingratitude, O God! Loose these souls bound by earthly ties, and raise them to thyself, O Creator of heaven and earth! Suffer us to humble ourselves at thy feet, deeply convinced of our littleness and un. worthiness! Then may we be comforted in our con trition with the glorious hope, that our redeemed souls will hereafter soar beyond the region of the stars in endless felicity

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THE vegetable kingdom is a vast field, where the attentive observer may contemplate the boundless

Germination of Plants.

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power and omnipotent wisdom of the Creator. Though we should live upon the earth for the space of a hundred years, and though we were to dedicate every day to the study of a particular plant, at the end of our career there would still remain many things that we had not perceived, or had not been able suffi ciently to observe. Let us reflect upon the produc tion of plants, and examine their internal structure, and the conformation of their different parts; let us reflect upon the simplicity and diversity discoverable in them, from the least blade of grass to the most lofty oak; and endeavour to become acquainted with the nature of their growth, the manner in which they are propagated, how they are preserved, and the dif ferent properties by which they are useful to the ani mal creation. Each of these articles will sufficiently employ our faculties, and teach us, the infinite power and merciful goodness of the Creator. We shall every-where discover with admiration the most wonderful order and incomprehensibly beneficial designs.

Though we were to know no more of plants than the phenomena which every eye may distinguish ; though we only knew that a grain of corn, when sown in the earth, at first shoots forth a root into the soil; then a stem upwards, which pierces the surface, and bears branches, leaves, and fruit, in which are in cluded the germs of new plants; we should yet discover sufficient to convince us of the profound wisdom of the Creator.Let us attentively consider all the changes which a grain of wheat undergoes in the earth: it is sown at a certain time, which is all we can do to assist its progress; but nature is more active. As soon as it has acquired the necessary degree of humidity from the earth, it swells; the external coat or skin which concealed the root, stem, and leaves, opens; the root bursts forth and penetrates into the earth, where it derives nourishment for the stem, which

now makes an effort to raise itself up above the sur. face of the ground. When it has sprung up, it gra. dually increases till it has arrived at its proper height; it then unfolds its leaves, which at first are white, then yellow, and at length are tinged with a beautiful green. If we confine ourselves to the examination of this grain of corn, so necessary to our subsistence, what admirable wisdom we shall observe! Imme. diately as the tunic which enclosed the germ is rent, and the root has penetrated the earth, the stem ven. tures to spring up in the form of a fine and delicate filament, which, however feeble it may appear, is able to contend with the inclemency of the air. It gradually increases in size till it produces the ear of corn, the sight of which is so grateful, and where the fruit is enclosed in leaves which serve as a sheath till it is strong enough to break through them.

The fields where corn is sown may serve to remind us of fields sown with a very different kind of seed. We may regard our bodies, when quietly deposited in the earth, as seeds which are to spring up and be matured in eternity. We have as little reason to expect that a grain of wheat placed in the ground will produce an ear of corn, as that our bodies reduced to dust shall become glorious bodies of light and immor. tality. The time will come, when the seed shall un. fold itself, our dust will be reanimated, and the righteous will live in Christ. In that great day, what will become of you who despise our faith? It is true, our bodies must dissolve and turn to dust; but they will not always remain under the influence of death. The soul of the just man made perfect will repose from the labours of this life, in the bosom of his God full of happiness and adoration. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath the imagination of man conceived, a state of salvation so blessed and glorious as this!..

APRIL VIII.

The azure Colour of the Sky.

To judge from the first impression of our senses, we might suppose that the heaven above us was an immense vault of blue studded with brilliants; such an opinion, however, will only be retained by the most ignorant of men, though many with some title to understanding have very absurd notions of the sky. The reason why it appears of an azure colour is to be ascribed to the atmosphere not being perfectly transparent. Were it possible to ascend very high above the surface of the earth, the air would be found much more rare, till, if we were to ascend still higher, it would become incapable of assisting in respiration, and at length would entirely cease, when we should have reached the region of pure ether.

The higher the mountains are which we ascend, the lighter does the atmosphere become, and the azure colour of the heavens fainter. And if it were possible to ascend to the regions of pure ether, the blue colour would entirely disappear, the sky would appear black as night; for so do those objects appear which do not reflect the rays of light. Consequently, if the air which surrounds us was as transparent as ether, the sky could not appear blue. The air is filled with innumerable minute particles, which when illumined by the sun receive a motion, in consequence of which new rays are produced; and those particles, of themselves obscure, become visible to us when they are thus illumed. Their colour is blue; hence a forest, which appears green when we are nigh to it, seems to be more and more blue as we recede from it. However pale and subtle are the blue rays of air, so many of them strike upon our eyes at the same instant, that they produce all the effects of a dark blue.

APRIL IX.

What has now been advanced may induce us to consider the heavens in a different point of view than we have hitherto done. From it we may conclude that there is not a phenomenon of nature, not even the colour of the sky, in which we do not discover order, utility, and some certain end. If green is the most agreeable colour that could be chosen to beautify the earth, the azure of the heavens is no less beautiful and pleasing. How dreadful is the aspect of heaven, when storms rave and tempests lower! But what a beauty and simplicity is seen when it is in a state of serenity and repose! The charms it presents increase the longer we contemplate it, and we are never weary with the pleasing view; the rejoiced soul raises itself to the Being which has thus adorned the heavens, and swells with grateful joy in the contemplation of his power displayed in beauty.

ARPIL IX.

Necessity and Use of Air.

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THE earth is surrounded by a fluid, called air, which materially contributes to its life, beauty, and preser. vation. All the changes we observe in the different beings upon our globe depend upon the air. It is essential to the existence of animals, for few of them can survive a minute's privation of this fluid. Not only land-animals, and those which inhabit the air, cannot live without it; but those which dwell beneath the waters equally require a renovation of air, That birds may be enabled to fly, they must be supported by the air; and on this account we find their lungs are constructed, that the air can pass by orifices into their bodies, and their bones s are cellular or porous; by which means they are much lighter, and