Revolutions of Nature.

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their course, their order, and regularity, what force governs their destination, and preserves them from clashing in their orbs, or from whirling off into the vast space of Heaven, we are led to the great First Cause of all things, the Almighty God, who has marked out the circle they are to describe in the heavens, who directs their course, and preserves the beauty and the harmony of the universe with wisdom and power too great for finite beings to conceive or to comprehend.

Nearer to us, the elements are in continual agita. tion. The air is ever in motion, and the waters unceasingly flow; rivers beginning with small and im. perceptible sources, increased by a thousand tributary brooks, form streams, which rising in their course, swell to an amazing bulk, and roll majestically to. wards the ocean, into which they incessantly heave their accumulating waves. From the sea's vast surface vapours arise, and collected in the sky, form clouds, which continually breaking, shower down the collected water in the form of rain, hail, or snow; and this penetrating the bosom of the earth, and making its way into the depths of the mountains, supplies the original sources of the streams, thus preserving an endless circulation.

The seasons continue for a limited term, and suc. ceed each other in the order prescribed from the be ginning of time. Each year the earth resumes her fertility, vetetation flourishes, and the returning har.. vest gladdens her inhabitants: her gifts are never exhausted, because her productions are always returned to her. Winter arrives at the appointed time, and brings the necessary repose; when this is obtained, spring succeeds, and nature awakes from her short sleep with gaiety, pleasure, and love. This circulation is observed in every living creature; the blood transmitted from the centre flows by different ramifi.

cations of vessels to the most distant parts of the body, imparting to them life and vigour, and then returns to the heart, whence it proceeded. All these revolutions lead us to the contemplation of Him who fixed their foundation at the creation of the world, and has since by his power and his wisdom continued to direct them with unceasing perfection.

We have now seen the conclusion of this month, which is gone for ever; we can never experience its return under exactly the same circumstances. The period will at last arrive when all the vast machinery of this universe must stop, and all its wheels be motionless; when the spheres shall cease to roll, and all the defined periods of time be lost in eternity. But the infinite and immutable God will still remain, and with him all those into whose nostrils he has breathed the breath of life.

FEBRUARY 1.

Every Thing in Nature conduces to the Good of Mankind.

Ir behoves thee, O man! to be deeply sensible of the love and preference with which God has honoured thee, in distinguishing thee from all other creatures, by so many advantages. Acknowledge, as thou oughtest, the privilege of being peculiarly the object of the Divine liberality, of being the chief of whatsoever he has formed for the manifestation of his glorious at tributes. It is for thee that all nature labours; in the earth, the air, and the waters. For thee the sheep

is clothed with wool; the horse by his horny hoofs is enabled to bear heavy loads, and climb the most rugged steeps; the silk-worm spins her soft web; the fishes in the ocean are nourished; the bee burrows in

Every Thing conduces to the Good of Man. 57 the bosom of the sweetest flowers, and extracts their treasures; the stubborn ox submits to the yoke: and for thee the forests, the fields, and the gardens are exuberant in riches, the very mountains are fruitful, and the depths of the earth reward the toil of him who explores their recesses.

It is true that, compared with other animals, thy wants are very numerous; but thou art infinitely better provided with faculties, talents, and industry, to make every thing around thee subservient to thy utility and pleasure. Thousands of creatures contribute to nourish thee, to clothe, to make thy habitation, and to furnish thee with comforts and conveniences innumerable.

But the bountiful Creator has not rested here; he has not merely provided for thy wants, he has condescended to procure thee every variety of charms: for thee the lark carols her lay, and Philomela makes the groves echo to her song; the meads and the lawns charm thee with their varied beauties; and the air far round smells sweet with the flower-scented breezes. But thou art infinitely blessed beyond all these, in that noble faculty of reason, which makes the haughty lord of the forest to crouch at thy feet, and the monarch of the ocean contribute to thy riches; which enables thee to walk abroad through nature, and contemplate the grandeur, beauty, and magnificence, of her works, and not to rest satisfied in the admiration of their order and harmonious catenation, but to reflect upon the first cause of their being; and though removed from their presence, to be still able to enjoy endless delight, from the pleasing recollection of their beauty and sublimity, heightened by the power of imagination.

Such meditations as these could not often fill the mind, without our hearts being warmed with the sensations of love and of gratitude for the Divine Creator,

When we look around us, and contemplate the vast spectacle of nature; if we soar into the heavens, or dive down into the deep; we shall find all created things ultimately conducing to our good. And surely we cannot more effectually answer the great end of our being, and in some degree requite the goodness of God, than by cultivating those talents which he has been graciously pleased to confer upon us, and call forth all those finer feelings of the heart which he has permitted us to enjoy. Without the one, we shall never be enabled to comprehend any portion of the sublimity of nature and nature's works; without the other, in vain will the sighs of the miserable break upon our ear, or the pangs of the afflicted meet us in the way. The storm may howl around, and the tempest roar, but secure in ourselves we shall be regard. less of another's suffering. The consequences must then be, a conscience seared, a mind weak and contracted, and a heart alive only to villainy and ingratitude. Can such ever be the language of Christianity, or the conduct of Christians; of men for whom ineffable happiness and joy is in store, who are looking forward to the holy kingdom of Christ, "where shall be alone found pleasure without alloy?"

FEBRUARY II.

Of the Influence which Cold has upon Health.

seasons.

IN these severe winter months, it is not unusual for many people to be lavish in their praises of the other Spring, summer, and autumn, whilst we enjoy their blessings, are little attended to; but when we no longer profit by their advantages, we praise them beyond measure. It is usual with men to dis

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Influence which Cold has upon Health. regard their present benefits, and only begin to feel their value when they can no longer enjoy them. But is it true that those three seasons alone possess every advantage? Is winter really so great an evil as some represent it to be? These are important questions, as they considerably influence our content and repose. Spring and autumn are sometimes dangerous from the great and sudden changes of temperature, and the frequency of epidemic diseases; and in summer the heat is often very oppressive, and productive of debility and various maladies. In winter these incon. veniences are not experienced, the health is generally better, the body more vigorous, and the spirits cheer. ful.

In summer, when sinking under the fervency of the sun's rays, how we sigh for the shady retreat, and the evening breeze to refresh our languid frame; whilst during the cold of winter we are active and alert, and rarely find the cold so intense that exercise will not procure us a grateful warmth.

Thus even winter may contribute to our health, and to our pleasures; the Creator has provided for our good in this equally as much as in the other seasons : if we are discontented, if we do not enjoy so good a state of health, the fault probably rests with our selves. Perhaps we pass the time in idleness and inactivity, and, immured within close and heated rooms, never breathe a pure air, nor go abroad to enjoy many of the days which really are very favourable and mild; or, a prey to anxiety and distrust of the future, our days and our nights are consumed in hopeless lamentations; or we corrupt our morals, and destroy our health and peace of mind, by intem. perance, How happy might man be, how regular his health, if he never violated the laws of nature, nor departed from the due bounds of moderation! if he made repose alternate with labour, and pleasure with business! Let us then henceforth apply ourselves