heir gradual growth. The interior surface of leaves, which is turned towards the earth, is always of a paler coour and less shining appearance, and is more rough and pongy than the upper surface. This peculiarity enables t more effectually to imbibe the dew which exhales from the earth, and to distribute it with more facility and abunHance to the whole plant. The leaves turn to that part whence they receive the most nourishment; hence we observe the leaves of certain plants hang very low. The eaves of trees which grow on a steep mountain take a perpendicular direction, by which they are able to acquire the necessary degree of humidity.

We have here fresh cause to admire the supreme wisdom of God, and we may henceforth consider the leaves of trees in another point of view. When we were ignorant of their structure, and of the important ends that they answered, it was not extraordinary that we saw them with indifference. But now that we know each leaf displays evident marks of Divine Power, and is an organ of fertility, it will be impossible to view them again with inattention or disregard; and whenever we see them we shall acknowledge that every thing, even the least object of nature, has been arranged by the wisdom of the Creator.

From the experiments of certain chemists it appears, that, during the day, the leaves of plants absorb carbonie acid gas, which is necessary for the nutrition and growth of plants, and they exhale moisture and oxygen gas; it is farther proved by Senebier, that the oxygen gas emitted by the leaves of plants depends on the presence of earbonic acid gas, which the leaves first absorb and afterwards decompose, and then give out the oxygen while they retain the carbon; these operations require the influence of light, which also is essential to the green colour of plants, for when they vegetate in the dark they are entirely white. During the night, leaves perform quite opposite functions; for they then absorb moisture and oxygen gas, and emit carbonic acid gas. Another very im portant function of leaves, is the power they have of converting the sap into a different fluid; it is completely ascertained, that the sap ascends to the leaves, where it undergoes certain changes, and there becomes a fluid, which is instrumental in forming the different parts of plants. as the chyle converted into blood is in forming those of animals.-E.

WHEN first the sun awakens the morn, joy and serenity are diffused over the soul. The heat and brilliancy of the great luminary of day communicate to man the cheerfuk ness and activity by which he is enabled to fulfil the va rious duties of his vocation, and enjoy the endearments of social life. The indolence and mental depression which often during the winter rendered us incapable of action, are now dissipated; we feel more pleasure in our existence, and perform our duties with greater ease and comfort. How could it be otherwise, when we witness the univer sal joy that the sun communicates to the world, and when we see every thing around us affected by his all-vivifying rays? He animates every creature, and rejoices them by his genial influence; millions of brilliant insects awaken and sport in his rays; the birds tune their music to his praises, and every thing which breathes rejoices at his ap pearance. Every where the joyful effects of his influence are felt: he causes the sap to rise in trees, plants, and vegetables; he unfolds the young leaves, and gives to the flowers their sweet charms; he forms the fruits, gives them their beautiful hue, and hastens their maturity. He diffuses light and life throughout the creation, and without him all nature would languish and die.

The influence of the sun is not only manifest upon the surface of the globe; it reaches the depths of caverns, pe netrates mountains, is felt within the ocean, and produces various and important changes on animals, plants, and minerals, whether above or beneath the surface of the earth. When we consider these salutary effects of the sun, it is natural to reflect upon the miserable state in which we should be if deprived of his light and heat. Without him our earth would be a sterile and lifeless mass, void of or der or beauty: the trees could not unfold their leaves, nor the plants their flowers; the meadows would languish without verdure, and the fields without harvests; and all nature would present one wild aspect of sterile deformity.

f

ch was the state of the moral world before the vivifying ver of Christ diffused life and consolation over the arts of men, and, by the purity and force of his light, pelled the gloom of ignorance, and the shade of mendarkness, that held in bondage the soul.

The sun's vivifying rays emanating from him in all dietions, may be considered as an emblem of the happy insence of a truly good man, who scatters joy and blessings all around him. He strengtheneth the weak, cheerh the afflicted, instructeth the ignorant, and relieveth e poor. Such a being is a noble example of what vir e and human nature is capable; and may we each, acording to our station and degree, endeavour to imitate ich a character with full purpose of heart: it is in the wer of each individual to become better, and the longer e refrain from iniquity, the more easy is the path to vire. Let us each labour for our mutual improvement, nd impart to those who are in want a portion of the blesngs which we are favoured to receive: our days will en glide on imperceptibly; our hearts, estranged from very sordid care and base passion, will be the seat of love, f peace, and of joyful harmony; and when our last hour ball arrive, we shall calmly repose in humble confidence en the bosom of our God, amid the prayers and blessings of thousands of our fellow-creatures.

JUNE IV.

Desires of the Soul unlimited.

LET us employ a few moments in reflecting on our own particular state; and certainly the consideration of our immortal soul has the first claim to our attention, as more nearly concerning us than any thing this world can af ford. Whatever satisfaction we may feel in contemplating the objects of the material world, is infinitely short of that which we derive from meditating upon the nature and faculties of the soul. The contemplation of external objects which the traveller meets with on his way is doubtless highly pleasing, because he requires recreation and

amusements in his pilgrimage: but by the contemplatioa of spiritual objects we are led to the consideration of the immortality of the soul, and the endless felicity of the righteous in the world to come. Let us often reflect upon the desires which are impressed on our souls. Experience convinces us that our desire for knowledge can never be satisfied; as soon as we have made one discovery, we thirst after more information, and, in proportion as our ignorance diminishes, we wish for more knowledge. Our desires are insatiate, and when we at length enjoy what we most ardently longed for, new wishes spring up, and the desire of receiving additional blessings accompanies us from infancy to the grave.

From all this we may infer, that, as no external object gratifies us long, as our desires never end with enjoyment, and nothing present is entirely satisfactory, but that we are continually looking for future blessings without ever being fully gratified, there is a state of existence beyond the present, the desire of which is so strongly implanted in our souls, that nothing short of it completely satisfies us Can any one suppose that man should be the only creature upon the earth which possessed a faculty, without the power of obtaining the end for which that faculty was given him? or that man alone should possess an instinet whose instigations he could not satisfy? This indeed would render his condition more pitiable than that of the brutes; for when an animal of that description is hungry or thirsty, it finds aliment to supply its wants: we see the silk-worm spin its cone, and shut itself up within it till it comes forth a new creature; and we see birds lay eggs; but would these things happen if it were not designed for the preservation of their species? If then our existence was limited to the short span of this present life, why are implanted in our souls desires boundless as infinitude, and inclinations which nothing earthly can gratify? And why have we faculties which are ever grasping at something beyond their reach? Surely the great Author of nature has never given us such desires without some wise and noble end, much less has he endowed us with them that they may be our tormentors.

Gracious God! my soul feels Thy sweet influence, and Joves Thee above all other things. It aspires to imitate

y perfection, and unite itself unto Thee for ever; it can bar above all terrestrial objects, and continue its lofty ight till it reaches Thy throne. And can this soul, this rinciple of power and intelligence, the emanation of the Deity, ever be annibilated? Were that the case, vain would e our knowledge, and fruitless our love of God. For the tmost stretch of human attainment is very little; the highest degree of perfection which man can possibly ac ufre is very inferior, and infinitely short of what he conceives. Doubtless, then, all the excellence which we are permitted to possess upon the earth, and all the intelligence which we are enabled to attain, are but the foreunners of that endless felicity the hope of which cheers every heart.

From these considerations we may learn something of our future destination. We now see that the desire of inreasing in wisdom and virtue, and the wish of always approximating nearer to God, the Source of all perfection, are not accidental, or given us in vain; we now know, hat the happiness which our imagination could anticipate but not enjoy in this state of being, will be the endless reward of the just; and we are now convinced, that those favoured moments in which the love of God warmed our hearts, when all the blessings of heaven opened before our view, and when we so ardently longed after perfection, were not useless nor without efficacy. We are continually advancing towards perfection; and the more earnest and unremitting are our endeavours, the nearer shall we attain to it; no faculties of the soul are useless, and the more they are exercised the greater will be their powers. Let us then rejoice in our immortality, and ascend from what is visible to what is invisible. Let us in the midst of pleasure, when surrounded with all that this world can afford, when animated by hope, and in the enjoyment of every blessing which the most favoured chil dren of humanity are permitted to receive, lift up our souls to heaven, and reflect upon the purity of God, that we may be preserved from the allurements of sense, and not debase our faculties by pursuits beneath the dignity of human nature, and incompatible with the sacred duties. of Christianity.