to employ it in self-defence, or in useful labour, is of little advantage in a civilized state, where the powers of the mind are of much more avail than bodily strength, and where manual labour devolves on the lowest classes of society.

Here again we may acknowledge the admirable wisdom with which God has formed our body, and rendered it capable of so much activity. We cannot but regard with pity those indolent beings who pass their lives in idleness and effeminacy; who never exert their strength, nor exercise their powers, for fear of injuring their health, or shortening their lives. Why has the Almighty blessed us with strength, unless that we may employ it to some useful purpose? When, therefore, we dissipate it in indolence and inactivity, we oppose the will of our Creator, and become guilty of the basest ingratitude. Let us, in future, exert all our power, and apply our several faculties for the good of our fellow-creatures, according to our situation and circumstances; and, if necessity requires, let us cheerfully earn our bread by the sweat of our brow; even then our happiness is greater than that of thousands of our fellow-men, who groan beneath the insufferable yoke of slavery, and who, when worn out with labour and fatigue, and their strength is exhausted, have no means of procuring ease and comfort for their oppressed bodies, nor no soothing voice of kindness to cheer the sad moments of sickness, or encourage their drooping soul; hope is denied them, and their only consolation is the silence of the grave. The more happy we find our lot, compared with these unfortunate victims of luxury, the more seriously ought we to apply ourselves to fulfil our duties; and the success of our labours should induce us to love and praise God, who has vouchsafed to grant us strength and ability, and graciously continues to preserve them.

SEPTEMBER XVI.

Instinct of the Butterfly in the Propagation of its Species.

THIS is the season of the year when butterflies begin to disappear from the creation; but the race is not extinct; they

live again in their posterity, and by a wonderful instinct they provfde for the preservation of their species. From the eggs which they lay, new generations arise; but where do they place them at the approach of the rigorous season, and how do they defend them from the autumnal rains, and the penetrating frost of winter? Are they not in danger of being frozen or drowned?

That beneficent Being, who gives wisdom to man, has also condescended to instruct the butterfly how to secure the only legacy it can bequeath to the world, by covering its eggs with a glutinous substance which is secreted by its own body. This sort of glue is so tenacious, that rain cannot penetrate through it, and the ordinary cold of winter cannot destroy the young ones contained in the eggs. It is worthy of remark that though each species always follows the same method from generation to generation, there is still much diversity in the means which different species take for the preservation of their race. Naturalists have informed us, that some of these insects lay their eggs at the beginning of autumn, and die soon after, whilst covering their tender young. The sun warms their eggs, and before winter a number of little caterpillars are hatched; these immediately begin to spin, and with their thread make themselves nests and very commodious lodgings, where they pass the cold season, without eating, and nearly without motion. It is also remarkable that the butterfly, like other insects, only lays its eggs upon those plants which agree best with its young, and where they may find the necessary nourishment: so that as soon as they are hatched they are surrounded by the aliment which is most proper for them," without being obliged to remove at a time when they are too feeble to undertake long journeys.

All these, and many more circumstances of a similar nature, are calculated to make us admire the wise arrangements of an all-preserving Providence. If we do not require miracles, and things, contrary to the usual course of nature, to affect and render us attentive, the consideration of the cares which

these insects have for their offspring, so diverse in different species, but always uniform and constant in each individual, would fill us with the greatest admiration.

Let us, who are rational beings, learn from these insects to cherish in our hearts a love for our children, and to interest ourselves for the benefit of those who are to succeed us on the stage of life. Let not the fear that death may surprise us in the midst of our labours divert us from forming great projects, or undertaking noble enterprises; remembering that in thus devoting ourselves to the public good, we only repay to posterity the debt we owe to our ancestors. If parents of children were to imitate the female butterfly, which provides for the little ones which survive her, they would never leave their helpless children in want, but would place them in such a situation, that when the parents cease to live, their children shonld have no other cause of sorrow than the loss of a kind father, or of a tender mother. Though we cannot foresee, much less prevent, those misfortunes and contingencies to which they are liable, we ought certainly to take care that their future condition in life is not unhappy by our neglect. Would to God that all parents were concerned as becomes them for the future welfare of their offspring; that they would not leave their families in disorder and confusion; and that they would do well to regulate their domestic affairs, and that after their death their unprotected children might not be exposed to vexatious embarrassments, nor witness their inheritances enjoyed by strangers, and their property consumed by lawsuits.

SEPTEMBER XVII.

The Vine.

To be convinced how unreasonable and absurd it is to complain of the inequalities of the earth, we need only consider the nature of vines. The vine never succeeds well in a flat country, neither does it thrive on every hill; but only on those which have a south or east aspect. The highest hills

and steeps where the plough never reaches, are yearly covered with verdure, and produce the most delicious fruits. If the soil which nourishes the vine appears poor and destitute, the wine-producing plant appears equally unpromising. Indeed had we not known it by experience, we could scarcely have believed that a seemingly dry and mean wood should produce such a delicious liquor. The evaporation from the vine is so considerable, that one hundred ahd fifty-two inches of sap are required to rise in the space of twelve hours, to supply the fluid which exhales through the leaves.

Much wisdom is displayed in the distribution of vineyards over the earth. They do not succeed alike in all places to thrive well they should be situated between the fortieth and fiftieth degrees of latitude, consequently about the middle of the globe. Asia is properly the country of the vine, whence its cultivation has been gradually introduced into Europe. The Phoenicians, who at a very early period traversed the coasts of the Mediterranean, brought it to the continent and most of the islands. It succeeded remarkably well in the isles of the Archipelago, and was at length brought to Italy, where it multiplied considerably; and the Gauls, who had tasted of the grape juice, wishing to establish themselves in the country where it was produced, passed the Alps, and made themselves masters of both banks of the Po. The vine was soon afterward cultivated throughout France, and flourished upon the banks of the Rhine, the Moselle, the Necker, and in different provinces throughout the German empire.

The consideration of the vine may give rise to some very important reflections. As the most barren soils are good for the cultivation of the vine, so it sometimes happens that the poorest countries are favourable to science and wisdom. In provinces universally despised for their poverty, men have arisen, the rays of whose genius have beamed upon distant countries. There is no place so desert, no town so small, or village so miserable, as entirely to preclude the successful cultivation of science: all that is required for its increase is

encouragement. What an inestimable blessing then we have in our power to procure, if we only will give ourselves the trouble of cherishing the virtues of the human heart, and improving those mental powers which we possess for the noblest purposes! Sovereigns, pastors, and teachers of youth, how essentially might you contribute to the happiness of your fellow-creatures, and of your remotest posterity, if, by proper exhortations, rewards, useful establishments, and adequate encouragements, you endeavoured to restore religion, science, and all the social virtues, into ruined cities, and desolate villages! Efforts like these can never be entirely useless. If we ourselves do not receive the recompense of our labours in seeing them attended with present success, our descendants will at least receive the fruit of them, and we shall be ranked amongst those excellent characters who, by being the benefactors of the human race, have obtained the approbation of God, and the benediction of their fellowcreatures.

The vine, with its dry and shapeless wood, is emblematical of those men who, destitute of the honours of birth, and the splendour of rank, still do much good. How often it happens that men born and living in obscurity, whose external appearance promises little, perform actions, and undertake enterprises, which raise them above all the princes of the earth! And here we may reflect with advantage upon Jesus Christ himself; to judge of whom from the mean and abject state in which he appeared when personally on earth, we should not have expected those great and wonderful works which have made him the Saviour of mankind. He has shewn us that we may be poor, despised, and miserable in this world, and yet successfully labour for the glory of God, and the good of our fellow-creatures.

SEPTEMBER XVIII.

Hymn to celebrate the Works of the Creation.

PRAISE ye the Lord! Let all tongues and people celebrate him with songs of joy! Sing aloud, and exalt his power and