into a state of inactivity. Hence it follows that the attention diminishes, and at length ceases; the memory becomes confused; the passions are calmed; and the connexion between our thoughts and reasoning faculty is interrupted. As long as we feel the influence of sleep, it is only the first degree of it; we may then be said to be in a dozing state. When we are really asleep, we have no longer that consciousness and reflection which depends upon the exercise of memory; our eyelids wink, open, and shut, of themselves; the head reclines in an easy position; and when our sleep is quite profound, all voluntary functions are suspended; but the vital functions, and all those which do not depend upon the will, are still performed with vigour. A sweet sleep refreshes and repairs our exhausted nature; and we rise from our slumbers with increased energy, capable of again renewing the fatigue of the day.

All these circumstances are well calculated to make us acknowledge the goodness of God, so mercifully extended to us in his tender care to procure us the blessing of sleep. We ought to be still more thankful, when we consider the effects of sleep being ushered in by a complete suspension of activity in the senses; and that it steals upon us unawares, and in a way not to be resisted. The first of these circumstances renders it more sound and refreshing; the other makes it an unavoidable necessity. And how wisely is it ordered, that by the spontaneous closing of the eyelid the eye is defended when we are not able to preserve it from the dangers to which it would have been subjected!

Let therefore the hour in which we dispose ourselves to enjoy the sweet influence of sleep be always preceded by thanksgivings to our Heavenly Father. Let us not only bless him because the days happily succeed each other, but also because he has so constituted us, that a state in which for a space we repose from the cares, the troubles, and the vexations of the world, is to us a state of refreshment, in which we require new force and gain accumulated vigour. Let reflections like these be the last which take place before sleep surprises and locks up our soul in silken fetters; and when morning dissolves the charm, let love and gratitude to our God be the first emotion of our heart.

AUGUST V.

DIVISIBILITY OF MATTER.

To be convinced of the infinite divisibility of bodies, we have only to walk into a garden, and inhale the sweet incense that rises from a thousand flowers. How inconceivably small must be the odoriferous particles of a carnation, which diffuse themselves through a whole garden, and every where meet our sense of smell! If this is not sufficient, let us consider some other objects of nature; as, for instance, one of those silk threads, the work of a poor worm. Suppose this

thread is three hundred and sixty feet long, it weighs but a single grain. Again, consider into how many perceptible parts a length of three hundred and sixty feet can be divided. A single inch may be divided into six hundred parts, each as thick as a hair, and consequently perfectly visible. Hence a single grain of silk can be divided into at least two millions five hundred and ninety-two thousand parts, each of which may be seen without the help of a microscope. And as every one of these parts may be again divided into several more millions of parts, till the division is carried beyond the reach of thought, it is evident that this progression may be infinite. The last particles which are no longer divisible by human industry must still have extension, and be consequently susceptible of division, though we are no longer able to effect it.

Again, if we examine the animal kingdom, we shall discover still further proofs of the infinite divisibility of matter. Pepper has been put into a glass of water, and on looking through a microscope, a multitude of animalcules were seen in the water, a thousand million times less than a grain of sand. How inconceivably minute then must be the feet, muscles, vessels, nerves, and organs of sense, in these animals! And how small their eggs and their young ones, and the fluids which circulate in them! Here the imagination loses itself, our ideas become confused, and we are incapable of giving form to such very small particles.

What still more claims our attention is, that the more we magnify, by means of glasses, the productions of nature, the more perfect and beautiful do they appear; whilst with works of art it is generally quite contrary; for, when these are seen through a microscope, we find them rough, coarse, and imperfect, though executed by the most able artists, and with the utmost care.

Thus the Almighty has impressed even upon the smallest atom the stamp of his infinity. The most subtile body is as a world, in which millions of parts unite, and are arranged in the most perfect order. What astonishing wisdom is that which operates with as much order and perfection in the minutest as in the largest works! How infinite that power which has brought out of nothing such a multitude of different bodies! And how gracious is that goodness which so richly displays itself in the most minute, productions, seeing that each of them has its perfection and use.

Considerations like these tend to make us feel the limits of our capacity; the smallest insect, the least grain of dust, may convince us that there are thousands of things of which we are ignorant, and cannot explain. Let him who boasts of his talents attempt to enumerate the parts of which the body of an animal, a million of times less than a grain of sand, is composed. Let him try to determine how minute one of those rays of light must be, when several millions of them can pass through an opening not larger than the eye of a needle. His ideas will soon be confused; and he will be obliged to acknowledge his ignorance, and confess the narrow limits of his capacity. How then can we be proud of our knowledge, and have the

presumption to blame the decrees of Providence, or dispute the arrangements he has made in nature? It is our duty, and even our glory, to acknowledge our ignorance, and in all humility bow before the infinite God.

AUGUST VI.

EXTERNAL STRUCTURE OF INSECTS.

Men in general are too apt to judge those animals only worth their attention which are most remarkable for their bulk. The horse the bull, the elephant, and other large animals, seem to attract ou attention, whilst we scarcely condescend to regard those innumerable multitudes of small insects which fill the air, the vegetables, and the dust. How many insects do we trample upon? How many caterpillars do we destroy? And how many flies buzz around us without exciting our curiosity, or any other thought than how to deprive them of life! But let us never forget, that the same wisdom and power is manifested in the structure of the meanest worm, as in that of the lion or the elephant.

The bodies of the greater part of insects are composed of several rings, which close on each other, and have a share in all the motions of the animal. The essential characteristic which distinguishes insects from other animals is, that they have no solid bones. And much wisdom is manifested in this part of their formation; the motions which are common to all insects, the manner in which they are obliged to seek their nourishment, and the changes to which they are subjected, could not be so easily performed, if, instead of those flexible rings, which separate from and approach nearer one another as the animal wills, their bodies had been connected and strengthened by bones.

It is observable in several insects that they have the power of contracting or enlarging their heads at pleasure; that they can elongate or shorten them, conceal or make them appear, as their inclination or necessity urges. There are others, whose heads always preserve the The mouth of insects is generally provided with a sort of teeth, or with a trunk. This disposition of the head is necessary, both on the account of the aliments which the insects feed upon, and because of the dangers to which they are exposed.

same form.

Many insects have not the faculty of vision; but this is compensated by their more exquisite feeling, or some other sense. They have two kinds of eyes: those which are bright and smooth are usually very few in number; but those eyes which resemble network or shagreen, and of which the cornea is cut in angles, are extremely numerous; there are sometimes thousands of them, and as they are not moveable, this defect is supplied by their number and position. The antennæ, or horns, with which most insects are pro

vided, are of particular use to them; they are extended before the body when it moves, and feeling out the way, not only inform the creature of the dangers which threaten it, but also enable it to discover the aliments best suited to its nature.

The legs of insects are either scaly or membranous: the former move by means of several joints; and the others, which are softer, move in all directions. Sometimes both these species of legs are found in the same insect. Some insects have several hundred feet, but their motion is not accelerated by them.

The variety observable in the form and constitution of the limbs of insects is almost infinite; and the lives of many men would scarcely suffice to describe the different figures of this minute part of the creation. How curiously must the legs of those insects be constructed which fasten on smooth and polished surfaces! How elastic the legs of those which leap! and how strong must those be which dig in the ground! Two or four wings are placed in the middle of the body. Some of them are as transparent as fine gauze, others are scaly and mealy; some are without any covering, others are concealed in cases or sheaths. At the sides, or at the extremity of the body, there are orifices something like the pupil of the eye; they are called stigmata, and are the organs of respiration. How various are the forms of the insects which walk, fly, leap, and crawl! and yet in all a most perfect harmony and proportion of form is observable. And not to acknowledge in all this the infinite wisdom of the Creator, is the height of folly and absurdity; we are only virtuous and rational in as much as we confess an Almighty and Supreme Power, and bless and adore him in all the works of the creation.

AUGUST VII.

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SENSES OF MEN AND THOSE
OF ANIMALS.

Are any animals endowed with more perfect senses than man? In certain particular instances some of them undoubtedly are; but in general man is more highly favoured in this respect than all other animals. It is indeed asserted, that the spider has a finer feeling; and the vulture, the bee, and the dog, a keener smell. We know that by means of this sense the hound pursues his game; and other dogs discover things beneath the ground. The hog also, guided by his smell, digs in the earth for food. Stags are supposed to have the sense of hearing so acute, that they can hear the sound of bells at several miles distance; and the mole hears better below the earth, than man, who dwells upon the surface.

With regard to sight, the eagle among birds, and the lynx among quadrupeds, are said to be much more perfect than man. Though these observations are true; yet if we consider animals in general,

and compare them with man, we must immediately be struck with his great pre-eminence in the creation. He is by nature endowed with five senses; and this advantage is not enjoyed by one hal: of animals. The zoophites, which form the connecting link between. the animal and vegetable kingdoms, have only the sense of feeling. Many animals have only two senses, others three, and those which have five are considered as the most perfect class. But these have very seldom all their senses more perfect than men, some of whom enjoy them in a very exquisite state. Some Indians can judge by their smell what quantity of alloy is mixed with the precious metals, as well as we can by the touchstone. Others will discover at a very great distance the retreat of a wild beast. The inhabitants of the Antilles will distinguish by their smell whether a Frenchman or a negro had last passed along the road.

The acuteness of his senses in some degree compensates the wild Indian for his want of education. Many people, by exercise and great attention, have improved certain senses to a wonderful degree of perfection; and if man, like other animals, was destitute of the reasoning faculty, and had no means of procuring food, or preserving himself from danger, but his organs of sensation; these by continual exercise would doubtless have acquired the highest degree of refinement and acuteness. But constituted as he is, man has no occasion for more acute senses than those he already possesses. The gift of reason abundantly compensates him for the advantages that some animals. have over him; and we may even assert with confidence, that if our senses were more refined, we should experience g.eat inconvenience from them. Let us take for example the sense of hearing; if we had this sense so acute as the safety of some animals requires it to be in them, the most distant noise, and the confused clashing of a vast number of sounds, would continually interrupt our meditations and repose, and prevent our most noble and useful occupations.

Let us then be thankful that the infinite wisdom of God has so well arranged the degree of our sensations, that they enable us fully to enjoy the blessings of nature, without interrupting the workings of the soul. The limited degree of our senses is then rather to be considered as a gain than a loss; as a perfection, rather than an imperfection: and happy is the man who suffers his reason to control and restrain his senses, when they impel him to deviate into folly, or plunge into the mad vortex of fashion.

AUGUST VIII.

THUNDER.

The thunder rolls! Consider, O man, who it is that causes this dreadful roar! Who is it that darts the lightning from the clouds?