The

pleasures of the highest and most extensive order. Suppose even that we were to live for ages, and that we employed every day in studying the phenomena of the mineral kingdom, we should still find a thousand things we could not explain, which would be ever hidden from us, yet which more and more awaken our curiosity; but as the life of man, generally speaking, is seldom extended beyond half a century, let us then make good use of the time which is granted to us, and consecrate it to the contemplation of the wonders of nature, as far as may be compatible with more essential duties of life. satisfaction we shall derive from this pursuit will gradually augment, as we endeavour to fathom the great ends of Providence; for the wonders of nature are, in excellence, far beyond the productions of human art. These latter do not always contribute to our wellbeing, neither do they increase our virtue; often, indeed, they are rather objects of a barren admiration. It is not so with the productions of nature; they tend to univeral good; they exist not only for our amusement, but also for our enjoyment, and every thing, without exception, declares the bounty of God as well as his wisdom.

FEBRUARY 25.

DAILY AND EXPERIMENTAL PROOFS OF THE

DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

ENDEAVOUR, O Christian! to enumerate all the benefits with which the mercy of God has loaded thee since the first moment of thy existence. Canst thou count the stars? As little wouldst thou be able to number the benefits with which he has loaded thee even for a single year: and how much more impossible would it be to recall those which have marked thy whole life! The mercies bestowed upon thine infancy then thou didst scarcely feel, and now they are totally forgotten; the nights thou hast passed tranquilly have refreshed thee with sweet repose; the food which has so wonderfully supported and strengthened thee-the innumerable dangers, visible and invisible, in which thou hast been preserved the unexpected relief which has come upon thee in thy moments of distress, when all help seemed impossible, these form a part only of the benefits thou hast received from him. Each day increased the number of his mercies; every rising and every setting sun began and terminated its course by a renewal of his favours-favours unseen and unfelt, and only to be acknowledged in the world to come.

And how thinkest thou of the means of grace he has bestowed upon thee?-of thy redemption through Jesus Christ-of the benefits of the gospel-of the advantages of being born in a Christian country—of the wonderful interference

of God's mercy to thy sanctification?—Are not these proofs of his bounty and his tender compassion?

As it is quite impossible to calculate the mercies of a year, let us confine ourselves to the daily benefactions of Providence. Light, air, food, strength, thy dwelling place, those ties and friends which constitute so much of thy felicity, the divers sources of amusement which surround thee, these are all his gifts. And let us now consider the miracle of our respiration, without which we should cease to exist: twelve times at least in each minute we breathe; and this simple operation enables us to enjoy a thousand other advantages, we are capable of acknowledging in these twelve mercies of a minute. Let us further suppose that our soul is capable of performing thirty operations, and let us add to these the six thousand parts of our bodies which God supports every moment: what watchfulness, what care, what benevolence, what power does this reflection display! If, for instance, we calculate these blessings thus: twelve for the acts of respiration in that time, thirty for the operations of the soul, and six thousand for the actions of our corporeal functions, we shall enumerate 6042 benefits received every minute, and consequently 360,520 every hour.

Oh! may these reflections upon the daily care of Providence make the strongest impressions upon our hearts. If we possess a spark of gratitude, it will be as lasting as strong. If the magnitude of the Almighty's goodness and our own unworthiness be duly felt, our acknowledg

ments towards the preserver of our lives will be without all bounds. But, in order to keep up these sensations, we should accustom ourselves frequently to dwell upon them: the more they occupy our thoughts, the more we shall be disposed to glorify God, and to praise his name.

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He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; that he may bring forth food out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread, which strengtheneth man's heart."-Psalm civ. 14, 15.

FEBRUARY 26.

TRANQUILLITY OF THE NIGHT.

As

It is impossible sufficiently to admire and to acknowledge the tender attentions of Providence in order to procure for us repose at night. the day decreases, every thing in nature appears to be gradually sinking into a calm, which invites man to repose. The noise of the day is succeeded by quiet; the brightness of every object is enveloped in the dun mantle of night, and every lively impression is chased; those animals whose activity might disturb our repose are equally inclined for sleep as ourselves; the birds seek their nests; the ox, the horse, and other domestic animals repose around us.

But this tranquillity of the night is not agreeable to every one: those who, from pain, sickness, and accidents, are deprived of sleep are

weary of the calm and stillness of the night, and long for day; their sufferings and troubles seem to increase, while all is slumbering around them; they count the tedious hours, and await with impatience the return of day, when they hope to receive some alleviation from the society of their fellow creatures. To another class of beings the stillness of night is painful: those who have passed their time in dissipation seem to hear the still small voice of conscience, when their senses are lulled by the tranquillity of night.

I

I bless thee, O my God! for the sweets and refreshments which I enjoy at the twilight of evening, when I have completed the labours of the day. I rejoice in thy bountiful care, which has so ordered all things that they combine, by their effects, to produce a delicious slumber. lay myself down to rest, while the fearful robber rises to walk in the dark ways of injustice and crime, and the invalid, upon the couch of sickness, is sighing for a few moments of forgetfulness. I enjoy balmy slumbers, while the libertine and the epicure seek them in vain—while the miser torments himself by unnecessary apprehensions of want, and while the discontented and the ambitious man, kept awake by dreams of future greatness, pass their nights in anxiety, hopes, and cares.

But how often is the tranquillity of the night interrupted by the dissipated libertine! How often is the bed of the dying disturbed by the nocturnal revels of the thoughtless man of the world! How different will be the repose of the