us throughout all nature, as our Lord, our Father, and Benefactor. It is the best preparation to understand, and to receive as we ought, the gos. pel of Jesus Christ, for this reason, because, in teaching his disciples the truths of religion, the Divine Redeemer often spoke of the works of nature, and made use of the objects which the physical and moral world afford, to lead his hearers to reflections on spiritual and heavenly things. In general, it is a noble employment, and well worthy of man, to study the book of nature continually; to learn in it the truths which may remind us of the immense greatness of God, and our own littleness; his blessings, and the obligations they impose on us. It is shameful for man to be inattentive to the wonders which surround him on every side, and to be as insensible to them as the brutes are. If reason has been given to us, it is, that we may make use of it in acknow. ledging the perfections of God in his works. What employment can be more pleasing to the human mind than meditations on the admirable works of the Most High! To contemplate, in the heavens, the earth, the waters, the night and day, in a word, throughout all nature, the wisdom, power, and goodness, of our Creator and Preserver! What can be conceived more delightful than to discover in the whole creation, in all the natural world, in every thing we see, traces of the providence and tender mercies of the Father of all beings! There are no amusements, no worldly joys, of which we are not soon tired. But the pleasure we feel in contemplating the works of the Lord is a pleasure ever new. And were we to reflect upon them for a million of years, we should be so little tired of the employment, that we should, on the contrary, find new charms in it. It is in this light 1 often represent to myself the felicity of the saints in heaven. I ardently wish to be with them, because I am per.

suaded it is in their society, in their blessed intercourse only, that my insatiable desire of increasing in knowledge and wisdom is to be satisfied. But, while we are still at a distance from this happiness, let us endeavour, at least, to come as near it as possible, by habituating ourselves now to what will be hereafter, and for evermore, the employment of all the blessed saints and angels. Let us adore God in his wonderful works. Let us endeavour more and more to be acquainted with Him. Let as reflect on his greatness. Let us admire his power and wisdom in each of his creatures. And let us observe, in every season of the year, his goodness and tender mercies towards every being on earth. This employment will make us not only happy but virtuous: for, if we have God and his works continually in our sight, with what love and veneration shall we not be penetrated? with what confidence shall we not resign ourselves to Him? with what zeal and transport shall we not sing his praise? O God, who art so worthy of all adoration! I will continually reflect, with gratitude and veneration, on the wonders of thy power and wisdom, which fill the whole universe. I will raise myself from earth to heaven, by the chain of beings Thou hast formed, in order to know Thee, to feel, and to enjoy thy goodness. Every thing around me, every thing within myself, will serve to led me to Thee, as the source of all; every thing will more and more contribute to inflame me with love and piety. These, O heavenly Fa ther! are the engagements I make before heaven and earth, in presence of every creature thou hast formed! This sun which shines upon me, this air which I breathe, this earth which bears me, and gives me food, all nature, so wisely formed for our wants and pleasures, shall one day rise as witnesses against me, if I neglect to contemplate and admire thy works.

MARCH II.

Bad Weather.

Its

NATURE is still robbed of its ornaments. appearance is still gloomy and savage. The sky is covered with thick clouds, and the air is loaded with vapours and snow. The mornings are wrapped up in impenetrable fogs, that conceal the view of the rising sun from us, which scarce shews itself, before dark and stormy clouds arise to prevent the earth from feeling its benign influence. How little warmth it gives! No herb ventures to spring up. Every thing still remains dead, and stripped of its charms.

When will the lovely spring return? When will those fine days come, in which the early flowers invite us to the fields and gardens? I doubt not but many hold this language, and bear with impatience the dull March days. But let us consider that even this temperature of the air, which we dislike, contributes to the good of the whole, and is part of the plan formed by God in his government. Were it not for these days, which appear to us so disagreeable, all our hopes of the advantages of summer would vanish.Storms are blessings of nature, and frosts are means she makes use of to render the earth fruitful. If the air was at present milder, and the weather finer, we should see millions of insects hatched, which would be very hurtful to the seeds sown in the earth, and to the blossoms. What a risk also would the buds run, which the mild weather had brought forth, if there came a frost? But such is our blindness and ignorance, that we murmur against God, when we ought to adore and bless him: and we take for imperfec tions what ought to make as acknowledge the

wisdom and goodness of our Creator. We seldom know what we desire. To punish us for our im prudent and unreasonable wishes, God need only to grant them. If the spring already displayed all its charms, how many following days would lose their value! How quickly should we tire of them! And how hurtful to our health would the sudden change be from severe cold to intense heat! It is a blessing of God (a blessing which, like many others, we are insensible to), that spring draws on imperceptibly. Its delay keeps us in the most agreeable expectation, and our pleasure is but the greater when it comes. The rough stormy weather of March is a remain of the severity of winter. It prepares us for the enjoyment of fine days, and is the forerunner of that delightful calm which spring sheds upon our country.

MARCH III.

The State of some Animals during Winter.

WE do not yet see any of those millions of insects and birds, which, during summer, are in the air, in the water, and on the earth. At the approach of winter they disappear from our countries, where the climate does not agree with them, and where they can no longer find food. The first stormy day is a signal to them to rest from their labour, to put an end to their active life, and to quit their homes. We mistake if we go farther, and believe that winter destroys those animals; they continue to live even in that season of the year. Providence so provides, that none of them perish. The body of some animals is formed in such a manner, that the same causes which deprive them of food, make such revolutions in them as prevent their requiring any. The cold aumbs them, they fall into a sound sleep, which

lasts till the return of heat upon the earth, causes their necessary food to spring up, and wakens them from their heaviness. These animals hide themselves in the sand, in pits, or hollow places, in the bottom of ponds or marshes, where they cannot be found out or disturbed. Their state is a kind of death, or rather a swoon; and they do not revive till the gentle warmth of spring penetrates to their retreats. Some sort of birds, at the approach of winter, undertake long journeys, to seek in other climates a more temperate air and proper food. Some fly in numbers from one country to another. Several go to Africa, crossing the Mediterranean, and return the following spring to our countries.

Lord, how admirable is thy wisdom! How tender and beneficent thy mercies to the least of thy creatures! Thou hast impressed upon the mind of some beasts that wonderful instinct, which warns them, of the day in which they should abandon their summer habitations, in order to pass their winter in another climate. Thou hast pointed out to others the places where they may pass in safety their night of winter in a sound sleep. Thou revivest them again, when the season of their new life arrives. Every time I reflect on these changes, they lead me naturally to think of what will happen to myself at my death; for my state, in some measure, resembles that of these birds. At the end of my life I shall also quit my home, my pleasures, and my companions, to go into a better world. I shall also rest and sleep some time; but, at the moment of the new creation, I shall awake; and, clothed with the strength and beauty of youth, I shall begin a life that will be eternal. What happens to animals affords me also another edifying reflection: I see from thence that God watches over even the very smallest link of the immense chain of beings. I discover with what fatherly goodness he provides