found between them. Who can avoid observing another remarkable difference, as to the place where they live? The earth is the only place where plants can grow and multiply; most of them rise above its surface, and are fastened to the soil by roots more or less strong. Others are entirely under ground. A small number grow in the water; but, in order to live, it is necessary they should take root in the earth. Animals, on the contrary, are less limited in place. An innu merable multitude people the surface and the interior parts of the earth. Some inhabit the bottom of the sea. Others live in the waters, at a considerable depth. Many live in the air, in vegetables, in the bodies of men and animals, in fluid matter, and also in stones. If we consider animals and plants, in respect to size, we shall find still a striking difference. Between the size of a whale and that of a mite, the distinction is much greater than between the highest oak and a bit of moss. Lastly, it is particularly in the form of animals and plants, that the general and most striking difference subsists. Most of the latter have, in that respect, so distinct a character, that it is impossible to confound them with vegetables. However, let us not imagine we have perfectly discovered the limits which divide the animal from the vegetable kingdom, or that we have found out all that distinguishes them. Nature, to diversify her works, makes use of almost imperceptible shades. In the chain of beings, perfection increases successively, and rises by mil lions of degrees, so that a more perfect species differs very little from that which preceded it. How narrow are the bounds which separate the plant from the animal! There are plants which appear sensible, and animals which seem deprived of sensation, Nothing proves this better than the discoveries made in coral. Formerly it was supposed that corals were sea plants, but now

there are strong reasons for placing them among animals; for, what was then taken for a flower, has proved to be really an animal. Thus every order of creatures rises insensibly to perfection, by numberless degrees. The more observations are made, the more reason is there to be convinced that it is impossible to fix the exact limits of the three kingdoms, the mineral, the vegetable, and animal; and that amongst most creatures there is more conformity than dissimilarity. It is at least certain, that the limits which divide the most perfect creatures, from those that are a degree less so, become at last imperceptible to understandings so limited as ours. These observations ought to convince us that the world, with all the creatares it contains, is the work of an infinite Being. So much harmony and such differences, so much variety with so much uniformity, can only proceed from the Almighty, omniscient, and perfect Being, who created the universe, and all that is in it. Let our hearts rise towards him. Let us go from the stone to the plant, from the plant to the brute, from the brute to man, and from man to the heavenly spirits; then take our flight towards the everlasting, incommensurable Being, the Creator of the world, the Preserver of plants, the Protector of animals, the Father of mankind, the King of spirits.-Measure, if possible, measure his greatness, and try to sound the depths of his wisdom. Thrice holy God! created beings. are too weak to know thy works. They are immense and to tell them all, would be to be infi. nite like Thee. Therefore, the less capable we are of conceiving how far the wisdom of God extends, the more we ought to reflect on his greatness! and, above all, to imitate his goodness as much as is in our power. We see that no creature is deprived of the merciful care of the Lord. It is extended to the stone and the plant, as well as to men and animals. In his sight (in some

respects) there is no distinction: his mercy is over all his works. Let us, in this also, endeavour to imitate our Maker. We fill, it is true, a distinguished rank among created beings; but let us take care not to be cruel or tyrannical towards creatures who appear to be inferior to us. Let us rather endeavour to enjoy, with gratitude and moderation, all those designed by God for our use.

MARCH XIV.

The Uniformity and Variety in the Works of Nature.

THE sky over our heads, and the earth under our feet, remain always the same, from age to age; and yet they afford us, now and then, spectacles as varied as they are magnificent. Some times the sky is covered with clouds, sometimes serene, sometimes blue, and sometimes of differ ent colours. The darkness of night, and the light of noon day, the dazzling light of the sun, and the paler light of the moon, succeed each other regularly. The immeasurable space of the hea vens appears sometimes a desert, and sometimes strewed with an infinite number of stars. To how many changes and revolutions also is our earth subject? For some months uniform, and without ornaments, the severity of the winter robbed it of its beauty; the spring renews its youth; sum. mer will shew it still more rich and beautiful; and, in some months after, autumn will pour upon us every sort of fruit. What variety also on our globe between one country and another! Here, a flat level country presents us plains be yond the limits of sight; there, high mountains rise crowned with forests; at their feet fertile valleys are watered with brooks and rivers. Here gulphs and precipices; there still lakes; and, far

ther off, impetuous torrents. On every side is seen a variety which pleases the eye, and opens the heart to sensations of pure and sweet delight. This same assemblage of uniformity and variety is found in all the vegetables on our globe. They take from their common mother all the same nature, and the same food: they have all the same manner of springing up and growing: yet, what a prodigious difference between a blade of grass and an oak! All together are ranged under certain classes. Those of the same species are indeed very like one another; and yet what differences we see in them! It is the same in respect to animals. The wisdom of the Creator has divided them also into classes; and whatever variety there is in them, they still preserve essential resemblances. There is even a certain degree of conformity between man and the lowest class of animals. However superior man may be to animals in many respects, has he not, in common with them, and even with plants, the same means of food? Is it not the sun, the air, the earth, and water, which provides it for them all alike? The plants grow, ripen, fade, and die; and those laws of nature extend to animals, and even to mankind. If we next examine the variety of the human species, what an astonishing assemblage of conformity and diversity! Human nature, in all times, and among all people, is ever the same; and yet we find, that, of this innumerable multitude of men spread over the earth, each individual has a form peculiar to himself, particu. lar talents and countenance, which, to a certain degree, serve to distinguish him from any other. It seems as if the wisdom of the Creator chose to vary, in the highest degree, all his works, as far as was compatible with the essential construction peculiar to each species. All the creatures on our globe are divided into three classes, minerals, vegetables, and animals, These classes divide into

kinds; the kinds into numberless sorts of individuals. From thence it is, that there is no creature on earth alone, or without resemblance to its own species. There is no species which has not some connection with others, or a general affinity with the rest of the world. From this assemblage of uniformity and diversity (which is of infinite extent) derive the order and beauty of the uni verse. The difference between the conntries of our globe proves the wisdom of the Most High, who chose that each being should have its certain place, and has so fixed their destination, that it would be impossible to change the connection or distinction he has made between them. Even the minutest works of nature, such as only can be seen through a microscope, discover such union and variety together, as must necessarily raise our souls to the contemplation of the infinite wisdom of the Creator.

MARCH XV.

Seeds.

ALL vegetables spring from seeds; but the greater number of these are not sown, and are even invisible to us. It is nature that disperses them. With this view, she has furnished some seeds with a sort of light down, or little feathers, which serve as wings for the wind to carry them away, and spread them every where. Other seeds are small and heavy enough to fall perpendicularly on the earth, and to sink themselves into it. Others, of a larger or lighter sort, which might be carried away by the wind, have one or more little hooks to catch and prevent them from going too far from their place. There are some inclosed in elastic cases, which (as soon as they are touched, or acquire a certain degree either of dryness