som of the earth, or on its surface, before the enquiries and labour of man had made them visible to us. It is certain, even, that many of the discoveries we boast the most of, were made by the ancients, or at least partly discovered. If the world was the work of chance, we should now and then see new productions: why then do we not see new kinds of animals, plants, and stones? It is because all has been planned by the infinite wisdom of God. All that he does is so perfect,' that it does not require to be renewed or created again; there is sufficient for our convenience and use. Nothing was made by chance. All events have been determined by infinite wisdom, and are linked together in one chain. The whole fabric of the world is preserved by the providence of its Creator, and by the concurrence of laws, both general and particular. All is stamped with wisdom, order, and greatness. In all, and by all, God is praised and magnified. To him be glory, now and for evermore.

MARCH XXV.

Caves in the Mountains.

'CAVES are generally found in the mountains, and seldom, or not at all, in the plains. They are formed, as the precipices are, by falling in of rocks; or, like the abyss, by the working of fire. Caves, therefore, may be produced by the same causes which produce the quaking, opening, and falling in of the earth; and these causes are, the explosion of volcanos, the action of subterraneous vapours, and earthquakes: for they make disorder, and throw down buildings; which must necessarily form caves, holes, and openings of every sort. But why are these caves? Of what

use are they? Suppose even that we could dis cover no use in them, we ought still to be convinced that they were formed for very wise purposes. As there is nothing on earth useless, can we suppose caves are of no use? But it is not difficult to shew that they are really very useful. The waters collect there in order to be afterwards spread over the earth, and to moisten it when the rain falls. The caves in the mountains keep up the course of the waters in the subterraneous canals. As soon as that circulation is stopped, there come shocks and earthquakes, which spread terror and desolation over our globe. The air contained and confined within the earth, escapes through dens and caves. These openings, there fore, are necessary, that the air may penetrate into the mountains, to give a passage to the winds and a vent to exhalations: for, if the openings in caves do not admit a free circulation, the air contained in them would corrupt, or would lift up and shake the earth. Those caves often fill with waters, from whence rivers and lakes are afterwards formed. Such is the lake Zernith in Carniola, which fills at certain times, and at others dries up, or is lost under the neighbour. ing mountains, in such a manner that it is sometimes navigable, and at other seasons may be ploughed. How many animals would perish, if the mountain-caves did not serve them for asylums and retreats during winter? If there were no caves, we should be deprived of several mine. rals, and many other valuable productions, which cannot be formed or become perfect, but in some subterraneous caverns. We see, then, that even in this respect the wisdom and goodness of our Creator are manifest in a sensible degree. We have a new proof of that great truth, that there is nothing useless in nature, nothing too much, or any thing which is not done with wisdom,

and for the general good. The more we employ ourselves in these researches, the more we shall adore the sublime perfections of God.

MARCH XXVI.

Circulation of the Sap in Trees.

THE trees, which for several months appeared quite dead, begin insensibly to revive. Some weeks hence we shall discover in them still more signs of life. In a short time, the buds will grow large, will open, and produce their precions blossoms. We have it always in our power to observe this revolution regularly in the be ginning of each spring; but, perhaps, have been hitherto ignorant by what means it operates. The effects we observe in spring, in trees, and other vegetables, are produced by the sap, which is put in motion in the stalks of the trees, by the air and increase of heat. As the life of animals depends on the circulation of their blood, so also the life and growth of plants and trees depend on the circulation of sap. For this purpose, God has formed and disposed of all parts of vegetables, so as to concur towards the preparation, preservation, and circulation of this nourishing juice. It is chiefly by means of the bark, that the sap, in spring, rises from the roots into the bodies of trees, and even conveys, throughout the year, all the nourishment to the branches and fruit. The wood of the tree is composed of small long fibres, which extend in a direct line the whole length of the tree to the top; and which are very closely joined together. Among those fibres, there are some so small and fine, that one of them, though scarce as thick as a hair, contains more than eight thousand little

fibres. There are a multitude of little veins to contain the nourishing juice, and to make the circulation easy. These veins extend to the other branches, and rise up the whole length of the tree to the top; some conduct the sap from the root to the top of the tree; and others bring it down from the top to the bottom. The sap rises up the ascending veins in the heat of the day, and comes down the others again in the cool of the evening. The leaves serve for the same purpose, and their chief use is to make the sap circulate; not only that which proceeds from the root, but also what the tree receives outwardly by means of dew, the moisture of the air, and rain. This nonrishing juice is spread through every part of the tree. But it could not rise through the stalks, if there were not openings in them at the top. It is through these pores that the watery parts of the sap evaporate; while the oily, sulphureous, and earthy parts mix together to nourish the tree, to transform into a bstance, and give it a new growth. If the juice does not reach it, if the cir culation is stopped, if the interior organization of the tree is destroyed, whether by too severe cold or frost, by age, or by any wound or outward. accident, the tree dies.

After these reflections, can we see, with the same indifference as formerly, the trees at this season? Will the change there is going to be in them appear so little worth our notice? And can we observe the renewal of all nature, with out thinking of God, who gives life to every creature; who provides the juices analogous to trees; who communicates to that sap the power of circulating through the veins, and from thence of giving to trees life, nourishment, and growth? Alas! that it should be possible to see all these things every year, without giving proper atten. tion to them: It is what I am too strong a proof ef. At the return of many springs, I have had

the opportunity to observe this quickening virtue which appears in plants and trees; but I have thought no more about it than the animals which graze in the fields; and, what is still more wonderful,. I have been equally inattentive to the preservation of my own life, the growth of my body, and the circulation of my blood. Grant that I may now, at least, as I have the happi.. ness to see the spring again, think in a more rea sonable way, and more as a Christian. May I at last acknowledge, through all the works of nature, that beneficent Creator, whose greatness all the world proclaims. But all my wishes will. be fruitless, if Thou thyself, O Lord, who art the God of all mercy, dost not incline my heart to acknowledge and glorify thy great and holy name. Now, that all nature revives, grant that my soul may be quickened by thy Spirit. May this new existence, which the vegetables receive at this lovely season, be the signal to awaken me from my slumber, and lead me to virtue.

MARCH XXVII.

Our Ignorance of our Future State.

IF we are ignorant of future events, we must not seek the cause of it merely in the nature of our souls, the faculties and knowledge of which are very limited; but also in the express and infi hitely wise will of the Creator.. He knew the strength of man; and he would not give him more knowledge than he could bear.

Knowledge is to the soul what the light of the sun is to the eyes: a too great splendour would hart, without being of use. It would be very dan-. gerous to the virtue of man, if he had the faculty of foreseeing what was to happen to him; for Outward circumstances have generally some in