summer, the air is filled with corrupted vapours, or at least with such as are disposed to be so. It is the time we are most liable to catch colds, which occasion a multitude of painful, and sometimes fatal disorders. Winter has not these inconve niencies. The cold favours insensible perspiration, and prevents, by that means, many terrible evils produced by the suppression of it. By

means of a gentle moderate perspiration, we feel lighter and easier; the blood purifies; the appe tite increases, as well as the cheerfulness and serenity of the mind. The cold also braces the solids, strengthens them, and, by that means, supplies the want of exercise. What inconvenience is there not in the great heats of summer? What oppression, what weight one feels, when obliged to be long in the open air, and to bear, as one may say, the whole weight of a burning atmo sphere? How do we long for the coolness of night, to revive us, and restore our strength? The fine winter days have not these inconveniencies. We have more activity, strength, and courage; are better disposed for labour or for pleasure. Cold gives us spirits, excites us to move quicker, and to take exercise, in order to put us into a gentle heat. Thus, even winter may contribute to our health and pleasure. The Creator has considered our welfare in this season, as much as in the others; and has formed the wisest plans for the preservation and happiness of his creatures, in every month of the year. If we are not equally content, and do not enjoy as good health in winter as in the other seasons, it is certainly our own fault. Perhaps some pass it in idleness. Perhaps they are always shut up in hot rooms, and never breathe a pure air, nor make use of the fine winter days. Perhaps they give way to vexation and anxious cares. Perhaps they transgress against sobriety, and are guilty of excess in eating and drinking. Perhaps, in fine, having made a bad

use of the summer, they have ruined their health by irregularities, and now feel the bad consequences. How happy might man be, how constantly good his health, if he followed the laws of nature, and if he allowed labour and rest, business and pleasure, to take their turn regularly!

O my beneficent Creator! I acknowledge, with lively gratitude, the wise purposes thou proposest to thyself in the ordinance of the world. I bless the fatherly care with which thou providest for our preservation, peace, and welfare, through every change of the year. Can we then be imprudent enough to make a season painful and disagreeable to us, which might become the source of the purest and most innocent pleasures? Shall we, in the levity of our hearts, destroy that health and life which thou wouldst preserve with so much goodness? No, let us rather endeavour constantly to answer thy wise and beneficent views. Content of mind and cheerfulness will then make our days agreeable. Temperance and virtue will best insure a firm and lasting state of health.

FEB. III.

A Temperature always the same would not be good for the Earth.

WE imagine that our earth would be a paradise, if, every where, or in every climate, there was an equal distribution of heat and cold, the same fertility, and the same division of day and night. It is thus we, poor, short-sighted, selfish mortals, think. But, suppose things were so ordered, and that, in every part of the globe, there was the same degree of heat and cold, is it certain that mankind would gain by it, in respect to food, convenience, or pleasure? So far from

it, that, on the contrary, the earth would be the saddest and most miserable place to live in, if God had followed the plan we would prescribe to him. By the present plan, there is an infinite variety in the works of the Creator. What dull uniformity it would occasion; what beauty, and how many charms would the earth be deprived of, if the revolutions of seasons, of light and darkness, of heat and cold, were not to take place? Millions of plants and animals (which can only live in countries of a certain degree of heat), could not exist.

Among this immense multitude of natural productions, there are very few which can thrive equally in most climates. Most creatures found in these cold countries, would be unable to bear' the hot climates; while, on the other hand, those are peopled with beings who would perish in cold countries. If, then, there was every where an equal heat, a number of natural productions would not exist. Nature would be deprived of great part of her charms, with her variety; and many blessings would be thrown away upon us. If every country produced the same things, and had the same advantages, all communication between the different nations would cease; there would be no intercourse nor commerce. Several arts and trades would be unknown. What would become of the sciences also, if the mutual wants of different nations did not put them to the happy necessity of communicating them to each other? Suppose, nevertheless, that there was to be an equal degree of heat over the whole world, could we determine what that degree ought to be? Ought it to be every where as hot as in the torrid zone? Who could bear such a climate? For the colder regions always taking away part of the heat from the hot countries, the heat which must then be spread all over the earth, would be much greater than that of the torrid zone is at present;

men, animals, and plants, would be all consumed, and would all perish. But, suppose that there was over the whole earth that temperate heat which would suit all creatures, the air also must every where be of equal height, density, and spring. From whence, it would follow, that our earth would be deprived of one of the principal causes of the winds, the want of which would oc casion mischief scarcely to be expressed. Air, which is so essential to the preservation of life, would become the worst of poisons, if it was not purified by the winds. Equality of heat over the whole earth, would soon produce sickness, plagues, contagion: Our fancied paradise would no longer be any thing but a desert, and a real chaos.

Wise and Beneficent Creator, all that Thou hast done is right. This confession is the result of every reflection I make on the contemplation of thy works. I wish to accustom myself to think thus at the sight of every object of nature; and if it should happen that I thought I discovered faults, or imperfections, I would always recollect thy infinite wisdom, and the weakness of my understanding. Many things, which at first sight appear useless, and contrary to the order of the world, are arranged with admirable goodness and wisdom. What appears to me defective and imperfect, gives, to more enlightened minds, just reason to admire and praise the perfection of the Creator; and, supposing I should not always besensible of the wisdom and goodness of God, in the creation and preservation of the world, it ought always to be enough for me to know, that whatever God does is right.

Such is also the judgment I shall hereafter form of the moral government of God, and his conduct towards intelligent beings. As, in nature, he has distributed, in unequal degrees, heat and cold, light and darkness, so he has made great difference

in his dispensations towards rational creatures, and has not regulated their fate all alike. But in this, as well as in nature, his ways are still ways of wisdom and goodness. In the same manner, as our globe could not subsist, if there was an equal degree of heat and cold every where; so it is also certain, that the happiness of the world would be destroyed, if there was a perfect equa lity in the lot of mankind. All that God has planned and ordered, is admirable and perfect. All his paths are mercy and truth to those who keep his covenant. To him be glory for ever and

ever.

FEB. IV.

The Use of Stars.

THE starry sky is an admirable scene of the wonders of the Most High, in the eyes of every one who loves to reflect on the works of God. The order, the greatness, the multitude, and the brilliant splendour of those heavenly bodies, must be the most pleasing spectacle to an attentive observer of the works of nature. The sight of the stars alone, supposing that we knew nothing of their nature and use, would be sufficient to fill the mind with admiration and delight. For what can be seen more magnificent and beautiful than that immense expanse of the heavens illuminated by numberless lights, which the azure sky makes appear still more brilliant; and which all differ from one another both in size and lustre. But, would a being, infinitely wise, have adorned the celestial vault with so many bodies of an immense size, merely to please our eyes, and to afford us a magnificent sight? Would he have created innumerable suns, merely that the inha bitants of our little globe might have the plea