Of Vegetables which preserve their Verdure in Winter. borne with constancy! How many alluring objects has he seen wither! He still lives, while the greater part of those who appeared at the same time with him upon the earth, have been taken away. A pleasing sprightliness, the happy remains of his springtime, is still discoverable in him. However wrinkled his forehead may appear, whatever ravages the hand of time may have made on his body; he is still adorned with those virtues, which recompense him for the loss of eternal beauty. He blooms again in his children, and his wisdom, uprightness, and consummate experience, serve still as an example and a lesson, even to his great grand children. O that the winter of our life may have so many charms! May we, after having lost all the attractions of youth, and of that maturer age in which we boasted, bloom again in our old age as a fruitful tree, and inspire by our virtues veneration and love! In a short time, the beauty of our bodies shall fade as the summer flower: happy, if at that time we shall have no cause to regret its loss! Happy, if then we shall be found adorned with those attractions, which spring from wisdom and virtue, and which the grave itself shall not be able to destroy. JANUARY IX. THE SINGULAR STATE OF MAN WHEN ASLEEP. WE need not have recourse to extraordinary events, to understand the almighty power and wisdom of God. The most common occurrences, together with the daily changes which are brought about in nature, are alone sufficient to convince us, in the most forcible manner, that the Being who has created the world, and who directs all events, is infinitely wise, infinitely powerful, and good. Of that vast number of miracles of which he is the author, I shall mention at present only one; and though it occur every day, it nevertheless highly deserves to be remarked, and to become the object of our admiration. How often have we been refreshed and strengthened by sleep! and perhaps have never reflected on that state; or, at least, have not considered it as one of the most remarkable effects of Divine goodness. We think that nothing extraordinary happens to us when we are overtaken by sweet sleep; we believe that the machine of our body is adapted to that situation, and that the desire we have for sleep, comes from causes purely natural. Sleep has two appearances, under which it may be considered: on the one hand, there is nothing found in it that does not necessarily result from our nature: and, on the other, there is something so striking and marvellous in this natural effect, that will abundantly recompense our trouble in considering it more attentively. First, it is a proof of the wisdom of the author of our being, that we sleep imperceptibly to ourselves. En The State of Man when asleep. deavour to spy out the instant in which sleep comes to seize upon you :-that very attention will be an obstacle to its approach; nor can you fall asleep, till the idea be completely dissipated. Sleep comes without being called for; it is the only change in our mode of existence, in which reflection has no part; for the more we endeavour to procure it, the less we succeed. Thus, God has ordered sleep in such a manner, that it becomes to man an agreeable necessity; and he has made it independent both of our reason and will. Let us extend this meditation, and consider the wonderful state in which we are found during the time of sleep. We live without knowing or feeling it. The pulsation of the heart, the circulation of the blood, the digestion of the aliments, the secretion of the various juices; in a word, all the animal functions continue, and are carried on in the same order. In some respects, our souls seem to have suspended their activity; and in a little time we lose all sensation, and every distinct idea. The senses appear dead; and all their accustomed operations are interrupted. The muscles, by degrees, move more slowly, till at length all voluntary motion ceases. This change takes place first in the forehead; then the muscles of the eyelids, neck, arms, and feet lose their activity to such a degree, that the man seems transformed into a plant. The state of the brain becomes such, that it cannot transmit to the soul the same ideas which it does when we are awake. The soul discovers no object, although the optic nerve is unchanged, and the eyes wide open. The ears are open, and yet they hear nothing. In a The State of Man when asleep. word, the state of a person asleep is marvellous in every respect; and there is but another state in which man can be upon earth which is equally remarkable; and this first, is evidently its image. The state which I refer to, is that into which we are brought by death. Sleep and death nearly resemble each other; and are full of conformities which it may be useful to consider. Who can well think of sleep, without also taking a view of death? As imperceptibly as we at any time fall into the arms of sleep, so imperceptibly shall we one day fall into the arms of death. It is true, that death often announces his coming, some hours and days before-hand; but the very moment in which the sleep of death comes to seize on us, shall arrive suddenly, and the moment we appear to feel its stroke, is the last of our existence here. The senses, whose functions were interrupted dur¡ng sleep, are equally incapable of acting at the approach of death. In the same manner the ideas become confused; we forget the objects which surround us: yea, we forget even ourselves! Probably, the moment of our death may be as pleasant as the moment in which we begin to sleep. The convulsions of the dying, often cause them as few disagreeable sensations as the grinding of the teeth, or snoring, cause to those who are asleep. Let our piety often renew this meditation. Whenever we seek repose on our bed, let us think on the wonders of this refreshing sleep, and bless our Preserver who, even when we slumber, works such great things in our behalf. Yes, undoubtedly, great things The Advantages of the Climate where we dwell indeed! for, if there were not a protecting hand over us, to how many dangers might we fall a prey during the night! If God had not directed and supported the pulsations of our heart, the circulation of our blood, and the motion of our muscles; the first sleep that had followed our birth, would have delivered us into the hands of death. And if he had deprived us of the blessings of sleep, long ere this, we should have lost both strength and life. Let us reflect attentively on all these things, and our hearts will point out to us the duty we owe to our great Benefactor. Then, full of joy and gratitude, we shall bless the Lord, who proves himself to be our God, in all the circumstances of life. JANUARY X. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE CLIMATE WHERE WE DWELL. Do we feel in a proper manner how happy we are in divers respects? Truly, the blessings of our heavenly Father are poured out upon us on every side. The aspect of our forests, meadows, and hills; the pure and temperate air which surrounds us day and night; the seasons of the year, and the variations which accompany them, all announce to us the goodness of God, and the extent of our happiness. And, can we complain of the lot which God has given us! Of the economy with which he distributes his favours! Shall |