an any thing I can say upon the subject. They are t mine, as will soon be perceived; I shall borrow Ost of them from an excellent manuscript upon Gesis, which is in the hands of several persons. These amples will serve to shew, in what manner we ought study nature in every thing presented to our eyes, d trace it backwards up to the Creator. I shall fine myself to the subject of plants and animals.

I. PLANTS, FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND TREES.

[m] The firmament, in which the sun, the moon l stars shine with so much splendor, is the first eacher, which declared the glory of God, nor is y thing wanting besides this book, written in chaters of light, to render all mankind inexcusable: to the divine Wisdom is no less admirable in the allest of its works, by which, it is in a manner ichsafed to become more accessible to us, and ms to invite us to a nearer consideration of it, hout fear of being dazzled by its radiance.

Plants.

The most contemptible in appearance has wherehal to astonish the sublimest understandings, which withstanding can see only the grosser organs of m, without entering into all the secrets of their nourishment and increase. Not a leaf in them is disposed with attention; order and symmetry visible throughout the whole; and that with so digious a variety of fissures, ornaments and beau that no one perfectly resembles the other.

Can any thing be more worth our admiration, than e general colour wherewith it has pleased God to eautify every plant? Had all the fields been clothed white or red, who could have borne the splendor or gour of their dress? If he had blackened them with arker colours, who could have been delighted with sad and mournful a spectacle? An agreeable verare holds the mean between these two extremes, and ears such relation to the structure of the eye, that it freshes instead of tiring it, and supports and noushes it instead of exhausting its force. But what at st we should judge to be one colour, is an astonishg variety of shades. It is every where green, but No plant is coloured like ano

where the same.

er, and this surprising variety, which no art can nitate, is farther diversified in every plant, which in 3 first shooting forth, in its growth and maturity, uts on a different verdure.

The same may be said of the figure, smell, taste, nd uses of plants, both for nourishment and medi

I shall make here but one more reflection. If God had not given hay when dried and kept for long season the power of feeding horses, oxen and her animals of service, how would the labourer or an of wealth have satisfied the hunger of animals of O vast bulk, and which are only useful whilst they ave strength? Should we undertake to feed a man in is manner, or because the herb might be too dry for schewing, should we give him broths and infusionsof great bundle of hay andstraw, would this be able to eep him alive? This very dry herb suffices likewise make other animals give twice a day a quantity of ilk, which may supply the place of all other food

[n] Gen. i. 11.

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Flowers.

I transport myself from hence in thought to a field overed with flowers, or a garden well cultivated. ow beautifully enamelled! What colours, what ealth, and at the same time how great an harmony ■d fragrance in their mixture and in the shades with hich they are blended? How fine a picture, and by ow great a master? How lavish in the profusion of naments? From what source could the beauties we ok upon arise? What is in itself the principle of so uch splendour and ornament so richly diversified? But let us pass from this general view to the consieration of some flowers in particular, and let us cull chance the first that shall fall in our way, without tting ourselves to the trouble of making a choice. It no sooner opens, but it has all its freshness and stre. Has art invented such lively, and at the same me, such delicate hues? Is any stuff so fine, or woven th such exquisite uniformity? [p] Is the purple of lomon equal to the leaves in my hand? How coarse comparison? How rough? How gross in the workanship, and how different in the colour?

But though this flower were less beautiful in every rt than it is, can we imagine a more agreeable symetry in the whole, a more regular disposition in its aves, or a greater exactness in its proportions? One would believe, if we were only to examine the sdom of God, and if I may be allowed the expreson, his complacency in the composition of so perfect flower, that it was to last for ever; but before evengo g it shall fade, and the next day be withered by the n, and the day after perish. What should we then [] Matt. vi. 29.

[o] Psal. civ. 14.

think of the immense source of beauties, which plentifully bestows them upon an herb that but a few hours? What will he do when he s undertake to adorn the mind, he who diffusess s splendour upon the grass designed for the food animals? And how great is the blindness of world, who reckon upon beauty, youth, authority human glory, as solid benefits, without remembe that they are as the transient blossom, which to-m row shall be no more? [q] All flesh is grass, all the glory thereof as the flower of the field.

Fruits.

Hitherto we have considered the earth as a fiel a garden of herbs; let us now consider it as a orchard abounding with all kinds of fruit, which ceed one another according to the seasons.

I consider one of these trees extending branches, bowing down to the earth, under the we of excellent fruit, whose colour and smell invite taste, and in surprising plenty. This tree, by pomp it displays before my eyes, seems to cry Learn of me how great the goodness and magnifice of God is, who has formed me for you. It is nei for him nor for me, that I thus abound in ric He stands in need of nothing, and I can mak use of what is given me. Bless him, and unload give thanks to him; and as he has made me the nister of your entertainment, do you become minister of my gratitude.

Such invitations as these I seem to hear from e quarter; and as I advance, I still discover new jects of praise and admiration. Here the fruit lies cealed within; and there the kernel is covered w delicate pulp, all shining without in the most li colours. This fruit arises from a flower, as alı all fruits do; but that other, which is so deliciou precededby no flower, but springs out of the rind of the fig-tree. The one begins the sum

[9] Isa. xl. 6.

pirit of wonder and transport, and I cannot avoid rying out with the prophet, [r] The eyes of all wait pon thee, O Lord, and thou givest them their meat i due season; thou openest thy hand and fillest all hings living with plenteousness.

Trees.

We have already treated of these when we spoke f fruits; but they deserve some particular reflections. Amongst the fruitful trees, there are some which ear their fruits in two seasons of the year, and others oin together both different seasons and years too, by earing at once both flowers and ripe fruit, in order shew the unbounded power of the Creator, who, y diversifying the laws of nature, lets us see that he the master of them, and can alike dispose of all easons, and all things at his pleasure.

I observe that there are the shrub trees, or those of moderate height, which bear the most exquisite cuits. The higher they rise, the poorer they appear, nd the less agreeable are their fruits. I understand his lesson, and the feeble stem of the vine, whose rapes I admire, tells me in its language, that the most wonderful fruits are often nearest the earth.

The other trees, which bear only leaves, or fruits hat are bitterand very small, are notwithstanding very seful; and providence has made up the defect in uch a manner, that upon some occasions the barren re to be preferred to the more fruitful, which are ardly of any use, either for building or navigation, r other indispensible wants.

If we had not seen such high and large trees as are n certain forests, we could not believe that the drops of rain which fall from heaven were capable of sup