cultivate them like the small trees of their gardens, y would only do them a prejudice. Thou hereby, Lord, givest a proof, that it is thou only that hast. med them, and teachest man that his cares and ustry are useless to thee; and if thou requirest m to be used about certain little trees, it is only to ploy him, and put him in mind of his own weakEs, by having only weak things like himself comted to his care.

Lastly, among the trees I observe some which alys preserve their verdure, and in them I imagine I cern a figure of immortality, as the others, which stripped in winter to be clothed again in the spring, m to present me with an image of the resurrection.

II. ANIMALS.

In the description of animals I shall observe the ler which God followed in their creation.

Fish.

What an abundance of fish do the waters produce every size? When I view these animals, I seem to cern nothing beside a head and tail. They have ther feet nor arms. Their very head cannot freely moved; and were I only to consider their figure, hould think them deprived of all that was necessary

the preservation of their life; but with these few ward organs they are more nimble, dextrous and ificial, than if they had several hands and feet; and use they make of their tail and fins carries them ng like arrows, and seems to make them fly. As the fish devour one another, how can these way inhabitants subsist? God has provided for it by

e bigger, which look upon them as their prey, and e continually in pursuit of them. But this weak ce are swifter in their course than the others. They eep into places where the low water will not admit the larger fish, and it seems as if God had given em a foresight in proportion to their weakness and

ngers.

Whence comes it, that the fish live in the midst of ter, so loaded with salt, that we cannot bear a drop it in our mouths, and enjoy there perfect vigour d health; and how do they preserve, in the midst salt, a flesh, that has not the least taste of it? Why do the best, and such as are most fit for the e of man, draw near the coasts, to offer themselves a manner to him, whilst a great many others, which e useless to him, affect a remoteness from him? Why do those, who keep themselves in unknown aces, whilst they multiply and acquire a certain bulk, me in shoals at a particular time to invite the fisheren, and throw themselves, in a manner, into their ts and boats?

Why do several of them, and of the best kinds, en-the mouths of rivers, and run up even to their rings, to communicate the advantages of the sea to ch countries as lie at a distance from it? And what nd conducts them with so much care and goodness vards man, but thine, O Lord, though so visible a ovidence seldom occasions their acknowledgment? This providence is every where to be discerned, and e innumerable shells which are spread upon the ore, hide different kinds of fish, that with a very all'appearance of life are sure to open their shells certain regular times to take in fresh water, and rein therein, by speedily joining them together, the prudent prey which falls into that snare.

Dinda

In the first place, what master has taught them that ey have need of them? Who has taken care to inm them to prepare them in time, and not to suffer emselves to be prevented by necessity? Who has told w they should build them? What mathematician s given them their figure? What architect has ight them to chuse a firm place, and to build upon olid foundation? What tender mother has advised em to cover the bottom with a soft and delicate subnce, such as down and cotton? And when these tters fail, who has suggested to them that ingenis charity, which leads them to pluck off so many thers from their own breasts with their beaks, as is quisite for the preparing a convenient cradle for eir young?:

In the second place, what wisdom has pointed out every distinct kind a peculiar manner of building eir nests, so as to observe the same precautions, ough in a thousand different ways? Who has comanded the swallow, the most subtle of birds, to draw ar to man and make choice of his house for the ilding of his nest, within his view, without fear of s knowing it, and seeming rather to invite him to a nsideration of his labour? Neither does he build e other birds with little bits of sticks and stubble, at employs cement and mortar, and in so solid a anner, that it requires some pains to demolish its ork; and yet in all this it makes use of no other inrument but its beak. Reduce, if it is possible, the lest architect to the small bulk of this swallow, leave m all his knowledge and only a beak, and see if he ill have the same skill and the like success.

Thirdly, who has made all the birds comprehend at they must hatch their eggs by sitting upon them?

young, that are already formed, in coming out of the egg by first breaking the shell? And who has so exactly instructed them in the very moment before which they never come?

Lastly, who has given lessons to all the birds upon the care they ought to take of their young, till such time as they are grown up, and in a condition to provide for themselves? Who has made them distinguish such things as agree well with one species, but are prejudicial to another? And amongst such as are proper to the parents, and unfit for the young, who has made them distinguish such as are salutary? We know the tenderness of mothers, and the carefulness of nurses amongst mankind, but I question whether it ever came up to what we see in these little creatures.

Who has taught several among the birds that marvellous industry of retaining food or water in their gullet, without swallowing either the one or the other, and preserving them for their young, to whom this first preparation serves instead of milk?

Is it for the birds, O Lord, that thou hast joined together so many miracles, which they have no knowledge of? Is it for men, who give no attention to them? Is it for the curious, who are satisfied with admiring them, without raising their thoughts to thee? Or is it not rather visible, that thy design has been to call us to thyself by such a spectacle; to make us sensible of thy providence and infinite wisdom; and to fill us with confidence in thy bounty, who watchest with so much care and tenderness over the birds, [s] though two of them are sold but for a farthing?

But let us set bounds to our observations upon the industry of birds, for the subject is infinite, and hearken for a moment to the concert of their music, the first

praise which God received from nature, and the fir song of thanksgiving which was offered to him befor man was formed. All their sounds are different, bu all harmonious, and all together compose a choir whic men have but sorrily imitated. One voice howeve more strong and melodious is distinguished among th rest, and I find upon enquiry, from whence it come that it is a very small bird, which is the organ of i This leads me to consider all the rest of the singin tribe, and they also are all small; the great ones beir either wholly ignorant of music, or having a disagre able voice. Thus I every where find, that what seen weak and small has the best destination, and the, mo gratitude.

Some of these little birds are extremely beautifu nor can any thing be more rich or variegated than the feathers; but it must be owned, that all orname must give place to the finery of the peacock, upo which God has plentifully bestowed all the rich which set off the rest, and lavished upon it with go and azure all the shades of every other colour. Th bird seems sensible of its advantage, and looks as designed to display all its beauties to our eyes, whe it expands that splendid circumference which se them all to view.

But this most pompous bird of all has a most disa greeable cry, and is a proof, that with a very shini outside there may be but a sorry substance within, li tle gratitude and a great deal of vanity.

In examining the feathers of the rest, I find or thing very singular in those of the swans and oth river fowl, for they are proof against the water, ar continue always dry, and yet our eyes do not di cover either the artifice or difference of them.

I look upon the feet of the same birds, and obser webs there, which distinctly mark their destinatio But I am much astonished to see these birds so sur that they run no hazard by throwing themselves in the water, whereas others, to whom God has not give the like feathers or feet, are never so rash as to expo

then