The doctrine of the plurality of worlds has been ably discussed by the celebrated Dr. Dick; we need therefore scarcely touch upon the subject, only just to guide the meditations to so vast a field. It is computed that the nearest fixed star is four hundred thousand times further from the earth than the earth is from the sun; whence it follows of course that the fixed stars cannot have a borrowed light; and indeed were it, their immense distance would effectually exclude them from our view. The stars, then, being suns of other systems, giving light and heat to their respective planetary worlds, furnish an amazing field for animated beings. Dr. Herschel, in directing his large telescope to one part of the heavens, counted in the field of the glass as many as 588 stars at one view; and in directing the same telescope to the galaxy, without moving it, but by the simple motion of the earth upon its axis, he counted 116,000 stars that passed through the field of vision in a quarter of an hour. This statement will assist our conceptions of the vast works of the Creator.

It pleased the Creator to occupy six days in forming our world, when his omnipotence could have commanded it into being with a word; and who shall declare the measure of eternity occupied by him in forming the millions of worlds at which we have but just glanced? "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth for he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast."

:

May we not presume that the works of creation are not yet finished, since many new stars have been discovered that were unknown to the ancients? And indeed many new stars have appeared in modern times, in constellations that were under constant ob

servation, and in which there could be no optical deception. Mr. Montanere has noticed above one hundred changes among the fixed stars; some entirely disappearing, while others of the first magnitude have shone forth as of instantaneous creation. This is a theme also worthy of engaging the believer's meditations. But let us now pass to that part of the creation with which we are better acquainted, and notice the bountiful goodness of the Creator in appointing the seasons. No other conformation of the system could have given such commodious distributions of light and heat, or imparted fertility and pleasure to so great a part of the globe. It is the annual turning of the poles of the earth towards the sun that occasions summer and winter, while it is the revolving of the earth upon its axis that occasions day and night; and herein we see provision made both for the vegetable and animal creation. The winter season is the rest of the vegetable world, while the night is appointed and intended to be the period of rest for the animal creation; and it is promised, "while the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

How beautifully adapted to the organ of vision is the light, that the rays which travel from the sun with such inconceivable velocity, and falling upon the optic nerve of the eye, should not injure that tender organ!

How wisely compounded is the air we breathe! how admirably suited to the organ of respiration! Had the component gases been differently proportioned, either the lamp of life would have gone out from want of vitality, or, had the oxygen predominated, human existence must have terminated in a rapid and hasty manner through feverish excitement.

When we notice the other purposes for which the atmosphere was formed, the agitation of which creates the winds, and without which there could be no commerce with distant countries; when we see that storms and tempests purify the air, and tend to promote general health; when we behold the buoyancy of the clouds and vapours which are supported by the atmosphere, and which fall in gentle rain to water the earth, distilling, as the dew, and not overwhelming and deluging in torrents, falling in sheets of water, sweeping away and destroying the hopes of the husbandman, which would be the case were it not for the intermediate air; when we notice the contrivance of these things, the works of our heavenly Father, is it not natural for us as Christians to elevate our ascriptions of praise, and with the psalmist to say, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches;" so is the great and wide sea, "wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great."

Let us dwell for a minute upon the most noble of all the works of God; let us contemplate mankind, his masterpiece, made after his image and in his likeness, and which consists most preeminently in his immortal soul, created to exist co-equal with God. His rational powers, his reflective faculties, all speak the praises of his Maker. He is "fearfully and wonderfully made." The likeness of God is apparent in the formation of his body as well as his soul, in the majesty of his countenance, in the height of his stature, which is towering towards heaven, when compared with other creatures that look downwards, and from the direction of their looks would appear to be created for earth, grovelling in their desires. Man may also be considered in the likeness of God in his

dominion over the creatures and the productions of the earth, and indeed over the earth itself, to manage it as he thinks fit both for his comfort and advantage. His body is exquisitely formed for beauty and for use; it is a wonderful organic structure, admirably contrived, skilfully disposed, excellently framed and put together.

The earth, the habitation of man in his present state, how delightfully is it clothed with verdure, decorated with trees and shrubs, and adorned with flowers exquisite and inimitable! What provision is made to gratify the sense of sight, to delight the eye, and what variety of fruits of delicious flavour is provided to please the taste! These bespeak the bounty and goodness of God.

Passing over a vast variety that is interesting and beautiful in creation, I would direct attention to a portion which is too generally overlooked, because it consists of things minute-insects and water animalculæ. Cicero, speaking of nature, has called it "the insatiable variety of nature." There are said to be six thousand species of flies, seven hundred and sixty species of moths and butterflies. And connected with butterflies and moths I would notice a delicate, and at the same time an exquisite arrangement in the finish of these beautiful creatures. Every one knows that when the finger touches the wing of a butterfly it be. comes covered with dust, but it is not every one who knows that this dust is feathers. However, so it is, The microscope has so improved our vision that millions of delightful discoveries are at our command; we need only application. The microscope shews every particle of dust to be a feather, having a visible quill, with which it was fixed into the texture of the wing; and there we see the feathers arranged with

The

equal precision, in rows, as tiles on the houses. microscope also shews us the lavish variety in the formation of those minute feathers, no two of which are alike, excepting on the same species of moth or butterfly. "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee."

Is it generally known that every living thing, whether animal, bird, fish, or vegetable, has insects preying upon it, living by suction, and vulgarly called lice? So it is; but what I want to observe is this, that no two lice are alike, excepting those found upon the same kind of creature; and I must also except the flea, which is common to the dog, cat, and also to some domestic fowls. Another remarkable instance of variety discovered by the microscope is the different structure of woods. If a piece of stick is cut transversely it intersects the sap and air vessels, which are regularly arranged in various patterns and devices, and each peculiar to its kind; if a scale is taken transversely, so thin as to be transparent, it becomes a delightful microscopic object, and the variety is immense.

That part of animated nature known by the name of water animalculæ proves to be smaller than the mind of man can conceive or comprehend; the celebrated Lewenhock has computed that of one species, ten thousand might be comprised in the space of one grain of sand. One remark respecting the variety in this department, and it is that, by placing a number of cups in the open air of the summer months, containing water, in which was infused different herbs, I obtained a vast variety of animalculæ : some kinds were common to all the infusions, but I believe in every cup I discovered one or more kinds that were different from the others. I judged that various infinitely minute flies were attracted to the cups by the