and way of life of those people? How much we should think ourselves to be pitied, if we had nothing before our eyes but an immense extent of ice, and whole deserts covered with snow; the absence of the sun still making the cold more insupportable? and if, instead of a convenient dwelling, we had only moveable tents made of skins; and no other resource for our subsistence, but in painful and dangerous hunting for it; if we were deprived both of the pleasures which the arts produce, and the society of our fellow-creatures to sweeten life? Are not these reflections proper to make us observe the many advantages of our climate, so little attended to? Ought it not to animate us to bless the divine Providence for delivering us from such distresses and inconveniencies, and for distinguishing us by a thousand advantages: Yes: Let us ever bless that wise Providence: And, when we feel the severity of the season, let us return thanks, that the cold is so moderate where we dwell, and that we have such numerous ways of guarding against it. Let us also bless the almighty Governor of the universe, for granting us, in the midst of the desolate image which winter presents, the delightful prospect of spring, the very idea of which comforts and enables us to support the present evil. But, is the inhabitant of northern countries so unhappy as we imagine? It is true, that he wanders painfully through rough valleys and unbeaten roads, and that he is exposed to the inclemency of the seasons. But his hardy body is able to bear fatigue. The Laplander is poor, and deprived of all the conveniencies of life; but is he not rich, in knowing no other wants than those which he can easily satisfy? He is deprived for several months months of the light of the sun; but, to make the darkness of night supportable, the moon and the Aurora Borealis come to light his horizon. Even the snow and ice, in which he is buried, does not make him unhappy. Education and custom arm him against the severity of his climate. The hardy life he leads, enables him to brave the cold: And, for the particular wants which are indispensible to him, nature has made it easy for him to obtain them. She has pointed out to him animals whose fur saves him from the sharpness of the air. She has given him the rein-deer, which furnishes him, all at once, with his tent, his dress, his bed, his food, and his drink; with which he undertakes long journies, and which, in a word, supplies almost all his wants; and the maintenance of it is no expence or trouble to him. If, in the midst of all the misery of their condition, these poor mortals had a more perfect knowledge of God, a knowledge such as revelation gives us; if less savage and insensible, they could draw from friendship those sweets which improve life; if it were possible, I say, to join these precious advantages to the tranquillity of mind which forms their character, those supposed unhappy people, whose kind of life frightens our depraved imaginations, would not be so much to be pitied as we think. And, if it is true, that the idea we form of happiness depends more on opinion than on reason; if it is true also, that real happiness is not fixed to particular people, or particular climates, and that, with the necessaries of life, and peace of mind, one may be happy in every corner of the earth; has not one right to ask, What the Laplander wants to make him happy? JANUARY JANUARY XIX. THE WISE ORDINANCE OF OUR GLOBE. HOWEVER limited the human mind may be, however incapable it is of going to the bottom of, or even conceiving the whole of the plan that the Creator executed in forming our globe, we may notwithstanding, by the use of our senses, and the faculties with which we are endowed, discover sufficient to make us acknowledge and admire the divine wisdom. To convince us of it, we need only reflect on the form of the earth. It is known to be almost in shape like a ball. And with what view did the Creator choose that form? In order that it should be inhabited, over the whole surface of it, by living creatures. God would not have accomplished this purpose, if the inhabitants of the earth had not every where found sufficient light and heat; if water had not been easily spread in all parts of it; and, if the circulation of wind had met with obstacles any where. The earth could not have any form more proper to prevent these inconveniencies. This round form admits light and heat (those two things so necessary to life) all over our globe. Without this form, the revolutions of the day and night, the changes in the temperature of the air, cold, heat, moisture, or dryness, could not have taken place. If our earth had been square; if it had been conic, or an hexagon, or any other angular form, what would have been the consequence? A great part, and even the greatest part, of this earth, would have been drowned, while the rest would have languished with drought: Some of our countries would have been deprived of of the wholesome circulation of wind, while others would have been torn to pieces with continual storms. When I reflect on the enormous mass which composes our globe, I have new reason to admire the supreme wisdom. If the earth was softer, or more spongy than it is, men and animals would sink into it. If it was harder, more compact, and less penetrable than it is, it would resist the toil of the labourer, and would be incapable of producing and nourishing that multitude of plants, herbs, roots, and flowers, which now spring out of its bosom. Our globe is formed of regular and distinct strata; some of different stones, others of several metals and minerals. The numerous advantages which result from them, particularly in favour of mankind, are evident to all the world. Where should we have sweet water, so necessary to life, if it was not purified, and in a manner filtered, by the strata of gravel which are sunk a great depth in the earth? The surface of the globe offers a varied prospect; an admirable mixture of plains and valleys, of little hills and mountains. Who is there that does not see clearly the wise purposes of the Author of nature, in thus diversifying this surface? How much beauty the earth would lose if it was an even plain! Besides, how favourable is this variety of valley and mountain to the health of living creatures! How much more convenient to lodge so many creatures of different sorts! How much more proper to produce the various species of plants and vegetables! If there were no hills, the earth would be less peopled with men and animals! We should have fewer plants, fewer simples and trees: We should be totally deprived of metals and minerals The vapours could not be condensed; and we should have neither springs nor rivers. : Who Who can help acknowledging that the whole plan of the earth, its form, its exterior and interior construction, are regulated according to the wisest laws, which all combine towards the pleasure and happiness of living creatures? Supreme Author of nature, thou hast ordered every thing on earth with wisdom! Wherever I turn my eyes; whether I examine the surface, whether I penetrate into the interior structure of the globe thou hast appointed me to inhabit; I every where discover marks of profound wisdom and infinite goodness. “ར........... JANUARY XX. SHORT MEDITATIONS ON THE WORKS OF GOD, DRAWN FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. “HEARKEN unto this, stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God *.” “He hath "established the world by his wisdom, and hath "stretched out the heavens by his discretion: for "he is the former of all things +." "And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw the light that it was "good; and God divided the light from the darkness: And God called the light Day, and the "darkness he called Night ‡." "Thou, even "thou, art Lord alone: Thou hast made the heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host: "the earth, and things that are therein; the seas, " and all that is therein; and thou preservest "them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth "thee |]." "O Lord my God, thou art become "exceeding .66 * Job xxxvii. 14. † Jer. x. 12, 16. Gen. i. 3, 4, 5• || Jer. ix. 6. |