ing rays, we have more diffusive matter for consideration, as solar heat is that great natural agent which "is the principal source of all the changes undergone by plants and vegetables." And here I would apply to your own observation; have you not often rejoiced over the vigour displayed in a favourite plant, when exposed to the benign influences of the sun, watching with delight its expanding beauties; then, on the contrary, filled with regrets over the same object upon whose vital parts disease has seized, and the exposure formerly so beneficial is at once converted into a means of hastening its dissolution. Connected with the growth of plants is the development of the blossoms, and perfecting of their fruit and seed, which is produced by heat. Thus "the sun is the instrument of the Creator's goodness, the minister of his will, and the herald of his greatness." Nor is the solar influence confined to vegetation only, all nature equally exults therein. You can rejoice, and feel sensible of its power. What can exceed the pure, unalloyed delight produced by a lovely summer's morning; the sun arisen from his eastern bed, gradually ascends still higher in the heavens; its warmth and splendour inspires you with spirits and activity, and you are ready to unite with all creation in pouring out your tribute of gratitude and praise "to him whose Name is excellent in all the earth." His creation was likewise to be a signal for the commencement of the revolving seasons, the daily succession of day and night, and the more important year, "which is so determined as to be adapted to the construction of most vegetables, or rather the construction of vegetables is so adjusted as to be unsuited to a duration longer or shorter by any considerable portion." You will soon perceive the justness of this observation when I remind you of the fruit trees, which,

if you consider, require the full year to bring them to maturity. The sap ascends with extraordinary copiousness at two seasons, the spring and autumn, particularly the former; then you will observe the buds swelling, some for leaves, others for fruit. As the season advances they still further increase, until the fruit being perfectly formed, enlarges under the genial influences of the sun, and in time arrives at maturity. According to the same rule, the flowering has its regular period. In the month of February you look for the snowdrop, and not even the winter's severity can alarm it from appearing at its appointed time. In a similar manner I could remind you of numberless plants which have delighted you by their fragrance and beauty, each in their given month, even till the winter, when the laurustinus and arbutus remember that as yet they have neglected to contribute their share towards ornamenting our lawns and gardens.

But suppose, for an instant, the laws of nature to be unequal; were the earth removed towards the centre only one-eighth of its present distance, the year would be about a month shorter; or were the earth eighty-four millions of miles distant from the sun, instead of ninetysix, its present situation, what would be the result? Its revolution then would be considerably less, and of necessity the "working of the botanical world would be completely disordered, the functions of plants entirely deranged, and the whole vegetable kingdom involved in instant decay, and rapid extinction."* How exquisitely now are all those affairs arranged! how exactly does the revolution of the functions of vegetables coincide with the earth's revolution round the sun! and proclaim aloud the

* Bridgwater Treatise, Whewell, p. 23.

order and beautiful regularity which pervades the whole of Jehovah's works.

Having thus, in a cursory manner, exhibited before you the salutary influences of the glorious sun, in order to incite you to a still deeper study of his nature and effects, we will in our next chapter turn to the contemplation of the humbler moon, an object worthy of your attentive consideration.