The skill, contrivance, and beneficence displayed by the Creator in the human body may well, indeed, excite our wonder and gratitude. The structure of the human frame has been a subject of admiration to all who have even cursorily examined it, and nothing seems better calculated to silence atheism than the labours of the anatomist.

We have already alluded to the wonderful construction of the framework of the body, and we here extend our reflections to other parts of it, especially to the organs of sensation, and the nerves connected with them.

If we take but a cursory view of the senses, we shall find them alike perfect and extraordinary. How happily is the sense of touch tempered between two extremes, neither so acute as the membranes of the eye, nor so obtuse as the skin of the heel! The former would expose us to much pain, the latter would quite benumb the body, and almost annihilate touch.

The sense of sight is the most perfect and delightful of all our senses. The eye is guarded with the most solicitous care, and appears in the brow bright and conspicuous as an evening star. In its elevated position it commands the most enlarged prospects, and conveys to our apprehension the truest colours and exactest lineaments of all the graces of blooming Nature, and all the glories of the visible heavens.

The sense of hearing warns us of transactions.

that pass above, behind, and around us. The ear admits intelligence through the darkest medium and minutest cranny. It is always expanded, always accessible-a courier which never tires, a sentinel ever at his post.

The nerves of the sense of smell are so judiciously laid that, being affected by the odoriferous particles wafted by the air, they imbibe all the balmy fragrance of spring, all the aromatic exhalations of autumn, and enable us to banquet even on the invisible dainties of Nature.

The sense of taste is circumstanced in a manner peculiarly benign, as it is a standing though silent plea for temperance, because the exercise of sobriety sets the finest edge on its faculties, and adds the most poignant relish to its enjoyments.

Thus the senses are not only so many sources of delight, but a joint security to our health, and in other ways administer to our comfort and happiness.

From these reflections on the senses, and from the description already given of the nervous system, we cannot fail to be struck with the mutual accord, consent, and sympathy of the various parts of the human structure which arise from the positions and curious ramifications of the nerves through the whole body. This is demonstrated most wonderfully by the various aspects of the human face. By means of this communication of the nerves with the brain, whatever affects the soul within is seen

by a suitable configuration of the muscles and parts of the face without.

The muscles of the face, besides acting as agents of power and motion, are likewise exquisitely adapted for expressing faithfully the various passions and emotions of the mind; and so truly are these depicted on the human countenance, that even a dog in looking in his master's face easily recognises the silent expression either of commendation or dissatisfaction.

In connection with these remarks, there is another faculty which we must not omit to mention-the wonderful faculty of speech. What an admirable instrument for articulating and modifying this great blessing of speech is the tongue! By this organ we communicate the secrets of our hearts, make our very thoughts audible, instruct the ignorant, reclaim the vicious, and comfort the distressed.

How striking is the great variety existing throughout the world of men's faces and voices! Had men's faces been cast in stone, the organs of speech in all men would have sounded nearly alike, and the same exact structure of muscles and nerves would have given the hands of all men the same direction in writing.

But now, as it is ordered, every man's face can distinguish him in the light and his voice. in the dark; his handwriting can speak for him though absent, and be his witness, and secure his contracts in future generations.

To conclude our reflections, there is another remark of interest not to be forgotten, and that is this: However perfect all the parts of the human body may be, to act, they must have life. When any one part of importance ceases to act -for instance, if the stomach cannot digest, or if the heart cannot send its nourishment over the body-then life cannot be kept up, and the man dies sooner than he otherwise would. But the question arises, what is life? Life is the cause of the constant changes that are going on in our bodies. Life counteracts gravity, resists the effects of mechanical powers, prevents chemical agency, modifies the power of heat. Thus we know what life does, but what life is we know not.

How poor! how rich! how abject! how august!
How complicate! how wonderful is Man!
How passing wonder He who made him such!
Who centred in our make such strange extremes !—
An heir of glory! a frail child of dust!

Helpless immortal! insect infinite!

A worm! a god! 1 tremble at myself,

And in myself am lost! at home a stranger,
Thought wanders up and down, surpris'd, aghast,
And wond'ring at her own: how reason reels!
Oh, what a miracle to man is Man!

NOTE.-All young persons desirous of further instruction on the Structure and Functions of the Human Frame,' are recommended to read the following excellent little worksThe House I Live in, by J. C. Girtin, and Physiology for Schools, by Mrs. Bray-both published by Messrs. Longman & Co.

ON THE LAWS OF LIFE.

Take Nature's path, and mad opinions leave;
Unerring Nature, still divinely bright-
One clear, unchanged, and universal light.

'LAWS in their most general signification are the necessary relation derived from the nature of things. In this sense all beings have their laws. The Deity has His laws; the material world has its laws; the intelligences superior to man have their laws; the beasts their laws; and, of course, human beings their laws.'

That man is an organised being, and is no exception to the general laws which govern the organised animal and vegetable creation, has been known to the most eminent men and philosophers of all times.

The sages of Greece considered that the Deity had made no other laws for human kind than those which appertain to all organised beings, and that neither vegetables, animals, nor men should be left to chance for develope

ment.

Not only the heathen nations, but also the Jewish and Christian, have alike considered the importance of obedience to physical laws. This is obvious from the care which they took in the harmonious development of the body.

The Grecian rules for the preservation of