in the shade, others in the sun; several grow in mountains, and many more in valleys. From thence it happens, that each country has a certain number of plants peculiar to it, and which do not grow in equal perfection in others. Let the alder be transplanted into a sandy soil, and a willow into a rich and dry earth, and it will be found, that those soils are not fit for these trees, and that it will agree with them better to plant the former near marshes, and the latter on the borders of rivers.-Therefore our Creator has provided for each species, by alloting to them the soil analogous to their internal constitution. It is true, that art can sometimes force nature to produce according to pleasure: But it is seldom worth the trouble; and, in the end, nature is found to have much the advantage of all the researches and labours of art. The same variety that is observed in the soil of our globe, is found in the characters of mankind. There are some whose hearts are so hardened, that they cannot profit by instruction. No motive can influence ; no truth, however evident, can rouse them from their indolence.-This character may be compared to stony ground, which no climate, nor the most careful cultivation, can render fruitful. A character almost as worthless, is that where levity predominates: Persons of this sort, it is true, receive the salutary impressions of religion and piety, but are discouraged by the least obstacle that comes in their way; and their zeal vanishes as easily as their good resolutions. In the minds of trifling, timid, weak people, truth and virtue cannot take root, because there is no depth. They resemble light and dry soils, where nothing comes to maturity, and where every thing dries up, as soon as the heat of the sun is is felt; because they do not supply the plant with the nourishing juices it requires. But how happy those characters with whom, as in a good soil, the seeds of piety ripen and produce an abundant harvest of good fruit. On these several dispositions observed among men, depends more or less the effect the word of God has upon the heart. In vain the sower sows the best seeds, if the soil has not the suitable qualities; all his care is in vain. The purity and goodness of the seed cannot supply the natural defects of the soil. For when it is so hard and close that the seed cannot enter, or so sandy that it cannot take root, or so full of stones that it is choaked up, it is impossible it should produce fruit. To which of these do I belong? Perhaps my heart is not so hard as to resist every impression. If I know it well, it resembles those light soils which produce here and there some ears of corn, but which are seen soon after to wither. Good thoughts and salutary resolutions have often filled my heart: But how short has been their duration! Alas! I see plainly, that this heart must change and be amended, that faith and virtue may produce good fruit, and that I may one day obtain salvation. But this change is not in my power. It is thy work, Divine Spirit! Assist me, O Lord! Make me like the fruitful soil, ready to fulfil the duties of life. And, in order to bear fruit in abundance, make me fruitful in good works, preserving the gifts of thy grace in an honest and upright heart, APRIL XI. NECESSITY FOR REPOSE AT NIGHT. LABOUR is without doubt necessary for man; he must indispensibly apply himself according to his situation and condition; and it is certain, that great part of the convenience and comforts of life depend upon it. But, it must be allowed that human strength would soon fail, and that man would, in all respects, become incapable of making use of his limbs, and the faculties of his soul, if God did not continually supply him with the strength and activity necessary to fulfil the duties of his vocation. As we every day lose some of our juices, we should soon be exhausted, and fall into a mortal decay, by too great an exertion of our strength, if these spirits were not continually renewed and revived. In order to be able to labour, it is necessary that our blood should always supply us with a matter infinitely thin and active, called the nervous fluid. This fluid keeps the springs of the brain and muscles in play, and maintains the bodily action and motion. But the continual waste that is made of this matter would soon exhaust it, and man would fall into languor, if these losses were not repaired. Food would not digest, or spread itself regularly through the body, if he was always in motion. The labour, therefore, of the head, the arms, or the feet, must be interrupted for a time, that the heat and the spirits, which spread over the exterior parts, may be employed only in assisting the functions of the stomach, during the repose of the other parts of the body. Sleep does us this important service. At the close of the day, our strength, which has been exercising VOL. I. L exercising since the morning, begins to diminish. The vital spirits sink; the senses grow dull; and we are invited to sleep, without being able to resist. As soon as we give way to it, we are restored and refreshed. The operations of the brain, and the labours of the body, cease at once, and the fatigued limbs acquire new strength. This recruit is necessary to the body as well as to the mind. It makes our limbs more active and flexible, and preserves in a proper state all the parts of the body. It re-animates our intellectual faculties, and spreads a serenity over our souls. How inexcusable then are those, who, for trifling reasons, for a vile interest, or to gratify their passions, deprive themselves of proper time for sleep! They not only disturb the order of nature, an order established only for their good, but they enervate the strength of their bodies, and bring on themselves a premature death. Why should we be mad enough to deprive ourselves of a blessing, which our heavenly Father equally and impartially grants to the rich and the poor, the ignorant and the learned, the high and the low? Why should we shorten our days, when a wise and good Providence has ordained sleep, as a means to prolong life? Why voluntarily deprive ourselves of the refreshing repose which sleep procures us? Alas! there may come nights, in which, far from tasting its sweets, we may pass restless hours in a bed of anguish, and reckon the tedious and painful moments; and, perhaps, we shall never know the value of sleep, till we wish for it again. APRIL APRIL XII. SIZE OF OUR GLOBE. IT is not so easy as we imagine to be certain of the size of our earth. There is indeed but one longitude, yet there are two latitudes, north and south. Both begin at the equator. The one extends toward the north, and the other toward the south, as far as the poles, either arctic or antarctic. But no one has yet been able to go as far as either pole, because the mountains of ice in Greenland, and in the northern seas, have always obstructed the passage. However, thanks to the geometricians, we at present know nearly the size of our globe; and, according to the most exact calculations, the surface of the earth is nine millions two hundred thousand and eighty square leagues. The water occupies two thirds of that space; so that what remains for terra firma is reduced to three millions and ninety-six thousand square leagues. It has been calculated, that there may be at least three thousand millions of men upon the earth; but in reality, there are not more than one thousand and fourscore millions; of which there If, then, we suppose the earth is inhabited by one thousand millions of men, or thereabouts, and that thirty-three years make a generation, it follows, that, in that space of time, there die one L 2 thousand |