thoughts of a future, better than a thousand volumes of philosophers and divines. It gives so warning a concussion to those props of our vanity, our strength, and youth, that we think of fortifying ourselves within, when there is so little dependence upon our outworks. 2. Youth, at the very best, is but a betrayer of human life in a gentler and smoother manner than age: 'tis like a stream that nourishes a plant upon a bank, and causes it to flourish and blossom to the sight, but at the same time is undermining it at the root in secret.

3. My youth has dealt more fairly and openly with me; it has afforded several prospects of my danger, and given me an advantage not very common to young men, that the attractions of the world have not dazzled me very much; and I begin where most people end, with a full conviction of the emptiness of all sorts of ambition, and the unsatisfactory nature of all human pleasures, when a smart fit of sickness tells me this vile tenement of my body will fall in a little time; I am even as unconcerned as was that honest Hibernian, who, being in bed in the great storm some years ago, and told that the house would tumble over his head, made answer: แ What care I for the house?

I am only a lodger."

4. When I reflect what an inconsiderable little atom every single man is, with respect to the whole creation, methinks 'tis a shame to be concerned at the removal of such a trivial animal as I am. The morning after my exit, the sun will rise as bright as ever, the flowers smell as sweet, the plants spring as green, the world will proceed in its old course, people will laugh as heartily, and marry as fast as they were used to do,

5. The memory of man, (as it is elegantly expressed in the Book of Wisdom,) passeth away as the remembrance of a guest that tarrieth but one day. There are reasons enough in the fourth chapter of the same book, to make any young man contented with the prospects of death. "For honorable age is not that

which standeth in length of time, or is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto man, and an unspotted life is old age. He was taken away speedily, lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul."

QUESTIONS.-1. What does sickness teach us! 2. To what does the author compare youth in the 2d paragraph? 8. What does he say of his own youth? 4. What is "the Book of Wisdom" here referred to Ans. One of those books which belong to what is called the Apocrypha.

LESSON LXXXVI.

SPELL AND DEFINE.-1. DI VERS I FI CA' TION, change; variety. 2. EN CHANT ING, charming; delighting. 3. U NI FORM' I TY, sameness. 4. DE FORM' I TY, irregularity of shape. 5. CON FIG U RA TION, figure; shape. 6. PAR' TI CLES, minute portions. 7. IN CITE MENT, incentive; motive. 8. DE CREE', edict; law. 9. FIRM' A MENT, arch or expanse; the sky. 10. DIS CLOS' ES, reveals; makes known 11. Au13. WAN' TON GUST', grand; majestic. 12. AN NOY', to vex; harass. unrestrained; untamed. 14. RAVISH ED, highly delighted. SUR VEY', to look; to view. 16. AP PEND A GES, things added. 17. EF FUL' GENT, shining; bright. 18. GAR' NISH ING, adorning; decorating. 19. DIF FUS' ED, spread; dispersed. 20. IM MENS' I TY, boundless space; infinity.

THE BEING AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

MAXOY

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1. "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, are clearly seen." Let us for a moment behold our earth. With what a mighty scene are we here presented! The diversification of its surface into land and water, islands and lakes, springs and rivers, hills and valleys, mountains and plains, renders it to man doubly enchanting. We are entertained with an agreeable variety, without being disgusted with a tedious uniformity.

2. Every thing appears admirably formed for our profit and delight. There the valleys are clothed in smiling green, and the plains are bending with corn.

Here is the gentle hill to delight the eye, and beyond, slowly rising from the earth, swells the huge mountain, and, with all its load of waters, rocks, and woods, heaves itself up into the skies. Why this pleasing, vast deformity of nature? Undoubtedly for the benefit of man.

3. From the mountains descend streams to fertilize the plains below, and cover them with wealth and beauty. The earth not only produces every thing necessary to support our bodies, but to remedy our diseases and gratify our senses. Who covered the earth with such a pleasing variety of fruits and flowers? Who gave them their delightful fragrance, and painted them with such exquisite colors? Who causes the same water to whiten in the lily, that blushes in the rose?

4. Do not these things indicate a Cause, infinitely superior to any finite being? Do they not directly lead us to believe the existence of God, to admire his goodness, to revere his power, to adore his wisdom, in so happily accommodating our external circumstances to our situation and internal constitútion?

5. How are we astonished to behold the vast ocean rolling its immense burden of waters! Who gave it such a configuration of particles as to render it movable by the least pressure, and at the same time so strong as to support the heaviest weight? Who spread out this vast highway of all the nations under heaven? Who gave it its regular motion? Who confined it within its bounds? A little more motion would disorder the whole world! A small incitement on the tide would drown whole kingdoms!

6. Who restrains the proud waves, when the tem pest lifts them to the clouds? Who measured the great waters, and subjected them to invariable laws? That great Being, who "placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree that it can not pass it; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it." With reason may we believe, that from the

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things that are made, are clearly seen eternal power and wisdom.

7. When we cast our eyes up to the firmament of heaven, we clearly see that it declares God's handiwork. Here the immense theater of God's works opens upon us, and discloses ten thousand magnificent objects. We dwindle to nothing in comparison with this august scene of beauty, majesty, and glory.

8. Who reared this vast arch over our heads? Who adorned it with so many shining objects, placed at such immense distances from each other. regular in their motions, invariably observing the laws to which they were originally subjected? Who placed the sun at such a convenient distance as not to annoy, but to refresh us? Who, for so many ages, has caused him to rise and set at fixed times? Whose hand directs, and whose power restrains him in his course, causing him to produce the agreeable changes of day and night, as well as the variety of seasons?

9. This great Being is everywhere present. He exists all around us. He is not, as we are apt to imagine, at a great distance. Wherever we turn, his image meets our view. We see him in the earth, in the ocean, in the air, in the sun, moon, and stars. We feel him in ourselves. He is always working around us; he performs the greatest operations, produces the noblest effects, and discovers himself in a thousand different ways.

He

10. All parts of creation are equally under his inspection. Though he warms the breast of the highest angel in Heaven, yet he breathes life into the meanest insect on earth. He lives through all his work, supporting all by the word of his power. shines in the verdure that clothes the plain, in the lily that delights the vale, and in the forest that waves on the mountain. He supports the slender reed that trembles in the breeze, and the sturdy oak that defies the tempest.

11. His presence cheers the inanimate creation. Far in the wilderness, where human eye never saw

g*

where the savage foot never trod, there he bids the blooming forest smile, and the blushing rose open its leaves to the morning sun. There he causes the feathered inhabitants to whistle their wild notes to the listening trees, and echoing mountains. There nature lives in all her wanton wildness. There the ravished eye, hurrying from scene to scene, is lost in one vast blush of beauty.

12. When you survey this globe of earth, with all its appendages; when you behold it inhabited by numberless ranks of creatures, all moving in their proper spheres, all verging to their proper ends, all animated by the same great source of life, all supported at the same bounteous table; when you behold not only the earth, but the ocean and the air, swarming with living creatures, all happy in their situation; when you behold yonder sun, darting an effulgent blaze of glory over the heavens, garnishing mighty worlds, and waking ten thousand songs of praise; when you behold unnumbered systems diffused through immensity, clothed in splendor, and rolling in majesty; when you behold these things, your affections will rise above all the vanities of time; your full souls will struggle with ecstasy, and your reason, passions, and feelings, all united, will rush up to the skies with a devout acknowledgment of the existence, power, wisdom, and goodness of God.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is the effect of the vast variety presented in the works of creation? 2. What does the great fertility and beauty of nature naturally lead us to think of our Creator? 3. What is said of the ocean? 4. What, of the handiwork of God, as displayed in the firmament? 5. What objects are mentioned in the last para graph, as fitted to make us feel and acknowledge the existence, Dower, wisdom, and goodness of God?

Where is the passage to be found, which is quoted at the begin ning of the 1st paragraph? Ans. Romans 1st chapter, 20th verse. Where is the passage which is quoted in the 6th paragraph? Ans. Jeremiah 5th chapter, 22d verse. Are the questions in the 4th paragraph direct or indirect? With what inflection should they be read? With what inflection should the questions in the 3d, 5th, and 8th paragraphs be read?