that man may be enriched by his gifts. He com. mandeth the hail, the winds, and the dew, to become sources of happiness to mankind.

Even when the tempest rises, and the thunder peals terror through the heart of man, fertility and blessedness spring forth out of the bosom of storms and darkness. The light of the sun returns with increased splendour, and songs of joy and harmony succeed the roaring of the thunder.

It is in the Lord alone we find true happiness; in Him who is the Author of all good, who enableth us to derive salvation from the eternal springs of light and truth. And blessed is the mortal who submits to his government with resignation, and who is prepared to leave this world, in the joyful hope of being united to his Father and Creator by the redeeming power of Jesus Christ!

Abuse of Animals.

MEN abuse animals in so many different ways, that it is very difficult to enumerate all of them; and for the sake of perspicuity, I shall at present comprehend them in two classes. They are generally too much or too little valued; and in either case we act with im propriety. On the one hand, we have too little regard for the brute creation, when, presuming upon the authority God has given us over them, we exercise that power with arrogance and caprice. But allowing that we possessed this absolute dominion over them, is it just that we should exert our right with cruelty and tyranny? All who are not the slaves of passion, and are not corrupted by vicious habits, are naturally inclined to have compassion for every being that has life and feeling. This disposition does honour to hu

man nature, and is so deeply implanted in our hearts, that he who has unfortunately stifled it is regarded with aversion, and shows how much he has fallen beneath the dignity of man. He will then have to make but one more step to become a monster; which is, to deny to men the compassion he refuses to brutes.

Experience justifies me in this assertion, and my readers will recollect examples enough of this species of ferocity. History furnishes us with many : we there find that the people who delighted in the combats of animals were remarkable for their cruelty towards their fellow-creatures, so true is it that our treatment of animals has an influence upon our moral character, as well as upon the mildness of our manners. Though it may be urged we have the right of destroying hurtful animals, will it follow that we have a right to tear from them, without compassion or remorse, that life which is so dear to all creatures? or, when necessity obliges us to take such a step, are we justified in taking a pleasure and barbarous joy in their sufferings; and, in depriving them of life, making them suffer a thousand tortures more cruel than death itself? I grant that the Creator has given us animals to serve our necessities, to conduce to our comforts and pleasures, and to relieve our toil by their labour; but it does not thence follow that we are to fatigue them unnecessarily, or to make them labour beyond their strength, refuse them that subsistence which is their due, or increase their sufferings by hard treat.

ment.

This is sufficient to show the nature of the first species of abuse; but some people fall into the opposite extreme. Those animals of a social nature which are most connected with us, which live in our houses and are continually in our presence, which amuse and contribute to our diversion or utility, sometimes inspire us with a ridiculous and extravagant affection. I am grieved to say that there are both men and women so

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absurd as to love their domestic animals to such an extravagant degree, as to sacrifice to them those essential duties which they owe to their fellow-creatures. War may send its plagues through nations, and whole armies destroy each other, without making any impression upon the lady who, some days after, is inconsolable for the loss of her lap-dog. Much more might be said upon this subject; however, I will not weary my readers with such absurdities, but conclude this meditation with a very important remark. Parents, and those who are entrusted with the care and education of children, in their presence cannot too scrupulously avoid every abuse of animals. It is the more necessary to insist upon this, because the practice of it is very often neglected, and the children influenced by such perni. cious examples, often imbibe the worst of passions. No animal should be put to death in their presence; much less should they be commissioned to perform a task of such cruelty. Let them always be accustomed to treat animals as beings which have life and feeling, and towards which they have certain duties to observe. Whilst we thus prevent their feelings from becoming brutified, let us guard against their being too much attached to animals, to which they are often very much inclined; but let us teach our children the right method of behaviour to this part of the creation, that they may, from their earliest infancy, be accustomed to acknowledge, even in these creatures, the visible im pression of the Divine Perfections.

APRIL II.

Motion of the Earth.

WHEN the delightful spectacle of the rising sun renews each morning in our souls the gratitude and