MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. 325 vanished in April, and their seeds are now 'ripening to perfec- tion. Others are chewing themselves this day in all their bloom- ing pride and beauty ; and while they adorn the gardens and meadows, with gay and glowing colours, they promise their fruits in the day's of harvest. The whole nation of vegetables is under the divine care and culture, bis hand forms them day and night with admirable skill and unceasing operation, according to the natures he first gave them, and produces their buds and foliage, their flowry blossoms, and rich fruit in their appointed months : Their progress in life is exceeding swift at this season of the year ; and their successive appearances, and sweet changes of raiment are visible almost hourly. But these creatures are of lower life, and give but feebler displays of the Maker's wisdom. Let us raise our contempla- tions another story, and survey a nobler theatre of divine won- ders. What endless armies of animals is the hand of God moulding and figuring this moment throughout his brutal domi- nions ! What immense flights of little birds are now fermenting in the egg, heaving and growing towards shape and life ! What vast flocks of tour footed creatures, what droves of large cattle are now framed in their early embryos, imprisoned in the dark cells of nature ! and others perhaps are moving toward liberty, and just preparing to see the light. What unknown myriads of insects in their various cradles and nesting- places are now work- ing toward vitality and motion ! and thousands of them with their painted wings just beginning to unfurl and expand them- selves into fluttering and day -light ; while other families of them have forsaken their husky beds, and exult and glitter in the warm sun-beams! An exquisite world of wönders Is complióated even in the body of every little insect, an ant, a gnat, a mite, that is scarce visible to the naked eye. Admirable engines ! which a whole academy ol: philosophers could never contrive ; which the nation of poets bath neither art nor colours to describe ; nor has a world of mechanics skill enough to 'frame the plainest, or coarsest of them. Their nerves, their museles, and the' minute atoms which compose the fluids fit to run in the little channels of their veins, escape the notice of the most sagacious Mathematician,, with all his aid of glasses. The active powers and curiosity of human nature are limited in their pursuit, and must 'be content to lie down in ignorance." Hitherto shall ye 'go, and no further," It is a sublime and constant triumph over all the intellectual powers of man, which the great God maintains every moment in these inimitable works of nature, in these impenetrable recesses and mysteries of divine art ? And, the month of May, lathe most shining season of this triumph. The flags and banners of AI- mighty Wisdom are now displayed round half the.globe, and the
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