ye pious youths, the faithful followers of your Lord, to enrich with the tenderest affections of your hearts, to shelter with your protection from the storms of life, and to call forth the Christian graces of their character into more important and interesting scenes of action :-and you, Oh! ye pious daughters of our land, Oh! cast not away on the worthless, the power bestowed on you by Heaven to sweeten the cup of human misery, and form the happiness of domestic life. Preserve yourselves for the servants of the Lord, and hazard not your peace with those whose hearts are not softened by a sense of redeeming love. If Providence offers not those for your acceptance, enjoy in the active performance of those labours of love he may appoint you in your several stations, that solid peace of God the world has not to bestow, and you will have in your father's house a name better than of sons and of daughters. And, Oh! that the word might now reach every heart in the demonstration of the spirit and of power, 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' Yours, &c. [Another letter to a Lady on this subject next Month.] Mr. Editor, ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. PERHAPS no study, except that of the sacred Scriptures, is so well calculated to expand and elevate the intellectual faculties as that of Nature. It is true, that the constitution of society requires that the different classes of men should be occupied in their respective avocations; but is it not a lamentable fact that these callings, although laudable in themselves, should so often become subservient to the basest propensities of the human heart? Rousseau has justly remarked, that when science is transplanted from the mountains and woods into cities and worldly societies, it loses its genuine charms, and becomes a source of envy, jealousy, and rivalship. When, however, our atten tion is withdrawn from the agitating concerns of the world, to contemplate the works of Deity, a state of serenity and satisfaction is enjoyed beyond the power of language to express, or the most fertile imagination to conceive. If we were more accustomed to examine and meditate on the multiplicity of operations continually going on in the vegetable world, what an inexhaustible fund should we have to keep up the interest of our solitary and social walks; and, in the latter how delightfully would it supercede the vain and dissolute conversation that now occupies so many valuable hours! Should it correspond with your plan, I shall occasionally attempt, in a very brief manner, to submit to your readers some of these interesting facts, with a view to instruct those whose situations in life exclude them from the privilege of holding much intercourse with God through the beautiful economy of Nature, and to excite those who, having oppor tunity, want inclination to enter upon a pursuit in which they will be recompenced at every step, by feelings the most sublime and gratifying... The multiplicity does not astonish us more than the order and skill which are displayed in these important operations; and when we find how many different substances are formed by the same ingredients, we are lost in wonder and admira tion. A full explanation of any one process must not be expected. It would engage too much of your valuable Maga zine to introduce the whole that naturalists have discovered; and even this is very imperfect. Sufficient is known to interest the intellectual faculties of man; and yet sufficient remains locked up among the hidden mysteries of divine wisdom, to teach us that the works of the infinite Creator are incomprehensible to a finite creature, and to preserve us from the sin of that philosopher, who presumptuously wrote for his epitaph, "A genius equal to the majesty of Nature!" of whom it has been justly said, A blade of grass was equal to confound all his reasoning.' The analogy between animal and vegetable life is very great. Animals have an organized body, and are nourished and supported by air and tood. Vegetables also are consti tuted of a variety of organized parts, and require the same means as animals for their existence. In some instances, plants have spontaneous, but we have no reason to think that they possess the power of voluntary motion. The former must be familiar to every person; for who has not observed, that many flowers unfoid and close as circumstances are favourable or otherwise! We will commence, however, with Vegetation; and, if approved, explain the structure and physiology of the other parts in order. ON VEGETATION. A seed appears to be a homogeneous body; but in this we are deceived, for it is constituted of a great variety of ingredients; some common, and others peculiar*. It consists of three parts, viz. the cotyledon, the radicle, and the plumula: In the garden-bean these organs are exceedingly distinct. When the external coats are stripped off, we find that it easily divides into two loves, neary of the same size and figure. Each of these lobes is called a cotyledon. Near that part of the * See Thomson's Chemistry, vol. v. p. 294. ́. lobes which is contiguous to the eye of the bean, there is a small round white body, that comes out between the lobes ;this is called the radicle. Attached to the radicle, another round body will be found, lying between and within the cotyledons, which is called the plumula. The form of these three parts, and the number of the cotyledons, vary in different seeds; but none are destitute of them. If a seed is placed in the earth when the temperature of the atmosphere and degree of moisture correspond with the nature of the seed, it changes its appearance, — vegetation takes place. The radicle is converted into a root; and (by an unerring law of nature) descends to absorb nutriment, as well as to fix the plant to the ground. The plumula, on the contrary, as it increases, ascends above the earth, and becomes the trunk or stem. Whilst these changes are taking place in the plumala and radicle, the cotyledons (which compose the chief bulk of the seed) swell, and are gradually raised out of the ground by the ascending Between the cotyledons the plumula is visible; and (as the name denotes) resembles a little feather, which soon becomes a tuft of young leaves, wherefrom the stem, if there be any, grows. The cotyledons seem designed at first to supply the germinating seed with nutriment; for if they are removed from the seed at the commencement of the process, germination is inninediately stopped. The farina in them being changed into saccharine matter, vessels convey it into the radicle: the radicle increases in size, assumes the form of a root, gradually descends into the earth, and soon becomes capable, by its own powers, of supplying sufficient nutriment for the future increase of the plant. Still, however, the cotyledons are needful, although their situation must be changed. Having risen above the surface of the earth, they resemble leaves; but differ from the proper folia in shape*: they are called Seminal Leaves. They also perform the same functions until the plumula expands into branches and leaves, when they wither and drop off. Atmospherical air is necessary to incipient ve getation; from the want of this, seeds buried deeper in the earth than is natural to them, do not vegetate. I have intentionally avoided speaking of the influence of moisture, heat, oxygen gas, light, &c. for the reasons assigned above. Are we not astonished, that within a' grain of mustard seed,' or the more minute seed of some of our annual flowers, should be contained ingredients so dissimilar, and parts so distinet, capable of undergoing changes so important, that the * A good example of this difference will be found in the gourd. perpetuation of the species depends upon them? Are we not amazed at the fact, that within the narrow limits of an acorn, parts should exist, by whose evolution and action the majestic oak is produced? Does not the parental office performed by the cotyledons to the infant radicle and plumula (supplying their places, at different times, until each becomes capable of assuming its own department) convince us that an agent is employed, whose works are infinitely superior to our compre hension? - And, lastly, Does not this account of vegetation illustrate the argument by which the apostle Paul resisted some, who said, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?' Thou fool, that which thou, sowest is not quickened, except it die; and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain; but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body * in Let us all pray that, as our bodies must soon be sown corruption and dishonour, our heavenly Father, who giveth to the perishing seed its new and more beautiful existence, would raise us up in the last day with that glorious body which alone can be fit to dwell in Heaven, As you are willing to insert in the Evangelical Maga, zine any Hint that may be useful to the community at large, and to the poor in particular, a friend feels inclined to mention one branch of charity that has of late years become more needful than ever. It is that of providing proper Spectacles, to enable those whose eyes suffer from age, to read the Bibles and Tracts which are now so widely and kindly dispersed; but which prove useless to many from the want of suitable glasses. Some cannot spare money to buy them; and if they could, there are places in the country where they cannot be purchased. Spectacles might be procured at a small expence; and kept by such as are in the habit of visiting the poor, to enquire into their wants; they would find great satisfaction arise from thus being (as it were), Eyes to the blind,' as Job expresses it; and enabling them to read the best of books, that yields consolation and support under all the infelicities of life.. A CONSTANT READER. Dear Sir, I AM extremely obliged to you for your kind letter. I had received a copy of the paragraph out of the same letter from Mr. Crook, by the hand of Mr. Eastwood, the day before. What the intentions of the Bishop of the diocese to which Mr. Berridge belongs are I do not know, nor am I very anxious about it; time will discover it. My Lord reigns: He has all mens' hearts in his hands, and orders all things well. If He has a mind that judgment shall begin at his house, I can only say, His will be done; it is his usual way. Though He may permit his servants to suffer for a season, I know two things:-I know what this will do for them, and what will become of their adversaries at the last. I, for my part, have no more to do (and enough too) but tɔ look steadily to God, follow his will, and mind his work, when' and wheresoever He calls me. I live at Haworth when I am at home; and when I am abroad, I am abroad. But at home or abroad my work is the same: 'Tis to preach Jesus, and him crucified; and to help, thro' him, poor sinners to God, grace, and glory.-As for the consequences, what are they to me? let my Master look after them. May the Lord eternally bless that dear, good, honourable Lady, who would defend a dear minister of Christ to the last gown on her back, and to the last shilling in her purse, My prayer is, and always shall be, come what will on it, that the Lord may apparel her Ladyship and all her relations, as with the robe of Christ's righteousness, so with the garments of salvation, the white linen of saints; and at the last advance her to an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. That Lady will as certainly come to that honour as I am writing this letter. May the Lord do as much for all our dear friends about Leeds; and for no one sooner than yourself. I am sorely grieved that my dear Mr. is disappointed of Chapel. But come, the Lord, his service, his grace, and his glory is more, infinitely more than 1000 chapelries, vicarages, rectories, archdeaconries, and archbishoprics too. To hear God say to his servants, Heb. xiii. 5, I will never never leave thee, I will never, never, never forsake thee' (for so I find it will read in the Greek) is more to dear Mr. --and me than all this world, and heaven too, God bless that good man, his spouse, his bairns, and all my dear friends at Kippax. Remember my kind love to Mr. kind love to Mr., to all my dear friends in Leeds; I conceit I shall not be long before I see them; I hope I shall see you too. Till then, and as long as you breathe, pray, pray, pray, and glorify God in body, soul, and spirit incessantly. I am, such as l'am, Sincerely yours, W. GRIMSHAW, Supposed to be Lady Huntingdon, |