impressed on the mind, by contemplating the traces of his beneficence, which are every where conspicuous in the seasons as they revolve, are calculated to reassure the mind, in looking forward to that great change, of the approach of which we are forcibly reminded by the passing away of another year, of the short and uncertain period allotted us on earth. We, too, have our spring, our summer, our autumn, and our winter. Will another spring dawn on the winter of the grave? To the encouraging answer which Revelation gives to this important question, is added our experience of the operations of the God of the Seasons. Under his administration, nothing perishes, though every thing changes. The flowers die but to live again. In the animal world, many species sleep out the winter, to awake again in a new season. Nature itself expires and revives; even while she lies prostrate and rigid, an Almighty hand preserves the germs of future life, that she may once more start from the grave, and run a new round of beauty, animation, and enjoyment. Is there not hope, then, for the human soul? Shall not the same paternal goodness watch over it in its seeming extinction, and cause it to survive the winter of death? Yes, there is hope here, but there is no assurance. It is from the word of inspiration alone that the assurance of immortality springs. That book of unerring truth informs us, that after our mortal winter, there comes a spring of unfading beauty and eternal joy, where no cold chills, and no heat scorches; where there is bloom without decay, and a sky without a cloud.

But let it never be forgotten, that the prospect which lies before us is not all bright and smiling. The same book of truth which reveals to us our immortal nature, informs us also, that, in the unseen world to which we are travelling, there is a state of misery as well as a state of blessedness;-that we are now, step by step, approaching the one or the other of these states;—and that each successive year, as it passes over our heads, instead of

leading us upward to the unchanging glories which belong to the children of God, may be only conducting us downward, on that road which "leadeth to destruction."

This is inexpressibly dreadful! And when we think of our own character and qualifications, we shall find nothing calculated to allay our terrors. We are the children of a fallen parent,-ourselves fallen and guilty. If, from the elevated spot on which we now stand, at the commencement of a new stage of our journey, we look back on the scenes through which we have passed, and reflect on the transactions in which we have been engaged, what shall we discover that can recommend us to Him "who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity?" If, again, we look forward, what a scene of turmoil and disorder, temptation and danger, do we descry in a world lying in wickedness! When we think of the weakness of our own hearts, and of the enemies we have to encounter-so numerous and so formidable-we cannot fail to be appalled, and to experience the same kind of misgiving which led an apostle to exclaim, “Who is sufficient for these things!"

But when, in the exercise of faith, we turn to the Gospel, a more blessed view opens to us, for it is full of the most encouraging promises to those who will accept of them. It tells us of "the Lord God merciful and gracious, long suffering and slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness and tender mercy;" and, in proof of this character, it reminds us of the impartial manner in which the Creator employs inanimate nature for the good of His creatures, "making His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sending rain on the just and the unjust;" it reminds us, also, of the parental affection with which His own exuberant bounty has inspired the animal creation, and, taking an example from the inferior tribes, it beautifully declares, that " as an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings," so

He watches over His rational offspring, delighting to lead, instruct, and bless them: Rising still higher, it reminds us of the tenderness He has infused into the mind of

earthly parents, and says, "if you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those who ask him." Nay, it represents the Eternal as condescending to compare his regard for his people, with that of a fond mother for the infant smiling upon her knee, "Can a mother forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, she may forget; yet will not I forget thee." It does much more; it opens to our view the wonders of redeeming love, presenting to our view the Son of the Eternal humbling Himself for our sakes, to assume the form of a servant,-becoming a man of sorrows,—submitting to ignominy, torture, and death; and then it crowns all, by making this unanswerable appeal, "If God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not, with him, also freely give us all things!"

Such is the unspeakable encouragement which the Christian derives from the Gospel of his Divine Master. And shall we not "work out our own salvation, seeing it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure." In this mighty task, we cannot indeed avoid being affected with "fear and trembling," when we reflect on what we have at stake; but we have also every thing to hope, for He who is for us, is greater than all that can be against us; and the value of the prize which is set before us is inestimable.

NINTH WEEK-SATURDAY.

I. ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE POLAR REGIONS.

WE are naturally led, from the contemplation of man in winter, to view him placed, by the hand of Providence, amid the horrors of the Frozen Zone, where summer hardly ever penetrates, even in its least striking characteristics; where the solar heat is barely sufficient to dissolve, for a few months, the superficial snow on the lower grounds, or the southern slopes, and to awaken the vegetable world to so languid a life, that even the hardier tribes of herbivorous animals find, though in diminished numbers, but a meagre subsistence. It would be difficult to conjecture any inducement which could have led originally to the voluntary occupation by man, of so inhospitable and sterile an abode; and we are almost constrained to rest in the idea, that, in the accomplishment of the Divine intention of peopling the globe, the Supreme Governor has urged mankind, by some mysterious impulse, independent of his natural inclinations. Furnished with a power of accommodation to all climates, and aided and prompted, no doubt, by circumstances, man has often unconsciously fulfilled the first command of his Creator, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." Issuing from the Plain of Shinar, to every point of the compass, the human race, after filling up the fertile regions of the Asiatic continent, radiated thence toward all the quarters of the globe; till, after the lapse of ages, they had brought the most inhospitable regions, and most distant islands, under their dominion. In this process, even the wastes of Siberia, and the snowy deserts of Boothia Felix, received a portion of the human family. God, by whom they were conducted, and who had implanted within them an indomitable perseverance, and an amazing versatility of mind, had also prepared for

them, even there, the means of subsistence; and, though hardships were to be encountered, and difficulties to be overcome, of which the inhabitants of more favoured climes were ignorant, there was spread for them, in the various kingdoms of Nature, a provision ample enough to satisfy all their real wants.

In illustrating this subject, I shall turn my attention, exclusively, to the state and character of those nations who are known by the general name of Esquimaux, and who dwell in the most northerly regions hitherto discovered, I mean the lowest latitudes of the Continent of America. Consulting those enterprising adventurers who have, in later years, penetrated the frozen seas, or wintered among the snows and storms of this extreme portion of the world, we shall thus be brought to understand how ample are the resources of Providence, even in the very coldest portions of the world; and, a fortiori, how rich must be the provision made by the Creator, in countries where the frost is less intense, and the rigours of the climate less severe. We shall find that objects, which, in temperate latitudes like ours, are regarded as useless or troublesome, are there capable of being turned to the most valuable account; that the snow, for example, which, to the delicate foot of the luxurious Europeans, is cold, and damp, and disagreeable, grows in importance as we travel toward this ultimate corner of the earth. In the back woods of Canada, during the grim reign of winter, it affords the only means of transporting the produce of the land; and, what is very remarkable, forms a hard and easy path, for this purpose, at the very season when the convenience of the agriculturist demands it. But, in the native country of the Esquimaux, we shall find its value infinitely enhanced, affording shelter and warmth, as well as the facilities of easy transit. It is true, we shall not discover, in these wild and miserable districts, accommodations either so choice or so convenient as in temperate regions: Nor will our general argument thus be weakened. God, who has arranged the