its former channels. As the moon is daily performing her circuit round the earth, hence the tides are observed to flow and ebb once in twelve hours, and thus a constant motion ensues throughout the whole mass of waters in the ocean. This fermentation, together with its saltness, preserves it from contracting any noxious qualities from the admixture of many fetid substances, both animal and vegetable, conveyed thither by the discharge of rivers through every country in the globe. The increase of waters obtained from rivers also serves to compensate for the constant discharge by evaporation, so that the quantity of this fluid mass remains always the same: and thus the Almighty has provided that all his works should perform their destined office: thus "whatsoever the Lord pleaseth, that doth he in heaven, and in the earth, and in the sea, and in all deep places."

While the ocean furnishes a sufficient quantity of vapours for the supply of rain, the waters that are gathered together on the surface and in the bowels of the earth, are no less useful to serve various important purposes. Thus, by means of lakes and rivers, the contiguous soil is rendered productive by the moisture which they afford, and innumerable artificial advantages are derived for mechanical operations. By them also an internal communication is promoted in the various countries of the world, easier and more expeditious than on the land. Even the waters which are collected on the tops of the mountains by the descent of rain, percolate through the different strata, and by subterraneous passages fructify the earth in all directions. They furnish moreover a copious supply of this elementary fluid so necessary for supporting the lives of man and of beast. In almost every soil we find water, either running on the ground, by which terrestrial animals may quench their thirst, or it may be procured by digging a few feet below the surface-so universally is this useful article diffused through every region of the globe. As we have it in such abundant quantities, we are accustomed to regard water as of inconsiderable value; but a moment's reflection would convince us, how indispensable an ingredient it is for ministering

to the support of human life. Without it we could neither prepare nor digest our food, and without it we could neither keep our bodies nor our garments in that state of cleanliness, which is requisite for our health and comfort. The pure and simple qualities which it possesses render it the most proper diluent for every domestic and artificial purpose to which it is applied. In short, this wonderful production, and its universal dispersion through every region of the globe, deserves our gratitude to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, as we perceive that "the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God."

The next constituent part of the earth, is the dry land. This comprehends all those continents, peninsulas, and islands which are left unoccupied by the ocean, and inhabited by various tribes of mankind. It is computed by geographers, that the habitable globe contains upwards of thirty millions of square miles, and the seas more than three times this dimension. The greater part of its external surface has been explored, and descriptions have been given of its variety of soil, productions and inhabitants. By these means we know, that there is great diversity in the qualities of its surface; that its vegetative powers are more prolific in the temperate regions, where a due degree of heat and moisture prevails, and that they are more barren in the equatorial and frigid climates, which are either parched with heat or frozen with cold. The surface soil of the dry land is composed of clay, loam, sand, and gravel, united with portions of calcareous and alluvial strata.

The subsoil consists of various combinations of mineral substances, such as schistus, sandstone, marle, and other argillaceous bodies. If we descend deeper, we discover stratifications of metallic formation, such as coal, lime, lead, iron, copper, and other valuable productions. But, so limited is the power of man, that he can only penetrate a very short way into the bowels of the earth, and has never yet reached farther than the eight thousandth part of its diameter.

We are therefore ignorant, in a great measure, of the composition of the internal parts of the globe, and only know, as far as we have discovered, that there are alternate strata of soft and hard bodies, which cannot be reduced to any determinate order. We know, moreover, that there are collections of water in the bowels of the earth, which issue out at the surface, and give rise to springs, and fountains, and rivers. There are also subterraneous fires, which are the cause of earthquakes and volcanoes, when they come in contact with air and water, and thereby explode in those tremendous concussions which alarm mankind, and bury thousands in an untimely grave. These are some of the most common phaenomena observable in the external and internal conformation of the earth which we inhabit. It is compounded of various substances more or less combined, and compacted together into a solid mass, fitted for the habitation and sustenance of those living creatures with which it is replenished. But there are several other particulars connected with its geology, that may be shortly enumerated.

The dimensions of the earth have been computed by geologists from the most exact admeasurement. It is found to be about eight thousand miles in diameter, twenty-five thousand in circumference, and its solid contents two hundred and sixty thousand millions. Its motion is twofold, as it revolves round its own axis once in twenty-four hours; and round the sun in an elliptical orbit in the space of three hundred and sixty-five days. By the former of these motions, the interchange of day and night is effected; and by the latter all those vicissitudes of the seasons which ensue during the course of a year.Its figure is the most suitable for these periodic motions, as well as for a comfortable habitation to living beings. For, it is of a globular shape, resembling that of an orange, and denominated by geometers, an oblate spheroid. It has been demonstrated by actual measurement, that it is flattened at the poles, and elevated at the equator, and that its diameter at the latter region is greater than at the former, by twenty-three miles and a half. It is not altogether a uniform sphere, since there are

many protuberances on its surface, such as mountains, hills, and rocks; though these are as inconsiderable in proportion to its bulk, as particles of dust on an artificial globe.

The rotundity of the earth is the most convenient figure for all the purposes to which it is adapted. There by both light and heat are equally communicated round its whole surface: whereas if it had been any other shape, the same benefits could not have been derived in such exact proportions, as these influences would have been interrupted by the deflection of any angular extremity that bounds the superficial lines of all other figures, according to which it could have been constructed. Its rotundity is likewise admirably adapted for the commodious distribution of the waters of the globe. For if the earth had been created in the form of a square, a cube, a prism, or any other shape which solid bodies assume, the waters would have occupied the rectilineal places, and left the others completely dry, so that this fluid mass would have been distributed in very unequal proportions, and rendered one half of the globe too much exposed to the influence of cold and moisture, the other too arid, and consequently barren and unproductive. The same inconvenience would have resulted from any other shape, in obstructing the motion of the wind and the convergence of the clouds. For we find that mountains, promonto ries, and other eminences on the surface counteract the free passage of the air; how much more would the angular extremities of any other geometrical body have prevented the constant circulation of that fluid which is so necessary for the respiration of animals, the vegetation of plants, and the salubrious state of the whole atmosphere. Whereas, by the present spherical figure of the earth, all these meteoric influences are constantly enjoyed; and we derive an equal advantage from the heat of the sun, from the waters of the ocean, and from the blowing of the wind out of its treasures. In short, the figure, position, and motion of the earth is adapted to its purpose with the most consummate skill, and we have reason to conclude that God saw it was good.

Ver. 11. And God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth; and it was so.

12. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind, and God saw that it was good.

13. And the evening and the morning were the third day.

The Almighty, having formed the earth in such a manner as was most suitable for its situation in the solar system, next replenished it with such vegetable productions as were necessary for the sustenance of those beings which were to inhabit it. For this purpose, he created herbs of various kinds, and distributed them over the several regions of the globe, and adapted them to different climates throughout the whole of its surface. The most universal and useful of these is that which is called by the generic term grass. This vegetable production grows spontaneously, and is found overspreading the surface of the ground in every country under heaven. Its utility is obvious, as it affords nourishing and wholesome provender for all the species of ruminating and gregarious animals, both wild and tame. By the succulent juices which it contains, cattle and every beast of the field are provided with food convenient for them, and share in the exuberant stores of nature. Every spring does this useful herb recover its verdure, and overspread our fields with luxuriant produce, which is sufficient to depasture our flocks and herds. Were it not for this provision, how would the inferior animals be supported, especially in those countries where they are not furnished with any additional supply of food by the fostering care of man. But by the universal distribution of grass, most of the quadrupeds that traverse the forest are abundantly satisfied with cropping the herbage which grows upon the ground. And such has been the bountiful kindness of the God of nature, that he has produced a great variety of this species of food, suited to the