others. In this thou art mistaken: God has dispensed to every country that portion of comfort and convenience which best suits its inhabitants. The length of the days vary according to the climates; but, upon an aggregate, the number of enlightened hours in each is nearly equal, although they are differently divided. In the torrid zone the days and nights are equal; while this circumstance happens to the rest of the world but twice in the year, when the sun is in the equinoxes. It is true that, for a time, the sun withdraws his beams to a certain distance, and that summer smiles in one part of the globe, while winter freezes in another. If the inhabitants of the arctic zone are deprived of the sun's light for a long period of time, at one season of the year, they, on the contrary, enjoy his presence for the same length of time at another, and their twilights are beautiful.

The earth is filled with thy bounty, O Lord! It extends from the heaven to the earth, and even beyond the clouds. Where is there a place in the whole universe which is devoid of thy presence? Where is the man who, in every season, is insensible to thy wise and benevolent decrees? I rejoice to live under thy beneficent empire; I rejoice in the midst of the numberless benedictions with which thou hast filled the earth. Oh! that the rest of mankind, in all parts of the world, might live as happily, tranquilly, and contentedly as I do myself. Thou, O God! who seest the secrets of my heartthou knowest that I wish all my fellow creatures to share my happiness. As thou lovest

all thy creatures, and that, without exception of persons, all being equally thy care, fill my heart with the same extensive benevolence, that I may not only exert myself in their service, but daily offer up prayers for all mankind.

FEBRUARY 21.

OF THE UTILITY OF OUR SENSES.

I AM about to consider myself as a sensitive being, endowed with certain wonderful organs, from whence I derive all my sensations and pleasures, and those apprehensions of danger which conduce to my security.

Through the medium of my eyes I acquire the perception of light and colours; my ears convey to my soul all sounds; my smell and my taste convey to me sensations either agreeable or disagreeable, as they are sweet or bitter, fragrant or otherwise, &c.; feeling enables me to judge of heat or cold, of damp or moist, soft or hard, &c.

Of how many pleasures should I be deprived, if, suddenly, I lost my sight, smell, hearing, taste, or feeling! Without sight, how could I avoid danger, or contemplate the glory and majesty of the heavens, and all the terrestrial beauty which surrounds me? Without hearing, I should have no warning of approaching dangers, and should, moreover, lose the exquisite charms of conversation and music; without this faculty I could never have increased my know

ledge, but must for ever have remained in a state of uncultivated nature. The discrimination I now possess as to what is wholesome as food-all the delights which arise from the perfumes of spring, and a thousand other enjoyments would vanish, provided my taste and smell were taken from me. If I were deprived of feeling, how should I preserve myself in the midst of so many unforeseen perils? I cannot, therefore, be too grateful to the Almighty for the perfect enjoyment of my senses. I adore thy divine wisdom, O my Creator and my God! My voice shall ascend in songs of praise, and my ears shall be ravished with universal hymns, which all nature chants around me to thy ho

nour.

Let me, then, never misapply the use of those senses, which were given to me for the noblest purposes. Let me not degrade myself by confining their uses to mere animal functions; for the pleasures of sense may be allied to those of a higher order, by uniting them with the more noble occupations of the mind.

A time will come when my eyes will be insensible to the beauty of external objects, and the sounds of music will pass unheeded on my ears; the most exquisite viands will lose their taste, and the flavour of the most exquisite liquors will cease to please; all my senses, in short, will lose their zest: and how miserable shall I then be, unless I have laid up a store of mental enjoyments to supply their place. May the divine Spirit so guide my heart and direct my ways that, while enjoying the pleasures of

sense, I may never lose sight of the great end of my existence, but glorify my Creator here below, by habituating myself to the sublime pursuits of eternity.

At such a moment as this, when I am deeply sensible of the importance of the perfect enjoyment of my senses, let me not neglect those of my unfortunate brethren who are deprived of equal advantages. Who am I, Lord, that thou hast so favoured me above many of my fellow creatures? O! extend thy pitying eye to them; compensate their privations by advantages of a different kind, and bless them with the hopes and ends of a divine immortality.

FEBRUARY 22.

ELEVATION OF THE SOUL TO GOD.

WHEN I raise my soul to God, I approach the end for which I have been placed in the world, and I enjoy a foretaste of the pleasures of eternity. How contemptible do the enjoyments of this nether world appear to a heart accustomed to seek joy and felicity in God and Jesus Christ! How insignificant do I appear, in comparison of the majesty of the Most High! How is my pride confounded, when I lose myself in the immensity of his divine perfection! and how does my heart pant for that glorious day when I shall be united to him for all eternity!

But am I sufficiently impressed with the inestimable advantages arising from a frequent men

tal communication with God? Alas! instead of dwelling upon this great and sublime object, I too often fix my thoughts upon this terrestrial and perishable world; instead of receiving pleasure from meditating upon my Creator, I only delight in the pleasures of sense; instead of loving that Being who unites in himself every thing that is amiable, and who alone can render me happy, my groveling soul clings to the earth, and loves with passion things which cannot contribute to its happiness, and which are passing as a summer cloud. May the experience of the past render me wise for the future. Hitherto I have fixed my affections on temporal things I have sought peace and happiness in objects more perishable than myself; but now, by the grace of God, my eyes are opened-I perceive a Being in whom perfection centres, who made me from nothing, who gave me a soul thirsting for glory, and incapable of being satisfied on this side the grave. Such is the Being to whom I consecrate my heart, to whom I devote myself without reserve and for ever. In him alone I shall find joy and consolation. I will exchange those pleasures which have been so dear to me for advantages infinitely more solid and lasting. I will so use the things of this world that I lose not those which are eternal. When I feel delight at contemplating the works of nature, I will exclaim "If I experience so much pleasure in the contemplation of a small part of God's works, what will be my ecstasy at beholding himself?"

How unspeakable must be the happiness of