feas. Thefe are comparatively foft in the bowels of the earth, but harden when in the open air. Was this remarkable peculiarity reverfed, what difficulties would attend the labours of the mafon? His materials could not be extracted from their bed, nor fashioned without infinite toil. And were his work completed, it could not long withstand the fury of the ele

ments.

Here are various affortments and beds of clay, which however contemptible in its appearance, is abundantly more beneficial than the rocks of diamond or veins of gold: this is moulded into veffels of any fhape and fize: fome fo delicately fine as to fuit the table of a princess; others fo remarkably cheap, that they minifter to the convenience of the pooreft peafant: all fo perfectly neat, as to give no difguft even to the nicet palate.

A multiplicity of other valuable ftores is locked up in thefe ample vaults. But they key of all is given to industry, in order to produce each as neceffity demands.

Which fhall we most admire, the bounty or wisdom of our great Creator? How admirable is his precaution in removing thefe cumbrous wares from the furface, and beflowing them under the ground in proper repofitories? Were they fcattered over the furface of the foil, it would be embarraffed with the enormous load, Our roads would be blocked up, and fcarce any room left for the operations of hufbandry. Were they, on the other hand, buried at a great depth, it would cost us immenfe pains to procure them. Were they uniformly fpread into a pavement for nature, univerfal barrennefs muft enfue: whereas at prefent we have a magazine of metallic, without leffening our vegetable treafures. Foffils of every kind enrich the bowels, verdure adorns the face of the earth.

Well then may even the inhabitants of heaven lift up their voice and fing, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! And is there not infinite reafon for us to join this triumphant choir? Since all these things are to us, not only a noble fpectacle, bright with the difplay of our Creator's wifdom, but likewife an ineftimable gift, rich with the emanations of his goodness. The earth hath he fet before the inhabitants of his glory: but he hath given it to the children of men. Has he not then an undoubted right to make that

tender demand, My fon, give me thine heart?

The rocks which bound the fea, are here prodigiously high and ftrong, an everlasting barrier against both winds and waves. Not that the omnipotent engineer has any need of these here It is true, they intervene, and not only repress the rolling billows, but fpeak the amazing Majefty of the Maker. But in other places the Creator fhews, he is confined to no expedient. He bids a bank of defpicable fand repel the most furious fhocks of affaulting feas. And though the a tofs themselves, they cannot prevail: though they roar, yet they cannot pass over.

Nay, is it not remarkable, that fand is a more effectual barrier against the fea than rock? Accordingly the fea is continually gaining upon a rocky fhore: but it is continually lofing on a fandy shore: unless where it fets in with an eddy. Thus it has been gaining, from age to age, upes the isle of Portland and the Land's Endin Cornwall, undermining, throwing down, and fwallowing up one huge rock after another. Mean time the fandy fhores both on our fouthern and western coafts, gain continually upon the fea.

Beneath the rocks frequently lies a fmooth, level fand, almoft as firm as a well-compacted causeway: infomuch that the tread of an horse scarce impreffes it, and the waters never penetrate it. Without this wife contrivance the fearching waves would infinuate into the heart of the earth; and the earth itself would in fome places be hollow as an honey-comb, in others bibulous as a fponge. But this clofely-cemented pavement is like claying the bottom of the univerfal canal: fo that the returning tides only confolidate its fubftance, and prevent the fun from cleaving it with chinks.

Here the main rolls its furges from world to world. What a spectacle of magnificence and terror! How it fills the mind and amazes the imagination! It is the most auguft object under the whole heaven. What are all the canals on earth, to this immenfe refervatory? What are the proudest palaces on earth, to yonder concave of the skies? What the most pompous illuminations, to this fource of day? They are a fpark, an atom, a drop. Nay in every spark, and atom, and drop, that proceeds from the hand of the Almighty, there is the manifeftation of a wildom

and

Let us examine a fingle drop of water, only fo much as will adhere to the point of a needle. In this fpeck an eminent philofopher computes no less than thirteen thoufand globules. And if fo many thoufands exift in fo fmall a fpeck, how many in the unmeafured extent of the ocean? Who can count them? As well may we grafp the wind in our fift, or mete out the univerfe with our span.

Nor are thefe regions without their proper inhabitants, cloathed in exact conformity to the clime: not in fwelling wool, or buoyant feathers, but with as much compactness and as little fuperfluity as poble. They are clad, or rather sheathed in fcales, which adhere close, and are laid in a kind of natural oil: than which apparel nothing can be more light, and at the fame time nothing more folid. It hinders the fluid from penetrating their teh: it prevents the cold from chilling their blood; and enables them to make their way through the waters, with the utmoft facility. And they have each an airbladder, a curious inftrument, by which they rife to what height or fink to what depth they please.

It is impoffible to enumerate the fcaly Lerds. Here are animals of monftrous hapes, and amazing qualities. The upper jaw of the fword-fith is lengthened into a frong and fharp fword, with which (though not above fixteen feet long) he fcruples hot to engage the whale himself. The tan-tifh is one round mafs of flesh; only it has two fins, which act the part of oars. The polypus, with its numerous feet and claws, feems fitted only to crawl. Yet an excrefcence rifing on the back enables it to teer a fteady courfe in the waves. The thell of the nautilus forms a kind of boat, and he unfurls a membrane to the wind for a fail. He extends alfo two arms, with which, as with oars, he rows himself along. When he is difpofed to dive, he ftrikes fail, and at once finks to the bottom. When the weather is calm, he mounts again, and performs his voyage without either chart or compaís.

Here are thoals upon fhoals of every fize and form. Some lodged in their fhells, feem to have no higher employ, than imbibing nutriment, and are almoft rooted to the rocks on which they lie: while others hoot along the yielding flood, and range

the fpacious regions of the deep. How various is their figure! The fhells of fome feem to be the rude production of chance, rather than of fkill or defign. Yet even in thefe we find the niceft difpofitions. Uncouth as they are, they are exactly fuited to the exigencies of their refpective tenants. Some on the other hand are extremely neat. Their ftructure is all fymmetry and elegance. No enamel is comparable to their polish. Not a room in all the palaces of Europe is fo adorned as the bed-chamber of the little fifh that dwells in mother of pearl. Where else is fuch a mixture of red, blue and green, fo delightfully ffaining the most clear and gliftering ground?

But what I admire more than all their beauty, is the provifion made for their fafety. As they have no fpeed to escape, fo they have no dexterity to elude their foe. So that were they naked, they must be an eafy prey to every free-booter. To prevent this, what is only cloathing to other animals, is to them a cloathing, an house, and a caftle. They have a fortification which grows with them, and is a part of themselves. And by means of this they live fecure amidit millions of ravenous jaws.

Here dwell mackerel, herring, and various other kinds, which when lean wander up and down the ocean: but when fat they throng our creeks and bays, or haunt the running ftreams. Who bids thefe creatures leave our fhores when they become unfit for our fervice? Who rallies and recalls the undifciplined vagrants, as foon as they are improved into defirable food? Surely the furlow is figned, the fummons iffued, and the point of re-union fettled, by a Providence ever indulgent to mankind, ever loading us with benefits.

Thefe approach, while thofe of enormous fize and appearance abandon our fhores. The latter would fright the valuable fish from our coafts; they are therefore kept in the abyffes of the ocean: juft as wild beafts, impelled by the fame overruling power, hide themfelves in the re

ceffes of the forest.

And as the fea abounds with animal inhabitants, fo it does alfo with vegetable productions: fome foft as wool, others hard as ftone. Some rife like a leaflefs fhrub, fome are expanded in the form of a net; fome grow with their heads downward, and feem rather hanging on, than fpringing from the juttings of the rocks. But as we know few particulars concerning these, I would only offer one remark in general. The herbs and trees on the dry land are fed by the juices that permeate the foil, and fluctuate in the air, For this purpose they are furnished with leaves to collect the one, and with roots to attract the other. Whereas the fea plants, having fufficient nourishment in the circumambient waters, have no need to detach roots into the ground, or forage the earth for fuftenance. Inftead therefore of penetrating, they are but just tacked to the bottom, and adhere to fome folid fubftance only with fuch a degree of tenacity, as may fecure them from being toft to and fro by the agitation of the waves.

We fee from this and numberlefs other inftances, what diverfity there is in the operations of the great Creator. Yet every alteration is an improvement, and each new pattern has a peculiar fitness of its own.

Confidered in another view, the fea is that grand refervoir which fupplies the earth with its fertility and the air and fun are the mighty engines, which work without intermiffion, to raise the water from this inexhaustible cistern. The clouds as aqueducts convey the genial ftores along the atmosphere, and diftribute them in feafonable and regular proportions, through all the regions of the globe.

How hardly do we extract a drop of perfectly fweet water from this vaft pit of

brine? Yet the fun draws off every moment millions of tons in vaporous exhalations, which being fecurely lodged in the bottles of heaven, are fent abroad fweetened and refined, without the least brackish tincture, or bituminous fediment: fent abroad upon the wings of the wind, to ditil in dews and rain, to ooze in fountains, to trickle along in rivulets, to roll from the fides of mountains, to flow in copious streams amid ft burning defarts, and through populous kingdoms, in order to refresh and fertilize, to beautify and enrich every foil in every clime.

How amiable is the goodness, how amazing the power, of the world's adorable Maker! How amiable his goodness, in diftributing fo largely what is fo exten fively beneficial! That water, without which we can scarce perform any business, or enjoy any comfort, fhould ftream by our houfes, start up from the ground, drop down from the clouds! Should come from the ends of the earth, to ferve us, from the extremities of the ocean! How amuing his power! That this boundless mais of fluid falt, fo intolerably naufeous to the tafte, fhould be the original fpring, which quenches the thirit both of man and every animal! Doubtlefs the power by which this is effected, can make all things work together for cur good.

Valt and various are the advantages which we receive from this liquid element. The waters glide on in fpacious currents, which not only chear the adjacent country. but by giving a brifk motion to the air, prevent the ftagnation of the vapours. They pafs by large cities, and quietly rid them of a thousand nuilances. But they are alfo fit for more honourable fervices. They enter the gardens of a prince, float in the canal, afcend in the jet d'eau, or fall in the grand cafcade. In another kind they ply at our mills, toil inceffantly at the wheel, and by working the largest engines, take upon them an unknown fhare of our fatigue, and fave us both labour, time, and expence.

So forcibly do they act when collected. And how do they infinuate when detached? They penetrate the minuteft tubes of a plant, and find a paffage through all its meanders. With how much difficulty does the labourer pufh his way up the rounds of a ladder? While thefe carry their loads to a much greater height, and climb with the utmost eafe. They convey

nourishment

nourishment from the loweft fibres that are plunged in the earth, to the topmost twigs that wave amidst the clouds. Thus they furnish the whole vegetable world with necellary provifion, by means of which the trees of the Lord are full of fap, even the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted. And notwithstanding their vaft elevation and prodigious diffufion, not a fingle branch is deftitute of leaves, nor a fingle leaf of moisture.

Befides the falutary and useful circulation of the rivers, the fea has a motion no lefs advantageous. Daily for five or fix hours, it flows toward the land, and for the fame time, retires to its inmoft caverns. How great is the power that protrudes to the fhores fuch an inconceivable weight of waters, without any concurrence from the winds, often in direct oppofition to them? Which bids the mighty element revolve with the most exact punctuality? Did it advance with a lawless and unlimited fwell, might deluge whole continents. Was it irregular and uncertain in its approaches, Ligation would be at a ftand. But being conftant in its ftated period, and ter exceeding its appointed bounds, it des no prejudice to the country and feves all the ends of traffic.

Is the failor returned from his voyage? The flux is ready to convey his veffel to the very doors of the owner, without any hazard of ftriking on the rocks, or of being fastened in the fands. Has the merchant freighted his fhip? The reflux bears it away with the utmoft expedition and fafety. Behold, O man, how highly thou art favoured by thy Maker! He hath put all things in fubjection under thy feet. All freep and oxen, all the beasts of the feld: the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the fea. Yea, the furges of the fea are fabfervient to thee. Even thefe, wild and impetuous as they are, are ready to receive thy load, and like an indefatigable beaft of burden, carry it to the place which

thou chooseft.

What preferves this vaft flood in perpetual purity? It receives the refufe and filth of the whole world. Whatever would cefile the land and pollute the air, is tranfmitted to the ocean. How then is this receptacle of every nuifance kept clean, kept from contracting anoifome and petilential taint? "Tis partly by its inceffant motion, and partly by its faltnefs. By the one it is fecured from any internal

principle of corruption; by the other it works itself clear of any adventitious defilement.

Confider the fea in another capacity, and it connects the remoteft realms of the univerfe, by facilitating the intercourfe between their refpective inhabitants. The ancients indeed looked on the ocean as an impaffable gulph. But we find it just the reverfe; not a bar of feparation, but the great bond of union. For this purpose it is never exhaufted, though it fupplies the whole earth with rain: nor overflows, though all the rivers in the universe are perpetually augmenting its ftores. means of this we travel farther, than birds of the strongest pinions fly. We cross the flaming line, vifit the frozen pole, and wing our way even round the globe.

By

What a multitude of fhips are continually paffing and repafling this univerfal thorough-fare! Whole harvefts of corn, and vintages of wine, lodged in volatile ftore-houses, are wafted by the breath of heaven, to the very ends of the earth: wafted, enormous and unwieldy as they are, almoft as speedily as the roe bounds over the hills.

Aftonishing, that an element fo unftable, fhould bear fo immenfe a weight! That the thin air fhould drive on with fuch fpeed thofe vast bodies, which the firength of a legion could fcarce move! That the air and water fhould carry to the distance of many thoufand miles, what the united force of men and machines could scarce drag a fingle yard!

How are the mariners conducted thro' this fluid common, than which nothing is more wide or more wild? Here is no tract, no pofts of direction, nor any hut where the traveller may ask his way. Are they guided by a pillar of fire? No, but by a mean and otherwife worthlefs foffil. Till this furprising ftone was difcovered, fhips crept timorously along the coafts. But this guides them, when nothing but skies are feen above, and nothing but feas below. This gives intelligence that shines clear in the thickeft darkness, and remains fteady in the most tempeftuous agitations. This emboldens us to launch into the heart of the ocean, and to range from pole to pole. By this means are imported to our islands the choice productions f every nation under heaven. Every tide conveys into our ports, the treafures of the remoteft climes. And almoft every private

houfe