several hundreds of miles in thickness, through which the waters would have to percolate, but directly contrary to the known laws of nature; for no fluid can rise in a tube above the level of its source, which in this case it behoved to do. Modern experiments and discoveries, however, have satisfactorily accounted. for this fact, on the principle of evaporation, to which I have just now adverted. From the surface of the ocean and of the rivers themselves, there is carried up into the atmosphere, in the form of vapour, nearly three times the quantity of water sufficient to replenish the sources of all the rivers in the world. The vapour thus raised is carried by the winds, in the form of clouds, over every region of the globe, and falls down in rains to carry on the various processes of nature. One part falls into the sea, another on the lowlands, and the remaining part is sufficient to replenish the sources of all the rivers. So that the assertion of Solomon is strictly and philosophically correct, that "to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return again." They first fall into the ocean; a portion of their waters is then raised by evaporation into the atmosphere; this portion of vapour, after traversing the regions of the air, falls, down in rain, mists, and dews, and supplies the numerous springs" which run among the hills."

Such illustrations, which might be indefinitely extended, not only throw a light on the meaning of the sacred writers, but tend likewise to show the harthat subsists between the discoveries of science mony and the truths of revelation. As the Author of Christianity and the Author of the system of nature is one and the same Being, there must exist a harmonious correspondence between truth in the one, and fact in the other; and the more they are studied

with intelligence, and in connexion with each other, the more will their harmony be apparent.

It is a circumstance that has frequently forced itself upon my attention, that whatever scene of nature we contemplate, and however brilliant and unexpected the discoveries which modern science has brought to light, however far they have carried our views into the wonders of the minute parts of creation, and into the immeasurable regions of space, where myriads of suns are lighted up,—and however much the mind may be lost in astonishment and wonder, at the magnificent scenes which they disclose,— we shall find sentiments and expressions in Scripture adequate to express every emotion of the soul when engaged in such contemplations.-Are we contemplating the expanse of the ocean, and the vast mass of waters which fill its mighty caverns? and do we wish to raise our thoughts in adoration of the power of that Almighty Being who formed it by his word? We are presented by the inspired penmen with expressions in which to vent our emotions. "He holds its waters in the hollow of his hand; he taketh up its isles as a very little thing." "He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a mass; he layeth up the depth as in storehouses." "He divideth the sea by his power; he hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end." "Thou coveredst the earth with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains:* At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. Thou hast set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they turn not again to cover the earth." "He hath placed the sand for the

bounds of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it." He hath said to its rolling billows," Hitherto shalt thou come, and no farther; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed."-Are we spectators of storms and tempests, especially in the terrific grandeur they display in southern climes? Our emotions will be expressed with the greatest emphasis in the language of inspiration, in which we are uniformly directed to view the agency of God in such phenomena. "Clouds and darkness are round about him: He hath his way in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." "When he uttereth his voice, there is a sound of waters in the heavens; he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the winds out of his treasuries." "The God of glory thundereth; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty; the voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon." "Who can stand before his indignation? The mountains quake before him, the hills melt, and rocks are shivered at his presence."

Again, when we contemplate the immense number and variety of animated beings which glide through the waters, move along the earth, and wing their flight through the air; together with the ample provision which is made for their accommodation and subsistence,― where can we find language more appropriate to express our feelings than in these words of the Psalmist ? "How manifold are thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches; so is the great and wide sea, wherein are things creep

ing innumerable, both small and great beasts. These all wait upon thee, that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. Thou givest them,-they gather; thou openest thine hand,—they are filled with good."-When we survey the structure of the human frame, and consider the vast number of bones, muscles, veins, arteries, lacteals, lymphatics, and other parts, all curiously combined, and calculated to facilitate every motion of our bodies, and to produce sensitive enjoyment,-along with the organs of sense, the process of respiration, and the circulation of the blood through the whole frame every four minutes, -can we refrain from adopting the expressive language of the Psalmist? "I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! marvellous are thy works. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought,” --or variegated like needle-work,-" in my mother's womb.* Thine eyes did see my substance when it

In our translation, the beauty and emphasis of this passage are partly lost. The expression, "curiously wrought," literally translated, signifies "flowered with a needle." The process of the formation of the human body in the womb is compared to that in a piece of delicate work wrought with a fine needle, or fashioned with peculiar art in the loom; which, with all its beautiful proportion of figure and variety of colouring, rises by degrees to perfection under the hand of the artist, from a rude mass of silk or other materials, and according to a pattern lying before him. In accordance with this idea, the Divine Being is here represented as working a shapeless mass, after a plan delineated in his book, into the most cu rious texture of muscles, bones, veins, ligaments, membranes, lymphatics, &c. most skilfully interwoven and connected with each other, till it becomes a structure with all the parts, lineaments, and functions of a man,-no one of which is to be seen at first, any more than the figures in a ball of silk, before it is fashioned with the needle. The wonders of this works

was yet imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them. How precious are thy thoughts (or, thy wonderful contrivances) · concerning me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand." To which may be added the words of Job, "Thine hands have made and fashioned me; thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews; and thy visitation preserveth my spirit."-When we contemplate the minute wonders of creation, and are struck with astonishment at the inconceivable smallness of certain animated beings,-how can we more appropriately express our feelings than in the language of Scripture, "He is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working; his wisdom is unsearchable, his understanding is infinite; marvellous things doth he which we cannot comprehend. There is none like unto thee, O Lord, neither are there any works like unto thy works. Thou art great, and dost wondrous things; thou art God alone."

When we contemplate the amazing structure of the heavens-the magnitude of the bodies which compose the planetary system, and the numerous orbs which adorn the nocturnal sky-when we pene

manship are farther enhanced from the consideration, that, while human artificers require the clearest light for accomplishing their work, the Divine Artist performs it" in secret," within the dark and narrow recess of the womb. The expression, "How precious are thy thoughts to me," should be rendered, "How precious are thy contrivances respecting me,” namely, in reference to the exquisite structure and organization of the corporeal frame, on which the Psalmist had fixed his meditations.