the mind. There is a very general impression, even among professing Christians, who would utterly reject the inference, if presented to them in the shape of a doctrine, that whatever occurs is the accidental or necessary result of natural causes; by which means they practically exclude God from his works. They acknowledge the superintending providence of God: In the time of danger or of sorrow, they may shudder to think that they are suffering under his avenging hand, and they would willingly cast themselves into his arms, and repose in his bosom. But this is, with such persons, rather a superstitious than a religious feeling: It does not accompany them into the common events of life: It may occasionally fill them with terror, or cast around them a delusive security; but it does not, under ordinary circumstances, elevate their souls with pious hope, nor warm them with gratitude, nor give a relish to their enjoyments.

In the operations of nature, the laws of the Creator are so uniform, effects follow so directly from natural causes, that they are regarded rather as necessary results, than as indications of the beneficent government of a Father-God. The thoughtless and irreligious look no further, but content themselves with forming some vague idea of unintelligent mechanical powers acting necessarily and independently. They even give this mechanical agent a name, and call it Nature, thus putting the effect for the cause, and deifying a mere system of unintelligent laws. And is it come to this? Shall we shut our eyes to the innumerable proofs which break in upon us on every side, of intelligence, and wisdom, and goodness? Shall the very plan which most distinctly displays these perfections, be employed to disprove them? Shall God be excluded from his universe, and a brute inconscious machine substituted in his place?

It does seem passing strange, not merely that the system of creation should be so perverted, but that the gospel of Jesus Christ should be so glaringly abused. One

would imagine that the religion, whose distinguishing characteristic it is to refer every thing to a God infinitely powerful, wise, and good, and so emphatically declares, that not even a sparrow falleth to the ground without His appointment, and that he numbers the very hairs of our heads, would save even its nominal professors from this amazing inconsistency. One would think, that in whatever doctrine a Christian might err, he would at least be saved from erring in this,-that, professing a faith which, in every page, reminds him of a particular providence, and which founds all its principles and all its sanctions on this important truth, he could not but have his mind filled with a constant sense of the Divine presence, and be led to reverence and adore his Creator and Redeemer in every event of his life. But it is not so; and nothing assuredly tends to prove more forcibly the extreme perversity of our fallen nature, than this direct and most lamentable contradiction between principles and practice.

Should not this humbling view lead us to a deep searching of our own hearts, and cause us to cast ourselves on the guidance and support of Him, who knows and pities our infirmities, and whose strength is made perfect in weakness?

SECOND WEEK-MONDAY.

PROGRESS OF BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

THE reflections which closed the paper of Saturday, throw the mind back upon the changes by which, in the course of ages, the present state of agricultural improvement in Great Britain has been effected. When the Romans first invaded this distant island, about half a century before the birth of our Saviour, the inhabitants had made but small advances beyond the pastoral state.

VOL. IV.

C

Their conquerors gave them the knowledge of agriculture, and of other arts of civilized life; but the calamities of internal warfare and foreign aggression long retarded their progress. Though slow, however, their advancement was certain. They had acquired a taste for the conveniences of life, which could not fail to urge them forward. The first steps in improvement are perhaps the most difficult and tardy; but, after the movement is begun, its own impetus impels society forward in a constantly increasing ratio. Desire was awakened,

and the hope of its gratification gave rise to industry : healthful toil strengthened the bodily powers; forethought and invention afforded expansion to the mental faculties. A genial soil and climate favoured the natural progress. As the resources of the inhabitants increased, their wants increased also. Ease and comfort, during intervals of peace, swelled the amount of the inhabitants, and augmenting possessions required an augmented number of dependants; while a denser population made new demands on industry, and opened new fields for the exertion of ingenuity.

cessors.

This progress, which is, in fact, no other than the natural history of society, in every country advancing from a savage to a civilized state, was practically exemplified in the southern division of the kingdom, particularly during the period which intervened from the time of the Norman conquest to the consolidation of the State in the days of the Eighth Henry, and his immediate sucMuch interruption, indeed, had been given to this advancement, by the intestine divisions arising from the disputed titles of the powerful families of York and Lancaster. But, in some respects, these very divisions proved ultimately advantageous. During the alternate successes of the contending parties, the power of the great barons was repressed; and the reduction of the aristocracy gave consequence to the middle classes, and made room for the establishment of a more efficient police, and a more equal administration of justice. Pri

The power

vate property came thus to be more secure. of the Crown, which had become so formidable to the nobles, was exerted for the protection and advancement of the people,—such was the policy of the day,—and agriculture flourished, as soon as rival chiefs ceased to live with impunity on lawless plunder.

With the improvement of agriculture, arose the desire for comforts and luxuries, and a taste was acquired for the productions of foreign climes. Hence the origin of that commercial enterprise, which, since the days of Elizabeth, has been the remarkable characteristic of the British nation. The spirit thus introduced was doubtless increased and directed by the industrious manufacturing and trading emigrants from the Low Countries, whom bigotry and oppression had driven to take shelter in our happier land; while the facilities which our insular situation afforded rendered that spirit permanent.

The effects of commerce, in giving a stimulus to agriculture, were various and important. The increase of the population in towns, which was the immediate consequence of mercantile employments, opened new markets for agricultural produce; the variety of unknown luxuries and conveniences, which an intercourse with foreign lands introduced, excited a longing to possess ; and this, again, urged forward the progress of industry ; -new views were cherished, and a wider field was presented for exertion; and so the excitement proceeded till commerce came to be rivalled by manufactures, and manufactures, again, re-acted on commerce and agriculture ; and thus a constant excitement was kept up, which has given to Britain the most industrious and enlightened population on earth, and rendered her the emporium of the world.

This progress, so cursorily detailed, was greatly facilitated by various circumstances, which strikingly mark the hand of a favouring Providence. The emancipation of men's minds from the debasing yoke of Papal dominion; the spirit of freedom which sprang up with the

Reformation, and to which the peculiarities attending our condition as an island gave free scope; the union, first of the crowns, and afterward of the kingdoms, which put an end to intestine wars; the genius of the government; the enterprise of our merchants and agriculturists; the inventive powers of a Watt, an Arkwright, and a Wedgewood, seconded by the resources of a population growing in intelligence, in wealth, and in activity; -all these circumstances, and many more which might be enumerated, combined to raise us to the eminence in which we now stand.

What I have said, refers chiefly to the southern division of the kingdom. In the North, where both soil and climate are less encouraging, the advancement, which was at first more difficult, and therefore more tardy, only became more signal after the first obstructions were removed. And now, when we look back on the condition from which we have emerged, it is not easy to repress feelings of wonder and exultation. But if these triumphs have been achieved by human prowess, let us never forget the Unseen Hand, by which the advancement has been guided and blessed. With what salutary influence have Nature and Art been made to combine, and even sometimes to oppose each other, for the benefit of man! Let it be remembered, that, if the earth had yielded her treasures spontaneously, there would have been no call for the exercise of industry and talent, in providing the means of subsistence; and if, on the contrary, she had been much more niggardly of her gifts, the love of improvement would have been overcome by the difficulty of the enterprise. As it is, the coyness of Nature excites desire; while the facility with which she yields, when vigorously attacked, gives energy to hope, leading from one attainment to another, and, with every new instance of success, affording additional incitement to exertion. So wonderful is the discipline by which, under an overruling Providence, the powers of the human mind are called into action!