does it not accumulate, rising higher and higher, until it reaches above us, and we sink? This would be the case: animals not erect, that breathe, carrying their nostrils nearer the earth, would perish first, and man at last would fall-were it not for a few additional casual. ties, or mercies, which we will now enumerate.

First-When this air, thus destroyed, reaches the earth, the grass which is there drinks it up. It goes into the pores of weeds, plants, and vegetation in general, and two blessings result: the poisoned air is used, and taken out of our way, whilst it enters into the composition of that which grows, and aids its rapid increase, as a most kindly manure.

But again, there is a region where winter reaches, and destroys the earth's green covering. It is answered that winter is not feared, for it is a kind design, or a fortunate perchance, that water will absorb this gas. The snow is on the ground, and you need not fear. It has rained, or the frost has fallen, and again dissolved, and you need not fear; the wind is blowing toward the surface of the river, or the distant lake, &c.

Sometimes, in seeking the lowest situations, this heavy air sinks into a well, where there is neither grass, grain, or water to absorb it, and there it remains and threatens the incautious adventurer. These facts, in one view, are little things; but the continuance of the human family depends on their existence, of course they must be either wise, or fortunate.

There is another kind of air, or gas, which is equally deadly, (the name given to this by chemists, is hydrogen gas.) This would destroy us, if plentifully used at once. Those who wade in streams, and walk on the de caying leaves on the bottom, have seen it bubbling up to

the surface. It will burn if the torch is applied. Every thing that rots, will, like the leaves we have mentioned, give out or produce this unhealthy gas in abundance. If we then look around, and notice how many trees, and weeds, and leaves, and chips, and animal substances, &c. &c. are constantly dissolving, we may well inquire again, why we are not all destroyed with rapid and cureless devastation? So should we be, were it not on account of certain circumstances, which we will not pass by. It chances, or it was contrived, that this gas is lighter than the air around us: of course it will rise up towards the clouds. Whatever is lighter than water will swim, and whatever is lighter than air, will rise toward the top of the atmosphere. This gas is so much lighter than the common air, that it ascends swiftly past our faces, and floats beyond our reach.

Those who are disposed to think, might inform us that their fears were not at an end, for fortunate or kind as is this regulation, still the top of the air may, in time, be overburdened, and this cumbrous poison descend to our extermination. If we are saved for a time, what is to continue our relief? The answer is, that two small facts exist which save our earth. One is that, through casualty, or through wisdom, it is so contrived, that this gas when united with another gas, (called oxygen,) already and always floating at the top of the air, or in the regions of the clouds, forms water. Water is formed by these two pressed closely together, but the pres sure must be hard, to make them unite. The question next is how this powerful pressure is effected high up in the air?

There is a fluid in nature called electricity, (commonly called lightning.) The unlearned or the young

person can remember that this electricity or this lightning can strike any thing very hard, for he has seen where it has shivered the hardest oak. This lightning, when it dashes from the cloud down to the earth, strikes the tree. When it flies from cloud to cloud, it strikes these two kinds of air we have named, presses them suddenly and powerfully together, and forms drops of water. Young reader, if you cannot understand this, there is one thing which you know about it. You have seen it rain hard just after a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder. Much of that water was just then formed.*

The poisonous air, (hydrogen gas,) is removed from threatening us, and at the same time the shower is increased to fertilize the field. The crop is augmented. The table of the atheist is covered with tasteful viands. He fills himself; thanks no one: stares at his superabundant mercies, and says, "There is no God."

Two facts we should notice just in connection with these items. First, that, if the first named gas, or kind of air from which we are saved by its weight, and by its being removed through the instrumentality of plants and water, had been lighter than the atmosphere, so as to ascend above us, this would have been no remedy; for electricity could not dispose of it in the upper air, and the mist of the clouds alone and unassisted would be insufficient. Secondly, if the last named gas, (hydrogen) had been heavier than atmospheric air, so as to seek the

* We are told that recent discoveries evince that the surplus drops are not thus suddenly formed by compression. Be it so. Dispose of the rising of hydrogen in any way, no matter how : as soon as the truth is reached it indicates a contriver as stri kingly as any mistaken theory could possibly do.

lowest situation, this would not have relieved us, because plants and water would not absorb it; and on the sur face of the ground, the electric fluid does not play 90 as to dash it into the shape of water.

The Christian believes kindly planned. The The next truth impor

Reader, we have noticed some ten or twelve of those arrangements, without which the world could not con tinue the habitation of man. these things were wisely and atheist thinks them fortuitous. tant in this discussion, and which stands out before you is, that these facts and necessary circumstances belong to every thing you see; you cannot point at a visible object, you cannot think of a tangible substance on the face of the earth, that is not surrounded with laws or properties which, if altered, the comfort or the safety of the earth would sink. It is important that you should be familiar with this truth. We will ask your attention to it again, after we shall have noticed a few more examples of what we have been considering.

arose.

Other examples of casualties, or of mercies.-There was a man who walked into his harvest field as the sun As the day advanced, the heat increased intensely. If it had continued to increase as rapidly throughout the day, as it did during the first four hours; that man with his neighbours would have been withered to death. Young reader, you can understand the reason why the inhabitants of the earth are not destroyed every warm day.

If you will, in the middle of a sultry day, sprinkle water over the floor, you will find in a short time it is gone, and the floor is dry. It has evaporated; that is, it has turned into mist, and sailed away. This is the way the clouds are formed, the sun shines on the wet

earth; the damp leaves; on lakes, rivers, oceans, and smaller streams,-the water is converted into mist or cloud, and is so light that it rises and swims in the air. You remember that whilst your floor was becoming dry, the room was rendered more cool,-the air in the room parted with much of its heat. The reason of this is, that whilst water is turning into vapour, it absorbs much of the heat of the air around it; or in other words, whilst water evaporates, it absorbs, (or drinks up) the heat, (or caloric,) near it. Now apply these facts. The day begins to grow warm, but there hang dew-drops on the grass, and as this water becomes mist it absorbs much heat, and thus checks the advancing warmth of the day. We should be scorched into cinders; but there are large oceans and many smaller collections of water, and as surely as water is heated, it will evaporate; and as certainly as it evaporates it will use the heat nearest it; and we need not fear the sun in his upward march through a cloudless sky.

There was a man who left his field as the sun was sinking in the west. He looked over his crop in the month of June, and its green wave delighted his eye. The air grew colder as the night approached, and still colder as it advanced, so as to render it certain that if the cold thus increased, before the night was over frost would be there, and would blacken all the hopes of the husbandman.

But the cold did not thus increase. May we not inquire why it did not? Would it not be stupidity to neglect such thoughts? Young reader, on the day before, to save us from an unfriendly heat, water had turned into mist and floated through the air, drinking up its superabundant warmth. At night as it becomes more