276 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



ferent. When (he oppofes contraries to each 

 other, painful affedions are excited in us; but 

 when (he blends them, we are agreeably affefled. 

 From the oppofition of contraries fprings difcord, 

 and from their union refults harmony. 



Let us endeavour to find in Nature fome proofs 

 of this great Law, Cold is the oppofite of heat^ 

 light of darknefs, earth of water ; and the har- 

 mony of thefe contrary elements produces effesfls 

 the moft delightful : but if cold fucceeds rapidly 

 to heat, or heat to cold, moft vegetables and ani- 

 mals, expofed to fuch fudden revolutions, are in 

 danger of perifhing. The Hght of the Sun is 

 agreeable ; but if a black, cloud fuddenly inter- 

 cepts, or bears upon, the luftre of his rays, or if a 

 gleaming flame, fuch as that of lightning, burfls 

 from the bofom of a very dark night, the eye, in 

 both thefe cafes, undergoes a painful fenfation. 

 The horror of a thunder- ftorm is greatly increaf- 

 ed, if the tremendous cxplofions are interrupted 

 by intervals of profound (ilence ; and it is height- 

 ened inexprefTibly, if the oppofitions, of thofe ce- 

 leftial fires and obfcurities, of that tumult and 

 tranquillity, make themfelves fdt in the gloom 

 and filence of night. 



Nattire oppofes, in like manner, at fea, the 

 white foam of the billows to the black colour of 



the 



