Lesson v*.] THE EARTH. 



" the flocks must be cut off from the fold, and 

 " there would be no herd in the stalls/' 



Consider this, ye perverse mortals! who argue 

 against conviction : consider, and tell us, if the 

 above gloomy picture would not be realized, were 

 the chance, which you so blindly extol, to preside 

 over us. But thanks to the beneficence of the all- 

 wise PROTECTOR of erring men, the evils which 

 would be brought upon us under the dominion of 

 chance, are averted : directed by an ALMIGHTY 

 command, the earth is carried gradually along^ 

 and its motions are regulated in such a manner 

 as are most conducive to the general design : 

 the varied seasons of the year and the vicissi- 

 tudes of day and night follow each other in pleas- 

 ing gradations : the whole move on with astonish- 

 ing harmony; and through every part of their pro- 

 gress, the omnipotent Conductor is administering 

 to our wants, and bestowing upon us additional 

 blessings. " Oh ! that men would praise the Lord 

 " for his goodness, and for his wonderful works 

 " to the children of men * 1" 



The 



* It has been customary, when speaking of the benefits we 

 enjoy, to mention the convenient situation of the earth in the 

 system, with respect to light and heat : and in particular, with 

 regard to heat, it has been said that were we nearer the sun, 

 the earth would be burnt ; and were it farther off, we should 

 be frozen. This method of reasoning might be applied with 

 propiiety, when it was thought that the sun was a globe of 

 fire ; but as modern discoveries have led philosophers to dis- 

 pute the truth of such an opinion, it was thought better to 

 omit the argument here hinted at. However, I have in some 

 parts of these Lessous spoken of the dcgreesof light and heat, 

 C3 m 



