264 EAKTHQUAKF.S. [Lesson xxxv. 



theses has many advocates, though that which Mi 

 Nich<.lson supports stem* to be gaining ground :- 

 however, whether Earthquakes be produced by the 

 explosion of sulphureous matters, or by the power 

 of ihe electric fluid, we may safely infer, that the 

 natural cause of thei r production is inherent in the 

 earth. Hence the contemplative young reader will 

 conclude, that we migf-t be continually in expec- 

 tation of the whole earth being destroyed by this 

 invisible agent of nature ; if we were not certain 

 that it is always controlled by a wise and good, as 

 \ve!l as powerful, BILING, who keeps it safely 

 curbed, or gives it liberty to range, as it may by 

 HIM be thought most suitable to his Divine pur- 

 poses. 



LESSON 



