52 THE OCEAN ESSENTIAL TO LIFE. 



tribute of good fruits in return. That such is not 

 the fate of our planet is due to the ocean. This is 

 the fountain of organic life, as it is also of every rill 

 that waters the soil, and every cloud that cools the 

 air. Without it, no green herb would clothe the pas- 

 tures, nor would " the valleys be covered over with 

 corn :" neither could " anything wherein is the breath 

 of life," exist on the face of the whole earth. And if 

 these things constitute that which is indeed "the 

 world," apart from its framework, most truly and 

 forcibly is it said, " He hath founded it upon the seas, 

 and established it upon the floods." 



