'515 



re as '^ hen it is less in quantify, when it is attenuated, 

 tbesoferh< vifcry sensibly dijriinishecL Travellers on 



The lofty mountains of America, sometimes experience 

 this -to their co^t. Though the dime at. the foot of those 

 Tast mountains, is exiieiijcly hot and sultry, yet at the 

 top the cold is so excessive, as often to freeze both the 

 . horse and rider to death. We have the re Tore great reason 

 to praise God, for placing us in the commodious conca- 

 -yily, the cherishing wings of an atniosphtie. 



"' The emanations of light, though formed of inactive 

 matter, yet -(astonish ji<f power of divine wisdom!) are 

 .refined almost to the subtiiity of spirit, a:>d are scarce 

 ; -/inferior even to thought in speed. By ttiiich means they 

 -spread with almost instantaneous swiftness, through a 

 whole hemisphere: and though they fill whatever they 

 .pervade, yet they straiten no place, emban ass no one, 

 Cucumber nothing 



41 Every where indeed, and in -every element we may 

 discern the footseps of the (Creator's wisdom. The 

 spacious canopy over our heads is painted with bine; 

 and the airpl" carpet under our feet is -tinged with, green. 

 These colours, by their soft and cheering qualities, yield 

 a perpetual refreshment to the eye. "Whereas, had the 

 face of nature glittered with white, or glowed with scar- 

 let, such d'cizling hues, instead of cheering, vumid have 

 fatigued ihe sight. Besides, as Ji several brighter 

 -colours are intersperse^!, and ibnn ine pictures in this 

 magnificent pirce, the green and the blue make an ad- 

 .mir'ablv ground, which shews them all to the utmost ad- 

 .vantage. 



" Had the air been mucn grosser , it would have dim- 

 rned ih?. rays of liie sun, and darkened tJ<e day. Our 

 lungs would have been clogged in heir vstai function, 

 and irs^r drowned, or suffocated therein. Were ii much 

 rrno subtle, bir ! \\<tuld not be ab!e to wing their way 

 through the firmament : neither could the clouds be sus- 

 tained, in so thin an atmosphere. It would elude \ike~ 



3 



