102 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



soul exalted to a state of high moral freedom, and 

 placed heyond the reach of those * low-thoughted' and 

 grovelling cares which occupy so large a share of the 

 lives of men in general ! 



Well may the Poet of the Night Thoughts, revol- 

 ving the character of the good man in this point of 

 view, exclaim, — 



* Some angel guide my pencil, while I draw 

 What nothing less than angel can exceed, 

 A man on earth, devoted to the skies. 

 Like ships in seas, while in, above the world. 

 With aspect mild, and elevated eye. 

 Behold him seated on a mount serene, 

 Above the fogs of sense, and passion's storm ; 

 All the black cares and tumults of this life 

 Like harmless thunder, breaking at his feet. 

 Excite his pity, not impair his peace. 

 Earth's genuine son, the sceptic, and the slave, 

 A mingled mob, a wandering herd, he sees 

 Bewildered in the vale,' 



In the economy of nature, mountains are de- 

 signed to answer many important uses. They serve 

 not only as the boundaries of nations and tribes, but 

 as a friendly shelter to protect the neighbouring lands, by 

 breaking the violence of certain winds. Bat, perhaps, 

 one of their most beneficial purposes is to condense 

 into clouds those vapours which might otherwise pass 



