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ever ripen, or take on that state necessary for 

 germination or for food ; there seems to be some 

 power of nature which prevents plants from put- 

 ting forth all the fruits contained in them some 

 great, Almighty influence which checks them in 

 their growth, and prevents their progress to per- 

 fect developement. To the unbeliever this fact 

 is inexplicable, and it must remain obscure to 

 all who see not in it the never forgetful hand 

 of God. It is only by the labour of man that 

 the earth will produce her fruits ; and it is only 

 by his incessant toil that she will yield her 

 strength, and bring forth so abundantly as to 

 supply our wants and necessities. How inces- 

 santly does the agriculturist till his ground ! how 

 constantly must he drive his plough and enrich 

 the soil with foreign substances, which should he 

 neglect to do, what is the result? Does it not 

 return to the state in which by Adam's sin it was 

 reduced, and bring forth nought but thorns and 

 thistles ? 



The amazing fertility of all species of the 

 thistle renders them proper instruments for the 

 fulfilment of this curse against mankind. There 

 is one species which bears about one hundred 

 heads, each containing from three to four hun- 

 dred seeds. Suppose we say that this thistle 

 produces eighty heads, and that each contains 

 only three hundred seeds, the first crop from 

 these would amount to twenty-four thousand. 

 Let these be sown, and the crop produced from 

 them will be five hundred aud seventy-six mil- 



