DIVINE BENEFICENCE. 67 



animal, I should not have been able to trace any re- 

 semblance to the ramified trees that had at first 

 guarded the orifice. It would appear therefore that 

 they are to be seen in perfection only when the Pholas 

 is in high health, and newly taken from its rock. 



This contrivance, or rather this series of contri- 

 vances, for the health and comfort of a poor shell-fish 

 that spends its whole life buried in a sepulchre of 

 stone, may seem to some but an insignificant matter. 

 But it strikes my mind with power as an example of 

 the beneficent care of God over all his creatures, and 

 of the infinite resources of Divine wisdom in which 

 creation has been planned and executed. And so far 

 from the meanness of the object on which such care 

 is bestowed rendering it less worthy of remark, that 

 very circumstance ought to enhance our admiration. 

 It seems less difiicult to conceive of the tender bene- 

 ficence of God exercised towards an angel, or towards 

 man who was made in his own image ; but that the 

 Mind of the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eter- 

 nity should occupy itself about the feelings of such a 

 worm as this, is marvellous indeed ! It is one of those 

 innumerable examples that occur to the Christian 

 philosopher, in which " the invisible things of Him from 

 the creation of the world are clearly seen, being un- 

 derstood by the things that are made, even his eternal 

 power and Godhead." 



anstey's cove. 



April Qth. A lovely spring morning ; one of those 

 that make one say with the Royal Poet of Israel, " Lo, 



