The Utility of Bread.

rishment without thinking of him who gives it? Shall I daily eat and be satisfied, and forget him who nourishes me? No, my God: my greatful heart shall render thee those thanks which are due to thy name for this blessing. It is enough, that during my infancy I have received my nourishment without being able to raise up my soul to thee; now that I know the hand that feeds me, I wish to bless it incessantly.

But, how can I better prove my gratitude, than in dividing this Bread which I so abundantly enjoy, with those who receive it in a more sparing way? O my Father, how many of thy children are not so comfortably provided for, though they may deserve it much better than I do! They have scarcely Bread, and are destitute of other means of providing for their subsistence. As for me, I have received all these advantages from thy hand, and I am ready to give a portion to my poor brethren, who have an equal right with me to thy benefits. I wish for power to relieve all; I know but a small part of the distressed, and I am not sufficiently rich to pour upon all these, the gifts of beneficence. But thou knowest all the indigent, and thou canst and wilt satisfy those who cry unto thee in their distresses. I ask this from thee in their behalf; give them the Bread which is necessary for their support, and with it give them peace and serenity of soul! Let me also obtain these same gifts from thee; then shall I be more happy with Bread for food, and water for drink, than the rich epicures are in the use of the most delicious viands and most exquisite wines.

JANUARY XXX.

OUR DUTY IN RESPECT TO SLEEP.

AN afflicting remark, which we are often obliged to make is, that most people abandon themselves to sleep with an inconceivable carelessness. Considering it only in respect to our bodies, the revolution which sleep produces in them, should appear to us one of the most important. But, if we consider it in other respects, and figure to ourselves what may take place during the repose of the night, it appears to me, that we should never venture to cast ourselves into the arms of sleep, without taking the necessary precautions, and being in certain respects prepared for what may take place. It is not, indeed surprising, that those who, during the day, are so inconsiderate and negligent, should be equally so during the night: but as for us, we should endeavour to learn how we may best glorify God even in sleep, and discharge those duties which Christianity imposes on us.

How thankful should men be, to the Creator, for the blessing of sleep! Perhaps you have never known the full worth of it, because it has never refused to fulfil your wishes, when you called it. But, how often does it happen that sickness, discontent, fear, or old age, have deprived men of the sweets, of sleep! In these cases we learn, that sleep is one of the most pressing necessities of nature, and at the same time, one of the most inestimable blessing of the Deity. But, will you in order to become instructed in this matter, wait

you have lost this benefit? No: while you enjoy

Our Duty in respect to Sleep.

the advantages which sleep procures; while at the commencement of each night, it gives you to feel its salutary effects, never give up yourself to enjoy it, without the most lively sense of gratitude to your heavenly Benefactor. And let this gratitude prevent you, on one hand, from abusing sleep; or on the other, by an opposite excess, from not taking what is sufficient. We are always culpable, when through idleness or ef feminacy we prolong the hours destined for repose. Nature, in this respect, as in all others, is contented with little: seven or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep are generally sufficient. But men are not less culpable, when through avarice, ambition, or any such motives they abridge their sleep, and refuse that relaxation to nature which is necessary. In both cases, the established order of God is disturbed, and the gratitude which you owe to him for the blessing of sleep, is wounded.

Above all things, endeavour to lie down with suitable dispositions. What would you do, if you were assured that from the arms of sleep, you should pass into the arms of death? Would you not employ your last waking moments in preparing yourself for your change; in examining your life, and seeking in the blood of Jesus the remission of your offences? And can you not at the beginning of each night, see this to be a possible case? In every night of winter, i. e. in the space of from 12 to 15 hours, there die at least 50,000 persons! Who knows but your name may be written in the list of those who shall this night be removed from the earth? Now, I shall leave the decision

Revolutions in Nature.

to your own heart: what would you wish to have done, if in the midst of sleep, you were called to appear before the judgment-seat of Christ?

"If, during this night, thou shouldest be called to appear before him, art thou ready?-O God! to whose eyes every thing is open, and from whom we can hide nothing; we daily feel the weakness of our nature; we acknowledge our sins: pardon us for the sake of Christ, wash us from our sins in his blood, and for his sake, enter not into judgment with us!"

JANUARY XXXI.

THE REVOLUTIONS WHICH ARE CONSTANTLY CARRIED ON IN NATURE.

ALL the vicissitudes of Nature are derived from those invariable laws, which the Creator established when he drew the Universe out of nothing. For 5000 years at certain specified times, the return of the same revolutions, and the same effects have been observed in the heavens, and upon the earth. The sun, the moon, and the stars continue in that order, which was first prescribed to them. But, who has prescribed it, and who preserves and directs them in it? Who has taught these bodies the path they are to go in, and who has pointed out to them the times of their revolutions? Who has caused them to move always with the same degree of velocity? Who hinders them from falling upon our globe, or from straying in the im

Revolutions in Nature.

mense expanse of heaven? In a word; whence is it that their courses are never disturbed? All these questions necessarily lead us to God; it is he who has marked out the orbits in which they are to revolve; it is he who supports, guides, and prevents them from making any irregular movement. By laws, which are to us unknown, he causes the celestial bodies to roll on with an inconceivable velocity, and in so perfect an order that nothing can disturb them.

He produces continual revolutions in the elements much nearer to ourselves; though they are not visible to an ordinary capacity. The air is in perpetual motion whilst it turns round our Globe: the water also pursues its course without interruption: the rivers fall into the sea, and from its extensive surface those vapours arise, which form clouds. They fall down upon the earth in snow, hail, and rain; they penetrate the bosom of the mountains, and feed the springs whence those streams proceed, which being increased in their courses become rivers. Thus the water, which fell from the clouds, returns again into the sea. The seasons also endure a limited time, and succeed each other in an established order. Every year the fruitful earth reproduces plants and crops; nevertheless she is never exhausted, for because of the constant circulation which takes place between the nutritive particles, whatsoever she gives is restored to her again. Winter comes at the determined time, and leads her to the repose which she requires; when winter has accomplished the designs of the Creator, he retires, and Spring takes his place, and restores to the earth the children she had