Among all the various subjects of meditation which offer themselves to our minds, that of plants is none of the least; and among all the varieties of vegetation, none claims our attention more than the production of trees.

That large spreading oak, tall chesnut, lofty pine, and majestic fir, which I now behold, were all produced, beautiful and huge as they are, each from a rudiment, the thousandth part of which the most acute botanist cannot describe. The first principle, shut up as it were in prison, or rather castle, remained in the mast defended from the winds, guarded from the birds and the injuries of insects, until the full time, when nature broke open its prison, delivered it from confinement, and committed it to the teeming earth, where it was turned into mucus, or rather rottenness, and so exceedingly small and light, that a single ant could have borne it to its cell: Yet, how astonishing is it! from this small particle, and that even itself reduced to a state of rottenness, such stupendous trees should arise!

Just so it is with respect to man, who from a mere embrio, in conception, is formed a man in miniature, or rather, as the Psalmist beautifully expresseth it, curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth: “Thine eyes," saith he, "did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book, all my members were written, which in con"tinuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm cxxxix. 15, 16.

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And as the most acute philosopher cannot describe how a tree in its first principle proceeds to vegetation in the earth, so none can tell how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child. Eccl. xi. 5. At length from his dark concealed non-thinking state, man is brought forth an infant of days, and in a few years arrives to manhood, with all the members of the body in full vigour, together with all the faculties of a rational soul; the noblest and best of all God's works below.

Then what comparison is there betwixt the

embrio in conception, and the full grown man? The thoughts of this, or considerations similar, made the Psalmist break forth in this anthem, "I will praise thee, for I am "fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous

are thy works, and that my soul knoweth ""right well." Psalm cxxxix. 14.

Let me then join with the sweet singer of Israel in thus praising the Lord, not for the make of my body only, but also for the formation of my soul, which is no less wonderful and seeing I am taught more than the beasts of the earth, and made wiser than the fowls of heaven, Job, xxxv. 11, may I improve these talents to his honour and glory, for which end they were bestowed upon me, and for whose glory I was created.

But, wonderful as the generation, formation, and growth of man is, no less so will the rearing up of his frame be in a future state, when in the morning of the resurrection every atom of his dust, whether in the land, air, or sea, incorporated with reptiles,

beasts, fowls, or fishes, shall meet together at the appointed place, and build the man immortal.

Then, when corruption shall inherit incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, that saying which is written shall come to pass, "Death is swallowed up in "victory; and the vile body of the righteous "shall be fashioned like unto Christ's glori"ous body." 1 Cor. xv. 53, 54. Phil. iii. 21.

What comparison is there between the stench of putrid carcasses, rotten bones and skulls, and bodies thus formed? The thoughts of which glorious change ought to comfort relatives, when laying their deceased friends in the tomb; and especially when we consider that our Lord sanctified and changed the grave from a gloomy prison to a bed of rest, by his having lain there.

How many and various are the leaves with which the trees are now adorned! some broad, others narrow, round, oval, multangular, and triangular shaped; some crisped, others in

dented; delicately variegated; smooth and rough; some hard and stiff, while others are soft and pliable.

Nor is this clothing of the woods only for ornament, but also for use; both for preserving and nourishing the trees and the fruits; for as the roots collect the juices of the earth, so those the dews of the heaven, whereby not only the beauty, but also the stature and growth of the trees are promoted.

And though these leaves are hung on the trees by very slender stalks, and yield at the sinallest breath of wind that murmurs through the grove, and one might think they would drop off every moment, yet how surprising is it they are made to withstand the most furious attacks of the storm, and maintain their station by a close adherence to their twigs, till the God of nature, who fixed them there, bid them fall off! In like manner, the leaves of a Christian profession, in some respects with men, are very different; some have a broad and flaming profession, which attracteth the notice of all around them