in a more elegant dress and convenient form, I am not con. scious of having at all perverted the spirit of the original, or derogated from the dignity of the subject. This edition, though translated by the same hand as that erroneously said to be by the Author of the Adviser, differs in some respects from that translation, which was composed very hastily, and came from the press with some inaccuracies. Some of the concluding sentences, which were omitted before, are now restored, as tending to promote the cause of religion and the practice of humanity; and many corrections have been made. I cannot conclude, without sincerely congratulating the pablic upon the increase of piety, and the more general diffusion of knowledge, in this country. Our children are leav. ing the worse-than-foolish tales of Tom Thumb, Goody Two-shoes, Little Red Riding-hood, Jack the Giant Killer, and many more productions of like nature, all tending to vitiate their young minds, fill them with absurd notions, and encourage a love of the marvellous, and a dislike to plain truth; for works savouring more of probability, and tending to conduct them through the paths of virtue to the temple of fame. The present work I venture to recommend to young people, with a firm confidence in its improving the mind and ameliorating the heart. It will be particularly useful to those whose reading is not very extensive, as containing much useful information in natural history and natural pbilosophy, conveyed in language intelligible to young children; and every where abounding with devotion warm from the heart. . . CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 23 Page A MEDITATION upon New-year's Day Winter has Blessings which are often disregarded . 14 God continually presides over his Creation God's providential Care of the Animal Creation dur- ing Winter . . . . . . . Of the Vegetables which preserve their Verdure through the Winter Singular State of Man during Sleep Of the Advantages of our Climate . Snow conduces to the Earth's Fertility . Contemplation of the Heavenly Bodies. Discoveries which have been made by the Microscope 32 Advantages of Night . . . The Damage occasioned by extraordinary Cold . Nature reposes during the Winter Wisdom displayed in the Structure of the Globe . Short Meditations upon the Works of God, taken Necessity of reflecting upon God Rapidity with which Life passes away Hoar-frost observed on the Glass of Windows Of our Duty in respect to Sleep of the Revolutions which are continually taking Every Thing in Nature conduces to the Good of Of the Influence whick Cold has upon Health Page An Uniformity of Temperature would be disadvan- The Sun is not always apparent Of the Shortness and Uncertainty of Life Principle of Combustion generally diffused throughout Equal Distribution of the Seasons . . Utility of our Senses considered . The Soul becomes elevated by reflecting upon God Causes of the Vicissitudes of Heat and Cold'. Singularities in the Mineral Kingdom o God's Love for Man daily manifested Tranquillity of the Night , . . • . Powers of the Mind enlarged by contemplating God in the works of Nature . . . . . State of certain Birds and Animals during the Winter Power of God displayed in the minutest Objects . The Effects of Winter gradually depart. The external Parts of the Human Body Hoar.frosti . . . . . . 1022 142 143 Difference existing between Animals and Plants Uniformity and Diversity in the Works of Nature Grandeur and Distance of the Sun Upon the imperfect Knowledge we have of Nature The Utility of Vegetables . . . . The Change of Seasons . . . . . . . . Every Thing created has its Use . . . Harmony between the Moral and Physical World. Of the Nature and Properties of Air Nothing new under the Sun . . . . . Magnificence of God displayed in his Works, , Arrangement of the Seasons in different Planets , Care of Providence for the Preservation of his Cream tures experienced in every Country of the World Hymn for the Commencement of Spring . . Necessity of Repose during e Night Prognostic Signs of the Weather . The Permanency of Corporeal Beings 167 184 REFLECTIONS UPON THE WORKS OF GOD AS DISPLAYED IN NATURE. JANUARY 1. 156 B 103 A Meditation upon New-year's Day. Without their fostering care, how could we have presery- To-day a new career of life opens before us, in which, though more advanced to maturity, we still require a portion of that support we experienced, when, feeble and destitute, we first drew our breath. In the hour of danger, and in the time of affliction, we feel the necessity of a friend to VOL. I. 172 176 180 в |