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at laft they become a perfect foetus. They add that the ova in the ovarium, only produce the fecretion of certain fluids. In oviparous animals the egg anfwers the end of the matrix, and to it the animalcule attaches itself. It penetrates into the middle of the yolk where it gradually grows to its perfection. Other authors diffent from this fyftem, and maintain that, in copulation, one or more of these animalcules get up into the ovarium by the Fallopian tubes, and there penetrate into an egg, at that time in a proper ftate to receive them, by means of an aperture furnished with a valve which prevents their retreat. In this egg it is nourished and grows. Laftly, fome authors affirm that these animalcules have not yet the figure of a fœtus, and that they receive it by a transformation fimilar to that of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly.

I fhall not venture to decide on thefe various opinions, or to determine whether the animalcules are neceffary to procure conception, whether they ferve only to caufe a voluptuous titilation, or if they are deftined to any other ufe; ftill lefs will I fupport the opinion I have detailed. It appears to me too fingular, and liable to too many difficulties, as various authors have fhewn. It is certain, however, that these Spermatic animalcules are worms of a particular kind, defined by the Creator to serve a particular purpofe; but man has not yet discovered that deftination, fo great is the imperfection of human knowledge.

I had almoft forgot to mention that infects are found in the dry remains of plants and animals, as well as in works of art. There are fome dry legumes which have the fhell as hard as that of a nut but this hardness does not fecure them from the piercing teeth of fome infects which reduce them to powder.

Every one knows that mites and maggots are found in cheese. They are feen in the fkins of dead beafts, and in their flesh, where large flies lay their eggs, which afterwards change into an animal like that which laid them. Although infects are not fond of fat or oily fubftances, they fometimes howeyer lodge in bacon, which hath loft fome of its fat by being smoaked. Laftly, it is but too well known that moths lodge in cloth, in paper, and in books.

How admirable is the providence of God! He hath not only provided a habitation for man, but with infinite wildom hath likewife taken care to furnish, for every fpecies of animal he hath created, a fuitable and appropriate place. They are all devoid of reafon, and yet there is not one of them that is not endowed with a natural inftinct which leads. it to inhabit the places deftined for it, where it finds the food which beft agrees with it. Can we be surprised at this? He who has endowed them with this inftinct is the fame," who hath “ planted the Cedars of Lebanon, where the "birds make their nefts, who hath given the fir "tree as an houfe for the ftork, the high hills as a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the "conies. Ps. CIV. 17,18. At his command "doth the eagle mount up and make her neft on "high, the dwelleth, and abideth on the rock, from whence fhe feeketh the prey; for her eyes behold "afar off." JOB. XXXIX. 27,29. "God doth great things which we cannot comprehend, he "makes the beafts go into dens, and remain in their places." JOB. XXXVII. 5. 8.

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What inference ought we to draw from this paternal care which providence hath taken to provide a habitation for all its creatures? It is very plain. If God hath provided with fo much goodnefs for the

wants

wants of the smallest infect, and furnished it with a lodging convenient for it, ought we to fear that he will neglect or abandon us? Are we not of more value than thefe little creatures? Should it happen, that on account of our perfeverance in the faith we should be expofed to perfecution, and that those who perfecute us, fhould force us to fly from our country, our houses and our homes, the Lord of the Universe will provide a plate for us to retire to. Of this we have lately had an example in the perfons of the Saltzburghers. These poor people, being driven from their habitations for the fake of the gospel, have not wandered hither and thither without knowing how to provide for themselves. The Lord of heaven and earth made them find an asylum in many places, even in the bofom of America. Different fovereigns took pleasure in affording a retreat to people whom their cruel country had expelled. Should the perfecution be fo violent as to present no alternative between lofing life and renouncing the gofpel, let us not hesitate. Let us continue firm in the faith; perfuaded that our body alone will return to the duft, but that our fouls, redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, will be received into thofe everlasting habitations which God hath prepared for the faithful after death. In my Father's house,' faith Jefus • Chrift to his difciples, are many manfions: had it not been fo, I would have told you; I go to pre¢ pare a place for you; and when I am gone and have prepared a place for you, I will come again, and take you with me, that where I am, there you may be alfo.' JOHN XIV. 2,3.

6

May we not likewife infer, from what has been faid of the spermatic animals of which man is formed, and of that multitude of infects which live on us both within and without, how ill it becomes us to be proud? A creature which perhaps derives its origin from

an

an infect fo fmall as not be discoverable by our fenfes, and which ferves as food to fuch myriads of others, cannot be too humble or too fenfible of its own wretchednefs. Worms make as it were a part of ourselves; they enter our bodies with the first food we take, even in the womb, and from the common mother of all mankind, have perpetuated themselves continually from generation to generation. At our birth we are not delivered from them; the milk and other aliments we take are impregnated with them. They infinuate themfelves into our bodies, which become for them a fort of moving house where they grow, and feed, and multipy. As God has made no new creation, these infects muft undoubtedly have been formed at the beginning of the world; but I will not fay that they were created to inhabit man. If they were, God has endowed them with the qualities neceffary for living in our bodies without hurt to us, or inconve nience to themselves. The food deftined for them is perhaps a fuperfluity, the abundance of which would be hurtful to man. At any rate, God does nothing without a reafon; and if he meant that animals fhould live within us, we must believe that they are neceffary for our welfare. This we are fure of, that they are fo deeply rooted in our bodies that the fpecies has been preferved there from the beginning of the world without perifhing or being incommoded by the place they inhabit. Thus do wretched mortals carry in their bofom, millions of enemies ready to devour their bodies the moment the foul quits them. None are excepted from this general law, they no more refpect the carcafe of a lord, a prince or a king, than the loweft of the human race. Kings may defend themselves against the attacks of their enemies by oppofing formidable armies; but can they refift thofe legions of infects! And who after this does not feel his own wretchedness? Who will not exclaim with one of the friends of Job? 66 The

moon

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moon and the stars are not pure in the fight of "God; how then can he be clean that is born of a "woman? man that is a worm, and the fon of man "that is but a worm?". -JOB XXV. 4-6.

СНАР. Х.

OF THE MOTIONS OF INSECTS.

Ir is worthy of admiration that the faculty of mo tion is diversified in as many different ways as it hath pleafed God to create beings. The courfe of the Sun and the Moon, and Stars is fixed and invariable ; the Sea has its motion of flux and reflux in a manner peculiar to itself and all animals have in general one fort of motion proper to their species and adapted to their wants. Some move in a straight line; others like lizards proceed in a winding line. The motion of fnails is very flow, they glide along almost imperceptibly by gluing their body to the ground on which they creep, by means of a flimy liquor they are abundantly provided with. Frogs move in a fingular manner, and can leap to a great diftance by means of their hind legs. The little green frogs called Graiffets by the French, creep with ease along the most polished surfaces, and find a fort of steps where we can fcarcely perceive the fmalleft roughness. The manner in which ferpents advance is very remarkable; they have neither wings nor legs to help.