THERE is nothing more awful than to attempt to cast a glance among the clouds and mists which hide the broken extremity of the celebrated bridge of Mirza. Yet when every day brings us nigher that termination, one would almost think our views should become clearer. Alas! it is not so: there is a curtain to be withdrawn, a veil to be rent, before we shall see things as they really are. There are few, I trust, who disbelieve the existence of a God; nay, I doubt if at all times, and in all moods, any single individual ever adopted that hideous creed, though some have professed it. With the belief of a Deity, that of the immortality of the soul and of the state of future rewards and punishments is indissolubly linked. More we are not to know; but neither are we prohibited from all attempts, however vain, to pierce the solemn, sacred gloom. The expressions used in Scripture are doubtless metaphorical, for penal fires and heavenly melody are only applicable to beings endowed with corporeal senses; and, at least, till the period of the resurrection, the spirits of men, whether entering into the perfection of the just, or committed to the regions of punishment, are not connected with bodies. Neither is it to be supposed that the glorified bodies which shall arise in the last day will be capable of the same gross indulgences with which ours are now solaced. That the idea of Mahomet's Paradise is inconsistent with the purity of our heavenly religion, will be readily granted; and see Mark xii. 25. Harmony is obviously chosen as the least corporeal of all gratifications of the sense; and as the type of love, unity, and a state of peace and perfect happiness. But they have a poor idea of the Deity and the rewards which are destined for" the just made perfect," who can only adopt the literal sense of an eternal concert-a never-ending birthday ode. I rather suppose this should be understood as some commission from the Highest, some duty to discharge, with the applause of a satisfied conscience. That the Deity, who himself must be supposed to feel love and affection for the beings he has called into existence, should delegate a portion of those powers, I, for one, cannot conceive altogether so wrong a conjecture. We would then find reality in Milton's sublime machinery of the guardian saints or genii of kingdoms. Nay, we would approach to the Catholic idea of the employment of saints, though without approaching the absurdity of saint worship, which degrades their religion. There would be, we must suppose, in these employments, difficulties to overcome and exertions to be made, for all which, the celestial beings employed would have certain appropriate powers. I cannot help owning that a life of active benevolence is more consistent with my ideas than an eternity of music. But it is all speculation; and it is impossible to guess what we shall do, unless we could ascertain the equally difficult previous question, What we are to be? But there is a God, and a just God, a judgment and a future life; and all who own so much, let them act according to the faith that is in them. I would not, of course, limit the range of my genii' to this confined earth; there is the universe, with all its endless extent of worlds.-SCOTT. 1. Genii, called by the eastern nations | dowed wit Genn or Gien, are a race of beings created are abl from fire, occupying an intermediate of the place between man and angels, and en "IT IS A HAPPY WORLD AFTER ALL." Benevolent. Abortive. Insect. Gratuitous. THE world was made with a benevolent design. Nor is the design abortive. It is a happy world after all. The air, the earth, the water, teem with delighted existence. In a spring noon, or a summer evening, on whichever side I turn my eyes, myriads of happy beings crowd upon my view. "The insect youth are on the wing;" swarms of new-born flies are trying their pinions in the air. Their sportive motions, their wanton mazes, their gratuitous activity, their continual change of place without use or purpose, testify their joy, and the exultation which they feel in their lately-discovered faculties. A bee amongst the flowers in spring is one of the most cheerful objects that can be looked upon. Its life appears to be all enjoyment; so busy, so pleased; yet it is only a specimen of insect life with which, by reason of the animal being half domesticated, we happen to be better acquainted than we are with that of others. The whole winged insect tribe, it is probable, are equally intent upon their proper employments; and under every variety of constitution gratified, and perhaps equally gratified, by the offices which the Author of their nature has assigned to them. But the atmosphere is not he only scene of enjoyment for the insect race. Plants are vered with aphides, greedily sucking their juices, and contly, as it would seem, in the act of sucking. It cannot be ted but that this is a state of intense gratification. What hould fix them so close to their operation, and so long? pecies are running about with an alacrity in their motions, rries with it every mark of pleasure. Large patches of e sometimes half covered with these brisk and sprightly If we look to what the waters produce, shoals of the equent the marshes of rivers, of lakes, and of the sea e are so happy, that they know not what to do with heir attitudes, their vivacity, their leaps out of the lics in it, (which I have noticed a thousand times tion and amusement,) all conduce to show their d are simply the effects of that excess. Walka calm evening upon a sandy shore, and with frequently remarked the appearance of a ery thick mist, hanging over the edge of perhaps, of half a yard, and of the rds, stretching along the coast as far as vays retiring with the water. When ed, it proved to be nothing else than worship, which degrades their religion. There would be, we must suppose, in these employments, difficulties to overcome and exertions to be made, for all which, the celestial beings employed would have certain appropriate powers. I cannot help owning that a life of active benevolence is more consistent with my ideas than an eternity of music. But it is all speculation; and it is impossible to guess what we shall do, unless we could ascertain the equally difficult previous question, What we are to be? But there is a God, and a just God, a judgment and a future life; and all who own so much, let them act according to the faith that is in them. I would not, of course, limit the range of my genii' to this confined earth; there is the universe, with all its endless extent of worlds.-SCOTT. 1. Genii, called by the eastern nations | dowed with a corporeal form, which they Genn or Gien, are a race of beings created are able to change at pleasure. Readers from fire, occupying an intermediate of the Arabian Nights' are familiar with place between man and angels, and en- Genii. LAUNCHING INTO ETERNITY. IT was & brave attempt! adventurous he I see the surging brine; the tempest raves; Such is the soul that leaves this mortal land, (Her faith can govern death); she spreads her wings The waves roll gentler, and the tempest dies; She floats on the broad deep with infinite delight, WATTS. "IT IS A HAPPY WORLD AFTER ALL." Benevolent. Abortive. Insect. Gratuitous. Articulate. THE world was made with a benevolent design. Nor is the design abortive. It is a happy world after all. The air, the earth, the water, teem with delighted existence. In a spring noon, or a summer evening, on whichever side I turn my eyes, myriads of happy beings crowd upon my view. "The insect youth are on the wing" swarms of new-born flies are trying their pinions in the air. Their sportive motions, their wanton mazes, their gratuitous activity, their continual change of place without use or purpose, testify their joy, and the exultation which they feel in their lately-discovered faculties. A bee amongst the flowers in spring is one of the most cheerful objects that can be looked upon. Its life appears to be all enjoyment; so busy, so pleased; yet it is only a specimen of insect life with which, by reason of the animal being half domesticated, we happen to be better acquainted than we are with that of others. The whole winged insect tribe, it is probable, are equally intent upon their proper employments; and under every variety of constitution gratified, and perhaps equally gratified, by the offices which the Author of their nature has assigned to them. But the atmosphere is not the only scene of enjoyment for the insect race. Plants are covered with aphides, greedily sucking their juices, and constantly, as it would seem, in the act of sucking. It cannot be doubted but that this is a state of intense gratification. What else should fix them so close to their operation, and so long? Other species are running about with an alacrity in their motions, which carries with it every mark of pleasure. Large patches of ground are sometimes half covered with these brisk and sprightly natures. If we look to what the waters produce, shoals of the fry of fish frequent the marshes of rivers, of lakes, and of the sea itself. These are so happy, that they know not what to do with themselves; their attitudes, their vivacity, their leaps out of the water, their frolics in it, (which I have noticed a thousand times with equal attention and amusement,) all conduce to show their excess of spirits, and are simply the effects of that excess. Walking by the seaside on a calm evening upon a sandy shore, and with an ebbing tide, I have frequently remarked the appearance of a dark cloud, or, rather, very thick mist, hanging over the edge of the water to the height, perhaps, of half a yard, and of the breadth of two or three yards, stretching along the coast as far as the eye could reach, and always retiring with the water. When this cloud came to be examined, it proved to be nothing else than |