his memory by the celebrated sculptor Roubiliac. I dare say the name of Newton is familiar to you; for it is one of those most veneated in our national history.

When Newton was a boy at school, he gave proofs of the very remarkable genius for which he was so distinguished in after life. Instead of joining in the sports of his companions, he used to spend his hours of recreation in mechanical inventions, and in making ingenious models in wood. He constructed a wooden clock, and made a windmill on a small scale, in imitation of one he had seen erected. This windmill of his, when finished, he set up on the top of the house in which he lodged; and then he used to amuse himself with watching the sails as they were turned about by the wind. He put a mouse into the mill, to be, as he said, the miller; but this miller did not perform his new business very satisfactorily; for instead of helping to turn the sails as his master intended, he was continually stopping to eat the corn which was sent to be ground! Many other ingenious contrivances Newton produced during his school days; but those days came prematurely to an end; for his mother, being a widow, needed his help at home; so she was obliged to interrupt his studies, and to take him from school, that he might assist her in her farm, and in attending

the weekly market at Grantham, where they lived. No doubt Newton was vexed thus to be torn from his favourite pursuits. However, he still found some time for study, even when he was watching the sheep, or on his way to and from market. He was often found musing beneath a tree, or reading an old book under a hedge, while he was employed in these humble occupations.

But Newton's genius, and his patience and industry, were not in the end unnoticed and unrewarded. An uncle of his, who was a clergyman, and a kind and sensible person, saw that there was something very uncommon about his young nephew, and that he had talents which ought not to be buried in the obscurity of his mother's farm. So he made the necessary exertions, and in due time succeeded in placing Newton at the University of Cambridge. This was in the year 1660, and he was then eighteen years of age.

Now it often happens, that the most remarkable events in our lives are brought about by some very trivial, and, what we are too apt to call, accidental circumstance. A little incident, hardly heeded at the time, takes place, and from that follows a series of consequences giving a bent and a bias to the whole future course of life. It would be interesting to trace such circumstances in our own private histo

ries, and in the histories of those whom we best know. Such an exercise would be useful as well as interesting; for it would teach us that, whether we heed it or no, there is a watchful eye and a guiding hand, noticing and directing every event; and that nothing is too minute to be under the control of Him by whom the very hairs of our head are numbered, and without whom not a sparrow falls to the ground.-But what was the trifling circumstance which led to such important consequences in the future life of Newton?

During the time that the Plague was raging so fearfully, he left Cambridge, and retired into the country, to avoid the risk of infection; for the danger was not confined to the city of London. One day, as Newton was sitting in the garden, busied most probably with the thoughts of his own reasoning mind, he observed an apple fall from a tree. Now there was nothing at all extraordinary in this. It is what happens continually, and hundreds of people might see apples fall from the trees every day, and no other thought would be suggested to their minds by such a simple matter than that of picking them up, and eating them. But it was very different with Newton. He observed, and then he reflected. That falling apple led him to ask himself the question, "Why does it fall?" and the train of reason

312

ing which followed the enquiry, ended in the discovery of that great law of nature, in obedience to which not only apples fall to the ground, but the earth revolves, and the planets perform their courses in the heavens ;-the law of gravitation.

The very law which moulds a tear,

And bids it trickle from its source,-
That law preserves the earth a sphere,

And guides the planets in their course.

It will not be necessary for us to talk about the various discoveries and inventions of this great man; but let us not neglect to take a hint from the little incident I have just told you. One lesson, you remember, which we were to learn from Locke, was to look within, and to think. The lesson we are to learn here from Newton, may be, to look around, and to think.

There are events passing around us every day, which are so common, and, as we are accustomed to suppose, so trifling, that we pay no attention to them at all. Now we lose a great deal of pleasure, and a great deal of instruction too, from this heedlessness of ours; for though only minds of a very superior and uncommon order, such as Newton's was, can make remarkable discoveries, and draw unexpected conclusions from these every day incidents, to astonish and enlighten the world,

yet any person of ordinary ability may, if he choose, observe and reflect upon what he sees, and thus

Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.

I must not omit to tell you, that Sir Isaac Newton, like the other two great men of whom we have been speaking to-day, was an attentive student of the Bible. He brought the powers of his mind, especially those powers of mathematical calculation for which he was so distinguished, into exercise, in the study of that book; and devoted a large share of his time and attention, to the work of explaining some difficult passages in the prophetical parts of scripture, which baffle the investigation of ordinary minds. The grand and necessary truths of the Bible are indeed so plain and simple, that even a child may understand. them; but then there are hard and mysterious portions also; and no doubt these have been given to teach us patience and humility, as well as to lead us to diligence aud study. It was a noble use which Newton made of his intellectual powers, when he employed them in the investigation of the revealed will of the eternal God.

But there are two more points which I wish you to notice and to remember in Newton's