are nevertheless respectively provided with just proportions of day and of night, of summer and winter, and the other changes of season. The face of the globe is exquisitely adorned with the various and inimitable beauties of flowers, and plants, and trees, and with that verdant attire, which is, in spring, so peculiarly cheering and animating.

"Lo! here thy wondrous skill arrays
The earth in cheerful green;
A thousand herbs thy art displays,
A thousand flowers between."

These beauties acquire fresh lustre from the diversity of the situations in which they are exhibited, from the contrast of hill and valley, lawn and forest, and all that rich variety of prospect which so often arrests the eye and exalts the soul. These elements of earth, air, and water, abound with animals, as different in species as they are infinite in multiplication, all employed in the pursuit and enjoyment of pleasures adapted to their respective natures and circumstances; and though the individuals are constantly perishing, succession is continually maintained, and the species remain, on the whole, entire and undiminished. Who then can behold this vast system of the universe without a high degree of admiration, mixed with awe and reverence to the Supreme Being.

"Thy glories blaze all nature round,

And strike the wondering sight,

Through skies, and seas, and solid ground,
With terror and delight."

From the greatest to the least object that we behold, from the orient star that glitters in the heavens, to the insect that creeps upon the ground, from the awful thunder that rolls in the skies, to the flower that flourishes in the field, all things testify a profound and mysterious wisdom, a mighty and all-powerful hand, before which we must tremble and adore.

"Infinite strength and equal skill

Shine through thy works abroad;
Our souls with vast amazement fill,
And speak the builder God."

We are surrounded with astonishing magnificence on every hand. We walk through the earth as through the apartments of a splendid palace, which ought to fill every spectator with wonder and delight. All the works which our power can erect, all the ornaments which human art can contrive, are feeble and trifling in comparison with those glories which nature every where presents to our view. The immense arch of the heavens, the splendour of the sun in his meridian brightness, or the beauty of his rising and setting hours, the rich landscape of the fields, and the boundless expanse of the ocean, are scenes which mock every rival attempt of human skill and labour.

Nor is it only in the splendid appearances of nature, but amidst its rudest forms, that we trace the hand of the Divinity. In the solitary desert and the lofty mountain, the roaring torrent, and the aged forest; though there be nothing to cheer, there is much to strike the mind with awe and reverence, to give rise to those solemn and sublime sensations which elevate the heart to an Almighty, All-creating Power.

"There the rough Mountains of the deep,

Obey thy strong command;

Thy breath can raise the billows steep,

Or sink them to the sand."

In short, we can no where cast our eyes around us, without what is sufficient to awaken us to a reverence of the Deity. This reverence becomes the more profound, that the Great Being who is the object of it, is to us invisible, and, in certain senses, unknown. We may seek to discover him, but he hides himself from us, (Job xxiii. 8, 9.) We know that he is not far from every one of us, yet he shrouds himself in the darkness of his pavilion; he answereth from the secret place of thunder, (Psalm lxxxi. 7.) Before this incomprehensible Being, this God terrible and strong, we become in a manner annihilated; we feel the contrast, and "rejoice with trembling." For we know that the mighty arm which upholds the universe, and which surrounds us with wonders on every side, can in a moment crush us to dust, if we become objects of displeasure to heaven. Awful are the operations of the Divine power, which we are constantly beholding in the moral as well as in the natural world. The Almighty rules among the nations as well as over individuals; on his pleasure depend all the great revolutions of the earth; the interpositions of his providence are frequently apparent to the world, in bringing down the mighty, and raising up the fallen. Both the law and the gospel, the works of nature and the conduct of Providence, unite in uttering that solemn voice which ought frequently to resound in our ears: "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number." The more philosophy has enlarged our views of nature, the more it has been discovered that, throughout the whole creation, there is no useless profusion of magnificence, but that every thing has been rendered subservient to the welfare of the world. Insensible must that heart be which feels no gratitude to that Sublime

Being who has brought him forth to enjoy this wonderful scene. In this vast system of the universe, there are many things be. yond our comprehension. As yet, perhaps, we see no more than the rise of the Divine Government, the beginning of a great plan, which is not to be completed until the courses of ages shall end. Presume not, therefore, to exalt thy weak reason against the revelations of heaven. Think with awe, and speak with caution, of what is so much above thee. Wait till events are unfolded; submit and adore! Let no voice be heard from thee but this, "Thou hast made me, O God, and I am thine: for in thee I live, and move, and have my being. Wherever thou commandest me to go, I follow. Whatever thou appointest me to suffer, I bear without a murmur. It is my part to persevere in duty, the rest I leave to thee, whose wisdom I revere whose goodness I have so often experienced, in whom, therefore, I repose implicit trust, that all shall end well, and the righteous be made finally happy."

"'The

Thus all nature loudly proclaims the being of a God. heavens declare his glory, and the firmament sheweth his handy work." The African in his kraal, and the Indian in his desert, as well as the Grecian sage, and the Roman conqueror, adored each, after their own mode, a Sovereign of the Uuiverse.Having thus taken a view of the Great Creator's works, and finding every part of them admirably contrived, and of exquisite workmanship, and all of them demonstrating his infinite wisdom and power, let them serve as so many arguments exciting us to the constant fear of God, and to a steady obedience to his laws. "Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps, fires and hail, snow and vapours, stormy wind fulfilling his word; mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl; kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all the judges of the earth; both young men and maidens, old men and children: let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven."

The Grace of God Manifested.

From the London Methodist Magazine.

MEMOIR OF CHARLES NEWMAN, WHO DIED AT BRUSSELS, AUG. 13, 1816.-By H. C.

CHARLES NEWMAN, the subject of the following memoir, was from his childhood violent in his temper, and passionate in the extreme; and on the slightest, or even without any provoca

tion, he would throw knives or any offensive weapon at his sisters, who were obliged to flee from one who would not be restrained by parental discipline-this evil disposition appears to have grown with him. For a short time he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, which was abandoned or the navy, in which a midshipman's birth was procured for him. He also filled the office of Captain's clerk, but was in one period of his service degraded from his rank, and turned before the mast, his impetuous temper having led him to challenge a superior officer. He was, however, replaced, and continued in the navy, until ill health obliged him to abandon that profession.

His character while a sailor, was that of a man, amongst wicked men, eminently wicked; so grossly profane and licentious was his general conversation, to such a bad eminence had he attained, that if any expression or oath was heard in the ship more than ordinarily blasphemous and offensive to religion, decency and morality, it was usual for the men to say, That is a Newman?' In poetry of the lighter class, and books of idle amusement, he was well read; and having a good memory, he could bring forward, as occasion suited, what he had read, for the entertainment of his companions. He sung well, and once wrote down the first lines of 200 songs, with which he was acquainted, and had been accustomed to sing at the convivial parties.

While pursuing this course of life, he was several times attacked by indisposition of a pulmonary nature-warnings meant in mercy, but long slighted. While confined to his hammock by one such attack, to pass away the time he repeated a poem of 1000 lines, which was so well remembered, that he believed he did not miss or misplace a single word. His complaint increasing, he was compelled to leave the ship, and return to his mother, who then lived in Seymour-Place, Crawford-Street, London. During his absence, she, with one of her daughters, had become serious, and were joined to the Methodist Society,-a change in them by no means agreeable to him. His health rapidly declining, the leader, in whose class his sister met, was desired to visit him, which he did; he found him awakened to a sense of his danger. The reading a volume of Mr. Wesley's life, and the preaching of Mr. Robert Newton, had been, under Divine influence, the means of shewing him his need of salvation, and the way in which it could alone be found. From this time, the leader visited him often; and not a long period elapsed, when, after a season of prayer, one Sunday afternoon, the sinner found salvation through faith in a crucified Saviour. His burden fell off, and the sorrow he had long felt on account of sin, was exchanged for the peace VOL. IV.

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which passeth all understanding, and the joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.

He continued inexpressibly happy, having the clearest evidence of his acceptance with God. He could with truth say, "Lord, though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and now thou comfortest me." In a most extraordinary manner his filthy memory was cleansed; the idle and profane songs in which he once delighted, and which had grieved him sore while seeking salvation, were all swept away; and in their stead, hymns of praise dwelt on his lips; and the gladness of those who are anointed of the Lord, filled his heart. With great thankfulness he acknowledged the goodness of the Lord in this respect, and often said, all he once prided himself in remembering, was, with his sins, blotted out, he hoped for ever. Though between 20 and 30 years old, he had never been baptized; and it was his ardent wish publicly to make a profession of his faith in Christ, and receive that sacrament which is the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace of which he was happily the partaker. After previous conversation with him, and being fully convinced of his meetness, Mr. Joseph Entwisle, on the morning of Sunday, the 26th of February, 1815, admitted him, by baptism, into the visible church of the Redeemer. Weak and exhausted as he was, appearing like one who had not many days to live, he wished much to tell the crowded congregation who were assembled, what great things the Lord had done for him; but his voice failed him, and it was deemed expedient that he should desist, lest in the attempt, life's brittle thread should break. In the afternoon, however, he drew up the following brief statement, which, after evening service, Mr. Entwisle read from the pulpit of Hinde-Street Chapel.

NEWMAN'S STATEMENT.

The person baptized here this morning, being prevented by indisposition from speaking more fully on the subject of his conversion, requests the reading of the following state

ment.

"Just previous to my leaving the navy, my life was in imminent danger from an inflammation of the lungs; and I am certain, had I died at that time, I should have lifted up my eyes in torment, as I had not the fear of God before my eyes. nor the least concern for my soul. But it pleased the God of grace and mercy to raise me up, and give me longer time for repentance; and glory be to his name, the end is answered, and I am saved. On returning home, I found my mother and sister were become Methodists; their manner was new to me, and not altogether agreeable; I knew not why, but now I know, the