earth from the identical field in which our barley corn was itself produced.

Ata. So soon returned! Let me have it, love. And is it possible? Is it of this earth that our barley-corn is conformed? This: so dark, and gritty, and tasetless; and so very far from shewing, to any human perceptibility, any thing like a susceptibility of being convertible to any one of the properties of a barley

corn.

Mata. One may well exclaim, is it possible? and yet by some wonderful process in the Almighty attribution of things; by some secret simple chemical virtue intrinsic in the barley-corn itself, this earth shall interfuse, and take the form, and texture, and colour, and coherence, and taste, and property of an infinite number of barley-corns, fitting, as originally ordained, for the uses and purposes endless in the general economy of man.

Ata. Truly wonderful!

Mata. But what is more wonderful still; the earth shall assume any other form, that thou, in thy caprice, may'st be disposed to require of it.

Ata. What, any sort of flower, or fruit that I may fantastically name?

Mata. Even so: any sort of flower, or fruit, that thou, in thy caprice, may'st fantastically name! that is to say, with its proper seed it will: for thou art not to learn, that without a barley-corn not a barley corn can be had. Nothing in this world can come by chance; but with the proper seed, any one of the infinitely various productions of nature will be assumed by that earth, just as thou shalt capriciously require of it: any thing of herb, or flower, or fruit, for thy nourishment or gratification. Thou may'st say, "I would have it take the form of a straw hat," and it will take all the susceptibilities of being formed by thine ingenuity into a straw hat.

Ata. Well, this handful of earth transformable into a straw hat; that I may name, where

and flowers of any colour, or description that I

withal to adorn it: Well, this is delightful.

Mata. Yes; so particularly is man, above all other creatures of the earth, favoured by the predilection of heaven.

"Annual for him the grape, the rose, renew
"The juice nectarious and the balmy dew."

Fondly for him the earth incessant teems,
Varies her fruit as best to him beseems,

And fills the measure of his golden dreams.

Ata. Well I am in love with this investigation: Charmed, surprised, delighted, with this so salliant, so demonstrative display of the wonderful partiality of God for his favourite creature

man.

Mata. Dost think now, my dearest Ata, that any end is answered in these our reflections upon the barley-corn? doesn't think that a volume might be filled with evidence of a ruling hand in this most simple among the million of millions of simples in the infinitely varied history of the productions of nature?

Ata. A volume? Aye, a thousand of volumes. I see no end to the theme. It branches forth as we proceed a thousand ways. We have not yet considered the barley-corn itself: how, in its own confined dimensions, among the folds lay hid, the essences of quantities, and qualities, and forms, and flexibilities, and colours, and coherences; and above all, "the magical power of uniforming to its own likeness this, to all human perceptibility, incongruous earth; and of transmitting all its properties and powers of transmission from barley to barley-corn, and from earth to earth ad infinitum.

Mata. I think, my dearest Ata that our task is performed, and

>

that our conversation upon the barley-corn will not turn out to be a fruitless entertainment, to such especially as delight in the works of the creation; for such will discover herein a very wide field, disclosing to their further notice and admiration; for to look on this earth, and to be able, with assurance, to say, "Of this, is our bed: of this, the thatching of our barn: of this, the faggot which warmeth us: and that it shall become a rose if I choose, or a pomegranate if I choose; and that nothing but a rose shall produce a rose; and that nothing but a pomegranate shall produce a pomegranate; and that every thing in nature cometh to us from eternity so preordained, and moving always in an appointed course: and that nothing can come by chance, or by the contrivance of man.”

It giveth me, I confess, a nearer insight into the wonderful providence of God for man; and disposeth my mind more severely than ever to reverence and adore his holy name.

Ata. True, my dear love! it must impress the mind of every sensible being, with love, and awe, and wonder, and adoration. Both. Then in praises let us join

So sung they, and the empyrean
Rung with Hallelujahs!

E

CHAPTER III.

THEN, a Ruling hand; a cause?

Yes; for if in the contemplation of the works of Nature, we find every thing subjected to an inevitable law: if man can only proceed of man; if man can only subsist of the fruits of the earth; if the fruits of the earth can only proceed of their kindred fruit; if the earth can only fructify under a celestial order of things; if the sun is essential to that order, and is known to have revolved for ages in subservience thereunto; then shall man be sensible of all this wonderful chain of dependance, and not acknowledge therein a cause; a design?

THEN, what cause?

CHAPTER IV.

For if the sun, which is evidently a cause of life in us, is only a secondary cause; only accessory in this wonderful system of life e; necessary indeed to the continuation of life, but not creative; for the earth will take no form of living thing, or life-sustaining herb, which hath not been already formed; for the sun will give no life to things, not already endued with life, but is necessary to created life; acting upon forms already formed subordinate; subordinate itself to order preordained obeying an Almighty will!

OBEYING

CHAPTER V.

BEYING an Almighty will?

Yes, obeying an Almighty will.

"For to recount Almighty works

"To say, how man was formed
Το

"Or how the world began

"What words or tongue of Seraph

"Can suffice: or heart of man
"Suffice to comprehend?"

CHAPTER VI.

On the Creation of Man according to our notion of things; leaving the Subject in Milton's favourite Garb.