LITERARY ARTICLE. NEXT to the holy Scriptures, the works of God supply the principal subjects to which the young student should direct his careful attention, seeking to store his mind with the facts which they include, and with the arguments which relate to them, and by means of which their nature is disclosed, and their systematic arrangement is formed and completed. These works, he will soon see, belong to two great classes; often, and because they are divinely governed, and with divine wisdom and power, properly styled, the kingdoms of nature and of grace. Closely connected with these, and referring to both, is that kingdom of providence, in which we see all things not only placed under the divine superintendence and control, but, in consequence, so directed and guided, as that they may severally fulfil the designs of their creation and preservation, and unitedly accomplish the divine purposes. We purpose this month to notice two recently published volumes which refer both to the kingdoms of grace and nature, and which very instructively illustrate some important aspects of the kingdom of Providence. 1. Dialogues on Instinct. By Henry, Lord Brougham, F.R.S. 18mo., pp. 272. Charles Knight. THESE Dialogues were originally published in connexion with a new edition of Paley's "Natural Theology," with illustrative notes, by Lord Brougham, and Sir Charles Bell, M.D. As the volume containing the "Dialogues was but one of several, constituting an entire, and comparatively expensive, work, it would be out of the reach of a large number of readers, to whom, nevertheless, its perusal would be both instructive and interesting. To remedy this inconvenience, the author's consent has been obtained to the publication of the work in that cheap and compact form which it possesses as one of the series now issuing by Mr. Knight, under the general title of " Knight's Weekly Volume." Of this series, which, with a few exceptions, is as valuable as it is cheap, the "Dialogues on Instinct" form the nineteenth volume. They are given as having been held by A. and B.; which letters refer to Lord Althorpe, (the present Earl Spencer,) and Lord Brougham; and it is pleasing to find that the attention of men so deeply engaged in the public and political events of the day, was, at least occasionally, devoted to subjects, not indeed so exciting, but at least equal in importance. The first Dialogue seeks to ascertain the general facts of the case; and the second, to found on them a proper theory. The third takes up the subject of animal intelligence, and the facts by which it is illustrated; while the fourth, and last, continues to refer to animal intelligence, but inquires into the general theory which the facts appear to teach. We need not say that such a work must refer to many exceedingly curious facts, as well as contain, if properly constructed, many important arguments and inferences. The fact that what is called instinct does really exist, and that a very large class of living creatures are governed by means of it, is undeniable; while instinct itself, as to its exact nature, presents, to human intelligence at least, an impenetrable mystery; though not a greater one than is found in some other unquestionable facts in other departments of nature. Instinct, in the world of life, is not a less acknowledged fact, nor a more intelligible mystery, than is gravitation in the world of matter. The Dialogues, however, are not written for the exclusive purpose of examining the subject to which they relate: they have an ultimate object, which is, to show that the general rule,—that in every department of nature we are led irresistibly to acknowledge evidences of design, all design implying an intelligent Designer,— meets with no exception in the department of instinct. The reader will be glad to see a few sentences from the concluding observations of both A. and B. "A. One thing seems quite clear, that upon any view of this great question, whatever theory we adopt, all leaves the inference of design untouched; nay, the more we inquire, the more we perceive that all investigation only places in a stronger light the conclusion from the facts to a superintending Intelligence.-B. Beyond all doubt, it is so. The whole question is one of relations and connexions. Adaptation, adjustment, mutual dependence of parts, conformity of arrangement, balance, and compensation, everywhere appear pervading the whole system, and conspicuous in all its parts.-Nor is there upon any of these hypotheses room for doubting the identity of the great Artificer of nature. The same peculiarity everywhere is seen to mark the whole workmanship. All comes from a supreme Intelligence; that Intelligence, though variously diversified, preserves its characteristic features, and ever shines ANOTHer and THE SAME."-P. 164. To the older and more thoughtful of our readers,-our young friends, we will call them, for one of our greatest pleasures in working on "The Youth's Instructer" arises from this personal association, we particularly recommend this last averment. Throughout all nature we see not merely the marks of intelligence, but of one Intelligence. All the inscriptions legible on the scroll are in the same handwriting. And then we come to the book of revelation. We find the same handwriting still. Not only does the God of the Bible claim to be the God of heaven and of earth, not only do miracles and prophecy prove all nature to be under his control, and observed with his all-seeing eye, but the personal character, so to call it, unfolded in holy writ, is precisely that of the Being for whom a properly investigated nature leads the mind to look. There is no contradiction. Knowing the God of the Bible, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we thoughtfully roam among the various scenes of nature, and finding not the slightest trace of any unknown God, we exclaim, with adoring "THIS GOD IS OUR GOD FOR EVER.' gratitude, 2. Showers of Blessing; or, Sketches of Revivals of Religion in the Wesleyan-Methodist Connexion: with Observations thereon. By Robert Young. Foolscap 8vo., pp. vii, 458. Printed for the Author, and sold by John Mason. THE title-page informs the reader of what he is to look for in the volume thus presented to him. The author says that he "would claim credit for little more than the labour of selecting, compiling, and arranging the materials;' " he adds that, "he has culled from Magazines, Reviews, Journals, Pamphlets, Manuscripts, &c.," but that he "professes to give only mere specimens of the revivals of religion with which the Wesleyan Connexion has been so abundantly favoured." The volume is divided into sixteen chapters; the first fourteen referring to revivals themselves, in different places; the concluding two being devoted to the PRINCIPLES of which the recorded facts are the developement or illustration; and to the PRACTICAL INFERENCES suggested by the consideration of the entire subject. Of such a series of narratives we cannot enter into the detailed consideration. We can only refer to the work itself. It shows that He who is the God of nature, works in the kingdom of his grace; and, by the instrumentality which he is pleased there to create and employ, manifests his mercy in saving men, as truly as he manifests his benevolence in the kingdom of nature, in instituting and perpetuating there the various means by which he saves both man and beast. Wherever we go, it is the same Lord that we see, whose tender mercies are over all his works. They who love to follow where God leads, and to observe his goings in his sanctuary, will receive with thankfulness what Mr. Young has diligently, and from various sources, collected for them. Encouraged by the past, their faith will be strengthened as to the future. They will see that if they "wait on the Lord, and keep his way," sooner or later he will manifest himself, to the joy of their own souls, and the confusion of their adversaries. In these "historical collections," Mr. Young has performed a service that will be as acceptable, we trust, as it tends to be useful. Who does not desire that the work of God may revive in his own soul,-in the neighbourhood in which he dwells? And who, among the believers in Christ, can fail to be encouraged by reading the history of these "showers of blessing," with which, from time to time, God has refreshed his weary inheritance? We have perused Mr. Young's volume with much pleasure, and with much pleasure do we recommend it. NOTICES OF ANIMATED AND VEGETABLE NATURE, FOR FEBRUARY, 1845. BY MR. WILLIAM ROGERSON, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. "WHEN Spring approaching decks the green, And cheers with smiles the lengthening day, We turn from Winter's dreary scene, And feel, and own, the genial ray. "But Winter, too, can charm the soul; Though frosts and storms are in his train, "Though scarce one songster greets the dawn, I will not sigh for absent light. "The gentle redbreast's morning song With me surround the cheerful fire. "And O! when o'er the southern hill, Who, but would wish 'twere Winter still, "Yet, if beneath the furious blast We almost wish the season gone, Mark! when the bitter storm is past, How sweetly smiling Spring comes on." J. R. WINTER is not without many majestic tokens of a present and presiding Deity. David was so struck by the awful glories of winter, as to call in "hail, snow, vapour, and stormy wind," to unite with his own harp, and all the harmonies of nature, in praising Jehovah. And there are contrasts and combinations during this season of the year, which, if duly observed, could not fail to raise the mind to that Power which rules the circle of the year. Under his high direction how the aspect of the heavens fluctuates in the winter! At one time the whole sky is one dull and dense sheet of murky vapour, which the sun itself can hardly penetrate, even at noon-day: at another time the firmament is one vast transparency, glittering with stars. Now the snow-flakes fall as silently as the dew of the morning; and anon, the hail rushes like arrows on the wings of the wind. In the evening, the hoar-frost collects insensibly; and at midnight the crisped snow drifts like a sandy whirlwind of the desert. The first half of the month.-The woodlark commences his sweet lays, if the weather be not particularly severe: the blackbird is heard, and the song-thrush occasionally pours forth his melodious strains. A naturalist speaking of this latter bird, observes, "We noticed in the year 1829 two common thrushes frequenting the shrubs on the green in our garden. From the slenderness of their forms, and the freshness of their plumage, we pronounced them to be birds of the preceding summer. There was an association and friendship between them that called our attention to their actions: one of them seemed ailing, or feeble from some bodily accident; for though it hopped about, yet it appeared unable to obtain sufficiency of food. Its companion, an active, sprightly bird, would frequently bring it worms or bruised snails, when they mutually partook of the banquet; and the ailing bird would wait patiently. understand the actions, expect the assistance of the other, and advance from his asylum upon its approach. This procedure was continued for some days; but after some time we missed the fostered bird, which probably died, or by reason of its weakness met with some fatal accident." The snowdrop and the yellow crocus give a cheerfulness to our gardens and orchard-grounds. The laurustinus is still in blossom, and so is the china-rose. Mosses now occupy the attention of the botanist, and much amusement may be derived from observing the various species that may be seen at this time clinging to the roots of trees and near ponds, or in a marshy soil. The last half of the month.--Moles commence their subterraneous operations. In our attempts to improve on nature, we frequently defeat our own purposes. Farmers are extremely anxious to get rid of moles, whose hillocks, it must be confessed, destroy the smooth level of grass and corn fields, where they are very abundant; but it hath been found in some farms, by experience, that when moles are extirpated, worms increase so prodigiously, that the moles have been wished for again as the least evil of the two. The chaffinch and hedge-sparrow sing: rooks revisit their breeding-trees, and arrange the stations of their future nests. The green woodpecker is heard in our woods, and the bullfinch is seen in our gardens. Gnats dance in sunny days. The dwarf bay (daphne mezereon) puts forth its highly fragrant pale-lilac flowers in profusion; while the mulberry-coloured catkins of the alder (betula alnus) arrest the attention of the admirer of nature. "Not a perfume can breathe in the gale, Not even a dew-drop exhale, Nor a blossom unfold on the trees,- Whose eye neither slumbers nor sleeps, BRIEF ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES, FOR FEBRUARY, 1845. BY MR. WILLIAM ROGERSON, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. "Ye beautiful and bright, Lamps of the regal night, That wreathe with light the shadowy vault on high, "Ye wake in fitful gleams, To all beneath your beams, That shone ere youth's bright sky was dew'd with tears. |