vide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.

'And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth and it was so.

'And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

'And God set them in the firmament of heaven, to give light upon the earth,

'And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

'And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.'

"I have already explained to you how the sun might have been fashioned in part on the first day, and yet not have shone upon the earth till the fourth day.

Harriet, can you tell what that explanation was?" "I think you said,” replied Harriet, "that the matter of light was separated on the first day, and that, in some way, not known to us, it shone so as to produce day; but that the luminous clouds about the sun,

which excite the light, did not perform their office till the fourth day.

"Yes, the fourth day's work appears to have been the arrangement of these luminous clouds; and, hence, as they did not excite the light until this time, the sun is spoken of as made that day."

"But, father," said Harriet, "I have thought of an objection; but which, perhaps, you can answer.' "What is it, my child?"

"Why," said Harriet, "the moon is spoken of as having been formed that day."

"I am not surprised that the objection should have occurred to you," said Mr. M. "but it is easily answered. The moon is a planet. Planets shine not of themselves, but reflect the light, which is excited by means of the sun. Now, although what was done in respect to the earth each day, might have been done in respect to the moon, she could not shine, till she was shined upon. But the sun, we suppose, first excited the light, on the fourth day; and, hence, she really did not become until now a light in the firmament of heaven."

Is more

"Father," said James, "you have told us much about the sun, but nothing about the moon. known about this planet, than about the sun?"

"A good deal more," said Mr. M. "Her distance from the earth is so small, that by means of good glasses, her face is quite visible. Do you recollect her distance from the earth, Thomas?"

"About two hundred and forty thousand miles, I think," said Thomas.

"Father," enquired James, "is it known how much less light the moon gives than the sun?"

"It is computed," said Mr. M. "that the light of the full moon is ninety thousand times less than day light."

"What do you think, father," said Thomas, “the 'man in the moon' is?"

"The spots or shades on the moon's face," said Mr. M. "which some call 'the man in the moon,' are supposed to be seas, which do not reflect as much light, as the surrounding land."

"But, is it supposed there is land in the moon?" asked Thomas.

"Yes," said Mr. M. "that is now quite certain. Mountains have frequently been discovered in the moon; some of which have been supposed to be five miles high. Dr. Herschel affirms, also, that he has distinctly seen volcanoes, actually on fire. It is quite probable that the moon resembles our earth, and not improbable that her inhabitants do also."

"Do you mean, father," said Sophia, "that they are sinners there, as well as here?"

"That is a question, my child, which I cannot answer. We must not attempt to push our enquiries too far. Instead, therefore, of pursuing this subject farther, let us see what useful reflections may be drawn from the subjects of this day's work.

"The sun now first beamed forth upon our world. In the language of the Bible, (Ps. xix, 5, 6.) He came forth as a bridegroom cometh out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man does to run a race. His going forth was from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and, from that day unto the present, nothing has been hid from the heat thereof. He distributes light and life through all nature. By his influence, seeds unfold themselves

-trees, and plants, and vegetables, spring and flourish. He gives to the landscape its beauties; and to the flower its rich and varied tints. At his approach, millions of insects start into life, and sport in his beams. His heat warms and animates our frame; while his light gladdens our hearts. Nay, he darts his beams into the very depths of the ocean, and the watery tribes rejoice in his rays.

"The sun is an emblem of God. The bible says, 'the Lord God is a sun.' But the natural sun is a faint emblem of its adorable Creator.

Fly through the world, O Sun, and tell,

How dark thy beams compared with His.

"The glory of the natural sun is derived; but that of God is uncreated and inherent. That of the former will one day be obscured and forever depart-but the glory of God will continue to shine, with unclouded splendor, through eternity.

"The sun is the source of light and life, to this lower creation. Yet he is only an instrument. The Great Source is God himself. Think, my children, what a source of blessing God is.

What power daily,