1

very inconvenient; for the neceffary labours and occupations of mankind require fometimes an encroachment on the night. And again, were we to enjoy the light of the full moon during the whole of every night, to banish entirely the darknefs, this alfo would interfere with other benefits and inftructions. Under the favour of a conftant moon, the tyrants of this world would feldom permit any stated period for the repose either of man or beast. They would contrive labours to impose on their flaves, proper for the light of the moon: and, in that cafe, there would be no general period for the ease and refreshment of wearied mortals. Were there to be a perpetual full moon, we should also be debarred the beautiful prospect of the host of heaven, the stars in all their glory. This would be to check the glory and praise of the Almighty Maker and Preferver of all things, But this light is given out to us in that frugal and well regulated proportion, that it proves fufficient for all neceffary purposes, and not fufficient for impofing on the laborious part of the creation their nightly tafk: and during its various intervals and different degrees, it gives us opportunities of contemplating the starry firmament through all its changing forms.

This light is of that nature, that whilst it does not interrupt the general repofe of the world, it is fufficient for fome neceffary journeys and labours, that are occafionally required of mankind. There is even a foothing stillness in a beautiful moon

light, where all nature seems listening and attentive, that composes the mind for meditation, or invites the weary labourer to his sweet fleep and repose.

This light is wifely proportioned to the seasons and climates that most need fuch affiftance. This distribution is so apparent, that it cannot fail to call the attentive observer to notice the wisdom and goodness of such an appointment.

11. In fummer when we have little occafion for this additional light, the arch that the full moon describes in these months, is a small portion of a large circle. Her duration is then very fhort. She barely fhews her full orb, and defcends to visit climes that require more of her friendly aid. In thefe northern latitudes, fhe makes a fhort range above our fouthern horizon, nearly about the fame compass, that the fun takes during our shortest day; and, in many cafes, her ftay is even much fhorter. She is then little wanted, and therefore but little feen and very little regarded. Whilst, during the winter feafon, and our fhortest days, the full moon takes a wide circuit, rifing far towards the north, and paffing our meridian in a high elevation, the defcends in our western boundary, and generally near the fame place that the fun fets in our longest day. Her stay above our horizon is during the whole night: her duration is nearly equal to the fun's duration in our longest day, and sometimes much longer. (This depends upon her latitude at the time.) At this time, in the depth of winter,

mankind most want her benefit, and therefore at this time it is shared out to them in the greater degree.

In the highest latitudes, and the further removed from the benefit of the fun, the full moon continues the longest, endeavouring to fupply that want to the inhabitants, In our northern hemifphere, the further north that any country is removed, fo much a greater share have the inhabitants of the winter's full moon.

What I have faid here with refpect to the benefits of this planet, applies equally to both the northern and fouthern hemifpheres. They enjoy all a share in her benefits, in proportion to their wants.

Now, if we were to reverse the case, and suppose the full moon in fummer fhould take a wide range above our horizon; and, on the contrary, that in winter fhe fhould haften her departure, coming forth only to fhew her full orb, and defcend fuddenly and leave the world in darkness; we should certainly censure the wisdom of the appointment and as bearing in it no marks of benevolence and goodness. But this is not the character of any part of God's works; the more they are fought into and the better they are understood, the more marks of beneficence do we find.

It may be argued, that these benefits arise entirely from the mechanism of the universe, and are governed by fixed and steadfast laws. This, most certainly, is the cafe; but who has constituted these laws? and who planned this wonderful frame of

nature? The answer to this question leads us to the acknowledgment of the wifdom and goodness of the Great First Cause.

12. Befides the more general advantages arifing from the ordinances of the moon, there is another no less remarkable, and which bespeaks great attention to the peculiar wants and neceffities of man; and that will be found to be a demonftration not merely of wisdom and benevolence, but of that wifdom and benevolence extended even to our minutest

concerns.

The harvest moon is a phenomenon, long fince well known to the husbandman, but long overlooked and neglected by the aftronomer. It is only within these few years, that the philofophers seemed to know that there was fuch an appearance in nature. It was for fome time, that they doubted the fact, and it is certain that fome eminent astronomers hefitated still, after the fact was published. Of this phenomenon we find no mention in books of aftronomy till within these forty or fifty years. This is a striking instance of the grofs inattention of man to the benefits of his Maker. But the appearance is now well known, and for which we have a most fatisfactory account.

During the months of the harvest, the full moon continues with us much longer than during any other months of the year. At that period she hastens her rifing as if to call on the husbandman to collec the fruits of the earth, under her friendly affiftance,

During the first feven or eight days after the full, you will find her generally up before the light of day has totally forfaken the skies. From the first to the last of these eight days, the difference between the time of rifing will in general be found to be less than two hours. This difference, however, varies in different places; and there is fome variation in the fame place in different years. The principles and causes of this appearance, this is not the place to examine and explain. A flight acquaintance with the. globes renders the whole phenomenon perfectly intelligible. It is fufficient here merely to state the fact, and to call the attention of thofe, who may not have confidered this appearance to the examination of a fact, which affords a pleafing teftimony of the care and goodness of our Heavenly Father.

This becomes a phenomenon more striking, when compared with the full moons in the opposite seasons of the year. During the fpring feafon the full moons quickly pafs away. The fecond or third night after the full, fhe rifes late, and in a night or two more, it is very near morning before she makes her appearance. At that feafon the husbandman has no great occafion to prolong his labours in the field. At that time, generally cold and uncomfortable, it would be neither pleasing nor suited to his health to expose himself to the feverity of cold damp nights. But during the months of harveft, when the gathering in of the fruits of the earth is the important labour of the husbandman; when the fufte