being four feet from tip to tip, when extended: the thighs, legs, and toes are covered with scales of a bluish black colour: the toes are four, one behind and three before, semi-palmated, for the use of swimming occasionally. There is also a dark leadcoloured Gaulding, not so large as the White; and another smaller, of a bluish colour, called the little Crab Gaulding.

The largest White Gauldings are very delicate and sprightly in their appearance, and, at a distance, may easily be mistaken for ladies in a white dress; as the Curry-Curry, and Flamingo, may for soldiers in red. One day, when I was viewing the East coast of Rio Demerara, a range of large White Gauldings were walking on the coast of the river, at low water, and at first I imagined them to be ladies viewing the coast; till, looking through a spy-glass, I perceived my mistake. Indeed, when it is considered that these birds, in height, approach near to the human stature, it is not surprising that such mistakes should frequently be made.

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD ASSERTED.

REFLECTIONS ON DIVINE PROVIDEnce.

EXTRACTED FROM DR. WILLIAM BATES.

The infinite Wisdom of GOD orders all things in the best manner, for his own glory and the final good of his people: and it is the noblest disposition of a Christian, to prefer the advancement of His glory, before all the comforts of life, and before even life itself. Our blessed SAVIOUR, in the prospect of his sufferings, was in great perturbation of mind, like the darkening of the sky before a shower: "Now is my soul troubled: what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour." But the conflict of nature was presently at an end; and he willingly yielded himself up, to be a sacrifice to the Divine honour, saying, "Father, glorify thy name." MOSES and ST. PAUL, whose admirable zcal had only a parallel between themselves in the same degree of holy heat, desired the salvation of the Jews before their own, if GoD might be more glorified by it. This is the first petition in order and dignity, in that complete form of prayer composed by our SAVIOUR, as the rule of all our desires: Thy Name be hallowed, and glorified, in us, and by us. The admirable history of JEPHTHA's only daughter, is applicable to this purpose. She joyfully came forth to meet her father, returning victorious and triumphant after his war with the Ammonites. He had made a rash vow, to offer up in sacrifice to God, whoever should first meet him after his victory; and upon the sight of his daughter was so deeply wounded with sorrow, that his triumph was converted

into lamentations. But the grief was only in the father: for in the first surprise of such a terrible sentence to be executed upon her, she did not answer his tears with tears, nor lamentations with lamentations; but said unto him, "My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which bath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee on thine enemies." The admirable love and generosity in a young virgin, to whom her father's honour and exaltation were more dear than life, upbraids us for our unwilling submission to those providential dispensations that are ungrateful to flesh and blood, by which the glory of God is advanced. If we were called to martyrdom for his truth, and our lives should bleed forth as sacrifices on the altar, or our bodies be consumed as incense on the censer, it were an unjust and ungrateful complaint, to express passionate reluctance against his providence. If there were no other consequences of our present sufferings, but glorifying GoD, we should be content. That is the end which he proposeth to himself, and will accomplish.

That his wisdom will order all things, even the most afflicting, for the good of his people, is a fearful paradox to the carnal mind, which judges of good and evil, as present things are pleasant or unpleasant to sense, without regard to what is future. This is like SAMSON's riddle to the Philistines: "Out of the devourer came meat, and out of the strong came sweetness." But to the mind which hath spiritual discerning, and judgeth of good and evil, as things are conducive to or destructive of the happiness of the soul, it is a clear, undoubted truth."We know," saith the Apostle, with the greatest assurance, "that all things work together for good to them that love GOD." All things, the most adverse to their present desires, are so disposed and overruled by his providence, as if there were a secret intelligence and concert between them, to promote the happiness of the saints. Thus, in mixed bodies, the contrary qualities are reduced to such a just measure and temperament, by the wisdom of the Divine Maker, that a sound and healthful constitution results from them. We have a rare instance of this in the history of JOSEPH. His envious brethren were the instruments of his exaltation. They sold him for a slave into Egypt, to frustrate his prophetic dreams; and there, by many admirable turns of providence, he was advanced to the highest dignity; and then was verified in him and his brethren, "That his sheaf arose and stood upright, and their sheaves stood round, and did obeisance to his sheaf." GOD had reserved purposes of greater good for JOSEPH, than if he had continued under his father's tender eye and care: it is therefore said in his history, that they perfidiously "sold him, but GOD sent him." He that attentively reads the * 4 G 2

journeys of the Israelites through the wilderness to Canaan, cannot but wonder at the circuits and indirect motions in their tedious travel for forty years; and when so near the borders of the place, so long and ardently desired, they were often commanded to retreat in the same line wherein they had advanced to it. Had they chosen the shortest way, and disobeyed their Divine Conductor, they had never entered into the Land of Promise: but following the pillar that directed their march, though they seemed to be lost in their intricate wanderings, they obtained the joyful possession of it. This was a type of the saints' passage through a troublesome world to the true rest above. They are guided through many cross ways directly to the kingdom of heaven. "Who knows," says SOLOMON, "what is good for a man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow?" That which is desired with importunity, as tending to his happiness, often proves his woe. It is, therefore, both our duty and our interest not to pray absolutely for any temporal thing; but when our desires are most passionate, to say, with the humility and holiness, the reverence and obedience of our SAVIOUR, "Not my will, but thine be done" We shall find ourselves more happy by the Divine disposal of things, than if we had obtained our dearest wishes, and most ardent prayers. And when we arrive at the top of the holy hill, and look down on the various circuits of Providence, by which we ascended, we shall then understand that wisdom and love conducted us safely to felicity; and shall approve and admire all the Divine methods in order to our blessed end. The belief of this should compose us to a patient and cheerful resignation of ourselves to God's providence and pleasure. Who would not accept the counsel of a friend, that proceeds from love, though his judgment were not to be relied on? Much more should we thankfully receive the appointments of GOD, whose knowledge and affection are equally superlative; in whom there is united the wisdom of a father's love to his children, and the tenderness of that of a mother. The end of the severest chastisements will convince us, that the providence of GOD was more benign and propitious than we could imagine.

All things are under the intimate inspection, the wise conduct, the powerful influence of Divine Providence. This is one of those rich truths, from which so many practical consequences are derived. By virtue of it we may infallibly conclude, that all things that come to pass, are disposed in the best season, and best manner, for the best ends. If we were admitted to the Council of State above, and understood the reasons of every particular decree, we should not be more infallibly assured of the wisdom and goodness, the rectitude and equity of Gon's dispensations, than by this principle, which is as applicable to all events as

light to every colour, That what GOD appoints is best. That we may feel the blessed influence of it more effectually, let us consider, that Divine Providence extends to the whole creation. GoD is pleased to represent it in Scripture, according to the narrowness of our capacity: as ELISHA Contracted himself to the stature of the Shunamite's child; applying his mouth to his mouth, and his hands to his hands. Thus it is said, "He rideth upon the heavens," to signify his absolute power in ordering all the motions of the most high, vast, and glorious part of the visible universe. "He telleth the number of the stars: he calleth them all by their names.' The stars are the brightest and most active parts of the vast region above us, and are called the "host of heaven," with respect to their number and order. GoD is their General: and though they seem innumerable to our senses, yet the multitude is exactly known to Him, and yields ready and entire obedience to his pleasure.

There is nothing in this lower world exempted from the empire and activity of God's Providence. He is unmovable, and moveth all; invisible, and appeareth in all. The most casual things are not without his guidance. "A man drew a bow at a venture,' without any express aim, but GoD directed the arrow through the joints of AHAB's armour, that penetrated to the springs of life. The minutest and least considerable things, are ordered by Him. A sparrow does not fly, or fall, without his disposal. It is not an hyperbolical expression of our SAVIOUR, but an absolute truth: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered." The voluntary, and most indetermined causes of things are under his conduct. The hearts of men, even of kings that are most absolute, are in the hand of the LORD: He turneth them according to his pleasure; as the streams of water are, by several trenches, conveyed to refresh a garden, by the skilful husband

man.

If his Providence reaches to the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field, much more does it reach to the saints: indeed such is his condescending love, and inconceivable benignity, that he styles himself by the most endearing relation, Their GOD. They are the prime part of his vigilant care. It is ST. AUSTIN'S affectionate ejaculation, "O Omnipotent Goodness! that so particularly regardest every one of us, as if the sole objects of thy tender care, and all of us as single persons!" The sun applies its quickening influences for the production and growth of a single plant, as particularly as if there were no other things in the world to receive them; yet at the same time it passes from sign to sign in the heavens, changes the scenes of the elements, produces new seasons, and its active and prolific heat forms and transforms whatsoever is changed in nature. This is a fit resemblance of the universal and special operations of Divine Pro

vidence: and what a strong security does this give to a Christian in the midst of all trouble in this corrupt and changeable world! How does it clear the mind from those miserable perplexities, and quiet those precipitant passions that so often afflict the afflicted! Whatever evils befal the saints, they are with the knowledge, the will, and by the efficiency of GOD. And is He defective in wisdom, power, or goodness, that what he does, either might or ought to be better otherwise? Sometimes, indeed, the special ends of his afflicting Providence are in such deep obscurity, that our line is too short to fathom them; and the manner how good shall result from evil, is unknown: but even then, we may conIclude with evidence, that it is for the best. When Casarius, a primitive saint, was arguing in himself, how that scripture could be true, "The earth is founded upon the waters;" how the more weighty element should not sink; he stopped the course of his thoughts by this reflection: "I forgat myself when I said to GOD, How can this be?" and admired that which he could not comprehend. For inferior reasons we often pray, that particular evils, by which we are threatened, may be prevented; but if they overtake us, we may be satisfied that they are appointed by his supreme reason, and everlasting counsel. As in a concert of music, the parts are not formed when they are sung, but were composed before by the skill of the musician, and every part assigned convenient to the voices of the singers. Thus the various conditions and passages of our lives, were pre-disposed by the sovereign wisdom of GOD.

Now if we, in our deliberate thoughts, consider, that God not only permits, but also appoints, the various evils we suffer, and that he commands our quiet, humble behaviour under them; nay, that he will overrule all so that the issue shall be blessed; what tranquillity and acquiescence will it produce in the sharpest dispensations of his Providence! On the contrary, exclude Divine Providence from the world, and the mind is involved in darkness, and in all its terrors. Atheism is a gulf of impiety and infelicity. "None says, Where is God my Maker, that giveth songs in the night?" that converts poisons into remedies, the saddest evils into means of the greatest good, and our afflictions into consolations. He that lives without GOD in the world, if he loses what he superlatively loves, or falls under an incurable evil, has no other remedy, but a resolution to endure it as well as he can and he is extremely miserable, who has no joy here, nor hope of it hereafter.