public means of grace, or suffer trifles to interfere with their attendance on them, give melancholy evidence, either that they are utter strangers to genuine piety, or that it is with them at a very low ebb. The passage, Psalm cii. 7. where it is said, "I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop," does not at all accord with the habits of those birds, neither is it the same word that in other passages is translated sparrow. In all probability it rather refers to the owl, or some other bird of solitude and night. The evangelists Matthew and Luke relate an affecting allusion of our blessed Lord to these birds. He was warning his disciples against distressing anxiety in general, and especially against the fear of man; and in the most touching manner assured them of the condescending, ever watchful, and gracious care of their heavenly Father, by reminding them of its being exercised even over the meanest of his creatures: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? (in Luke, five sparrows sold for two farthings?) and not one of them is forgotten before God-not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matt. x. 29, 31. Luke xii. 6, 7. What could represent in a more lovely and endearing character the great Parent of the universe, whose tender mercies are over all his works, who disdains not to govern and preserve the meanest of the creatures which he has condescended to produce? What could give a more sublime idea of the vast extent and dominion of his providence, which the greatest of His works cannot burden, nor the smallest escape His providence, which governs What-(and this is the sentiment most immediately and expressly conveyed in the passage)—what could be more delightfully consolatory and encouraging to the saints of God, the children of his love? what could more effectually calm their agitations and anxieties, and assure them of the constant and effectual superintendence of His providence over them and their affairs? "Shall my Father, the Father of my spirit, my reconciled God and Father in Christ Jesus, condescend to watch over and guide the movements of a sparrow; and will He leave circumstances connected with my welfare to the dominion of chance? or will He suffer any enemy, however subtle or however powerful, to defeat His arrangements on behalf of His children, or successfully to assail those whom He has determined and engaged to keep? No; it cannot be. Wherever his providence calls, we may safely venture, leaning upon arm, giving our fears to the wind, and saying, "My Father knoweth what I have need of-He will sup His ply-He will defend-He will fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and preserve me safe to the heavenly kingdom which he has promised to give me." The Partridge The partridge is in size between that of a pigeon and a half-grown fowl; it is remarkably plump, and its flesh is much esteemed for eating; its colours are a pleasing mixture of light and dark brown. Its food consists of grains, leaves, insects, and especially ants' eggs. It builds its nest on the ground, very frequently in a field of standing corn; from the situation of the nest, both the eggs and the young are often endangered, often crushed by the passenger, or seized by the thoughtless boy, or disturbed by the scythe of the mower, or the sickle of the reaper. Both the parents are very attentive to their brood, supplying them well, while quite unable to provide for themselves, and afterwards leading them out, and instructing them as to the places and manner of obtaining their proper food. They have a peculiar note by which they call their young, who immediately obey; and they discover great sagacity in diverting the dog or the fowler, while their young ones have time to escape from danger; nevertheless they are frequently taken or shot. The Arabians having discovered the retreat of |