The New Hampshire Gazette

On the Spring.

What astonishing variety of Artifices, what innumerable Millions of exquisite Works, is the God of Nature engaged in every Moment! how gloriously are his all pervading Wisdom and Power employed in this useful Season of the Year. this Spring of Nature! what infinite Myriads of Vegetable Beings is he forming this Moment, in their Roots and Branches, in their verdant Leaves and flow'ry Blossoms, their Seeds and Fruit: the whole Nation of Vegetables is under the Divine Care and Culture. His Hands form them Day and Night with admirable Skill and unceasing Operation, according to the Natures he first gave them, and produces their Buds and Leaves, their fragrant Blossoms and rich Fruit in their appointed Months. Their Progress in Life is exceeding swift at this Season of the Year, and their successive Appearances, and sweet Changes of Raiment are visible almost every hour.

On the Animal Creation in the Spring.

What endless Armies of Animals is the Hand of God moulding and figuring this Moment throughout his brutal Dominions! what immense Flights of little Birds are now fermenting in the Egg, heaving and growing towards Shape and Life, what vast Flocks of four-footed Creatures, what Droves of large Cattle are now fram'd in their early Embrios, impris'on'd in the dark Cells of Nature! and others moving towards Liberty, and just preparing to see the Light. What unknown Myriads of Insects in their various Cradles and nesting Places are now working towards Life and Motion! and thousands of them with painted Wings just beginning to unfurl and expand themselves into fluttering Day-light, while other Families of them have forsaken their husky Beds, and exult and glitter in the warm Sun Beams. An exquisite World of Wonders is complicated, even in the Body of every little Insect. an Ant, a Gnat, a Mite, that is scarce visible to the naked Eye, are all admirable Engines which a whole Body of Philosophers could never contrive, which the best of Poets has neither Art nor Colours to describe; nor has a World of Artificers Skill sufficient to frame the plainest of 'em all. Their fine Nerves and Muscles, the minute fluid Atoms that run through their little Veins, are small Parts that escape the Sight of the most curious Optician with all his Aid of Glasses. Hence learn even from the smallest Insect, that the active Powers and Curiosity of human Nature, are limited in their Pursuit, at the End of which it is written, Hitherto shalt thou go and no farther.

On the Works of Nature.

It is a sublime and constant Triumph over all the Intellectual Powers of Man, which the Great God maintains every Moment in these inimitable Works of Nature, in these impenetrable Recesses and Mysteries of Divine Art! and the Month of May is the most shining Season of this Triumph. The Flags and Banners of Almighty Wisdom are now display'd round half the Globe, and the other half waits the Return of the Sun to spread the same Triumph over the Southern World. This very Sun in the Firmament is God's Prime Minister in this Wond'rous World of Beings, and he works with sovereign Vigour on the Surface of the Earth, and spreads his Influences deep into the Clods to ev'ry Root and Fibre, moulding them into their proper Forms, by Divine Direction. There is not a Plant, nor a Leaf, nor one little branching Thread, above or beneath the Ground, that escapes the Eye or Influence of this Beneficent Luminary the Sun, an illustrious Emblem of the Omnipresence and universal Activity of the Creator.