God indeed dwell on earth? Behold! the Heaven, and Heaven of Heavens, cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded !-Incomparable saying! Worthy the wisest of men. Who would not choose to possess such an elevated devotion, rather than to own all the glittering materials of that sumptuous edifice?

We are apt to be struck with, admiration, at the stateliness and grandeur of a masterly performance in architecture. And, perhaps, on a sight of the ancient sanctuary, should have made the su perficial observation of the disciples; "What manner of stones, and what buildings are here ?" But what a nobler turn of thought, and juster taste of things, does it discover, to join with Israel's King, in celebrating the condescension of the divine inhabitant! That the High and Lofty One, who fills immensity with his glory, should, in a peculiar manner, fix his abode there! Should there manifest an extraordinary degree of his benedictive presence; permit sinful mortals to approach his majesty; and promise" to make

them joyful in his house of prayer !"-This

are exalted above all praise.-Dwell: to bestow on sinful creatures a propitious look; to favour them with a tran sient visit of kindness; even this were an unutterable obligation. Will he then vouchsafe to fix his abode among them, and take up his stated residence with them? Indeed a word, in this connection, peculiarly empha tical, expressive of a condescension, wonderful and extraordinary almost beyond all credibility.-Behold: intimating the continued, or rather the increasing surprise of the speaker, and awakening the attention of the hearer. Behold! the Heaven: the spacious concave of the firmament; that wide extended azure circumference, in which worlds unnumbered perform their revolutions, is too scanty an apartment for the Godhead.-Nay, The Heaven of Heaven those vastly higher tracts, which lie far be yond the limits of human survey; to which our very thoughts can hardly soar: even these (unbounded as they are) cannot afford an adequate habitation for Jehovah: even these dwindle into a point, when compared with the infinitude of his essence; even these " are as nothing before him."-How much less proportionate is this poor diminutive speck (which I have been erecting and em bellishing), to so august a presence, so immense a majesty !

should more sensibly affect our hearts, than the most curious arrangement of stones can delight our eyes.

Nay, the everlasting God does not disdain to dwell in our souls by his Holy Spirit; and to make even our bodies his temple.-Tell me, ye that frame critical judgments, and balance nicely the distinction of things; "Is this most astonish"ing, or most rejoicing?"-He humbleth himself, the Scripture assures us, even to behold the things that are in Heaven*. 'Tis a most condescending favour, if He pleases to take the least approving notice of angels and archangels, when they bow down in homage from their celestial thrones. Will he then graciously regard, will he be united, most intimately united to poor, polluted, breathing dust?-Unparallel'd honour! Invaluable privilege! Be this my portion, and I shall not covet crowns, nor envy conquerors.

But let me remember, what a sanctity of dispo sition, and uprightness of conversation, so exalted a relation demands: remember this, " and rejoice "with trembling."-Durst I commit any iniquity, while I tread these hallowed courts? Could the Jewish High Priest allow himself in any known transgression, while he made that solemn yearly entrance t into the Holy of Holies, and stood before the immediate presence of Jehovah? No, truly. In such circumstances, a thinking person must shudder at the most remote solicitation, to any wilful offence. I should now be shocked at the least indecency of behaviour, and am appre hensive of every appearance of evil.-And why do we not carry this holy jealousy into all our ordinary life? Why do we not, in every place,

Psal, exiii. 6.

+ Heb. ix. 7.

πανίων δε μάλιςαισχυνει σ' αυτόν, the favorite maxim of Pythagoras, and supposed to be one of the best moral precepts, ever given to the heathen world. With what superior force, and very singular ad

reverence ourselves; as persons dedicated to the divinity, as living temples of the Godhead? For, if we are real, and not merely nominal christians, the God of glory, according to his own promise, dwells in us, and walks in us.-O! that this one doctrine of our religion might operate, with an abiding efficacy, upon our consciences! It would be instead of a thousand laws, to regulate our conduct; instead of a thousand motives, to quicken us in holiness. Under the influence of such a conviction, we should study to maintain a purity of intention; a dignity of action; and to walk. worthy of that transcendently majestic Being, who admits us to a fellowship with himself, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The next thing, which engaged my attention, was the lettered floor. The pavement, somewhat like Ezekiel's roll, was written over from one end to the other. I soon perceived the comparison to hold good, in another respect; and the inscriptions to be matter of "mourning, lamentation, "and woet." They seemed to court my observation; silently inviting me to read them. And what would these dumb monitors inform me of?"That, beneath their little circumferences, were

deposited such and such pieces of clay, which "once lived, and moved, and talked that they "had received a charge to preserve their names," "and were the remaining trustees of their me "mory."

Ah! said I, is such my situation! The adorable Creator around me, and the bones of my fellow creatures under me! Surely, then, I have great reason to cry out with the revering patriarch, How

vantage, does this argument take place in the Christian scheme! Where we are taught to regard ourselves, not merely as intellectual beings, who have reason for our monitor; but as consecrated creatures, who have a God of the most consummate perfection, ever with us, ever in us, + Ezek. ii. 10.

Cor. vi. 16.

dreadful is this place! Seriousness and devotion become this house for ever. May I never enter it lightly or irreverently; but with a profound awe, and godly fear!

O! that they were wiset said the inspired penman. It was his last wish for his dear people. He breathed it out, and gave up the ghost.-But what is wisdom? It consists not in refined specu lations; accurate researches into nature; or an universal acquaintance with history. The divine lawgiver settles this important point, in his next aspiration: O! that they understood this! That they had right apprehensions of their spiritual interests, and eternal concerns! That they had eyes to discern, and inclinatious to pursue, the things which belong to their peace!-But how shall they attain this valuable knowledge? I send them not, adds the illustrious teacher, to turn over all the volumes of literature: they may acquire, and much more. expeditiously, this science of life, by considering their latter end. This spark of heaven is often lost, under the glitter of pompous erudition; but shines clearly, in the gloomy mansious of the tomb. Drowned is this gentle whisper, amidst the noise of secular affairs; but speaks distinctly, in the retirement of serious contemplation.-Behold! how providentially I am brought to the school of wis. dom! The grave is the most faithful || master; and these instances of mortality, the most instructive lessons.-Come then, calm attention, and compose my thoughts; come, thou celestial spirit, and enlighten my mind; that I may so peruse

Gen, xxviii. 17.

+ Deut. xxxii. 29.

The man how wise, who, sick of gaudy scenes,
Is led by choice to take his fav'rite walk
Beneath death's gloomy, silent, cypress shades,
Unpiere'd by vanity's fantastic ray!

To read his monuments, to weigh his dust,
Visit his vaults, and dwell among the tombs!
Night-Thoughts.

Wait the great teacher, Death. Pope.

these awful pages, as to become "wise unto sal "vation."

Examining the records of mortality, I found the memorials of a promiscuous multitude. They were huddled, at least they rested together, without any regard to rank or seniority. None were ambitious of the uppermost rooms, or chief seats, in this house of mourning. None entertained fond and eager expectations of being honourably greeted, in their darksome cells. The man of years and experience, reputed as an oracle in his generation, was content to lie down at the feet of a babe. In this house appointed for all living, the servant was equally accommodated, and lodged in the same story with his master. The poor indigent lay as softly, and slept as soundly, as the most opulent possessor. All the distinction that subsisted, was, a grassy hillock, bound with osiers; or a sepulchral stone, ornamented with imagery.

Why then, said my working thoughts, O! why should we raise such a mighty stir, about superiority and precedence, when the next remove will reduce us all to a state of equal meanness? Why should we exalt ourselves, or debase others; since we must all, one day, be upon a common level, and blended together in the same undistinguished dust? O! that this consideration might humble my own, and others' pride, and sink our imaginations as low as our habitations will shortly

be!

Among these confused relics of humanity, there are without doubt, persons of contrary interests, and contradicting sentiments. But death, like some able days-man, has laid his hand on the contending parties; and brought all their differences to an amicable conclusion. Here enemies, sworn * Mista senum ac juvenum densantur funera. Hor. Hi motus animorum, atque haec certamina tanta, Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescent, Virg.