case, they would be teachers of lies; in the latter, they are oracles of truth. In this, therefore, this sense only, I profess myself the pupil of the stars. The vulgar are apprehensive of nothing more, than a multitude of bright spangles, dropt over the æthereal blue. They have no higher notion of these fine appearances, than that they are so many golden studs, with which the empyrean arch is decorated.-But studious minds, that carry a more accurate and strict inquiry among the celestial bodies, bring back advices of a most astonishing import. Let me just recollect the most material of those stupendous discoveries, in order to furnish out proper subjects for contemplation. And let the unlearned remember, that the scene. I am going to display, is the workmanship of that incomprehensible God, who is "perfect in know"ledge, and mighty in power:" whose name, whose nature, and all whose operations, are "great "and marvellous:" who summons into being, with equal ease, a single grain, or ten thousand worlds. -To this if we continually advert, the assertions, though they will certainly excite our admiration, need not transcend our belief. The earth is, in fact, a round body; however it may seem, in some parts, to be sunk into vales, and raised into hills; in other parts, to be spread template counsel, consummately wise; and execution, inimitably perfect-power, to which nothing is impossible; and goodness, which extendeth to all, which endureth for ever. To give, not a full display, but only some slight strictures, of these glorious truths, is the principal scope of the following remarks. A learned writer, I think, Dr. Derham, has somewhere an observation to this purpose-That the loftiest summits of hills, and the most enormous ridges of mountains, are no real objection to the globular or round form of the earth: because, however they may render it, to our limited sight, vastly uneven and protuberant; yet, they bear no more proportion to the entire surface of the terraqueous ball, than a particle of dust, casually dropt on the mathematician's globe, bears to its whole circumference: consequently, the rotund figure is no more destroyed in the "irrecoverable ruin; and ten thousands deeply "wounded on my right hand.-If sickness has, at " any time saddened my chamber, or pain har"rowed my flesh, it was a wholesome discipline " and a gracious severity: the chastisement proved a sovereign medicine to cure me of an immoderate fondness for this imperfect state, and to 66 quicken my desires after the unembittered en'joyments of my eternal home.-Has not thy "munificence, unwearied and unbounded, spread my table, and furnished it with the finest wheat, "replenished it with marrow and fatness? while temperance sweetened the bowl, appetite sea"soned the dish, contentment and gratitude "crowned the repast. Has not thy kindness, O "God of the families of Israel, preserved my af "fectionate relations; who study, by their tender "offices, to soften every care, and heighten every "joy? Has not thy kindness given me valuable friends, whose presence is a cordial to cheer me "in a dejected hour, and whose conversation "mingles improvement with delight? "When sin lay disguised amidst flowery scenes "of pleasure; enlightened by thy wisdom I dis"cerned the latent mischief; made resolute by "thy grace, I shunned the luscious bane. If, "through the impulse of sensuality, or the vio"lence of passion, I have been hurried into the snare and stung by the serpent; thy faithful ad"monitions have recalled the foolish wanderer, "while the blood of thy Son has healed his deadly "wounds.-Some, no doubt, have been cut off in "the midst of their iniquities, and transmitted "from the thrillings of polluted joy, to the "agonies of eternal despair: whereas, I have been "distinguished by long-suffering mercy; and, in"stead of lifting up my eyes in torments to be"hold a Heaven irrecoverably lost; I may lift "them up under the pleasing views of being "admitted, ere long, into those abodes of endless "felicity.-In the mean time, thou hast vouchsafed me the revelation of thy will, the influences of "thy Spirit, and abundance of the most effectual "aids, for advancing in knowledge, and growing "in godliness; for becoming more conformable to "thy image, and more meet for thy presence; for "tasting the pleasures of religion, and securing "the riches of eternity. "How various is thy beneficence, O thou lover "of souls! It has unsealed a thousand sources " of good, opened a thousand avenues of delight, " and heaped blessings upon me with ceaseless "liberality. If I should attempt to declare them, "they would be more than the starry host, which "glitter in this unclouded sky, more than the "dewy gems which will adorn the face of the "morning. "And shall I forget the God of my salvation, "the Author of all my mercies? Rather let my "pulse forget to beat!-Shall I render him no "expressions of thankfulness? Then might all "nature reproach my ingratitude.-Shall I rest "satisfied with the bare acknowledgment of my "lips? No let my life be vocal, and speak his "praise in that only genuine, that most empha"tical language-the language of devout obedi26 ence. Let the bill be drawn upon my very "heart; let all my affections acknowledge the "draught; and let the whole tenor of my actions, "in time and through eternity, be continually "paying the debt-the ever-pleasing, ever-grow"ing debt-of duty, veneration, and love. "And can I, O thou guide of my goings, and "guardian of all my interests-can I distrust such signal, such experienced goodness? Thou hast "been my helper through all the busy scenes of "day therefore, under the shadow of thy wings will "I repose myself during the darkness, the danger, "and death-like inactivity of the night. What"ever defilement I have contracted, wash it "thoroughly away in redeeming blood; and let "neither the sinful stain, nor the sinful inclina❝tion, accompany me to my couch !-Then shall "I lay me down in peace and take my rest, cheer" fully referring it to thy all-wise determination, "whether I shall open my eyes in this world, or "awake in the unknown regions of another." |