Mind. View his ordinary Operations. Here, He defcends to a plainer Dialect. This may be termed, the familiar Style. We comprehend it with Eafe, and attend to it with Pleasure. In the more orna→ mented Parts of the Creation, He clothes his Mean→ ing with Elegance. All is rich and brilliant. We are delighted; we are charmed. And what is this, but the florid Style?

A Variety, fomewhat fimilar, runs through the Scriptures. Would You see History, in all her Simplicity, and all her Force; most beautifully easy, yet irresistibly striking? See Her, or rather feel her Energy, touching the niceft Movements of the Soul and triumphing over our Passions, in the inimitable Narrative of Jofeph's Life. The Representation of Efau's bitter Diftrefs *; the Conversation-pieces of Jonathan, and his gallant Friend+; the memorable Journal of the Disciples going to Emmaus ‡; are finished Models of the Impaffioned and Affecting Here is nothing ftudied; no Flights of Fancy; no Embellishments of Oratory. Yet, how inferior is the Episode of Nifus and Eurialus, though worked up by the most masterly Hand in the World, to the undiffembled artless Fervency of these scriptural Sketches || !

VOL. I.

*Gen. xxvii. 36, &c.

Luke xxiv. 13, &c.

Let a Perfon of true Taste, perufe, in a critical View, the two firft Chapters of St. Luke. He will there find a Series of the most surprifing Incidents, related with the greatest Simplicity, yet with the utmost Majefty-All which, extremely affecting in themselves, are heightened and illuminated, by a judicious Intermixture of the fublimeft Pieces of Poetry. For my own Part, I know not

how

Are We pleased with the Elevation and Dignity of an Heroic Poem; or the Tenderness and Perplexity of a Dramatic Performance? In the Book of Job, they are both united, and both unequal.-Conformably to the exactest Rules of Art, as the Action advances, the Incidents are more alarming, and the Images more magnificent. The Language glows, and the Pathos fwells. Till, at laft, the DEITY Himself makes his Entrance. He fpeaks from the Whirlwind, and fummons the Creation: fummons Heaven, and all its fhining Hoft; the Elements, and their most wonderful Productions; to vouch for the Wildom of his providential Difpenfations. His Word ftrikes Terror, and flashes Conviction : decides the momentous Controverfy, and clofes the auguft Drama, with all poffible Propriety, Solemnity, and Grandeur.

.

If We fometimes choose a plaintive Strain; fuch. as foftens the Mind, and induces an agreeable Mekancholy are any of the antient Tragedies fuperior, in the Eloquence of Mourning,. to David's pathetic Elegy on his beloved Jonathan *; to his most passionate and inconfolable Moan †, over the lovely but unhappy

how to characterize them more properly, than by Splomon's elegant Comparison.-They are as gold Rings fet with: the Beryl, or as bright Ivory over-laid with Sapphires. Cantic. v. 14.

2 Sam. i. 19, &c..

+ 2 Sam. xviii. 33. The King was vehemently affected (a) and went up to the Chamber, and wept: and as He went, He faid; my Son Abfalom! my Son, my Son Abfalom! Would GOD I had died for Thee! O Abjalom, my Son, my Son!-Such a Picture, and fo much Pathos. fo artless both, and both so exquifite; I must acknowledge,

3

unhappy Abfalom; or to that melodious Woe, which warbles and bleeds, in every Line of Jeremiah's Lamentations?

Would we be entertained with the daring Subli mity of Homer, or the correct Majesty of Virgil? With the expreffive Delicacy of Horace, or the rapid Excurfions of Pindar? Behold them joined, be hold them excelled, in the Odes of Mofes, and the euchariftic Hymn of Deborah; in the exalted Devotion of the Pfalms, and the glorious Enthusiasm of the Prophets.

Afp. Only with this Difference, that the former are tuneful Triflers *; and amuse the Fancy with

up

C 2

empty

ledge, I never met with, among all the Representations of Dignity in Diftrefs.-The King's Troops had gained a fignal Victory. His Crown and his Life were rescued from the most imminent Danger. Yet all the Honours and all the Joys of this fuccefsful Day, were swallowed and loft in the News of Abfalom's Death.-The News of Abfalom's Death ftruck, like a Dagger, the afflicted Father. He starts from his Seat. He haftens into Retirement, there to pour out his Soul in copious Lamentation. But his Anguifh is too impetuous, to bear a Moment's Restraint. He burfts immediately into a Flood of Tears; and cries, as He departs, O Abfalom, &c.

What fays Mezentius, when his Son is flain? When, to fharpen his Sorrow, the pale Corpfe, the miserable Spectacle, is before his Eyes, and within his Arms & The most pathetic Word He utters, is

Heu! nunc mifero mihi demum

Exilium infælix, nunc altè Vulnus ada&tum.

How languid is Virgil? How inexpreffive the Prince of Latin Poetry! compared with the royal Mourner in Ifrael! Moft evident, from this and many other Inftances, is the Superiority of the Scriptures, in copying Nature, and painting the Paffions.

* Ludit amabiliter.

empty Fiction: the latter are Teachers fent from GOD, and make the Soul wife unto Salvation.The Bible, is not only the brightest Ornament, but the most invaluable Depofitum. On a right, a practical Knowledge of these lively Oracles, depends the present Comfort, and the endless Felicity of Mankind. Whatever, therefore, in Study or Converfation, has no Connection with their divine Contents; may be reckoned among the Toys of Literature, or the Cyphers of Difcourse.

Ther. Here again the Book of Scripture, is fomewhat like the Magazine of Nature. What can We defire, for our Accommodation and Delight, which this Store-house of Conveniences does not afford? What can We wifh, for our Edification and Improvement, which that Fund of Knowledge does not fupply? Of these We may truly affirm, each, in its respective Kind, is profitable unto all Things.

Are We Admirers of Antiquity?-Here, We are led back, beyond the univerfal Deluge, and far beyond the Date of any other Annals. We are introduced among the earliest Inhabitants of the Earth. We take a View of Mankind, in their undisguised primitive Plainnefs; when the Days of their Life were but little fhort of a thousand Years.-We are brought acquainted with the Original of Nations; with the Creation of the World; and with the Birth of Time itself.

Are We delighted with vaft Achievements?Where is any Thing comparable to the Miracles in Egypt, and the Wonders in the Field of Zoan? To the Memoirs of the Ifraelites, paffing through the Depths of the Sea; fojourning amidst the inhofpitable Defarts; and conquering the Kingdom of Canaan?

6

naan? Where shall we meet with Inftances of martial Bravery, equal to the prodigious Exploits of the Judges; or the adventurous Deeds of Jeffe's valiant Son, and his matchless Band of Worthies *? Here, We behold the fundamental Laws of the Univerfe, fometimes fufpended, fometimes reversed: and not only the Current of Jordan, but the Course of Nature controuled. In fhort; when We enter the Field of Scripture, We tread-on enchanted, fhall I fay rather-on confecrated Ground. Where Aftonifhment and Awe are awakened, at every Turn. Where is all, more than all, the Marvelous of Romance +; connected with all the Precifion and Sanctity of Truth.

If We want Maxims of Wisdom, or have a Tafte for the Laconic Style; how copioufly may our Wants be supplied, and how delicately our Taste gratified! Efpecially in the Book of Proverbs, Ecclefiaftes, and fome of the minor Prophets.-Here, are the most fage Leffons of Inftruction; adapted to every Circumftance of Life; formed upon the Experience of all preceding Ages; and perfected by the unerring SPIRIT of Infpiration.-Thefe delivered, with fuch remarkable Concifenefs; that One might venture to fay, every Word is a Sentence ; at least, C3 every

* See 2 Sam. xxiii. 8, &c. 1 Chron. xi. 10, r.

↑ What Cicero faid of Thucidides, is more eminently true, concerning our royal Moralift, and his rich Collection of Ethics; concerning our evangelical Hiftorians, and their copious Variety of Facts. Eum adeo effe Rebus plenum refertumque, ut prope Verborum Numerum Numero Re Aum ægust.