Milk-Surveyed all with those Eyes, which, for forty tedious Years, had been confined to dry Sands, ragged Rocks, and the irksome Wastes of a defolate howling Wilderness. On the first maffy Hillock t, which offered its Couch, our Gentlemen feated themfelves. The. rifing Sun had visited the Spot, to dry up the Dews, and exhale the Damps, that might endanger Health; to open the Violets, and expand the Primrofes, that decked the Green. The whole Shade of the Wood was collected behind them; and a beautiful, extenfive, moft diverfified Landfcape fpread itfelf before them. Theron, according to his ufual Manner, made many improving Remarks on the Profpect, and its Furniture. He traced the Footsteps of an all-comprehending Contrivance, and pointed out the Strokes of inimitable Skill. He obferved the grand Exertions of Power, and the rich Exuberance of Goodnefs, moft fignally, moft charmingly confpicuous through the Whole.-Upon one Circumftance He enlarged, with a particular Satisfaction. Ther. See! Afpafio; how all is calculated, to adminifter the higheft Delight to Mankind.-Thofe Trees *This is the Language of the Book of Job, and the Prophecy of Joel. A Language, like the Scene it defcribes, not beautiful only, but beautiful and rich even to Luxuriancy, Job xx. 17. Joel iii. 18.-One would almoft fufpect, the Lyric Poet had read thefe Paffages, and attempted an Imitation of their Delicacies. Vinique Fontem, Lactis & uberes Lapfa cavis iterare Mella. Lib. II. Od. 19. + Horace would have called it, Cefpes fortuitus. Trees and Hedges, which fkirt the Extremities of the Landscape; ftealing away from their real Bulk, and leffening by gentle Diminutions; appear like elegant Pictures in Miniature. Thofe, which occupy the nearer Situations, are a Set of noble Images; fwelling upon the Eye, in full Proportion; and in a Variety of graceful Attitudes. Both of them ornamenting the several Apartments of our common Abode, with a Mixture of Delicacy and Grandeur. The Bloffoms, that array the Branches; the Flowers, that embroider the Mead; addrefs and entertain our Eyes with every Charm of Beauty *. Whereas, to other Creatures, they are deftitute of all thofe Attractives; which refult from a Combination of the lovelieft Colours, and most alluring Forms.-Yonder Streams, that glide, with smooth Serenity, * Therefore, when the Prophet defcribes the Chriftian Church, adorned with all the Beauties of Holiness, He borrows his Imagery from thefe amiable Objects. Ifrael fball bud and bloffom, Ifai. xxvii. 6.-Nay, the very Wildernefs, even the Gentile Nations, being converted unto CHRIST, fall bloffom as a Rofe, Ifai. xxxv. 1.— -I will be as the Dew unto Ifrael; He fall blossom as the Lily, and caft forth his Roots as Lebanon, Hof. xiv. 5. What an elegant Picture! And what a comfortable Promife! Here is the Queen of Flowers, and the Prince of Trees. Nothing fairer than the full-blown Lily: nothing firmer than the deep-rooted Cedars. Yet thefe are a Reprefentation (and but a faint Representation) of the Comeliness, which the All-gracious REDEEMER puts upon his People; and of the Stability, which they derive from his inviolable Faithfulness. N. B. The fourteenth of Hofea, is one of thofe Chapters, which, for their peculiar Importance and Excellency, deferve not only to have a Turn in our Reading, but a Place in our Memory. Serenity, along the Vallies; glittering to the diftant View, like Sheets of polished Silver; or foothing the attentive Ear, with the Softness of aquatic Murmurs; are no lefs exhilarating to the Fancy, than to the Soil, through which they pass.-The huge enormous Mountain; the steep and dizzy Precipice; the pendent Horrors of the craggy Promontory: wild and tremendous as they are, furnish out an agreeable Entertainment to the human Mind; and please, even while they terrify. Whereas, the Beafts take no other Notice of thofe majestic Deformities, than only to avoid the Dangers, they threaten. Afp. How do fuch Confiderations exalt our Idea of the CREATOR's Goodnefs; his very diftinguishing Goodness to Mankind! Should they not proportionably endear that eternal Benefactor; and render Him, both the fupreme Defire of our Souls, and the fupreme Delight of our Affections? . His ever-bountiful Hand has fcattered Bleffings, and with profufe Liberality, among all the Ranks of animated Existence. But his Beneficence to Us, is of the most engaging Kind; is of a very fuperior Order. We are treated as his peculiar Favourites; being admitted to the Knowledge of his Defigns, as well as to the Ufe of his Works. We are introduced to Scenes of Beauty, which none but Ourfelves are able to difcern. We are prefented with a Series of Gratifications, which none but Ourfelves are capable of relishing. Ther. Another Remark, though very obvious, is equally important. The Destination of all these external Things, is no lefs advantageous, than their Formation is beautiful.-The Bloom, which en gages gages the Eye with its delicate Hues, is cherishing the Embrio Fruit; and forming, within its filken Folds, the Rudiments of a future Deffert.-Thofe Streams, which fhine from afar, like fluid Crystal, are more valuable in their Productions, and beneficial in their Services, than they are amiable in their Appearance. They diftribute, as they roll along their winding Banks, Cleanliness to our Houfes, and Fruitfulness to our Lands. They nourish, and at their own Expence, a never-failing Supply of the finest Fish. They vifit our Cities, and attend our Wharfs, as fo many public Vehicles, ready to fet out at all Hours. Those Sheep, which give their Udders to be drained by the busy frisking Lambs, are fattening their Flesh for our Support; and while they fill their own Fleeces, are providing for our comfortable Clothing. -Yonder Kine, fome of which are browzing upon. the tender Herb; others, fatiated with Pafturage, ruminate under the fhady Covert; are, though conscious of no fuch Design, concocting for our Use, one of the softest, pureft, healthiest Liquors in the World. The Bees, that fly humming about our Seat, and pursue their Work on the fragrant Bloffoms, are collecting Balm and Sweetness, to compose the richest of Syrups. Which, though the Produce of their Toil, is intended for our Good. Nature, and her whole Family, are our obfequiors Servants, our ever-active Labourers. They bring the Fruits of their united Induftry, and pour them into our Lap, or depofit them in our Store-rooms. Afp. Who can fufficiently admire this most charming and immense Benignity?—The Supreme DISPOSER of Events, has commanded Delight and Profit Profit to walk Hand in Hand, through his ample Creation. Making all Things fo perfectly pleafing, as if Beauty was their only End; yet all Things fo eminently ferviceable, as if Usefulness had been their fole Defign.-As a farther Invitation to our Gratitude, He has rendered Man the Center, in which all the Emanations of his Beneficence, diffufed through this Terreftrial Syftem, conftantly terminate. But, my dear Theron, is not this apparent, in a much more wonderful Manner, throughout the whole Oeconomy of REDEMPTION?-It were a fmall Thing for this inferior Class of unintelligent Creatures, to be continually employing themfelves for our Benefit. Even the SON of the moft High GOD, through all his incarnate State, acted the very fame Part.He took Flefh, and bore the Infirmities of human Nature, not for Himfelf, but for Us Men, and our Salvation. He fuffered Want, and endured Mifery in all its Forms; that We might poffefs the Fulness of Joy, and abound in Pleafures for evermore. When He poured out his Soul in Agonies, under the Curfe of an avenging Law; was it not with a compaffionate View, to make Us Partakers of eternal Bleffedness? When He fulfilled, perfectly fulfilled the whole commanding Law; was it not for this gracious Purpose, that his Righteousness might be imputed to Us? Yes; For Us He liv'd, Toil'd for our Eafe, and for our Safety bled, Nothing in the whole Course. Ther. * Omnes Mundi Partes ita conftitutæ funt, ut neque ad Ufum meliores effe poterint, neque ad Speciem pulchriores. Cic. De Nat. Deor. Lib. II. |