his Will, they subsist stedfast and invariable in their Orders; and wait only for his fovereign Nod, to "fall away like Water, that "runneth apace."

4. CHRIST actuates them, which would otherwise be lifelefs and infignificant.-Penfioners they are, conftant Penfioners, on his Bounty; and borrow their All from his Fulnefs. He only has Life; and whatever operates, operates by an Emanation from his All-fufficiency. Does the Grape refresh you, with its enlivening Juices? It is by a Warrant received, and Virtue derived, from the Redeemer. Does Bread ftrengthen your Heart, and prove the Staff of your Life? Remember, that it is by the Saviour's Appointment, and through the Efficacy of his Operation. You are charmed with his Melody, when the "Time of the Singing of Birds is come, and the Voice of "the Nightingale is heard in your Land." You tafte his Goodness in the luscious Fig, the melting Peach, and the mufky Flavour of the Apricot.

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* John v. 17. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work ; or, exert that unremitting and unwearied Energy, which is the Life of the Creation.--Thus the Words are paraphrafed by a mafterly Expofitor, who has illuftrated the Life of our bleffed LORD, in the most elegant Taste of Criticism; with the moft amiable Spirit of Devotion; and without any Mixture of the malignant Leaven, or low Singularities, of a Party. See the Family Expofitor, Vol. I. Sect. 47.

Apricot. You smell his Sweetnefs in the opening Honey-fuckle, and every odoriferous Shrub.

COULD thefe Creatures fpeak for themfelves, they would, doubtlefs, difclaim all Sufficiency of their own, and afcribe the whole Honour to their Maker. "We are Servants," would they fay, "of HIM, who died for you. Cifterns

46

"only, dry Cisterns in ourselves, we tranfmit to Mortals no more, than the uncreated Fountain transfufes into us. Think not, "that, from any Ability of our own, we fur"nifh you with Affiftance, or adminifter to your Comfort. 'Tis the Divine Energy, the

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Divine Energy alone, that works in us, and "does you Good.-We ferve you, O ye "Sons of Men, that you may love Him, who placed us in thefe Stations. O! love the

44

LORD, therefore, all ye who are fupported by "our Ministry; or elfe we fhall* groan, with Indignation and Regret, at your Abuse of "our Services.-Ufe us, and welcome; for

we are yours, if ye are CHRIST'S. Crop our "choiceft Beauties; rifle all our Treasures; "accommodate yourselves with our most va"luable Qualities; only let us be Incentives "to your Gratitude, and Motives to your Obedience."

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HAVING furveyed the fpacious Sky; and fent a Glance round the inferior Creation; 'tis

*Rom. viii. 22.

Time

Time to defcend from this Eminence, and confine my Attention to the beautiful Spot belowHere Nature, always pleafing, every-where lovely, appears with peculiar Attractions. Yonder, fhe feems dreffed in her Difhabille; grand, but irregular. Here, fhe calls in her Hand-maid Art; and fhines in all the delicate Ornaments, which the niceft Cultivation is able to convey. Thofe, are her common Apartments, where fhe lodges her ordinary Guests; This, is her Cabinet of Curiofities, where fhe entertains her intimate Acquaintance.-My Eye fhall often expatiate, over thofe Scenes of univerfal Fertility: My Feet shall fometimes brush through the Thicket, or traverse the Lawn, or ftroll along the Foreft Glade: But to this delightful Retreat, fhall be my chief Refort. Thither, will I make Excurfions; but Here, will I dwell.

IF, from my low Procedure, I may form an Allufion to the moftexalted Practices; I would obferve, upon this Occafion; that the celebrated Erafmus, and our judicious Locke, having trod the Circle of the Sciences, and ranged thro' the whole Extent of human Literature, at length betook themfelves folely to the Bible. Leaving the Sages of Antiquity, they fat inceffantly at the Feet of JESUS. Wifely they withdrew, from that immenfe Multiplicity of Learning; from thofe endless Tracts of amufing Erudition; where, noxious Weeds are

mixed with wholesome Herbs; where is generally a much larger Growth of prickly Shrubs, than of fruitful Boughs. They spent their moft mature Hours, in thofe hallowed Gardens, which God's own' Wifdom planted; which Gon's own Spirit watereth; and in which God's own Son is continually walking. Where, He meeteth thofe that feek Him; and revealeth to them the Glories of his Perfon, and the Riches of his Goodness.

THUS Would I finish the Remainder of my Days! Having just tasted (what they call) the politer Studies; I would now devote my whole Application to the lively Oracles. From other Purfuits, I might glean, perhaps, a few scattered Fragments of low, of lean, of unfatisfactory Inftruction. From this, I trust to reap a Harveft of the fublimeft Truths; the nobleft Improveinents; and the pureft Joys*.-Waft me then, O! waft my Mind to Sion's confecrated Bowers. Let my Thoughts perpetually rove, through the awfully-pleafing Walks of Inspiration. Here, grow thofe Heaven-born Plants, the Trees of Life and Knowledge; whofe ambrofial Fruits we may now "take, and eat, and live "for ever." Here, flow thofe precious Streams of Grace and Righteousness; whofe living Waters whofoever drinks, fhall thirft no more" And

* Quicquid docetur, Veritas ; quicquid, præcipitur Bonilas; promittitur, Felicitas.

And, what can the Fables of Grecian Song, or the finest Pages, of Roman Eloquence what can they exhibit, in any Degree comparable to these matchlefs Prerogatives of Revelation! Therefore, though I fhould not dislike to pay a Vifit now-and-then to my Heathen Masters, I would live with the Prophets and Apoftles. With those, I would carry on fome occafional Correfpondence: but these should

be

my Bofom-Friends; my infeparable Companions; "my Delight, and my Counsellors."

WHAT Sweets are these, which so agreeably falute my Noftrils? They are the Breath of the Flowers; the Incenfe of the Garden.How liberally does the Jeffamine dispense her odoriferous Riches? How deliciously has the Woodbine embalmed this Morning Walk? The Air is all Perfume.-And is not this, another moft engaging Argument, to forsake the Bed of Sloth? Who would lie diffolved in fenseless Slumbers; while so many breathing Sweets, invite him to a Feaft of Fragrancy? Efpecially confidering. That the advancing Day will exhale the volatile Dainties. A fugitive Treat they are, prepared only for the Wakeful and Industrious. Whereas, when the Sluggard lifts his heavy Eyes, the Flowers will droop; their fine Scents be diffipated; and, instead of this refreshing Humidity, the Air will become a kind of liquid Fire.