Strokes of the Pencil. They are taught to bloom, but with a very inferior Luftre *, in the richeft Tapestries, and moft magnificent Silks. Art never attempts to equal their incom-. parable Elegancies; but places all her Merit, in copying after thefe delicate Originals. Even thofe, who glitter in Silver, or whofe Cloathing is of wrought Gold; are defirous to borrow additional Ornaments, from a Sprig of Jeffamine, or a little Affemblage of Pinks.

WHAT a fine Idea may we form, from hence, of the Refurrection of the Juft, and the State of their reanimated Bodies! As the Roots even of our choiceft Flowers, when depofited in the Ground, are rude and ungraceful; but, when they fpring up into blooming Life, are most elegant and fplendid: fo, the Flesh of a Saint, when committed to the Duft, alafs! what is it? A Heap of Corruption; a Mass of putrifying Clay. But, when it obeys the great Archangel's Call, and starts into a new Existence; what an aftonishing Change enfues! What a moft ennobling Improvement takes Place! That which was fown in Weakness, is raised in all the Vivacity of Power. That which was fown in Deformity, is raised in the Bloom of celestial Beauty. *The Cowflip fmiles in brighter Yellow dreft, Than that which veils the nubil Virgin's Breaft: A fairer Red ftands blushing in the Rose, Than that which on the Bridegroom's Vefiments flows. PRIOR'S Sol.

Beauty. Exalted, refined, and glorified, it will fhineas the Brightness of the Firmament,' when it darts the inimitable Blue, through the Fleeces- the fnowy Fleeces of fome cleaving Cloud.

FEAR not, then, thou faithful Chriftian; fear not, at the appointed Time, to defcend into the Tomb. Thy Soul thou mayest trust with thy omnipotent Redeemer, who is LORD of the unfeen World; "Who has the Keys of Hell, "and of Death." Moft fafely mayft thou truft thy better Part, in thofe beneficent Hands, which were pierced with Nails, and fastened to the ignominious Tree, for thy Salvation.—With regard to thy earthly Tabernacle, be not difmayed. It is taken down, only to be rebuilt upon a diviner Plan, and in a more heavenly Form. If it retires into the Shadow of Death, and lies immured in the Gloom of the Grave; it is only to return, from a fhort Confinement, to endless Liberty. If it falls into Dissolution, it is in order to rife more illuftrious from its Ruins; and wear an infinitely brighter Face of Perfection, and of Glory*.

HAVING, now, made my Panegyric; let me, next, take up a Lamentation, for thefe lovelieft Pro

* The Wife, the Juft, the Pious, and the Brave, Live in their Deaths, and flourish in the Grave: Grain hid in Earth, repays the Peasant's Care; 'And Ev'ning Suns but fet to rife more fair.

Productions of the vegetable World.—For, I foresee their approaching Doom. Yet a little while, and all these pleafing Scenes vanish. Yet a little while, and all the Sweets of the breathing, all the Beauties of the blooming Spring, are no more. Every one of these amiable Forms, must be fhriveled to Deformity, and trodden to the Earth.-Significant Refemblance this, of all created Beauty. All Flesh is Grafs; like the green Herbage, liable and prone to fade. Nay, all the Goodlinefs thereof, its finest Accomplishments and what the World univerfally admires, is as the Flower of the Field* ; which lofes its Glofs, decays and perishes, more speedily than the Grafs itself.-Behold then, ye brightest among the Daughters of Eve; behold yourselves, in this Glass. See the Charms of your Perfon eclipfed, by the Luftre of thofe little Flowers; and the Frailty of your State represented, † by their tranfient Glories. A Fever may scorch those polished Veins; a Confumption may emaciate the dimpling Cheeks;

* Ifa. xl. 6.

+ I beg Leave to fubjoin the following Imitation of a beautiful Paffage in the Twenty-Fourth Idyllium of THEOCRITUS:

When Snows defcend, and robe the Fields

In Winter's bright Array;

Touch'd by the Sun, the Luftre fades,

And weeps itfelf away.

When

Cheeks; and a Load of unexpected Sorrows, deprefs thofe lively Spirits. Or fhould these Disasters, in Pity, fpare the tender Frame; yet Age, inexorable Age and Wrinkles, will affuredly come at laft; will wither all the fine Features, and blaft every fprightly Grace.

THEN, ye Fair, when thofe fparkling Eyes are darkened, and fink in their Orbs; when they are rolling in Agonies, or fwimming in Death; How will you fuftain the Affliction? How will you repair the Lofs?-Apply your Thoughts to Religion. Attend to the One Thing needful. Believe

When Spring appears, when Violets blow,
And fhed a rich Perfume;

How foon the Fragrance breathes its laft!
How fhort-liv'd is the Bloom!

Fresh in the Morn, the Summer Rose
Hangs withering ere 'tis Noon;
We scarce enjoy the balmy Gift,
But mourn the Pleafure gone.

With gliding Fire, an Evening Star
Streaks the Autumnal Skies ;
Shook from the Sphere, it darts away,

And, in an Inftant, dies.

Such are the Charms, that flush the Cheek,
And sparkle in the Eye:

So, from the lovely finish'd Form

The tranfient Graces fly.

To this the Seafons, as they roll,

Their Atteftation bring:

They warn the Fair; their ev'ry Round
Confirms the Truth I fing.

Believe in, and imitate, the bleffed JESUS. Then shall your Souls mount up to the Realms of Happiness; when the well proportioned Clay, is mingling with its mean Original. The Light of GoD's Countenance will irradiate with matchlefs and confummate Perfection, all their exalted Faculties. Cleanfed intirely from every Dreg of Corruption, like fome unfullied Mirror, they will reflect the complete Image of their Creator's Holinefs.-O! that you would thus drefs your Minds, and prepare for the immortal State! Then, from fhining among your Fellow-creatures on Earth; you fhall be tranflated, to fhine around the Throne of God. Then, from being the Sweetners of our Life, and the Delight of our Eyes, here below; you fhall pafs, by an eafy Tranfition, into Ángels of Light; and become "an everlafting Excellency, the Joy of all Generations."

YES; Yeflowery Nations, Ye must all decay. -Yonder Lily, that looks like the Queen of the gay Creation-See, how gracefully it erects its majestic Head! What an Air of Dignity and Grandeur ennobles its Afpect! For elevated Mein, as well as for incomparable Lustre, juftly may it be preferred to the magnificent Monarch of the Eaft*. But, all ftately and charming as it is, it will hardly furvive, a few more Days. That unfpotted Whiteness, must quickly

* Matt. vi. 29.