All that our Circumftances can want, or our Wishes crave, to make us inconceivably bleffed and happy. Bleffed and happy, not only through this little Interval of Time, but through the unmeasurable Revolutions of Eternity.

THE Sun is, now, come forth in his Strength; and beats fiercely, upon my throbbing Pulfe.Let me retire to yonder inviting Arbour. There, the Woodbines retain the lucid Drop; there, the Jeffamines, which line the verdant Alcove, are ftill impearled, and delicioufly wet with Dews. -Welcome, ye refreshing Shades! I feel, I feel, your chearing Influence. My languid Spirits revive; the flackned Sinews are new ftrung; and Life bounds brifker, through all her crimson Channels.

RECLINED on this moffy Couch; and furrounded by this fragrant Coldnefs; let me renew my Aspirations, to the ever-prefent Deity. Here let me remember, and imitate, the pious Auguftine, and his Mother Monica. Who, being engaged in Difcourfe on the Beauties of the vifible Creation; rose, by these Ladders, to the Glories of the invifible State. Till they were infpired with the most affecting Senfe, of their fupereminent Excellency; and actuated with the most ardent Breathings, after their full Enjoyment. Infomuch, that they were almoft rapt up into the Blifs, they contempla

ted;

ted; and scarce "knew, whether they were "in the Body, or out of the Body."

WHEN Tempeststofs the Ocean: when plaintive Signals of Diftrefs, are heard from the bellowing Deep; and melancholy Tokens of Ship-wreck, come floating on the foaming Surge; then, how delightful to stand safe on Shore, and hug one's felf in confcious Security*! -When a Glut of Waters, burfts from fome mighty Torrent; rushes headlong over all the neighbouring Plains; fweeps away the helpless Cattle; and drives the affrighted Shepherd from his Hut: then, from the Top of a diftant Eminence, to defcry the Danger, we need not fear; how pleafing!-Such, methinks, is my prefent Situation. For, now, the Sun blazes from on high: The Air glows with his Fire: The Fields are rent with Chinks: The Roads are fcorched to Duft: The Woods feem to contract a fickly Afpect, and a ruffet Hue: The Traveller, broiled as he rides, haftens to his Inn, and intermits his Journey: The LaU 3 bourer,

* As Lucretius gives the Hint for these Obfervations; fo he affigns the Reafon of the Pleasure specified. It arifes, not from the Confideration of Another's Mifery; this would harbour the rankeft Malevolence: but from the agreeable Contemplation of our own perfonal Safety. Which, while We view Circumftances, that are pernicious to Others, but harmless to ourselves, is not a little heightened by the Contraft. Suavi Mari magno, &c.

bourer, bathed in Sweat, drops the Scythe, and defifts from his Work: The Cattle flee to fome fhady Covert, or elfe pant and tofs under the burning Noon. Even the ftubborn Rock, fmit with the piercing Beams, is ready to cleave. All Things languifh, beneath the dazling Deluge-While I fhall enjoy a cool Hour, and calm Reflection; amidst the Gloom of this bowery Recefs, which scarce admits one Speck of Sunshine.

*

THUS, may both the Flock, and their Shepherd, dwell beneath the Defence of the Moft High, and abide under the Shadow of the Almighty. Then, though the Peflilence, walketh in Darknefs, and the Sickness deftroyeth at Noon-day; though Thousands fall befide us, and ten Thousands at our Right-hand; we need fear no Evil. Either, the destroying Angel fhall pafs over our Houfes; or elfe, He fhall difpenfe the Corrections of a Friend, not the Scourges of an Enemy; which, inftead of hurting us, fhall work for our Good.—Then, though Profaneness and Infidelity, far more malignant Evils, breathe deadly Contagion, and taint the Morals of Multitudes around us; yet, if the great Father of Spirits" hide us in the Hollow

Pfalm xci. I.

+ This was written, when a very infectious and mortal Diftemper, raged in the Neighbourhood.

"Hollow of his Hand," we fhall hold faft our Integrity, and be faithful unto Death.

LET then, dearest LORD, O! let thy Servant, and the People committed to his Care, be received into thy Protection. Let us take Sanctuary under that Tree of Life, erected in thy ignominious Crofs. Let us fly for Safety to that City of Refuge, opened in thy bleeding Wounds. Thefe fhall be a facred Hidingplace, not to be pierced by the Flames of Divine Wrath, or the fiery Darts of Temptation. Thy dying Merits, and perfect Obedience, shall be to our Souls, as Rivers of Water in a dry Place, or as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land*.

BUT most of all, in that laft tremendous Day, when the Heavens are rent afunder, and wrapped up like a Scroll: when thy Almighty Arm shall arreft the Sun in his Career, and dafh to Pieces the Structure of the Universe : when the Dead, both Small and Great, fhall be gathered before the Throne of thy Glory; and the Fates of all Mankind, hang on the very Point of a final irreversible Decifion:Then, bleffed JESUS, let us be owned by Thee, and we shall not be ashamed; defended by Thee, and we fhall not be afraid. O! may we, at that awful, that unutterably important Juncture, be covered with the Wings of thy Re

* Ifa. xxxii. 2.

Redeeming Love; and we fhall behold all the horrible Convulfions of expiring Nature, with Compofure, with Comfort! We fhall even welcome the Diffolution ofall Things, as the Times of Refreshing from the Prefence of the LORD.*

THERE are, I perceive, who ftill attend the Flowers; and, in Defiance of the Sun, ply their work on every expanded Bloffom. The Bees I mean. That Nation of Chymifts! To whom Nature has communicated the rare and valuable Secret, of enriching themselves, without impoverishing others. Who extract the moft delicious Syrup, from every fragrant Herb; without wounding its Substance, or diminishing its Odours.-I take the more Notice of these ingenious Operators; because, I would willingly make them my Patternt. While the gay Butterfly, flutters her painted Wings; and fips a little fantastic Delight, only for the present Moment. While the gloomy Spider, worse than idly bufied, is preparing his infidious Nets for Destruction; or fucking Venom, even from the moft wholefome Plants. This frugal Community, are wifely employed in providing for Futurity; and collecting a copious Stock of the most balmy Treasures. And