Globe only, but this whole Syftem, be fo very diminutive; what is a Kingdom, or a County? What are a few Lordships, or the fo much admired Patrimonies of thofe, who are filed Wealthy? When I measure them with my own little Pittance, they fwell into proud and bloated Dimenfions. But, when I take the Universe for my Standard, how fcanty is their Size, how contemptible their Figure? They fhrink into pompous Nothings. WHEN the keen-eyed Eagle foars above all the feathered Race, and leaves their very Sight below: when she wings her Way, with direct Afcent, up the Steep of Heaven! and, fteadily gazing on the meridian Sun, accounts its beaming Splendors all her own: Does fhe then regard, with any Solicitude, the Mote that is flying in the Air, or the Duft which fhe fhook from her Feet? And fhall this eternal Mind, which is capable of contemplating its Creator's Glory; which is intended to enjoy the Vifions of his Countenance; fhall this eternal Mind, endued with fuch great Capacities, and made for fuch exalted Ends, be fo ignobly ambitious, as to figh for the Tinfels of State; or fo poorly covetous, as to grasp after ample Territories on a Needle's Point?No: under the * Influence Juvat inter fidera vagantem divitum pavimenta ridere, et totam cum auro fuo terram. + Terrella gran lia inania. SEN. Influence of fuch Confiderations I feel my Sentiments expand, and my wifhes acquire a Turn of Sublimity. My throbbing Defires after worldly Grandeur, die away; and I find myself, if not poffeffed of Power, yet fuperior to its Charms.--Too long, must I own, have my Affections been pinioned by Vanity, and immured in this earthly Clod. But thefe Thoughts break the Shackles. Thefe Objects open the Door of Liberty. My Soul, fired by fuch noble Profpects, weighs Anchor from this little Nook; and coafts no longer about its contracted Shores; dotes no longer on its painted Shells. The Immenfity of Things, is her Range; and an Infinity of Blifs, is her Aim. BEHOLD this immenfe Expanfe, and admire the Condefcenfion ofthy GoD.-In this Manner, an inspired and princely Aftronomer, improved his Survey of the nocturnal Heavens. When I confider thy Heavens, even the Works of thy Fingers, the Moon and the Stars which Thou haft ordained; I am finitten with Wonder at thy Glory, and cry out in a Transport of Gratitude, LORD, what is Man, That thou art mindful M 3 *The Soul of Man was made to walk the Skies, There, difincumber'd from her Chains, the Ties . Night-Thoughts, No. IX mindful of him? or the Son of Man, that Thou vifiteft him? "How amazing, how charming, is that Divine Benignity, which is pleafed to "bow down its facred Regards, to fo foolifh "and worthlefs a Creature! Yea, difdains not, "from the Height of infinite Exaltation, to ex"tend its kind providential Care, to our moft "minute Concerns!-This is amazing. But that the Everlafting Sovereign fhould give "his Son, to be made Flesh, and become our "Saviour! Shall I call it a Miracle of condefcending Goodnefs? Rather, What are all "Miracles, what are all Myfteries, to this in"effable Gift!" HAD the brightest Archangel been commiffioned to come down, with the Olive-Branch of Peace in his Hand, fignifying his Eternal Maker's Readinefs to be reconciled; on our bended Knees, with Tears of Joy, and a Torrent of Thankfulness, we ought to have received the transporting News. But when, instead of fuch an angelic Envoy, He fends His onlybegotten Son; his Son beyond all Thought illuftrious, to make us the gracious Overture: --fends him from the "Habitation of his Ho"linefs and Glory," to put on the Infirmities of Mortality, and dwell in a Tabernacle of Clay-fends Him, not barely to make us a tranfient Vifit, but to abide many Years in our inferior * Pfal. viii. 3.4. inferior and miferable World:-fends Him, not to exercise Dominion over Monarchs, but to wear out his Life in the ignoble Form of a Servant; and, at laft, to make his Exit under the infamous Character of a Malefactor! Was ever Love like this? Did ever Grace floop fo low*? Should the Sun be fhorn of all his radiant *This reminds me of a very noble Piece of facred Oratory, where, in a fine Series of the most beautiful Gradations, the apoftle difplays the admirably condefcending Kindness of our Saviour.-He thought it no Robbery, it was His indifputable Right, to be equal with the infinite, felf-exiftent, immortal GOD. Yet, in Mercy to Sinners, He emptied Himfelf of the incommunicable Honours, and laid afide the Robes of incomprehenfible Glory. When He entered upon His mediatorial State, instead of acting in the grand Capacity of univerfal Sovereign, He took upon him the Form of a Servant. And not the Form of thofe miniftering Spirits, whofe Duty is Dignity itself, who are throned, though adoring.-He took not on him the Nature of Angels, but ftooped incomparably lower. Affumed a Body of animated Duft, and was made in the Likeness of Men; thofe inferior and depraved Creatures.-Aftonishing Condefcenfion! but not fufficient for the overflowing Richness of the Redeemer's Love. For, being found in Fashion as a Man, He humbled Himself farther ftill. Occupied the lowest Place, where all was low and ignoble. He not only fubmitted to the Yoke of the Law, but also bore the Infirmities, and miniftered to the Neceffities of Mortals. He even wafhed the Feet of others, and had not where to lay his own Head.-Yea, he carried His meritorious Humiliation, to the very deepest Degrees of poffible Abafement. He became obedient unto Death-And not to a common or - natural radiant Honours, and degraded into a Clod of the Valleys; should all the Dignitaries of Heaven be depofed from their Thrones, and degenerate into Infects of a Day; great, great would be the Abafement. But nothing to Thine, moft bleffed JESUS; nothing to Thine, Thou Prince of Peace; when, for us Men, and for our Salvation, Thou didft not abhor the coarse Accommodations of the Manger; Thou didft not decline even the gloomy Horrors of the Grave. 'Tis well, the facred Oracles have given this Doctrine, the most explicit Confirmation, and Evidence quite incontestable. Otherwise, a Favour fo undeferved, so unexpe&ed, and rich beyond all Imagination, might stagger our Belief. Could HE, who launches all thefe planetary Globes, through the illimitable Void; and leads them on, from Age to Age, in their extensive Career; could He refign his Hands, to be confined by the girding Cord; and his Back to be plowed, by the bloody Scourge ? Could HE, who crowns all the Stars with inextinguishable Brightness; be Himself defiled with Spitting, and disfigured with the thorny Scar? It is the greatest of Wonders, and yet the fureft of Truths. O! natural Death, but a Death more infamous than the Gibbet; more torterous than the Rack ;-even the accurfed Death of the Grofs. Phil. ii. 6, 7, 8. |