able Forms, must be fhriveled to Deformity, and trodden to the Earth. Significant Refemblance this, of all created Beauty. All Flesh is Grass; like the green Herbage, liable and prone to fade. Nay, all the Goodlinefs thereof, its fineft Accomplishments and what the World univerfally admires, is as the Flower of the Field; which lofes its Gloss, decays and perishes, more fpeedily than the Grafs itself. Behold then, ye brightest among the Daughters of Eve; behold yourselves, in this Glafs. See the Charms of your Perfon eclipfed, by the Luftre of thefe little Flowers; and the Frailty of your State reprefented, + by their tranfient Glories.

Ifa. xl. 6.

* Και το ρόδον καλον εςι, και ο χρον©· αυτο μαραίνει Και το ιον καλόν εσιν εν ειαρι, και ταχύ γήρα Λευκον το κρινον εσι, μαραινεται ανικα πιπλη

Α δε χιων λευκα, και τακείαι άνικά ταχθῇ

Και κάλλος καλον εςι το παιδικον, αλλ' άλογον ζην

The Reader will excufe me, if I imitate, rather than tranflate, thefe Lines from Theocritus. If I vary one Image, add another, and give a new Turn to the whole.

When Snows defcend, and robe the Fields

In Winter's bright Array;

Touch'd by the Sun, the Luftre fades,

And weeps itself away.

Glories. A Fever may scorch those polished Veins; a Confumption may emaciate the dimpling 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 blast every sprightly Grace.

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

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

Fresh in the Morn, the Summer Rofe
Hangs withering ere 'tis Noon ;
We scarce enjoy the balmy Gift,
But mourn the Pleasure 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 finished 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.

THEN,

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 in, and imitate, the bleffed JESUS. Then fhall your Souls mount up to the Realms of Happiness; when the well proportioned Clay, is mingling with its 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 Holiness.-O! that you would thus dress your Minds, and prepare for the immortal State! Then, from fhining among your Fellow-creatures on Earth; you shall be translated, to fhine around the Throne of Go D. Then, from being the Sweeteners of our Life, and the Delight of our Eyes, here below; you fhall pafs, by an eafy Transition, into Angels of Light; and become " an everlasting Excellency, the Joy of all Generations."

YES; Ye flowery Nations, Ye must all decay.Yonder Lily, that looks like the Queen of the R 4

gay

gay Creation-See, how gracefully it erects its majestic Head! What an Air of Dignity and Grandeur ennobles its Afpect! For elevated Mien, as well as for incomparable Luftre, juftly may it be preferred to the magnificent Monarch of the Eaft*. But, all stately and charming as it is, it will hardly furvive, a few more Days. That unfpotted Whiteness, muft quickly be tarnished; and the fnowy Form, defiled in the Duft.

As the Lily pleases, with the noble Simplicity of its Appearance; the Tulip is admired, for the Gaiety and Multiplicity of its Colours. Never was Cup, either painted, or enamelled, with fuch a Profufion of Dyes. Its Tinges are fo glowing; its Contrafts fo ftrong; and the Arrangement of them both, fo elegant and artful!-'Twas lately the Pride of the Border, and the reigning Beauty of the delightful Season. As exquifitely fine as the Rainbow, and almoft as extremely tranfient. It fpread, for a little Moment, its glittering Plumage; but has, now, laid all its variegated and fuperior Honours down. Those radiant Stripes are blended, alass! rudely blended with common Mold.

To a graceful Shape, and blooming Complexion, the Rofe adds the most agreeable Perfume.

*Matt. vi. 29.

fume. Our Noftrils make it repeated Vifits, and are never weary of drinking in its Sweets. A Fragrance, so peculiarly rich and reviving, tranfpires from its opening Tufts; that every one covets its Acquaintance. How have I feen even the accomplished Chariffa, for whom fo many Votaries languish, fondly careffing this little Flower! That lovely Bofom, which is the Seat of Innocence and Virtue; whofe leaft Excellency it is, to rival the Delicacy of the pureft Snows; among a thousand Charms of its own, thinks it poffible to adopt another from the Damafk Rofe-bud. Yet, even this univerfal Favourite muft fail. Its native Balm cannot preferve it from Putrefaction. Soon, foon, muft it refign all thofe endearing Qualities; and hang neglected on its Stem, or drop defpifed to the Ground.

ONE could with, methinks, thefe moft amiable of the inanimate Race, a longer Existence: But in vain. They fade, almoft as foon as they flourish. Within lefs than a Month, their Glories are extinct. Let the Sun take a few more Journeys through the Sky; then vifit this inchanting Walk; and you will find nothing, but a wretched Wildernefs of ragged or naked Stalks. But (My Soul exults in the Thought) the Garment of celestial Glory, which fhall ere

long