ply their Work on every expanded Blossom. The Bees, I mean; that Nation of Chymists! to whom Nature has communicated the rare and valuable Secret of enriching themselves, without impoverishing others; who extract the most 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 Pattern. 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 her infidious Nets for Destruction, or fucking Venom even from the most wholsome Plants; this frugal Community are wifely employed in providing for Futurity, and collecting a copious Stock of the moft balmy Treasures. And O! might thefe Meditations fink into my Soul! would the GOD, who fuggested cach heavenly Thought, vouchsafe to convert it into an established Principle, to determine all my Inclinations, and regulate Ego apis matine Grata carpentis thyma. HOR. my my whole Conduct: I should then gather Advantages from the fame blooming Objects, more precious than your golden Stores, ye induftrious Artifts: I alfo fhould go home. laden with the richest Sweets, and nobleft Spoils, though I crop not a Leaf, nor call a fingle Flower my own. HERE I behold affembled, in one View, almost all the various Beauties, that have been severally entertaining my Imagination. The Viftas, ftruck through an antient Wood, or formed by Rows of venerable Elms; conducting the Spectator's Obfervation to some amiable Object; or leading the Traveller's Footsteps to this delightful Seat : The Walls, enriched with Fruit-Trees, and faced with a Covering of their leafy Extensions; I fhould rather have faid, hung with different Pieces of Nature's nobleft Tapestry: The Walks, neatly fhorn, and lined with Verdure; or finely fmoothed, and coated with Gravel: The Alleys, arched with Shades, to embower our Noon-tide Repose; or thrown open for the free Acceffion of Air, to invite us to our Evening Recreation :- The decent Edgings of Box, that inclose, like a plain Selvage, each beautiful Compartment, and its fplendid Figures: The shapely Evergreens, and flowering Shrubs, that ftrike the Eye, and appear with peculiar Dignity, in this distant Situation: The Bafon, with its cryftal Fount, floating in the Centre,and diffufing an agreeable Freshness through the Whole: The Waters, falling from a remote Cascade, and gently murmuring as they flow along the Pebbles: Thefe, added to the reft; and all fo difpofed, that each recommends and endears each; render the Whole, a most fweet ravishing Scene, of Order and Variety, of Elegance and Magnificence. FROM fo many lovely Profpects, clustering upon one's Sight, it is impoffible not to be reminded of Heaven; that World of Blifs, thofe Regions of Light, where the Lamb that was flain, manifefts his beatifick Prefence, and his Saints live for evermore. But O! what Penfil can sketch out a Draught of that goodly Land? What Language express the incomparable Splendors of IMMANUEL'S Kingdom? Would fome celeftial Hand draw afide the Veil but for one Moment, and permit us to throw a fingle fingle Glance on thofe Divine Abodes; how would all fublunary Poffeffions become tarnifhed in our Eyes, and grow flat upon our Taste! One tranfient Glimpse of those unutterable Beatitudes would captivate our Souls, and engross all their Faculties. Eden itself, after fuch a Vision, would appear a chearless Defart, and all earthly Charms intolerable Deformity. *Very excellent Things are spoken of Thee, Thou City of GOD. Volumes have been writ, and those by infpired Men, to difplay the Wonders of thy Perfections. All that is rich and refplendent in the visible Creation, has been called in to aid our Conceptions, and elevate our Ideas. But indeed, no Tongue can utter, no Pen can describe, no Fancy can imagine, what God, of his unbounded Munificence, has prepared for them that love Him. — Seeing then, that all terreftrial Things must come to a speedy End, and there remaineth fuch a Reft, fuch a blissful and everlasting Reft, for the People of GOD; let me never be too fondly attach'd to any prefent Satisfactions. Weaned from whatever is temporal, * Pfalm lxxxvii. 2. may may I maintain a fuperior Indifference for fuch tranfitory Enjoyments; but long, long carnestly for the Mansions that are above; the Paradise," which the LORD hath planted, "and not Man." Thither may I tranfmit. the Chief of my Converfation, and from thence expect the Whole of my Happiness. Be that the facred, powerful Magnet, which ever influences my Heart, ever attracts my Affections. There are fuch tranfcendent Glories, as Eye has not feen: There, are fuch transporting Pleasures, as Ear has not heard: There, is such a Fulness of Joys, as the Thought of Man cannot conceive. INTO that confummate Felicity, those eternal Fruitions, permit me, Madam, to with You, in due Time, an abundant Entrance; and to affure You, that this Wish is breathed, with the fame Sincerity and Ardour, for my honoured Correspondent, as it is, MADAM, for Your moft Obedient, &c, J. H. |