offending Mortals. I mean the Sacrifice of the holy JESUS, when He offered up Himself to GOD, "for a fweet-fmelling Sa"your." For fuch the Holy Spirit ftiles that wonderful Oblation; as if no Image in the whole fenfible Creation was fo proper to give us an Idea of the ineffable Satisfaction, which the Father of Mercies conceived from that unparallel'd Atonement, as the pleafing Senfations, which fuch rich Perfumes are capable of raifing. "Thousands of Rams, and Ten thousands of Rivers of "Oil," from an apoftate World; the most submiflive Acknowlegements, added to the moft coftly Offerings, from Men of defiled Hands, and unclean Lips, What could they have effected A Prophet introduces the " High " and Lofty One, that inhabiteth Eternity," turning Himself away from fuch filthy Rags; turning Himself away, with a difdainful Abhorrence, as from the noisome Steams of a Dunghil. But in CHRIST'S immaculate Holiness, in CHRIST's confummate Obedience, in CHRIST's most precious Blood-fhedding, O! with what un-imaginable Complacency, does Juftice reft fatif fied, and Vengeance acquiefce! All thy Works, as Works, O Thou Surety for ruined Sinners! all thy Sufferings, O Thou flaughtered Lamb of GOD! as well as all thy Garments, O Thou Bridegroom of thy Church! *fmell of Myrrh, Aloes, and Caffia! They are infinitely more grateful to the Eternal Godhead, than the choiceft Exhalations of the Garden, than all the Odours of the fpicy Eaft, can be to our Noftrils. As the Altar of old fanctified the Gift, fo this is the great Propitiation, which recommends the obnoxious Perfons, and unprofitable Services, of the believing World. In this may my Soul be interefted! By this may it be reconciled to the Father! There is fuch a leprous Depravity cleaving to my Nature, as pollutes whatever I perform. My moft profound Adorations, and fincerest Acts of Religion, muft not prefume to challenge a Reward, but humbly implore Forgivenefs: Renouncing, therefore, Myself in every Inftance of Duty; dif claiming all Shadow of Confidence in any Deeds of my own; may I now and ever. more be accepted through the Beloved! * Pfalm xlv. 9. G 2 WHAT WHAT Colours, what charming Colours, are here! These so nobly bold, and Those fo delicately languid. What a Glow is enkindled in fome! What a Glofs fhines upon others! In one, methinks, I fee the Ruby, with her bleeding Radiance; in another, the Sapphire, with her Sky-tinctured Blue; in all, fuch an exquifite Richness of Dyes, as no other Set of Paintings in the Univerfe can boaft. With what a Masterly Skill is every one of the varying Tints difpofed! Here, they seem to be thrown on with an eafy Dafh of Security and Freedom, there, they are adjusted by the nicest Touches of Art and Accuracy. Thofe which form the Ground, are always fo judiciously chofen, as to heighten the Luftre of the fuperadded Figures; while the Verdure of the Impalement, or the Shadings of the Foliage, impart new Liveliness to the Whole. Indeed, whether they are blended or arranged, foftened or contrafted, they are manifeftly under the Conduct of a Tafte, that never mistakes; a Felicity, that never falls fhort of the very Perfection of Elegance. How inimitably fine is the Texture of the Web Web, on which these shining Treasures are difplayed! What are the Labours of the Perfian Looms, or the boafted Commodities of Bruffels, compared with these curious Manufactures of Nature? Compared with these, the most admired Chintfes would lose their Reputation; even fuperfine Cambricks appear coarfe as Canvas in their Prefence. WHAT a chearing Argument does our Saviour derive from hence, to ftrengthen our Affiance in GOD! He directs us to learn a Leffon of Heaven-depending Faith, from every Bird that wings the Air, and from every Flower that bloffoms in the Field. If Providence, with unremitted Care, fupports thofe inferior Creatures; and arrays these infenfible Beings, with fo much Splen dor; furely, He will in no wife with-hold from his elect Children, "Bread to cat, "and Raiment to put on."Oye faithful Followers of the Lamb, difmifs every low Anxiety, relating to the needful Sufte nance of Life. He that feeds the Ravens, from an inexhauftible Magazine; He that paints the Plants, with fuch furpaffing Elegance; in fhort, He that provides fo liberally, both 3 both for the animal and vegetable Parts of His Creation, will not, cannot, neglect His own People. "Fear not, little Flock; "it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you a Kingdom." And if He freely give you an everlasting Kingdom hereafter, He will certainly allow you all neceffary Conveniences here. ONE cannot forbear reflecting, in this Place, on the too prevailing Humour, of being fond and oftentatious of Drefs: What an abject and mistaken Ambition is this! How unworthy the Dignity of Immortal, and the Wisdom of Rational, Beings! Efpecially, fince thefe little Productions of the Earth have indifputably the Pre-eminence, in fuch outward Embellishments. Go; cloathe thyfelf with Purple, and fine Linen; trick thyfelf up in all the gay Attire, that the Shuttle or the Needle can furnish Yet, know, to the Mortification of thy Vanity, that the native Elegance of a common Daify ✶ eclipfes all this elaborate Finery. *Peaceful and lowly in their native Soil, PRIOR. |