objects, as to form a judgment of the direction of his road, might soon be led into a very dangerous mistake.

Ah! perplexing world of ignorance and delusion. Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, often seems to be hid behind a cloud:-bis beautiful, charming face has been to mine eye veiled and obscured by mists of unbelief and temptation. Alas! what unlovely ideas have I formed of him, at times— of him, who is the brightness of his Father's Glory.

I should often mistake my way fatally, did he not by his Spirit wonderfully guide me. So many opinions are broached respecting Truth of doctrine and practice, that enveloped as in a Fog I cry,-"Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes-uphold thou my goings in thy paths." Sin and temptation have so weakened my power to distinguish objects aright, that I cannot presently determine upon the characters of persons or of the nature of things which I meet with and see in my way. Such an one I thought a disciple -but soon he betrays himself, and appears a formalist -[Lord is it I?]-Such an object, I thought, was truly eligible and desirable, mistaking it through the Fog. Approaching it I find it empty as chaff, or pernicious as poison. The view which God's word affords of temporal events and eternal scenes the conduct of his providence and the methods and consolations of his grace are delightful, but in proportion as these Fogs prevail, they are hid from my view, while my body is a veil which, at the brightest seasons, obscures or bounds my prospects of a dreadful or delightful eternity. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We shall be fully satisfied only when we awake in his presence and likeness. It is, notwithstanding, matter of consolation and praise, that although the Fog obscures the Sun, and bounds my view, it does not deprive me of the day-light: and that however in some cases it might perplex my path,-in common cases my eye and reason, which God has given to me, are a safe guide, and sooner or later discover the reality of objects most interesting to a traveller. Unutterable mercy that in these cloudy, foggy regions, the Lord gives us the day-light of his word, and guides his people with his eye, which penetrates the thickest mists. His Holy Spirit dwells in the heirs of glory, sanctifies their reason and affections gradually, and orders their footsteps in his way. "Yes," says the traveller to Zion, "The Lord hath in a gracious manner, I trust, enlightened my understanding, renovated my heart, and given me that faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. I shall not be permitted fatally to err; he will keep me in the safe, straight path of duty. Many turnings and seductive windings there are on the right hand and the left, which, together with the obscurity or

frightfulness of the objects on the road seen through the Fog, make the Pilgrim at times to tremble-they make me quake for fear. But the Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock. I will trust that I shall be led forth by the right way to go to the house, where there are many mansions, beautiful for situation, upon Mount Zion above, where the skies are eternally serene and unbeclouded, and the atmosphere is never polluted with unwholesome Fogs or obscuring Mists.

But the Sun frequently shines out with such power as to disperse the thickest Fogs in a few hours. Then the towering steeple; the magnificent seat; the humble cottage; the expanding fields, with their flocks and herds; the hills and vales, and all the rich variety of landscapes, ravish the eye. Blessed Jesus, thou Sun of Righteousness! with what a surprising power and beauty dost thou shine upon thy people's path, and brighten the surrounding scenes. How oft hast thou scattered the gloomy clouds of tribulation, temptation, and depravity; and presently an enrapturing view of providences, beautifully connected, and of grand design; infinite perfections and everlasting promises; with the amiable glories of thy holy and righteous kingdom; has succeeded to confusion and chaos. Thy people have shouted as those who divide the spoil, and have gone on their way rejoicing.

But in some part of the country how often are the Returns of Fogs experienced. Thus I expect to experience continued changes in this changing world. Now a bright, then a

gloomy; now a fair, then a foggy day. It must be so until I attain the everlasting hills. What a cause of thankfulness for the measure of light I experience in the most hazy, misty day. Heathens walk in darkness; and there are many heathens near me, whose way is rebellion, whose end is destruction. What cause of thankfulness also for those brighter days, in which on the mount with God I have said, It is good to be here. But when I reflect on my continued liability to sin and sorrow, in these lower regions, and reflect that at best I know but in part, and can practise and enjoy but in part, while a body of sin adheres to me, and this mortal tabernacle veils the glories of heaven from my sight; I confess I groan being burdened, and long to be unclothed, that I may be clothed upon with immortality and perfect blessed"Oh that I had the wings of a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest." "O glorious heaven; O blest abode; I shall be near and like my God."

ness.

"There on a green and flow'ry mount,

Our weary souls shall sit;

And with transporting joys recount,

The labors of our feet."

Jesus, shine on benighted sinners, and animate thy saints.

to pass through these Fogs with diligence and dependence, cheerfulness and praise, to their possession of "a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

Adam and Eve in Paradise.

MILTON.

So on he (Satan) fares, and to the border comes
Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,

Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green,
As with a rural mound, the champaign head
Of a deep wilderness, whose hairy sides.
With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,
Access denied; and over-head up-grew
Insuperable height of loftiest shade,

Cedar, and pipe, and fir, and branching palm,
A sylvan scene: and, as the ranks ascend
Shade above shade, a woody theatre

Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops
The verdurous wall of Paradise up-sprung;
Which to our general sire gave prospect large
Into his nether empire neighboring round:
And higher than that wall a circling row
Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit;
Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue,
Appeared, with gay enamell'd colors mix'd:
On which the sun more glad impress'd his beams
Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow,

When God hath shower'd the earth : so lovely seem'd
That landscape.

Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow; But further way found none, so thick entwined, As one continued brake, the undergrowth Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed All path of man or beast that pass'd that way.

Beneath him with new wonder now he views,
To all delight of human sense exposed,

In narrow room, nature's whole wealth, yea more,
A heaven on earth; for blissful Paradise
Of God the garden was, by him in the east
Of Eden planted in this pleasant soil
His far more pleasant garden God ordain'd;
Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow
All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;

And all amid them stood the tree of life, High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit Of vegetable gold; and next to life

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Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by,
Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through Eden went a river large,
Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill
Pass'd underneath ingulf'd; for God had thrown
That mountain as his garden-mould high-rais'd
Upon the rapid current which with many a rill
Water'd the garden, visited each plant, and fed
Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice art
In beds and curious knots, but nature boon
Pour'd forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,
Both where the morning sun first warmly smote
The open field, and where the unpierced shade
Imbrown'd the noontide bowers: thus was this place
A happy rural seat of various view;

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm:
Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks
Grazing the tender herb, were interposed,

Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap
Of some irriguous valley spread her store,
Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose;
Another side umbrageous grots and caves
Of cool recess

The birds their choir apply; airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, Knit with the Graces and the hours in dance, Led on the eternal Spring.

Of living creatures, new to sight and strange,
Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native honor clad,
In naked majesty seem'd lords of all;

And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine
The image of their glorious Maker shone.

About them frisking play'd

All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase
In wood or wilderness, forest or den;

Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw
Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,
Gamboll'd before them; the unwieldly elephant,
To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed
His lithe proboscis! close the serpent sly

Insinuatiug, wove with Gordian twine
His braided train, and of his fatal guide
Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass
Couch'd, and now filled with pasture gazing sat,
Or bedward ruminating; for the sun,
Declined, was hasting now with prone career
To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale
Of heaven the stars that usher evening rose.

-To the field they haste.

But first, from under shady arborous roof,
Soon as they forth were come to open sight

Of day-spring, and the Sun, who, scarce up-risen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim,
Shot parallel to the Earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wild landscape all the east
Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains,-
Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began
Their orisons, each morning duly paid;
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung
Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence

Flow'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse,
More tuneable than needed lute or harp
To add more sweetness.

"Celestial, whether among the thrones, or named
Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem
Prince above princes! gently hast thou told
Thy message, which might else in telling wound,
And in performing end us; what besides
Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair,
Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring,
Departure from this happy place, our sweet
Recess, and only consolation left
Familiar to our eyes! all places else
Inhospitable appear, and desolate ;
Nor knowing us, nor known; and, if by prayer
Incessant I could hope to change the will
Of Him who all things can, I would not cease
To weary him with my assiduous cries:
But prayer against his absolute decree

No more avails than breath against the wind,
Therefore to his great bidding I submit.
This most afflicts me, that departing hence,
As from his face I shall be hid, deprived
His blessed countenance: here I could frequent
With worship place by place where He vouchsafed

Presence Divine; and to my sons relate,

'On this mount He appear'd; under this tree
Stood visible; among these pines his voice

I heard; here with Him at this fountain talk'd:
So many grateful altars would I rear

Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone
Of lustre from the brook, in memory

Or monument to ages; and thereon

Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers;
In yonder nether world where shall I seek
His bright appearance, or his foot-step trace?
For though I fled Him angry, yet, recall'd
To life prolong'd and promised race, I now
Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts
Of glory; and far off his steps adore."

To whom thus Michael with regard benign.

"Adam, thou know'st Heaven his, and all the Earth;

Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills

Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives,
Fomented by his virtual power and warm'd.
All the Earth He gave thee to possess and rule,
No despicable gift; surmise not then

His presence to these narrow bounds confined
Of Paradise, or Eden; this had been
Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread
All generations; and had hither come
From all the ends of the Earth, to celebrate
And reverence thee, their great progenitor.

But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down
To dwell on even ground now with thy sons:
Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain,
God is, as here: and will be found alike
Present; and of his presence many a sign
Still following thee, still compassing thee round
With goodness and paternal love, his face
Express, and of his steps the track divine;
Which thou may'st believe, and be confirm'd
Ere thou from hence depart; know, I am sent
To show thee what shall come, in future days,
To thee, and to thy offspring; good with bad
Expect to hear; supernal grace contending
With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn
True patience, and to temper joy with fear
And pious sorrow; equally inured
By moderation either state to bear,
Prosperous or adverse; so shalt thou lead
Safest thy life, and best prepared endure
Thy mortal passage when it comes."