that clofing Scene is advanced, We fhall have no other Part to act on this earthly Theatre. Then, the Sluggard, that has flumbered away Life in a criminal Inactivity, must lie down in hopeless Diftrefs, and everlafting Sorrow. Then, that awful Doom will take place, " He that is holy, "let Him be holy ftill; and He that is filthy, "let Him be filthy for ever."

Is it fo my Soul? Is this the only, only Time allotted, for obtaining the great Reward, and making thy Salvation fure? And art Thou lulled in a vain Security, or dreaming on in a fupine Inadvertency? Start, O! ftart from thy Trance. Gird up the Loins of thy Mind, and work while it is Day. Improve the prefent Seed-time, that Eternity

ing, but of a very poetical and very afflicting Nature; fuch as was perfectly proper for the Royal Singer, and Royal Sufferer, to dwell upon, in his defponding Moments. Thus interpreted, the Senfe will run ; 66 I fall fee Man no more; I fhall be cut "off from the chearful Ways of Men, and all the "Sweets of human Society, And, what is a far

ther Aggravation of the threatned Stroke, Ifball,

by its taking Place, be numbered with Thofe, that "inhabit the Land of intire Cessation and Inactivity: "Where there will be no more Poffibility of con"tributing to the Happiness of my Kingdom; no "more Opportunity of advancing my Creator's Glory, or of making my own final Salvation "fure.A Sentiment like this is grand and important; full of Piety, and full of Benevolence; removes all Sufpicion of unbecoming Pufilanimity, and does the highest Honour to the Monarch's Character.

our

Eternity may yield a joyful Harvest.—We efpecially, who are Watchmen in Ifrael, and Minifters of the glorious Gofpel; may We be awa kened, by this Confideration, to all Affiduity in holy Office. Some or other of our People are ever and anon departing into the invifible State; all our Friends are making inceffant Ap proaches to their long Home; and we ourselves fhall very fhortly be tranfmitted to the Confinement of the Tomb. This therefore is the favourable Juncture, wherein alone we can contribute to their endless Welfare. This is the Crifis, the all-important Crifis of their final Felicity. Inftantly therefore let Us pour in our wholfome Inftructions; now let Us ply them with our earnest Exhortations. A Moment's Delay may be an irreparable Lofs, may be irretrievable Ruin. While we procraftinate, a fatal Stroke may in tervene, and place Us beyond the Power of ad miniftering, or place them beyond all Poffibility of receiving, any fpiritual Good *.

How frequently is the Face of Nature changed! and, by changing, made more agreeable! The long

The Cafe, reprefented by the Prophet, (1 Kings xx. 40.) feems perfectly applicable on this Occafion. As thy Servant was buy here and there, He was gone. So, while we are either remifs in our Function, or Jaying ourselves out upon inferion Cares, the People of our Charge may be gone; gone beyond the Influence of our Counfels, beyond the Reach of our Prayers; gone into the unchangeable and eternal State.

long-continued Glitter of the Day, renders the foothing Shades of the Evening doubly welcome. Nor does the Morn ever purple the Eaft with so pleasing a Luftre, as after the fullen Gloom of a dark and black Night.--At prefent, a Calm of Tranquility, and undisturbed Repofe, is fpread through the Universe. The weary Winds have forgot to blow. The gentle Gales have fanned themselves afleep. Nothing ftirs. Not fo much as a fingle Leaf nods. Even the quivering Afpin refts. And not one Breath curls o'er the Stream. Sometimes, the Tempest fummons all the Forces of the Air; and pours itself, with refiftlefs Fury, from the angry North. The whole Atmofphere is tofled into tumultuous Confufion, and the watery World is heaved to the Clouds. The aftonifhed Mariner, and his ftraining Veffel, now fcale the rolling Mountain, and hang dreadfully visible on the broken Surge: now fhoot, with headlong Im petuofity, into the yawning Gulph, and neither Hulk, nor Maft is feen. The Storm fweeps over the Continent raves along the City-Streets? Atruggles through the Foreft-boughs; and terrifies the favage Nations, with a Howl, more wildly horrid than their own. The knotty Oaks bend before the Blaft; their iron Trunks groan; and their stubborn Limbs are dafhed to

the

the Ground. The lofty Dome rocks; and even the folid Tower totters on its Bafis.

SUCH Variations are kindly contrived with an evident Condefcention to the Ficklenefs of our Tafte. Because, a perpetual Similarity of Objects would create a cold Disgust; therefore, the indulgent Father of our Race has diverfified the univerfal Scene, and bid every Appearance bring with it the Charm of Novelty.-But this Circumftance is as beneficial, as it is entertaining. Providence, ever gracious to Mortals; ever intent upon promoting our Felicity; has taken Care to mingle in the Constitution of Things, what is pleafing to our Imagination, with what is ferviceable to our Interefts. The piercing Winds, and rugged Aspect of Winter, render the balmy Gales, and flowery Scenes of Spring, peculiarly delightful. At the same time, the keen Frofts mellow the Soil, and prepare it for the Hand of Induftry. The rufhing Rains impregnate the Glebe, and fit it for a Magazine of Plenty. The Earth is a great Laboratory; and December's Cold collects the grofs Materials, which are fublimated by the refining Warmth of May. The Air is a pure elaftic Fluid; and was it always to remain in this motionless Serenity, it would lofe much of its active Spring; was it never agitated by thofe wholesome Concuffions, it would contract a noisome,

1

noifome, perhaps, a peftilential Taint. Inftead of purifying, it would corrupt the vital Juices; and inftead of inhaling Refrefhment, our Refpiration might be a Source of Difeafes; or every Gafp we draw, might be Death.*-How then fhould we admire! Oh! how fhould we adore, that happy Union of Benignity and Wifdom, which, from a Variety of Difpenfations, produces an Uniformity of Good; a perpetual Succeffion of Delights, and an un-interrupted Series of Advantages!

THE Darkness is now at its Height; and I cannot but admire the obliging Manner of its taking

* Confidering the immenfe Quantity of Coals, and other combuftible Materials, that are daily confumed, and evaporate into the Air.- Confidering the numberlefs Steams, and Clouds of Smoke, that almoft continually over-whelm populous Cities ;--the noisome Exhalations, that arife from thronged Infirmaries, and loathfome Jayls; from ftagnating Lakes, and putrid Fens-the Variety of offenfive and unwholfome Effluvia, that proceed from other Causes it is a very remarkable Inftance of a Providence, at once tenderly kind, and infinitely powerful, that Mankind is not fuffocated with Stench; that the Air is not choaked with Filth.-The Air is the common Sewer, into which ten thousand times ten thoufand Nuifances are inceffantly difcharged; and yet is preferved fo thoroughly clear, as to afford the moft tranfparent Medium for Vifion; fo delicately undulatory, as to tranfmit, with all imaginable Diftinctnefs, every Diversity of Sound; fo perfectly pure, as to be the conftant Refiner of the Fluids, in every Animal that breathes.