taking Place. It comes not with a blunt and abrupt Incivility, but makes gentle and respectful Advances. A precipitate Tranfition from the Splendors of Day, to all the Horrors of Midnight, would be both inconvenient and frightful, It would bewilder the Traveller in his Journey; it would ftrike the Creation with Amazement; and, perhaps, be pernicious to the Organs of Sight. Therefore the Gloom rushes not upon us inftantaneoufly, but increases by flow Degrees; and, fending Twilight before as its Harbinger, decently advertises us of its Approach. By this Means, we are prepared for the Change, and are able to take all fuitable and timely Meafures: for its Reception.―Thus graciously has Providence regulated, not only the grand Viciffitudes of the Seasons, but also the common Interchanges of Light and Darknefs, with an apparent Reference to our Comfort.

Now the fierce Inhabitants of the Foreft forfake their Dens. A thoufand grim Forms, a thousand growling Monsters, pace the Defert. Death is in their Jaws, while, ftung with Hunger, and athirst for Blood, they roam their nightly Rounds.--O! unfortunate Traveller, overtaken by the Night in those dismal Wilds! How muft He stand aghaft at the mingled Yell of ravenous Throats, and Lions roaring after their Prey Defend Him, propitious. Heaven!

or else He must see his endearing Spouse, and hail his native Home, no more!--Now the prowling Wolf, like a murtherous Ruffian, dogs the Shepherd's Footsteps, and besets his bleating Charge. The Fox, like a crafty Felon, steals to the thatched Cottage, and carries off the feathered Booty.

HAPPY for the World, were thefe the only Destroyers that walk in Darkness. But, alas! there are Savages in human Shape, who, muffled in Shades, infeft the Abodes of civilized Life. The Sons of Violence make Choice of this Seafon*, to perpetrate the most outrageous Acts of Wrong and Robbery. The Audulterer waiteth for the Twilight, and, bafer than the Villain on the Highway, betrays the Honour of his Bofomfriend. Now, Faction forms her close Cabals, and whispers her traiterous Infinuations. Now, Rebellion plans her accurfed Plots, and prepares the Train to blow a Nation into Ruin. Now Crimes, that hide their odious Heads in the Day, haunt the Seats of Society, and stalk through the Gloom with audacious Front. Now, the Vermin of the Stews crawl from their lurking Holes, to wallow in Sin, and feed on the Venom VOL. II. D

of

Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons Of Belial, flown with Infolence and Wine.

MILT.

confiderable Time, ftood Centry at his Door, is extended at his Eafe, and fnores with his Mafter. In every Place, Toil reclines her Head, and Application folds her Arms. All Interests feem to be forgot; all Purfuits are fufpended; all Employment is funk away; funk away, like Kuttering Myriads, that lately fported in the Sun's departing Rays. Tis like the Sabbath of univerfal Nature, or as though the Pulfe of Life ftood still.

the

THUS will it be with our infinitely momentous Concerns, when once the Shadows of the Evenng, that long Evening which follows the Footfteps of Death, are ftretched over Us. The Dead cannot feek unto GOD; the Living, the Living alone, are poffeffed of this inestimable Opportunity *. "There is no Work or Device, no Repentance or Amendinent in the Grave, "whither We are All hafting +." When once

66

Nunc, nunc properandus, & acri
Fingendus fine fine rota.

PERS.

that

Behold! now is the accepted Time. Behold! now is the Day of Salvation. 2. Cor. vi. 2.

+ The State of the Dead is filed, by King Hezekiah (Ifa. xxxviii. 11.), in that pathetic Lamentation of his expected Doom 7, and is rendered by Vitringa, Terra Ceffationis, the Land of Intermillion or Ceflation. Which prevents all Appear ance of Tautology in the Sentence, and is, I think, a valuable Improvement of the Tranflation: as it conveys an Idea, not only distinct from the precede

that clofing Scene is advanced, We shall have no other Part to act on this earthly Theatre. Then, the Sluggard, that has flumbered away Life in a criminal Inactivity, muft lie down in hopeless Diftrefs, and everlasting 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 fhall 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 farther Aggravation of the threatned Stroke, I ball, by its taking Place, be numbered with Thofe, that " inhabit the Land of intire Ceflation 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.

of the Night. Each foothing Himself with the fond Notion, That all is safe; That no Eye fees.

AND are They then concealed? Prepofterous Madmen! To draw the Curtain between their infamous Practices, and a little Set of Mortals; but lay them open to all these chaffe and wakeful Eyes of Heaven*.-Are_they_then concealed? No, truly: Were thefe vigilant Luminaries closed; an Eye keener than the Lightning's Flafb, brighter than Ten thousand Suns, beholds their every Motion. Their thickest Shades are beaming Day t, to the jealous Infpector, and fupreme Judge of human Actions.Deluded Creatures! have ye not heard, have ye not read, "That "Clouds and Darkness are round about Him || ?” In that very Gloom, to which you fly for Covert, he erects his Throne. What you. reckon your Screen, is the Bar of his Tribunal. O! remember this: ftand in Awe, and fin not. Remember, that the great and terrible GOD is

* - Sed luna videt, fed fidera tefies

Intendunt oculos.

about

This is finely and very forcibly expreffed by the Pfalmift: If I fay, Peradventure the Darkness fall cover me, then fhall my Night be turned to Day: Or, as it may be rendered fomewhat more emphatically, Even the Night shall be broad Day-light all around me. Pfal. cxxxix. 10.

Pfal. xcvii. 2.