the human speaker, but the divine authority, that

is to be regarded.

HUMAN VICISSITUDES.

THE fashion of the world passeth away, as the

opinions, ideas, and manners of men are always changing. We look in vain for a ftandard to ascertain and fix any of these; in vain expect that what has been approved and established for a while, is always to endure. Principles which were of high authority among our anceftors are now exploded. Syftems of philosophy which were once univerfally received, and taught as infallible truths, are now obliterated and forgotten. Modes of living, behaving, and employing time, the purfuits of the bufy, and the entertainments of the gay, have been entirely changed. As one wave effaces the ridge which the former had made on the fand by the fea fhore, fo every fucceeding age obliterates the opinions and modes of the age which had gone before it.

Let us only think of the changes which our own ideas and opinions undergo in the progress of life. One man differs not more from another, than the fame man varies from himself in dif

ferent

ferent periods of his age, and in different fituations of fortune. In youth, and in opu lence, every thing appears smiling and gay. We fly as on the wings of fancy; and furvey beauties wherever we caft our eye. But let fome more years have passed over our heads, or let difappointments in the world have depreffed our fpirits; and what a change takes place? The pleafing illufions that once fhone before us; the fplendid fabrics that imagination had reared; the enchanting maze in which we once wandered with delight, all vanish and are forgotten. The world itself remains the fame. But its form, its appearance, and afpect, is changed to our view; its fashion, as to us, hath paffed away.

TRANSITORINESS OF LIFE.

HE world is made up of unceasing rounds

THE

of tranfitory exiftence. Some generations are coming forward into being, and others haftening to leave it. The ftream which carries us all along is ever flowing with a quick current, though with a ftill and noifelefs courfe. The dwelling place of man is continually emptying, and by a fresh fucceffion of inhabitants, continually filling anew. The memory of man paffeth

away

away like the remembrance of a guest who hath tarried but one night.

As the life of man, confidered in its duration, thus fleets and paffes away, fo, during the time it lafts, its condition is perpetually changing, It affords us nothing on which we can set up our reft; no enjoyment or poffeffion which we can properly call our own. When we have begun to be placed in fuch circumstances as we defired, and with our lives to proceed in the fame agreeable tenor, how often comes fome unexpected event across to disconcert all our schemes of happiness? Our health declines; our friends die; our families are scattered; fomething or other is not long of occurring, to fhew us that the wheel must turn round; the fashion of the world muft pass away.

THE UNCHANGEABLENESS OF GOD.

GOD

OD never changes. Amidft the unceasing viciffitude of earthly things, there remains at the head of the universe an eternal Protector of virtue, whose throne is established for ever: With him there is no variableness, neither any shadow of turning; no inconftancy of purpose, and

ΠΟ

no decay of wifdom or of power. We know that he loved righteoufnefs from the beginning of days, and that he will continue to love it unalterably to the laft. Foreseen by him was every revolution which the courfe of ages has produced. All the changes which happen in the ftate of nature, or the life of men, were comprehended in his decree. How much foever worldly things may change in themselves, they are all united in his plan; they conftitute one great fyftem or whole, of which he is the Author; and which, at its final completion, fhall appear to be perfect. His dominion holds together, in a continued chain, the fucceffive variety of human events; gives ftability to things that in themselves are fluctuating; gives conftancy even to the fashion of the world while it is paffing away.. Wherefore, though all things change on earth, and we ourfelves be involved in the general mutability, yet as long as, with truft and hope, we look up to the Supreme Being, we reft on the rock of ages, and are fafe amidst every change. We poffefs a fortress to which we can have recourfe in all dangers; a refuge under all ftorms; a dwelling place in all generations.

ON

RE

ON MEDITATION.

EFLECTION and meditation allay the workings of many unquiet paffions; and place us at a diftance from the tumults of the world. When the mind has either been ruffled or caft down, an intercourfe with God and heaven we find a fanctuary to which we can retreat. In the hours of contemplation and devotion, a good man enjoys himself in peace. He beholds nobler objects than what worldly men can behold. He affumes a higher character.He liftens to the voice of nature and of God; and from this holy fanctuary comes forth with a mind fortified against the little disturbances of the world.

THE

TRANQUILLITY.

HE three great enemies to tranquillity are, Vice, Superftition, and Idleness: Vice, which poifons and difturbs the mind with bad paffions; Superftition, which fills it with imaginary terrors; Idlenefs, which loads it with tedioufnefs and difguft. It is only by following the path which Eternal Wisdom has pointed out,

that