Truth, which was struck in lively Characters on our Souls, is obfcured, if not obliterated. Some noble Refolution, which Heaven had wrought in our Breafts, is fhaken, if not overthrown. Some inticing Vanity, which we had folemnly renounced, again practises its Charms, and again captivates our Affections. How often has an unwary Glance, kindled a Fever of irregular Defire in our Hearts? How often has a Word of Applaufe, dropt luscious Poifon into our Ears; or fome disrespectful Expreffion, raised a Gust of Paffion in our Bofoms? Our Innocence is of fo tender a Conftitution, that it fuffers in the promifcuous Crowd; our Purity of fo delicate a Complexion, that it scarce touches on the World without contracting a Stain. We see, we hear with Peril.

But here Safety dwells. Every meddling and intrufive Avocation is fecluded. Silence holds the Door against the Strife of Tongues, and all the Impertinencies of idle Conversation. The busy Swarm of vain Images, and cajoling Temptations, that befet Us, with a buzzing Importunity, amidst the Gaieties of Life, are chased by thefe thickening Shades. Here I may, without Disturbance, commune with my own Heart; and learn that beft of Sciences, to know myself. Here the Soul may rally her diffipated Powers, and Grace recover its native Energy.-This is the Opportunity,

Opportunity, to rectify the evil Impreffions, and expel the Contagion, of corrupting Examples. This is the Place, where I may, with Advantage, apply myself to fubdue the Rebel within; and be Mafter, not of a Sceptre, but of 'myself.

Throng then, ye Ambitious, the Levees of the Powerful; I will be punctual, in my Assignations with Solitude. To a Mind intent upon its own Improvement, Solitude has Charms incomparably more engaging, than the Entertainments, prefented in the Theatre; or the Honours, conferred in the Drawing-Room.

I SAID Solitude.-But am I then alone?'Tis true, my Acquaintance are at a Distance, I have ftole away from Company, and am remote from all human Obfervation.-But that is an alarming Thought,

Millions of fpiritual Creatures walk the Earth Unfeen, both when we wake, and when we fleep*.

PERHAPS, there may be Numbers of those invifible Beings, patrolling this fame Retreat; and joining with me, in contemplating the Creator's Works. Perhaps, those miniftring Spirits, who rejoice at the Conversion of a Sinner, and hold up the Goings of the Righteous, may follow Us

MILT. Par. Loft, B. iv. 1, 677.

to

to the lonely Recefs; and, even in our most soli tary Moments, be our conftant Attendants. What a pleafing Awe is awakened, by such a Reflection! How venerable it renders my retired Walk! I am ftruck with Reverence, as under the Roof of fome facred Edifice; or in the Prefence-Chamber of fome mighty Monarch.O! may I never bring any Pride of Imagination, nor indulge the leaft diffolute Affection; where fuch refined and exalted Intelligencies exercise their Watch.

'Tis poffible, that I am encompassed with fuch a Cloud of Witnesses; but it is certain, that GOD, the infinite and eternal Go D, is ever with me. The great JEHOVAH, before whom all the Angels bow their Heads, and veil their Faces, furrounds me; fupports me; pervades me. "In HIM I live, move, and have my Be"ing." The whole World is his auguft Temple; and, in the moft fequeftered Corner, I stand before his adorable Majefty, no less than when I worship in his House, or kneel at his Altar. In every Place, therefore, let me pay him the Homage of a Heart, cleanfed from Idols, and devoted to his Service. In every Circumftance, let me feel no Ambition, but to please Him; nor covet any Happiness, but to enjoy Him.

How fublime is the Description, and how ftriking the Sentiment, in that noble Paffage of

the Pfalms! Whither fhall I go from thy Spirit, or whither fhall I flee from thy Prefence? If I climb up into the Heights of Heaven, Thou art there enthroned in Light. If I go down to the Depths of the Grave, Thou art there also in thy Pavilion of Darkness. If I retire to the remoteft Eastern Climes, where the Morning first takes Wing: if, fwifter than the darting Ray, I pass to the oppofite Regions of the Weft, and remain in the uttermoft Parts of the Sea*: fhall I, in that distant Situation, be beyond thy Reach; or, by this fudden Tranfition, escape thy Notice? So far from it; that could I, with one Glance of Thought, transport myself beyond all the Bounds of Creation; I fhould ftill be incircled with the Immenfity of thy Effence, or rather, ftill be inclofed in the Hollow of thy Hand.-Important and delightful Truth! Let it be interwoven with every Thought! and become one with the very Consciousness of my Exiftence: that I may continually walk with GOD, and conduct myself, in every Step of my Behaviour," as feeing "HIM that is invifible."

THEY

* Pfal. cxxxix. 7, 8, 9. There is, I think, an additional Strength and Beauty in the Thought, if, with the learned Mr. Mudge, we fuppofe an Antithefis between the Two Claufes of this laft Verfe, as there evidently is between thofe of the preceding; and that they exprefs, in a poetical Stile, the Extremities of the East and the Weft.

THEY are the happy Perfons; Felicity, true Felicity is all their own; who live under an habitual Senfe of God's Omniprefence, and a sweet Perfuafion of his fpecial Love. If Dangers threaten, their impregnable Defence is at hand; nothing can be fo near to terrify, as their Almighty Guardian to fecure them.-To Thefe, the Hours can never be tedious; and it is impofsible, for them, to be alone. Do they step afide from the Occupations of animal Life? A more exalted Set of Employments engage their Attention. They address themselves, in all the various Acts of Devotion, to their heavenly Father; who now fees in fecret, and will hereafter reward them openly. They spread all their Wants, before his indulgent Eye; and difburden all their Sorrows, into his compaffionate Bofom.-Do they withdraw from human Society? They find themselves under the more immediate Regards of their Maker. They resign the Satisfactions of focial Intercourfe; but it is to cultivate a Correspondence with the condescending Deity, and taste the Pleasures of Divine FriendShip. What is such a State, but the very Suburbs of Heaven? What is fuch a Conduct, but an Antepast of eternal Bleffednefs?

The

Now, my Soul, the Day is ended. Hours are all filed: They are fled to the Supreme

Judge,

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