54

"rising world, and from a gloomy chaos bid the "harmonious universe appear!

"Confusion heard his voice, and wild Uproar "Stood rul'd, stood vast Infinitude confin'd."

Milton.

"At thy word the pillars of the sky were framed, " and its beauteous arches reared; thy breath kind"led the stars, adorn'd the moon with silver rays, "and gave the sun its flaming splendour.

"Thy glory in her silent course the moon,
"And nightly lamps in their obscure sojourn,
"The morning-star with its bright circle crown'd,
"And early blushes of the day, reveal;
"The circling sun thy greatness manifests,
"Whether ascending from the eastern wave,
"With glancing smiles, he cheers the dewy fields;
"Or mounted to the zenith's lofty height,
"He blazes with transcendent glory round;
"Or down the steep of heav'n he rolls amain,
"And ends his flaming progress in the sea:
"From east to west thy grandeur he proclaims,

"And thro' his radiant kingdoma spreads thy praise." "Thou didst prepare for the waters their capa"cious bed, and set bounds to the raging billows; "by thee the hills were crowned with plenty, and "the vallies dressed in their flowery pride; the "summer and winter, the shady night and the "bright revolutions of the day, are thine; in all "the wonderful effects of Nature we adore and "confess thy power.

"Thou rid'st upon the wild tempestuous wind,

"And flying storms obey thy potent voice:

"Sublime on clouds thy dark pavilion fet,
"With shades and gloomy majesty involv'd:
"Thy hands the pointed lightnings lance around,
“While peals of thunder shake the firmament ;
“At thy approach the kindling forests smoke,
"And from their base the trembling mountains start;
"The rivers ebb and flow at thy command,
"Observe their wonted course, or run reverse:
"At thy rebuke the frighted waves divide,
"And with stupendous motion backward roll
"Their crystal volumes to their inmost spring.
"Thou all things canst; thy mighty mandate heard,'
"Necessity and Nature are no more :-
“Th' obedient elements resign their league,

"And wonderful effects attest the God!"

These, my dear friend, are the entertainments that brighten my solitude, and free my soul from its former engagements: those fading graces, on which I once doated, vanish before a superior excellence, as stars before the rising sun; instead of repining I adore, I justify the great dispensing Power that has removed the darling of my affections to fix them on immortal beauty. I have lost nothing amiable or attractive, but what is found with divine advantage in the fair Original.

I know you will congratulate me on this happy change it must please you to find that your pious instructions, joined to the sanctity of your example, have not entirely been lost on,

Reverend SIR,

Your most obedient humble servant,

AMINTOR..

Sir,

LETTER XII.

To the same.

I HAVE obeyed your commands in sending the inclosed; you will not require an apology for an essay on this transporting subject: Joy and Gratitude will speak, however disproportioned the expressions.

On our SAVIOUR's Nativity.

VICTORIOUS Love! how uncontroul'd thy pow'r !'
How great thy triumph on that glorious hour!
The high-rais'd thrones above look'd down to see
The vanquish'd God a captive led by thee.
His fplendour in mortality difguis'd,
The Principalities of heav'n furpris'd;

Th' indulgent fkies fmil'd on the happy birth,
While peace and joyful wonder hufh'd the earth,
Fly, rigid Winter, with thy horid face,

And let the foft and lovely Spring take place;
Oh! come thou faireft feafon of the year,
With garlands deck'd and verdant robes appear;
And once produce the Summer's various coft,
Whatever fweets her flow'ry ftores can boaft:
Full canisters of Sharon's rofes fpread,
And drefs with art th' illuftrious Infant's bed;
Rifle the gardens, fearch the painted fields,
For all the blooming glories Nature yields.

But, O ye products of the earth, how poor,
To heav'n's enamell'd plains, are all your store!
Perpetual greens, and never fading flow'rs,
Enrich with foft perfumes th' immortal bow'rs;

And yet he left the bright ethereal feats
For these cold regions and obfcure retreats.

Be hufh'd, ye, Winds, no angry tempest rove,
But fink in gentle whispers through the grove;
With all Arabia load your balmy wings,

And breathe the fragrance of ten thousand springs.
Begin, you fweet musicians of the air!

Let Nature all her foothing founds prepare;
Let tuneful Art her various measures bring
Each melting tone, and ev'ry warbling ftring;
Let pfalt'ries, harps, and the loud cymbal ring;
Let the fhrill trumpets raise their sprightly voice,
While Carmel and high Lebanon rejoice.

He comes, O Jacob, thy long promis'd King!
Celestial envoys the glad tidings bring:
O'er earth's wide compafs to the distant main,
With truth and perfect justice he shall reign.

The sparkling skies fhall tarnish and decay,
The fun be quench'd, and stars fhall fade away;
But he fhall rife with a propitious light,

Stand at high-noon, and shine divinely bright.

I shall now leave you to your own sublimer contemplation on this unbounded theme, and sub

scribe myself,

SIR,

Your most obedient humble servant,

AMINTOR.

indulged myself in all the little gaieties of life, within the limits of reason and morality; but nothing could blot the image of my charming wife from my soul. I brought back my affection for the fajr departed saint to the mournful mansion where I enjoyed and lost her.

But here leisure and reflection had a better effect than a thoughtless series of diversions. Though my course of life had always been regular, and governed by the rules of sobriety, yet, till now, I was a stranger, except in form, to any thing of devotion, nor had ever experienced the ineffable satisfaction of a virtuous mind in its secret addresses to the Supreme Being. My soul had not yet reflected on its own grandeur, nor considered itself formed for an infinite and unchangeable felicity.

Those grave and sublime authors, which were once the useless ornaments of my library, are now my serious entertainment: by these I have been directed to look beyond all the perishing scenes of Nature to that immutable state of happiness, which, after a short probation, attends the practice of virtue. My thoughts grow calm, my passions appease, the goods and evils of time vanish into nothing, at the prospect of boundless and immortal pleasure.

The great temple of the skies, the spangled arch of heaven, is frequently the place of my devotion; the open view of the gay creation, or the lonely so