the Dominion of Solitude; or elfe, to the unmolefted Refort of fhaggy Monfters, and feathered Hags; which ftun the midnight Hours-thefe, with their importunate Shrieks-thofe, with their execrable Howls.

See to what a defpicable, what an abhorred

State, the proudeft Monuments of earthly Grandeur, and the most coftly Apparatus for earthly Felicity, may be reduced! A pregnant and alarming Proof, that, for lafting Honour, or real Happiness,

They build too low, who build beneath the Skies.

Afp. I very much approve the Choice of your Subject. The Ruins of Perfepolis, would have given Us a View of Magnificence in Abasement. The Ruins of Palmyra, might have fhewed Us Elegance in the Duft. But the Ruins of Babylon display at once, Magnificence and Elegance under an Eclipfe, Scripture and Revelation in their Glory.-The Destruction of this City, which was abfolutely unequaled in every Inftance of Dignity, and feem

ingly

* Unequaled-Represented therefore by the golden Head in Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic Dream, and emblematic Image, Dan. ii. 38.-Defcribed by an antient Author, as Omnium quas unquam Sol afpexit Urbium maxima.-And moft magnificently pourtrayed, together with its entire Demolition, in the Prophet's beautiful Draught. Thou baft made of a City, an Heap; of a defenced City, a Ruin'; a Palace of Strangers, to be no City.-A City-a defenced City-a Palace; fo grand and ftately, that it feemed like one continued Palace. Yet this incomparably grand City, fhall become a Heap of Rubbish-a frightful and hideous Ruin-no City; nothing like it; without any Indication or Token, that it was ever inhabited. Ifai.

XXV. 2.

4

ingly invincible by any Enemy, must certainly have been looked upon as the most improbable of Events. Nevertheless its utter Destruction was decreed by JEHOVAH, and denounced by his Prophet, several Ages before the Execution took place. The awful Sentence was not only denounced, but recorded; and is ftill remaining in the public Archives of our Religion.

Ther. Where is this Sentence recorded, and remaining?

Afp. In the Prophecy of Isaiah. And not only recorded, but in the most circumftantial Manner, and with a minute Detail of the horrible Defolations. These are the Words of the infpired Writer; BABYLON, the Glory of Kingdoms, the Beauty of the Chaldees Excellency, fhall be as when GOD overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited; neither fhall it be dwelt in from Generation to Generation: Neither fall the Arabian pitch Tent there; neither fhall the Shepherds make their Fold there. But wild Beafts of the Defart fhall lie there, and their Houfes fhall be full of doleful Creatures, and Owls fhall dwell there, and Satyrs fhall dance there. And the wild Beafts of the Ilands shall cry in their defolate Houses, and Dragons in their pleasant Palaces *.

In the two firft Sentences, is comprised the most finished Picture of Profperity and Grandeur. The Glory of Kingdoms; beyond every other royal Seat, fpacious, ornamented, and wealthy; revered by `many conquered and tributary Dominions, as their Miftrefs, and their Sovereign.-The Beauty of the Chaldres Excellency: The Chaldeans, who excelled all the Nations of the Earth in Riches, in Splendor,

* Ifai. xiii. 19, 20, 21, 22.

and

and in Power, even they gloried in this imperial City. This was the highest Honour of the most illuftrious, and chief Strength of the most victorious People; faireft, where all was confpicuously fair; nobleft, where all was fupereminently noble. -Yet this distinguished, this crowning City, shall, at the blafting of the Breath of JEHOVAH, be totally, totally destroyed, even as when GOD overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

In defcribing the Overthrow, the Prophet is equally admirable; and rifes, by a moft judicious Gradation, into all the Pomp of Horror. q. d. "Now, indeed, it is thronged with Citizens; but, "the Hour is coming, when it shall be entirely "depopulated, and not fo much as a fingle Inha"bitant left.-Left You should think, that in Pro"cefs of Time it may be re-edified, and again " abound with joyful Multitudes, it shall never be " inhabited more; no, never be dwelt in any more, " from Generation to Generation; but fhall continue "a difmal Wafte, through all fucceeding Ages."A Wafte fo difmal, that none of the neighbour"ing Shepherds fhall make their Fold, or find for "much as an occafional Shelter for their Flocks; "where Kings, Grandees, and Crouds of affluent "Citizens, were wont to repose themselves in pro"found Tranquility. Even the rude and roving "Arabian, fhall not venture to pitch his Tent, nor "be able to procure for Himself the poor Accom❝modation of a Night's Lodging; where Millions "of polite People basked in the Sunshine of profuse "Profperity. In fhort; it fhall neither be habitable, nor acceffible; but a Dwelling-place for "Dragons, and a Court for Owls; an Astonishment,

1

4

«‹ and

" and a Hiffing. What was once the golden City +, and the Metropolis of the World, fhall be an "everlafting Scene of Defolation; a fearful Monument of divine Vengeance, and an awful Ad"monition to human Pride."

All this is foretold in Scripture; and, though to human Appearance impoffible, though to human Apprehenfion incredible, was, in the appointed Time, moft minutely accomplished. The Memorials and Evidences of the Accomplishment remain to this very Day 1. They are fo authentic, that the most inquifit ve Curiofity cannot doubt; so inconteftable, that the moft bigotted Incredulity dares not deny. Should not all this teach Us, to teve

Jer. li. 37.

+ Ifai. xiv: 4.

rence

It is faid, by a very learned and fagacious Author; Babylonem ufque eo concidiffe, ut Nemo cum Fiducia illius Locum amplius demonftrare queat. VITRING: in Ifai.-Which Teftimony is confirmed, and almoft tranflated, by a celebrated modern Traveler. "The Ruins of Babylon are now fo much effaced, that there are hardly any Veftiges of them, to point out their Situation." HANWAY's Travels, Vol. II.

Should my Readers prefer this Account, I fhall neither litigate the Point, nor be anxious for the Confequence. It may indeed rank Eugenio's Compofition among the Works of Fancy. But it will realize Afpafio's Affertion, and corroborate his Argument. If We find no Memorials of the City, We have the most evident Verification, and the fullest Accomplishment, of the Prophecy.

If this be the Cafe, it gives an amazing Emphafis to that juft, but terrible Decree, iffued from the fupreme Tribunal, Ifai. xiv. 23. I will sweep it with the Befom of Deftruction, faith the LORD of Hofts. "I will not only lay it in Ruins, but extirpate it from the Earth. I will efface the very Footsteps of its Existence; and "not leave so much as a Fragment or a Trace of the mag"nificent, but wicked Babylon."-Deftroy He utterly; let nothing of Her be left. Jer. 1. 26.

rence the Authority, to admire the Wisdom, and confide in the Promifes, of that moft fure and infallible Word?

I know, You are not fond of Compliments, Theron. Therefore, instead of speaking my Opinion of your Son's Performance, I will endeavour to return your Favour.-You have entertained me with an Account of the most memorable Ruins, extant in the material World. Let me present my Friend with a Picture of Ruins, no lefs remarkable, far more deplorable, and unspeakably interefting to Us all. I fhall give it, in the Colouring of a great Mafter; whofe Works, this very Day, I happened to be perufing.

The Paffage difplays a Doctrine, of the utmost Importance in the Chriftian Scheme; and by one of the finest Pieces of Imagery, to be met with in elegant Writing. I think, it may be looked upon, as a practical Improvement of Eugenio's Declamation. It pleased me fo much, that I transcribed it; and I make no Apology for reading it, because I fhall expect your Thanks.-Only let me hint, that it confiders the human Soul, as originally an Habita tion of GOD through the SPIRIT; and then, fpeaking of its fallen Condition, proceeds.

"That He hath withdrawn Himself, and left "this bis Temple defolate, We have many fad and plain Proofs before Us. The fately Ruins are "vifible to every Eye, that bear in their Front (yet "extant) this doleful Infcription; HERE GOD Enough appears of the ad

"ONCE DWELT.

"mirable Frame and Structure of the Soul of Man, "to fhew the divine Prefence did fometime refide