DIALOGUE XII. HE Sun was fiercely bright, and the Sky without a Cloud.-Not a Breath fanned the Woods; not a Gale curled the Stream.-The Fields, exposed to all the fiery Beams, were like a glowing Hearth. The little Birds, overcome by the potent Influence, loft for a while their tuneful Notes. Nothing was heard in the Garden, but the drowsy Hum of Bees, and the Moan-like Buz of winged Infects. All Nature feemed to languish. The flourishing Meads looked fickly; the gayeft Bloffoms began to fade; the sprightlieft Animals, if not repofed under fome cooling Shelter, panted for Breath, and hung their drooping Heads, amidst the all-furrounding Blaze and the unfufferable Heat. Afpafio difappeared fince Dinner. None could tell, whither He was gone.-Theron, as foon as the Tea-Equipage was removed, took his Way to the Wood. Longing for the thickeft Shade, He hastened to the Center. The Avenue confifted of a serpentine Walk. Which, after having presented You with feveral Species of Plants, and feveral Degrees Degrees of Verdure, ends in a large circular Area: not covered with a Grecian or Roman Temple, unmeaning Imitation of Pagan Idolatry: but furrounded with aged and princely Oaks. The Coalition of whofe Branches, threw over the grafly Plat a majestic rural Dome; and their unpierced Foliage, imbrowned the Noon-tide Hours. In the Midft, and elevated on a square Bafe, was Statue representing the venerable Elijah—in a Pofture of Worship—with his Hands stretched out, and Eyes lifted up to Heaven. His Attitude, his Air, his every Feature, were a moft lively Comment on thofe ftrong energetic Expreffions of Scripture; take hold on GOD *; wrestle with the ALMIG HTY†; pour out your Hearts before HIM ‡.—On one Side of the Pedestal, were engraven the Priefts of Baal; in frantic Emotions calling upon their fenfelefs Deity, and gafhing themfelves with unavailing Wounds.-On the other was exhibited, in Baffo-relievo, the adoring Tibbite's Altar; his Vic-· tim burning with Fire from the LORD, even while the Water ran from every Limb, and overflowed the Trench below. A remote Cascade tumbled from a craggy Rock. The very Stream, like its Mafter, feemed in hafte to escape from the intense and raging Heat. With Hurry and Impetuofity, it rushed into this grand Arbour. But here, impreffed, as it were, with the unexpected Solemnity of the Scene, it fuddenly checked the tumultuous Wave. And, having juft faluted, or kiffed the fkirts of this revered Spot, turned afide into a more fequeftred Path. As fome heedlefs Trifler, t Coloff. iv. 12. * Ifai. Ixiv. 7. + Pfal. Ixii. 8. Trifler, who bolts unawares into the royal Prefence, ftands ftruck with Reverence and Awe, or retires with Precipitance and Confufion. The deep Gloom, fhedding a Kind of Night, even while the Sun glared in the Sky-Not a Whitper stirring, among fo many Millions of Leaves; and all their warbling Natives hufhed in Silence. The fonorous Toll of the diftant Cafcade, and the tinkling Chime of the nearer Rill-The profound Adoration, and fervent Devotion, which lived in the Lineaments of the impaffioned Stone-All these Circumstances rendered the Place peculiarly penfive and auguft. Not much unlike the antient Oratories *; where holy People withdrew from the giddy Ring, It is thought by fome eminent Critics, that, when our LORD continued all Night » powy Ow, Luke vi. 12. the Phrase denotes his Continuance in an Oratory ; a Place fet apart for Prayer, Meditation, and a devout Intercourfe with GOD. That there were Places of this Kind among the Jews, is indifputable; and that the Opinion is ingenious, cannot be denied. But I very much doubt, whether it gives Us the true Meaning of the Evangelift.-Having mentioned a Mountain, it would hardly fuit his concife Manner, to be more particular with regard to the Place: neither was the Circumftance fo important, as to deserve a fecond Mention.-I am apt to think alfo, that such a Place would have defeated the Defign of our SAVIOUR's Retirement, which feems to have been Privacy; and that fuch a Title, as GOD's Place of Prayer, was wholly appropriated to the Temple. I apprehend, We fhall have a more defenfible, I am perfuaded, We fhall have a more exalted Senfe, if We fuppofe the Claufe to fignify-the Copioufnefs and Fervour of our LORD's Devotion-the vaft Importance, and the unequaled Succefs, of this his prolonged Prayer. All which is expreffed, according to the Hebrew Idiom, by the Addition of the divine Name. And, fo expreffed, 4 Ring, and the buftling Croud, to ennoble their Minds, with fublime Contemplation. Where, they bid a temporary Adieu to the tumultuous World, its gay Impertinence; in order to maintain a more uninterrupted Communion with that Mighty BEING, who fitteth upon the Circle of the Earth, and the Inhabitants thereof are as Grafhoppers before HIM *. Welcome to Theron, was the fhady Bower; welcome the cool Afpect, and the mufical Flow of the Water; but more welcome than all, was the Sight of his Friend. Who lay reclined at the Foot of an Oak; with a Book half open in his Hand, and his Eye fixed upon the Statue. Ther. I know not, Afpafio, whether I must make an Apology, for breaking in upon your Retirement; or call you to an Account, for depriving the Ladies your Company at the Tea-table. Afp. Indeed, Theron, I have been fo much delighted with the Place; with the alluring Companion in my Hand; and the commanding Object before me; is much more emphatical, than any fuperlative Degree, ufed by the Greeks or Romans. He continued all Night in the Prayer of GOD. * Ifai. xl. 22. What a noble Image is here, and what an exquifitely fine Contraft! GOD, the great GOD, fitteth on thofe lofty and immenfe Heavens, which, at an inconceivable Distance, furround this penfile Globe. From that most fublime and magnificent Throne, he looks down upon the Inhabitants of the Earth. Whoin all their Pomp and Splendor-amidst all their admired Works, and boafted Acquifitions-are mean and impotent in his Sight. Mean and impotent as the poor Infects, which wander over the parched Heath for Suftenance: which spend all the Day in idle infignificant Chirpings: and, at Night, take up their contemptible Habitation on a Blade of Grafs. me; that I scarce obferved, how the Time ftole away. I flatter myself, if You will take a Seat by my Side, and share my Entertainment; You will be more inclined to excufe, than to aggravate my Fault. Ther. Is Tully then (for I obferve his Name on the Volume) your alluring Companion? And can fuch a devoted Admirer of the Bible, be fo highly charmed with a Heathen Claffic? - St. Auguftine somewhere declares, that, though paffionately fond, before his Converfion, of Tully's Writings; yet, after that memorable Change, He could no longer relish those once admired Compofitions; because they were not sweetened, as He expreffes Himself, with the mellifluous Name of JESUS. Afp. I am far from pretending to such an exalted Pitch of Devotion, as that feraphic Father attained. I can spend a vacant Minute on the delicate Odes of Horace; I can taste a refined Entertainment in Virgil's beautiful Poem; and not be chagrined, though I find no Mention of my SAVIOUR.But when I hear a Sermon, or peruse a religious Treatife, which borrows neither Dignity nor Charms from that amiable and glorious Name, I own myself extremely disappointed. Without the Offices, the Merits, or the Grace of CHRIST, the Sermon and the Treatise appear as defective, as a Body that is neither adorned with the Head, nor enlivened with the Heart. Ther. I fuppofe then You cultivate an Acquaintance with the Grecian and Roman Authors, in order to improve your Taste, and polish your Style. Afp. Thefe, and, I am apt to think, more confiderable Advantages, may be derived from a proper VOL. II. Appli L |