Now was the Sun in western Cadence low, From Noon; and gentle Airs, due at their Hour, At this Juncture, Camillus invited me to take the Air. We walked, feveral Times, along a close shady Alley, arched with the Foliage of Filberts. Here, hid from every Eye, and the whole World withdrawn from our View, We feemed like Monks ftroling in their Cloyfters.-Turning fhort at the End, We enter a parallel Range of majestic and uniformly fpreading Walnut-trees. This Tranfition, was fomewhat like advancing, through a low Porch, into the Ifles of a magnificent Cathedral. The broad Leaf, and large Trunk, of thofe lordly Trees— their very diffufive Spread, added to their prodigious Height-give them an Air of uncommon Dignity. It fwells the Imagination with vaft Ideas, and entertains Us with a romantic Kind of Delight, to expatiate amidst such huge Columns, and under fuch fuperb Elevations, of living Architecture. Quitting our Cathedral, We turn once again, and pass into a grand Colonade of Oaks: fo regular in their Situation, fo fimilar in their Size, and fo remarkably, correfpondent in every Circumftance, that they looked like the Twins of Nature; not only belonging to the fame Family, but produced at the fame Birth. Through these lay a Walk, ftrait, spacious, and gracefully long. Far exceeding the laft in the Extent of its Area, though much inferior in the Statelinefs of its Cieling. It put me in mind of that divine Benignity, which has allowed Us the 4 Space Space of fix Days, for the Profecution of our own, comparatively low Affairs; and fet apart but one in feven, for the more immediate Attendance on the fublime Duty of worfhipping our CREATOR. This Walk was covered with the neatest Gravel; and not a Weed to be seen, nor one Blade of Grafs, through the whole extended Surface. It ftole into a continual Ascent; yet so very gradually, that the Rife was scarce difcernable, either by the fearching Eye, the toiling Feet, or the panting Breath.At the Extremity, a handsome Summer-house shewed a Flight of Steps, and half a Venetian Door. The reft of the Building was hid by the low-hung cluftering Branches. As foon as We enter the Apartment, Camillus throws open the Left-hand Safh; and, with it, a most enlarged and amufive Profpect.-The Structure appeared fituate on the Brow of a confiderable Eminence. Whofe Sides were partly confused, and wild with broken Rocks, partly fhagged and perplexed with thorny Shrubs. The Spectator is agreeably furprised, to find Himself accommodated with fo elegant a Manfion, on the Summit of fo rude and ruinous a Spot. But, how greatly is his Surprise and his Satisfaction augmented, when he cafts his Eye forward; and beholds the beautiful Meads, which, from the Foot of this ragged Hill, ftretch themfelves into a Space almost unmeasurable! Through the Midft of this extenfive Vale, which was decked with the finest Verdure, and replenished with the richest Herbage *, a River rolled its copious X 2 Planis Porrectus Spatiis, & multa prodigus Herba. Flood, HOR. Flood. Rolled, in a thousand serpentine Meanders; as though it was loth to leave the flowery Scene; and made repeated Efforts to prolong its Stay amidft fuch lovely Objects.-Till, at last, having loitered in its own Labyrinths, and wandered more than twice the Length * of the Meadows; having held a Mirror to the aspiring Poplars, and bending Willows; having paid a welcome Salute to feveral ornamented Villas, and paffed through the Arches of two or three curiously pendent Bridges; it feemed to meet the Sky, and mingle with the Horizon. Oppofite to the Front Window, a Cascade fell from the adjacent Stream. It flashed and foamed along the broad Slope, indented with small Pits, and jagged with protuberant Stones. The Current, vexed and embarraffed, feemed to rave at the intervening Obstacles; and forcing its rapid, indignant, fonorous Way, ftruck the Ear with a Peal of liquid Thunder. These fretful Waters-let our angry Paffions obferve the Admonition, and follow the Example-foon forgot their Rage; foon recovered their Temper. Collected into a little Rivulet, they ran off in calm and filent Lapfe, till they loft themfelves amongst Beds of Ofier, and Plantations of Alder. The River, widening as it flowed, was parted here and there by feveral little Islands. Scattered, as it were, by the Hand of Chance; and raifing their green Heads in the Midft of the lucid Stream; they presented a moft unexpected and moft pleafing Spectacle. Some of them were tufted with Reeds, and *The River Oufe in Bedfordshire, by its multiplied Windings, makes a Space of eighteen Miles by Land, more than eighty by Water. and furrounded with Rocks and Shoals, the unmolefted Refort of Swans. Some adorned with stately Porticos, and splendid Alcoves; the graceful Retreats of rural Pleasure. One, larger than the rest, seemed to be furnished with cool embowering Walks; fitted for ftudious Retirement, or fedate Contemplation. On either Side of the charming Valley, Towns and Villages lay thick, and looked gay; adding Ornament and Variety to the Scene, and receiving innumerable Advantages from the paffing Wave. * The Whole recalled to an attentive Obferver's Mind, that amiable and auguft Spectacle, which the Syrian Soothsayer could not behold, without a Rapture of Delight;-From the Top of the Rocks I fee the Tribes of JEHOVAH, and from the Hills I behold the Habitations of his chofen People. How goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob! And thy Tabernacles, O Ifrael! As the Vallies, are they spread forth; as Gardens, by the River's Side: as Trees of exquifite Fragrance +, which the LORD hath planted: as Cedars of ftatlieft Growth, flourishing befide the Waters. We had but juft looked about Us, when à Meffenger came for Camillus. As He was called to fettle fome private Affairs, I chose to stay in this inviting Retreat; and determined to make myself aX 3 mends Numb. xxiii. 7. + Numb. xxiv. 5, 6. It is well known, that the Word is used in the facred Writings, to denote either a delightful Perfume, Prov. vii. 17. or that aromatic Plant, which produces it, Cant. iv. 14.-For which Reason, I think it very juftifiable, to render the Expreffion, Trees of exquifite Fragrance; and am perfuaded, it will be far more intelligible to the Generality of Readers, than Trees of Lign-Aloes. mends for the Lofs of Camillus's Company, by beginning a Correspondence with my Theron.-We have Pen, Ink, and Paper, in all our rural Retirements; that, if any Thing is ftarted in Difcourse, or occurs in Meditation, worthy to be remembered, it may immediately be committed to Writing. I could not but obferve to my Friend, that, fine as the Profpect appeared, there was one Decoration wanting; if fome grand Deformity may be called a Decoration. The Ridges of a bleak and barren Mountain, or the Skirts of a Sun-burnt tawny Heath, would give additional Liveliness, to the ornamented Part of the Landscape. Thus contrafted, their Beauties would acquire a new Charm, and ftrike with double Vigour.-This Circumstance would fhew Us, what wretched Abodes and inhofpitable Quarters might have fallen to our Share. And would probably awaken a more fervent Gratitude to the Supreme DISPOSER of Things; who has caft our Lot in a fairer Ground, and given us a more goodly Heritage." દર So, a proper Knowledge of the divine Law-of its fublime Perfections, and rigorous Sanctionjoined with a Conviction of our own extreme Deficiency, and manifold Tranfgreffions all this would endear the bleffed JESUS to our Affections, and powerfully recommend his Righteousness to our Defires.-The Remainder of this Epiftle, therefore, fhall turn upon fome Inftances of Duty, enjoined in that facred Syftem. By which it may be highly useful to examine our Conduct, and fift our Hearts: in which, I believe, we have all fallen short, and are all become guilty: from which, We may learn the Imperfection of our best Services, and fee the |