THE WORKS OF GOD. 



tiful and useful than that of an humble Christian, 

 bending with meekness and humility beneath 

 severe calamity which has befallen him. He relies 

 at that time more especially, with confidence on a 

 compassionate Saviour. Religion is then as "a 

 jewel making him rich in the midst of poverty 

 a sun giving him light during the darkest night 

 a fortress keeping him safe in the greatest 

 danger/ 5 He may then exclaim with an old and 

 honest poet 



This world is not my country 'tis my way ; 

 Too much contentment would invite my stay 

 Too long upon my journey ; make it strange, 

 Unwelcome news, to think upon a change ; 

 Whereas these rugged entertainments send 

 My thoughts before me to my journey's end ; 

 Guide my desires all homewards tell me plain, 

 To think of resting here is but in vain ; 

 Make me to set an equal estimate 

 On this uncertain world, and a just rate 

 On that to come ; they bid me wait and stay 

 Until my master's call, and then with joy 

 To entertain it. Such a change as this, 

 Renders my loss, my gain, improves my bliss." 



In making these remarks, I have been in- 

 fluenced, I hope, by a wish, to draw attention 

 to those attributes of the Creator from which so 

 much peace and happiness are to be derived. 

 What, indeed, is more calculated to bring the 

 mind to a pure and tranquil state than the study 

 of Natural History, not as a mere gratification of 



