228 REFLECTIONS. 



ments of our benevolent Creator, the mind cannot 

 be too frequently employed in searching into the 

 various facts and circumstances connected with 

 everything we see around us. If we habituated 

 ourselves to this pleasing study, we should discover 

 in His works, a Being full of the tenderest com- 

 passion and kindness, incessantly employed in 

 the welfare of His creatures, however mean and 

 insignificant they may appear to us, and evincing 

 His goodness by the very abundance of His 

 benefits. This is a consideration calculated to 

 fill us with gratitude as well as admiration ; and 

 these feelings have been well described by one of 

 my favourite poets. 



Oh ! by yonder mossy seat, 

 In my hours of sweat retreat, 

 Might I thus my soul employ, 

 "With sense of gratitude and joy : 

 Rais'd, as antient prophets were, 

 In heavenly vision, praise and pray'r ; 

 Pleasing all men, hurting none, 

 Pleas'd and blest with God alone ; 

 Then while the gardens take my sight, 

 With all the colours of delight ; 

 While silver waters glide along, 

 To please my ear, and court my song ; 

 I'll lift my voice and tune my string, 

 And Thee, great source of nature sing. 



PARNELL. 



