LESSON XXII. 



ON THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. 



By conflicting winds together dash'd, 



The Thunder holds his black tremendous throne ; 



From cloud to clond the rending Lightnings rage; 



'Till, in the furious elemental war 



Dissolv'd, the whole precipitated mass 



Unbroken floods and solid torrents pours. 



THOMSON.. 



AMONG the numerous phenomena which you 

 have observed, it is scarcely probable that there are 

 any which should more tend to raise in your mind 

 serious reflections, than that which we are now 

 about to consider. The more than usual gloomi- 

 ness of the sky, the uncommon heat of the air, 

 the astonishingly rapid descent of the rain or hail;, 

 which generally attend the Thunder's tremendous 

 clap, and the Lightning's forked flash, undoubt- 

 edly all contribute o raise ideas of wonder and awe. 

 But when we reflect upon the terrible effects which 

 Thunder Storms sometimes produce, buildings 

 set on fire, huge trees split into shivers,- steeples 

 rent, animals and men destroyed, and metals 

 melted like wax; what emotions do we feel? The 

 guilty soul will in a manner shrink into itself 

 with terror : but the truly religious and philoso- 

 phic mind, whilst filled with admiration of the 



- POWER 



