xli 



lion, which never shines so clearly as when retired 

 from the world and worldly incumbrances. Woods, 

 rocks, grottas, groves, rivers, and rivulets, are 

 places pictid out for contemplation ; where you 

 may consider crcational work, and melt with tJie 

 warbling notes of Philomel, and the innocent har- 

 mony of musical birds, that deliciate the air, and 

 delight the attention . Or you may proportion your 

 meditations with the pulse of the ocean, or the soft 

 and murmuring complaints of purling streams, 

 that imprint their j)(^sions as they pass along, 

 ic hen melting the smiling florid banks. 



Nature consults no artificer to imbellish and 

 adorn her illaborate works ; and shall the God of 

 Heaven, the great Creator, draw his lines from 

 the faint shadows of nature ? Pray, but consider, 

 who makes the sea keep her regular motion, the 

 constellations their rotations, and the erratick stars 

 roll in their several orbs ? Are not all the reins of 

 government in the Divine Hand of him that made 

 them ? Is not the Christian's diadem, and the pur- 

 chase of the Cross there? liberty and freedom 

 there ? the sweet tranquillity of peace there ? the 

 blessed society of saints and angels there ? jus- 

 tice and mercy there ? the results also of life and 

 death there ? and where shall ive be found if not 

 there, in those everlasting arms of beatitude, that 



rt our souls by the divine ray of contempla- 

 tion '' 



