28 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



For the earth is his, and the fulness thereof; by 

 whose wisdom the world was made, and time 

 begot ; and by whose infinite power the separa- 

 ted elements live still in harmony ; who form'd 

 the fetus of earth, and made the firmament its 

 swadling-band ; and in the vast circumference 

 of heaven he hung up the glorious creature the 

 sun, whereby to illuminate and illustrate the 

 world ; whose centre nor circumference contains 

 him not ; nor the excellency of his glory that 

 super-excels all creatures and creations ; from 

 whom the deplorable sons of men wail for de- 

 liverance and redemption from sin. 



And now let's contemplate the nocturnal 

 Muses. Sleep first presents us with an emblem 

 of death ; yet is it the poor man's solace, though 

 the rich man's terror ; a repose and recreation to 

 the wearied limbs, but a disease of inquietude to 

 the voracious mind ; the body's requiem, and 

 death's effigies. Now death is the desired hope 

 of him that truly contemplates the state of im- 

 mortality ; and as mortality is the end of sor- 

 row, so by consequence it's the beginning of 

 joy ; a period of misery, but the trophy of vic- 

 tory ; the resurrection of life, and the bloomings 

 of eternity. For as the barren ground thirsts 

 after rain, so does the oppressed seek deliverance 

 in death. 



Great and good is our glorious Creator, whose 



