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When the moon, refulgent lamp of night, 
O’er heav’n’s clear azure spreads her sacred light, 
When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, 
And not a cloud o’ercasts the solemn scene- 
Around her throne the vivid planets roll. 
And stars unnumber’d gild the glowing pole. 
Then shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise, 
And floods of glory burst from all the skies. 
Homer. 
That we have pre-existed is supported both by revelation as well as reason, for when the Jews 
brought the boy bom blind to Christ, asking “ for whose sin did this misfortune happen, whether 
as an affliction to his parents, or for his own sin ”—“ Neither,” says our blessed Lord, “ was it for 
his own sins, (mark he was born blind) nor for those of his parents; but (in this particular instance) 
that the power of God might be made manifest.” And “ Christ touched the eyes of the boy, and he 
that was blind immediately saw.” So if we consult reason, we cannot fail to observe some children 
exhibiting the most perverse disposition, even in their very cradle, and others again as good; and 
there is no life, however esteemed here as prosperous, but has its afflictions, which shews us to be in 
the state of punishment, or purification. The doctrine, says the celebrated Ramsay, of the creation 
of a new soul at every birth, and this pure innocent spirit to be incarcerated in a weak body, subject 
to innumerable accidents, and diseases, and so actuating the spirit, as to render it afterwards liable to 
the torment of an eternal fire, and the reason of God acting so, because of the sin of one man, w r ho 
lived 4000 years ago, and with whom we have no more connexion than with Nero, or Caligula, is 
contrary to every notion we should entertain of God, and of his attributes. He is truly “ the God of 
Love,” and the whole relation of Moses is therefore figurative. The fall of Adam is only the type of 
the true condition of all of us here. He was surrounded by objects of creation the most agreeable. 
A consort was added to complete his paradisiacal felicity. In this blessed state he was subject to com¬ 
mandment, and the story of the apple is only allegorical of the ease there was in obedience, “ My 
yoke is easy, and my burthen is light.” But possessing free-will, for so it pleased God, man abused 
his nature, and was driven out of paradise; and whether he passed from one star to another star, or 
the abode was altered, is immaterial to our argument. The poet may be allowed to manage it as he 
pleases.—How fine is his account of this matter. 
--He scrupled not to eat 
Against his better knowledge, not deceiv’d. 
But fondly overcome with female charm,- 
Earth trembled from her entrails as again 
In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan; 
Sky lour’d, and muttering thunder, some sad drops 
Wept, at the completing of the mortal sin 
Original.—Then to diverse angels God gave charge 
As sorted best with present things. The sun 
Had first his precept so to move, so shine 
As might affect the earth with cold and heat 
Scarce tolerable, and from the north to call 
Decrepit winter, from the south to bring 
Solstitial summer’s heat. To the blank moon 
Her office they prescrib’d, to th’ other five 
Their planetary motions and aspects 
In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite 
Of noxious efficacy, and when to join 
In synod unbenign; and taught the fix’d 
Their influence malignant when to shower. 
Which of them rising with the sun, or falling, 
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