of its whole * Furniture! In which, all is regulated with confummate Skill, and touched into the highest Perfection. All most exactly adapted to the various Intentions of Providence, and the manifold Exigencies of Mankind: to supply every Want, We can feel; and gratify every Wish, We can form.

Infomuch that the whole Syftem affords a favourite and exalted Topic of Praise, even to those distinguished Beings, who stand on the Sea of Glafs, and have the Harps of GOD in their Hands. They lift their Voice and fing, Great and marvelous are thy Works, O LORD GOD Almighty +!—And is there not Reafon, my Afpafio would fay, infinite Reason, for Us to join this triumphant Choir; and add Gratitude to our Wonder, Love to our Hallelujahs? Since all thefe Things are to Us, not merely Objects of Contemplation, but Sources of Accommodation: not only a ma

jeftic

* No Notice is taken of the Ocean, in this little Rent-roll of Nature's Wealth; because, a diftinct Sketch is given of that grand Reservoir and its principal Services, in Letter IX.

+ Revel. xv. 3. Great and marvelous are thy Works, O LORD GOD Almighty! Just and true are thy Ways, Thou KING of Saints! The first Part feems to mean, what the infpired Writer calls, The Song of Mofes. The Second contains, what He ftyles, The Song of the LAMB. The first, I fhould imagine, relates to the ftupendous Works of Creation. The fecond alludes to the far more wonderful Scheme of Redemption. The former, defcribing the Syftem of Nature, is recorded by Mofes; the latter, comprehending the Salvation of the Saints, is accomplished by CHRIST.

jeftic Spectacle, bright with the Display of our CREATOR's Wifdom, but an ineftimable Gift, rich with the Emanations of his Goodnefs. The Earth hath He fet before the Inhabitants of Glory, but the Earth bath He given to the Children of Men*. -Having given Us

Ourselves; given Us a World; has He not a Right, a moft unquestionable and unrivaled Right, to make that tender Demand? My Son, give me thy Heart.

Shall I add another Passage? Which, viewed with any but the last Paragraph, will be like the Head of Gold, eminent and confpicuous on Feet of Iron and Clay. It is taken from the finest philofophical Oration, that ever was made. I never read it, but with a Glow of Delight, and with Impreffions of Awe. It is, in fhort, inimitably fpirited and fublime.You think, perhaps, I act an impolitic Part, in being fo lavish of my Praise; and that the Quotation must fuffer, by fuch an aggrandizing Introduction. But I am under no Apprehenfions of this Kind. Forbear to be delighted, if You can; ceafe to admire, if You can; When You hear OMNISCIENCE itself declaring, That, on the Sight of this universal Fabric, emerging out of Nothing, THE MORNING STARS SANG TOGETHER, AND ALL THE SONS OF GOD SHOUTED FOR JOY -The

* Pfal, cxv. 16. + Prov. xxiii. 26.

System

Job xxxviii. 5.

System was so graceful, fo magnificent, and, in all Respects, fo exquifitely finished; that the moft exalted Intelligences were charmed, were transported. They knew not how to express themselves on the great Occafion, but in Shouts of Exultation, and Songs of Praife. Is it poffible for Imagination to conceive an Encomium, so just, so high, fo beautifully noble ! -I am fure, after fo much Delicacy, and Majesty of Sentiment, any thing of mine must be intolerably flat; unless You will except this one Profeffion, that I am, with the most cordial Sincerity,

My dear Afpafio,

inviolably yours,

THERON.

I

LETTER VII.

ASPASIO to THERON,

My dear THE RON,

F You write with fuch a View, and from fuch a Motive, as are mentioned in your laft, expect no more free-will Offerings from my Pen. In this one Inftance, I fhall think it my Duty to be covetous. I fhall act the

D 4

Mifer

Mifer out of Principle; and hardly perfuade myfelf to part with a fingle Line, till it is become an undeniable Debt. I must turn your own Artifice on Yourfelf; and lay You under a Neceffity of obliging, entertaining, and edifying me by your Correspondence.

For, give me Leave to affure You, that I am always delighted, and always improved by your Epiftles. They fhew me a Multitude of Beauties in the Creation, which I should not otherwife have difcerned. They point out the infinite Power, the unfearchable Wisdom, and the charmingly rich Goodness of the glorious MAKER. Such a Philosophy turns all Nature into a School of Inftruction, and is an excellent Handmaid to true Religion. It makes every Object a Step, better than a golden Step, to raise both our Knowledge and our Affections to the adorable and immortal CAUSE of all.

While I am roving heedlesly along, your Remarks often interpofe, like fome intelligent faithful Monitor, who claps his Hand upon my Breaft, and fays; Stand fill, and confider the wondrous Works of GOD*-Willingly I obey the Admonition: the Chriftian may, with peculiar Complacency, behold this grand Magazine of Wonders, this copious Storehouse of Bleffings; and, confcious of an Interest in JESUS,

Job xxxvii. 14.

JESUS, has a Right to call them all his own *. He may look round upon prefent Things; look forward unto future Things; and, trusting in his SAVIOUR's Merit, may confidently say" Not one only, but both "these Worlds are mine. By virtue of my "REDEEMER's Righteoufnefs, I poffefs "the neceffary Accommodations of this Life; " and, on the fame unshaken Footing, I stand "intitled to the inconceivable Felicity of a "better."

Surely then it will be as pleasing an Employ, and as important a Search, to examine the Validity of our Title to all Things, as to estimate the Value of our prefent Poffeffions. You have executed the one, Let me attempt the other.You have furveyed material Nature: it appears to be void of all Defect; and, for the Purposes which it is intended to answer, completely finished. Is not our SAVIOUR's Obedience, the Provision made for indigent and guilty Souls, equally perfect?-Since this is everlasting and immutable; fince the other is tranfient and perishable; doubtlefs We may argue with the judicious Apoftle: If that which is to be done away, which will foon be configned over to Diffolution, is glorious; much more that which remaineth, whofe bleffed Effects continue to eternal Ages, is glorious +.

* 1 Cor. iii. 21. + 2 Cor. iii. 11.

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