quickly be tarnished; and the fnowy Form, defiled in the Duft.

As the Lily pleafes, with the noble Simplicity of its Appearance; the Tulip is admired, for the Gaiety and Multiplicity of its Colours. Never was Cup, either painted, or enamelled, with fuch a Profufion of Dyes. Its Tinges are fo glowing; its Contrafts fo ftrong; and the Arrangement of them both, fo elegant and artful! -Twas lately the Pride of the Border, and the reigning Beauty of the delightful Seafon. As exquifitely fine as the Rainbow, and almost as extremely tranfient. It spread, for a little Moment, its glittering Plumage; but has, now, laid all its variegated and fuperior Honours down. Thofe radiant Stripes are blended, alass! rudely blended with common Mold.

To a graceful Shape, and blooming Complexion, the Rofe adds the most agreeable Perfume. Our Noftrils make it repeated Vifits, and are never weary of drinking in its Sweets. A Fragrance, fo peculiarly rich and reviving, tranfpires from its opening Tufts; that every one covers its Acquaintance. How have I feen even the accomplished Chariffa, for whom fo many Votaries languifh, fondly careffing this little Flower; That lovely Bofom, which is the Seat of Innocence and Virtue; whose leaft Excellency it is, to rival the Delicacy of the pureft Snows; among a thousand Charms of

its own, thinks it poffible to adopt another from the Damafk Rofe-bud.-Yet, even this univerfal Favourite muft fail. Its native Balm cannot preferve it from Putrefaction. Soon, foon, muft it refign all thofe endearing Qualities; and hang neglected on its Stem, or drop defpifed to the Ground.

ONE Could wifh, methinks, these most amiable of the inanimate Race, a longer Existence : But in vain. They fade, almoft as foon as they flourish. Within lefs than a Month, their Glories are extinct. Let the Sun take a few more Journeys through the Sky; then vifit this inchanting Walk; and you will find nothing, but a wretched Wildernefs of ragged or naked Stalks. But (My Soul exults in the Thought) the Garment of celeftial Glory, which fhall ere long array the reanimated Body, will never wax old. The illuftrious Robes of a Saviour's confummate Righteoufnefs, which even now adorn the justified Spirit, are incorruptible and immortal. No Moth can corrode their Texture; no number of Ages fully their Brightness. The Light of Day may be quenched, and all the Stars fink in Obfcurity; but, the Honours of “Just Men made perfect," are subject to no Diminution. Inextinguishable and unfading, is the Luftre of their Crown.

YES; Ye flowery Nations, Ye must all decay. -Winter, like fome enraged and irresistible Con

Conqueror, that carries Fire and Sword, whereever he advances: that demolifhes Towns; depopulates Countries; fpreads Slaughter and Defolation, on every Side-So, just so, will Winter, with his favage and unrelenting Blafts, invade this beautiful Profpect. The Storms are gathering, and the Tempests mustering their Rage, to fall upon the Vegetable Kingdoms. They will ravage through the Dominions of Nature; and plunder her Riches, and lay wafte her Charms.-Then, ye Trees, muft ye ftand ftript of your verdant Apparel; and, ye Fields, be spoiled of your waving Treasures. Then, the Earth, difrobed of all her gay Attire, muft fit in Sables, like a difconfolate Widow. The Sun too, who now rides in Triumph round the World, and scatters Gaiety from his radiant Eye, will then look faintly from the Windows of the South; and, cafting a fhort Glance on our dejected World, will leave us to the uncomfortable Gloom of tedious Nights. Then, these pretty Chorifters of the Air, will chant no more to the gentle Gales. The Lark, the Linnet, and all the feathered Songfters, abandon their Notes, and indulge their Woes. The Harmony of the Woods is at an End; and Silence, (unless it be interrupted by howling Winds) a fullen Silence, fits brooding upon the Boughs; which are now made vocal, by a thousand warbling Throats.

VOL. I.

U

BUT

BUT (fweet Recollection! ravishing Expectation!) the Songs of Saints in Light, never admit a Paufe for Sadnefs. All Heaven will refound with the Melody of their Gratitude; and all Eternity echo to their triumphant Acclamations. The Hallelujaks of that World; and the harmonious Joy of its Inhabitants; will be as lafting, as the Divine Perfections, they celebrate.-Come then, Holy Love and tune my Heart; defcend, Celeftial Fire, and touch my Tongue; that I may ftand ready to ftrike up, and bear my Part, in that great Hofannah, that everlafting Hymn.

YES; yes; Ye flowery Nations, Ye must all decay.-And, indeed, could you add the Strength of an Oak, or the Stability of a Pyramid*, to all the Delicacy of your Texture;

yet

* I know not any Performance, in which the tranfitory Nature, of thefe moft durable Monuments of human Grandeur, is hinted with such a modest Air of Inftruction; or their hideous Ruin described, in fuch a Pomp of pleafing Horror; as in a finall, but folemn, picturefque, and majestic Poem, intitled-THE RUINS OF ROME, Written by the Rev. Mr. DYER. Whom the Reader (if he has the Pleasure of perufing that beautiful Piece) will eafily perceive, to have taken his Draughts from the Originals themfelves; as nothing but the Sight of thofe magnificent Remains, could have infpired his Lines with fuch Vivacity. As a Specimen of the Work, and a Confirmation of the Remark fuggefted above, I take Leave to tranfcribe the following Paffage :

The

yet fhort, exceeding fhort, even then, would your Duration be. For I fee, that all Things come to an End. The Pillars of Nature are tottering. The Foundations of the round World are falling away. "The Heavens themselves "wax old like a Garment."-But, amidit thefe Views of general Ruin, Here is our Refuge; This is our Confolation; We know, that our Redeemer liveth. Thy Years, bleffed JESUS, fhall not fail. From Everlafting to Everlasting, Thou art ftill the fame: the fame moft excellent and adorable Perfon; the fame omnipotent and faithful Friend; the fame all-fufficient and 'ineftimable Portion. O! may we but partake of thy Merits; be fanctified by thy Grace; and received into thy Glory! Then perish, if ye will, all inferior Delights. Let all that is fplendid in the Skies, expire; and all that is amiable in Nature, be expunged. Let the whole Extent of Creation, be turned again into one diftinguishable Void; one univerfal Blank. -Yet, if God be ours, we shall have enough. If GOD be ours, we fhall have all, and abound*. U 2

The Pilgrim oft,

At dead of Night, mid his Oraifon hears
Aghaft the Voice of Time, difparting Tow'rs,
Tumbling all precipitate down dafhed,
Rattling around, loud thund'ring to the Moon.

un

All

His Hand the good Man faftens on the Skies,
And bids Earth roll, nor feels the idle Whirl.
Night-Thoughts, No. IV.