paffing Worth of an immortal Soul; a Solicitude for its final Welfare urged 238-An unthinking View of the Skies is affecting; much more a rational and devout one, 241-The Scantinefs of our Knowledge, with regard to the celeflial Bodies; after all our Search, they are Objects of Admiration, rather than of Science; Exhortation to fuch Purfuits, as are of eafy Attainment, and will be of everlasting Advantage, 243-Short. Recapitulation of the Whole; and an Hymn of Praise, fuited to the Occafion, 247. N. B. It may feem unaccountable to an unlearned Reader, that Aftronomers fhould speak fuch amazing Things; and fpeak them with fuch an Air of Affurance; concerning the Diftances and Magnitudes; the Motions and Relations, of the heavenly Bodies. I would defire fuch a Perfon to confider the Cafe of ECLIPSES, and with what Exadness they are calculated. The inftant of their beginning, and the Time of their continu ance, affigned; affigned, almost to the Nicety of a Moment, and, what is ftill more surprising, for the Space of hundreds or thousands of Years to come. As this is a Matter of Fact, absolutely indifputable; it is also a very obvious, yet folid Demonftration, that the Principles of Science, on which thofe Calculations proceed, are not mere Conjecture, or precarious Supposition only; but have a real a certain Foundation, in the Nature and Conftitution of Things. こ GONTEMPLATIONS ON THE STARRY HEAVENS. There dwells a noble Pathos in the Skies, CONTEMPLATIONS ΟΝ ΤΗ Ε STARRY HEAVENS. HIS Evening, I exchange the nice Retreats of Art, for the noble Theatre of Nature. Inftead of measuring my Steps, under the Covert of an Arbour; let me range along the Summit, of this gently rifing Hill.—There is no Need of the leafy Shade, fince the Sun has quitted the Horizon, and withdrawn his fcorching Beams. But fee, how Advantages and Inconveniencies are ufually linked, and chequer our Affairs below! If the annoying Heat ceafes, the Landscape, and its pleafing Scenes, are also removed.-The majeftic Caftle, and the lowly Cottage, are vanifhed together. I have loft the aspiring Mountain, and its ruffet Brow; I look round, but to no Purpose, for the humble Vale, and its flowery Lap. The Plains whitened with Flocks, and the Heath yellow with Furze, disappear. The advancing Night, has has wrapt in Darknefs the long extended Foreft; and drawn her Mantle, over the Windings of the filver Stream. I no longer behold that luxuriant Fertility in the Fields; that wild Magnificence of Prospect, and endless Variety of Images; which have fo often touched me with Delight, and ftruck me with Awe, from this commanding Eminence. THE Lofs, however, is fcarcely to be regretted; fince it is amply compenfated, by the opening Beauties of the Sky. Here I enjoy a free View of the whole Hemifphere; without any Obftacle from below, to confine the exploring Eye; or any Cloud from above, to overcaft the fpacious Concave. Tis true; the lively Vermilion, which fo lately streaked the Chambers of the Weft, is all faded. But the Planets, one after another, light up their Lamps; the Stars advance in their glittering Train; a Thousand and a Thousand Luminaries, fhine forth in fucceffive Splendors; and the whole Firmament is kindling into the moft beautiful Glow. The Blueness of the Ether, heightened by the Season of the Year, and ftill more enlivened by the Abfence of the Moon, gives thofe Gems of Heaven the strongest Luftre. ONE Pleasure more, the invading Gloom has not been able to fnatch, from my Senfe. The Night rather improves, than deflroys, the Fragrance which exhales from the blooming Beans. |