which he laboured to administer with impartial jus. tice and universal benevolence.. 6. The discordant claims of different regions and climates, and the opposite wants of the various fruits of the earth in the same district, harassed his mind with incessant care, suspense, and perplexity. 7. If he suffered the clouds to pour down their treasures on the thirsty deserts of Arabia, impetuous torrents overwhelmed the fertile plains of Bassora; and when he sent forth a storm, to sweep away the pestiferous Samiel, * which carried death and destruction in its progress, a fleet, laden with the richest merchandize, was shipwrecked in the Gulf of Ormus. 8. The fervid beams of the sun, while they matured the luscious grape of Smyrna, destroyed the harvest of corn, and burnt up the herbage of the fields. 9. The philosopher thought that he could, perhaps, remedy these evils by turning aside the axis of the earth, and varying the ecliptic of the sun : but he found it impossible to make a change of position, by which the world could be benefited; and he dreaded the injury he might occasion to distant and unknown parts of the solar system.† 10. Oppressed with anxiety, lie earnestly solicited the great governor of the universe to divest him of the painful office with which he was honoured. 11. “ Father of Light," exclaimed he,

“thy omnipotent hand and all-seeing eye are alone equal to the mighty empire of this globe. 12. The ways of nature exceed my finite thought; and I now feel with reverence and humility, that, to dispense good and evil, nothing less can be required than unerring wisdom, spotless rectitude, and sovereign power.” 13. The Deity listened with indulgence to a prayer which flowed from a sincere and pious heart. 14. In the folly of the astronomer, he saw and pitied the weakness of human nature ; and by strengthening the present conviction of his mind, he graciously removed the insanity under which he laboured.

PERCIVAL.

CHAP. XVI.

On the Works of the Creation.

Cre-a'-ti-on, s. the act of forming or giving existence. In its

strict sense, it implies the giving existence to a thing which

had no pre-existing matter. The things created, or the universe. 1. A-doʻr-ed, pret. honoured with divine worship ; reverenced. 2. Soʻ'-li-ta-ry, a. lonely. Gloomy, dismal. Glade, s. a lawn or opening of a wood; a passage through a

wood made by lopping off the branches of trees. 4. Choir, s. a band or company of singers 6. Re-veals', v. (third person singular), shows, discloses. 7. Pa-vi"-li-on, s. (pro. pra-vil-yon), a tent, a temporary house. 8. Fir-ma-ment, s. the sky. *

Glare, s. an overpowering or dazzling lustre.

1. BEAUTY complete and majesty divine,

In all thy works, ador'd Creator, shine;

Where'er I cast my wond'ring eyes around,

The God I seek in ev'ry part is found.
2. Pursuing thee, the flow’ry fields I trace,

And read thy name on ev'ry spire of grass.
I follow thee thro' many a lonely shade,

And find thee in the solitary glade.
3. I meet thee in the kind refreshing gale

That gently passes thro’ the dewy vale:
The pink, the jasmine, and the purple rose,

Perfum'd by thee, their fragrant leaves disclose. 4. The feather'd choir, that welcome in the spring,

By thee were taught their various notes to sing ;
By thee the morning, in her crimson vest

And ornaments of golden clouds, is drest,
5. The sun in all its splendour wears thy beams,

And drinks in light from thy exhaustless streams The moon reveals thee by her glimm’ring ray.;

Unnumber'd stars thy glorious paths display. 6. Amid the solemn darkness of the night,

The thoughts of God my musing soul delight. 7. Thick shade and night thy dread pavilion form ;

In state thou rid'st upon the flying storm;
While thy strong hand its fiercest rage restrains,

And holds the wild unmanag'd winds in reins. 8. What sparklings of thy majesty appear,

When thro’ the firmament swift lightnings glare ! When peals of thunder fill the skies around,

I hear thy voice in the tremendous sound. 9. But oh ! how small a part is known of thee;

From all thy works immense variety !

Whatever mortal men perfection name

Thou in an infinite degree dost claim.
10. And while I here thy faintest shadows trace,

I pine to see the glories of thy face;
Where beauty in its never changing height,

And uncreated excellence shine bright. 11. When shall the heav'nlyscene, without controul,

Open in dazzling triumph on my soul ?
My powers with all their ardour, shall adore,
And languish for terrestrial charms no more.

Rowe.

CHAP. XVII.

On the Death of Mr. R. Levet, a practiser in Physic.

non

3. Af-fec'-ti-on, s. love, fondness, regard, or good-will. Ar'-ro-gance, s. the assuming a claiming to one's-self more

honour or merit than is our due. 6. Pet'-ty, a, small, inconsiderable. 8. Gli’-ded, pret. passed by without any tumult 9. Throb’-bing, part. heaving, beating, palpitating.

Vi’-tal, a. containing life; essential.

1. CONDEMN'D to hope's delusive mine,

As on we toil from day to day,
By sudden blasts, or slow decline,

Our social comforts drop away.
2. Well try'd through many a varying year,

See Levet to the grave descend, Officious, innocent, sincere,

Of ev'ry friendless name the friend.

3. Yet still he fills affection's eye,

Obscurely wise, and coarsely kind;
Nor, letter'd arrogance, deny

Thy praise to merit unrefin'd.
4. When fainting nature callid for aid,

And hovering death prepar'd the blow,
His vigorous remedy display'd

The power of art without the show. 5. In misery's darkest cavern known,

His useful care was ever nigh;
Where hopeless anguish pour'd his groan,

And lonely want retir’d to die.
6. No summons mock'd by chill delay,

No petty gain disdain’d by pride ;
The modest wants of every day

The toil of every day supply’d.
7. His virtues walk'd their narrow round,

Nor made a pause, nor left a void :
And sure th' Eternal Master found

The single talent well employ’d. 8. The busy day-the peaceful night,

Unfélt, uncounted, glided by;
His frame was firm-his pow’rs were bright,

Tho' now his eightieth year was nigh. 9. Then with no fiery throbbing pain,

No cold gradations of decay,
Death broke at once the vital chain,
And forc'd his soul the nearest way.

JOHNSON.