N° 8. In this fyftem of Being, there is no crea ture fo wonderful in its nature, and which fo much deferves our particular attention, as man, who fills up the middle space between the animal and intellectual nature, the visible and invifible world, and is that link in the chain of Beings, which has been often termed the Nexus Utriufque Mundi. So that he who in one refpect is affociated with angels and arch-angels, may look upon a being of infinite perfection as his Father, and the higheft order of fpirits as his brethren, may in another refpect fay to corruption, thou art my father, and to the worm, thou art my mother and my fifter.

T

Divine Goodness in the Creation.

Hofe authors have been very entertaining to me, who have taken a furvey of the wifdom of God in the works of nature; fuch are the reverend and pious Mr. Ray, in his treatife on that subject; Mr. Derham, in his two volumes written on that divine theme, and the archbishop of Cambray, in his demonftration of the exiftence of God. But I do not remember to have read in those authors this one instance of the wide-fpreading diffufion of divine goodness through this lower world, (viz.)

That

That the most univerfal and confpicuous appearances both of the earth and sky, are defigned for the convenience, the profit and pleasure of all the animal creation: All that we fee above us, and all beneath us, is fuited to our nourishment or to our delight.

What is more neceffary for the fupport of life, than food? Behold the earth is cover'd with it all around; grafs, herbs and fruits for beasts and men, were ordain'd to overfpread all the furface of the ground, fo that an animal could fcarce wander any where, but his food was near him. Amazing provifion for fuch an immenfe family!

What is more joyful than the light? Truly the light is fweet (fays the wifest of men) and a pleasant thing 'tis to behold the light of the fun. See the whole circuit of the heavens is replenish'd with fun-beams, fo that while the day lafts, wherefoever the eye is placed, 'tis furrounded with this enjoyment; it drinks in the easy and general bleffing, and is thereby entertained with all the particular varieties of the creation. 'Tis light conveys to our notice all the riches of the divine workmanship, without it nature would be a huge and eternal blank, and her infinite beauties for ever, unknown.

Again; what are the fweeteft colours in

nature, the moft delightful to the eye, and moft refreshing too? furely the green & the blue claim this pre-eminence. Common experience, as well as philofophy, tells us, that bodies of blue and green colours fend us fuch rays of light to our eyes, as are leaft hurtful or offenfive; we can endure them longeft; whereas the red- and the yellow, or orange colour fend more uneafy rays in abundance, and give greater confufion and pain to the eye; they dazzle it fooner, and tire it quickly with a little intent gazing; therefore the divine goodness drefs'd all the heavens in blue, and the earth in green. Our habitation is over-hung with a canopy of moft beautiful azure, & a rich verdant pavement is fpread under our feet, that the eye may be pleas'd and eafy wherefover it turns itfelf, and that the most universal objects it has to converse with might not impair the fpirits and make the fenfe weary.

I.

When God the new-made world furvey'd,
His word pronounc'd the building good;
Sun-beams and light the heavens array'd,
And the whole earth was crown'd with

[food.

Colours

II.

Colours that charm and ease the eye,
His pencil fpread all nature round;
With pleafing blue he arch'd the sky,
And a green carpet dreft the ground,

III.

Let envious atheists ne'er complain
That nature wants, or skill, or care;
But turn their eyes all round in vain,
T'avoid their Maker's goodness there.

HYMN XXXVII.

For the Morning. By Bishop Ken.
To the French 100 Pfalm Tune.

A Wake, my foul, and with the fun,

Thy daily ftage of duty run,

Shake of dull floth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning facrifice.

Thy precious time mifpent, redeem,
Each present day, thy laft, efteem:
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thy felf prepare.
In converfation be fincere,

Keep confcience, as the noon-tide, clear;
Think how th' all-feeing God thy ways,
And all thy fecret thoughts furveys,

Bb 2

By

;

By influence of the light divine,
Let thy own light to others fhine
Reflect all heaven's propitious rays
In ardent love, and chearful praife.
Wake, and lift up thy felf, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part;
Who all night long unwearied fing,
High praise to the eternal King.

Awake, awake, ye heav'nly choir,
May your devotion me inspire,
That I, like you, my age may spend,
Like you may on my God attend.
May I, like you, in God delight,
Have all day long my God in fight;
Perform, like you, my Maker's will;
O may I never more do ill!

1

Had I your wings to heav'n I'd fly, But God fhall that defect fupply, And my foul, wing'd with warm defire, Shall all day long to heav'n afpire.

All praife to thee, who fafe haft kept, And hath refrefh'd me whilft I flept; Giant, Lord, when I from death fhall wake, I may of endless light partake.

I would not wake, nor rife again, Ev'n heav'n itself I would difdain, Wert not thou there to be enjoy'd, And I in hymns to be employ'd.

Heav'n is, dear Lord, where'er thou art, O never then from me depart;

For