the midst of it, and dividing it into two equal parts. The clouds ftill rested on one half of it, infomuch that I could discover nothing in it: but the other appeared to me a vaft ocean planted with innumer able iflands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little fhining feas that ran among them. I could fee perfons dreffed in glorious habits with garlands upon their heads, paffing among the trees, lying down by the fides of fountains, or refting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of finging birds, falling waters, human voices, and mufical inftruments. Gladness grew in me upon the discovery of fo delightful a fcene. I wished for the wings of an eagle, that I might fly away to thofe happy feats; 'but the genius told me there was no paffage. to them, except through the gates of death that I faw opening every moment upon the bridge. The iflands, faid he, that lie fo fresh and green before thee, and with which the whole face of the ocean appears fpotted as far as thou canft fee, are more in number than the fands on the fea fhore; there are myriads of islands behind thofe which thou here discovereft, reaching further than thine eye, or even thine imagination can extend it felf. These are the manfions of good

men

men after death, who according to the degree and kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are diftributed among these feveral islands, which abound with pleasures of different kinds and degrees, fuitable to the relishes and perfections of those who are fettled in them; every ifland is a paradife accommodated to its respective inhabitants. Are not thefe, O Mirza, habitations worth contending for? Does life appear miserable, that gives thee opportunities of earning fuch a reward? Is death to be feared, that will convey thee to so happy an exiftence? Think not man was made in vain, who has fuch an eternity referved for him. I gazed with inexpreffible pleasure on these happy iflands. At length, faid I, fhew me now, I beseech thee, the fecrets that lie hid under those dark clouds which cover the ocean on the other fide of the rock of adamant. The genius making me no anfwer, I turned about to addrefs myself to him a fecond time, but I found that he had left me; I then turned again to the vifion which I had been fo long contemplating, but inftead of the rolling tide, the arched bridge, and the happy iflands, I faw nothing but the long hollow valley of Bagdat, with oxen, fheep, and camels, grazing upon the fides of it.

HYMN

HYMN VI.

The Song of Angels above:

From Dr.Watts's Hora Lyricæ, Page 76.

I.

E

To the 81ft Pfalm Tune.

Arth has detain'd me prisoner long,
And I'm grown weary now:

My heart, my hand, my ear, my tongue,
There's nothing here for you.

2. Tir'd in my thoughts, I ftretch me down, And upward glance mine eyes.

Upward (my Father) to thy throne,
And to my native skies.

3. There the dear MAN my Saviour fits,
The Go D, how bright he fhines!
And scatters infinite delights

On all the happy minds.

4. Seraphs with elevated ftrains

Circle the throne around,

And move and charm the ftarry plains

With an inimortal found.

5. JESUS the LORD their harps employs, JESUS my love they fing,

JESUS the name of both our joys
Sounds fweet from every ftring.

6. Hark,

6. Hark, how beyond the narrow bounds Of time and space they run,

And speak in moft majestick founds,
The Godhead of the SON.

7. How on the Father's breast he lay,
The darling of his foul,
Infinite years before the day

Or heav'ns began to roll.

8. And now they fink the lofty tone,
And gentler notes they play,

And bring th' Eternal Godhead down,
To dwell in humble clay.

9.

O facred beauties of the MAN!
(The GOD refides within)

His flesh all pure, without a ftain,
His foul without a fin.

10. Then, how he look'd and how he fmil'd,
What wondrous things he faid!
Sweet cherubs, ftay, dwell here a while,
And tell what JESUS did.

11. At his command the blind awake,
And feel the gladsom rays;

He bids the dumb attempt to speak,
They try their tongues in praife.
12. He shed a thousand bleffings round
Where-e'er he turn'd his eye;

He fpoke, and at the fovereign found
The hellish legions fly.

13. Thus

13. Thus while with unambitious ftrife
Th' ethereal minstrels rove
Thro' all the labours of his life,
And wonders of his love,

14. In the full choir a broken ftring
Groans with a ftrange furprize;
The reft in filence mourn their king,
That bleeds, and loves, and dies.

15. Seraph and faint, with drooping wings,
Ceafe their harmonious breath;
No blooming trees, nor bubbling fprings,
While JESUS fleeps in death.

16. Then all at once to living strains
They fummon every chord,

Break up the tomb, and burft his chains,
And fhew their rising LORD.

17. Around the flaming army throngs
To guard him to the skies,
With loud Hofanna's on their tongues,
And triumph in their eyes.

18. In awful state the conqu'ring God'
Afcends his fhining throne,
While tuneful angels found abroad
The vict❜ries he has won,

19. Now let me rife, and join their fong, And be an angel too;

My heart, my hand, my ear, my tongue, Here's joyful work for you.