"rising world, and from a gloomy chaos bid the "harmonious universe appear!

"Confusion heard his voice, and wild Uproar "Stood rul'd, stood vast Infinitude confin'd."

Milton.

"At thy word the pillars of the sky were framed, "and its beauteous arches reared; thy breath kind"led the stars, adorn'd the moon with silver rays, "and gave the sun its flaming splendour.

"Thy glory in her silent course the moon,
"And nightly lamps in their obscure sojourn,
"The morning-star with its bright circle crown'd,
"And early blushes of the day, reveal;
"The circling sun thy greatness manifests,
"Whether ascending from the eastern wave,
"With glancing smiles, he cheers the dewy fields;
"Or mounted to the zenith's lofty height,
"He blazes with transcendent glory round;
"Or down the steep of heav'n he rolls amain,
"And ends his flaming progress in the sea:
"From east to west thy grandeur he proclaims,

"And thro' his radiant kingdoma spreads thy praise." "Thou didst prepare for the waters their capa"cious bed, and set bounds to the raging billows; "by thee the hills were crowned with plenty, and "the vallies dressed in their flowery pride; the "" summer and winter, the shady night and the bright revolutions of the day, are thine; in all "the wonderful effects of Nature we adore and "confess thy power.

"Thou rid'st upon the wild tempestuous wind,

"And flying storms obey thy potent voice:

"Sublime on clouds thy dark pavilion set,

"With shades and gloomy majesty involv'd:

46

Thy hands the pointed lightnings lance around,
"While peals of thunder shake the firmament;
"At thy approach the kindling forests smoke,
"And from their base the trembling mountains start;
"The rivers ebb and flow at thy command,
"Observe their wonted course, or run reverse:
"At thy rebuke the frighted waves divide,
"And with stupendous motion backward roll
"Their crystal volumes to their inmost spring.
"Thou all things canst; thy mighty mandate heard,
"Necessity and Nature are no more :——

"Th' obedient elements resign their league,

"And wonderful effects attest the God!"

These, my dear friend, are the entertainments that brighten my solitude, and free my soul from its former engagements: those fading graces, on which I once doated, vanish before a superior excellence, as stars before the rising sun; instead of repining I adore, I justify the great dispensing Power that has removed the darling of my affections to fix them on immortal beauty. I have lost nothing amiable or attractive, but what is found with divine advantage in the fair Original.

I know you will congratulate me on this happy change it must please you to find that your pious instructions, joined to the sanctity of your example, have not entirely been lost on,

Reverend SIR,

Your most obedient humble servant,

AMINTOR.

Sir,

LETTER XII.

To the same.

I HAVE obeyed your commands in sending the inclosed; you will not require an apology for an essay on this transporting subject: Joy and Gratitude will speak, however disproportioned the expressions.

On our SAVIOUR's Nativity.

VICTORIJUS Love! how uncontroul'd thy pow'r !
How great thy triumph on that glorious hour!
The high-rais'd thrones above look'd down to sec
The vanquish'd God a captive led by thee.
His fplendour in mortality disguis'd,
The Principalities of heav'n furpris'd;

Th' indulgent fkies fmil'd on the happy birth,
While peace and joyful wonder hush'd the earth,
Fly, rigid Winter, with thy horid face,

And let the foft and lovely Spring take place;
Oh! come thou faireft feafon of the year,
With garlands deck'd and verdant robes appear;
And once produce the Summer's various cost,
Whatever fweets her flow'ry ftores can boaft:
Full canifters of Sharon's rofes fpread,
And drefs with art th' illuftrious Infant's bed;
Rifle the gardens, fearch the painted fields,
For all the blooming glories Nature yields.

But, O ye produ&s of the earth, how poor,
To heav'n's enamell'd plains, are all your ftore!
Perpetual greens, and never fading flow'rs,
Enrich with foft perfumes th' immortal bow'rs;

And yet he left the bright ethereal seats
For these cold regions and obscure retreats.

Be hufh'd, ye Winds, no angry tempest rove,
But fink in gentle whispers through the grove;
With all Arabia load your balmy wings,

And breathe the fragrance of ten thousand springs.
Begin, you fweet musicians of the air!

Let Nature all her foothing founds prepare ;
Let tuneful Art her various measures bring
Each melting tone, and ev'ry warbling ftring;
Let pfalt'ries, harps, and the loud cymbal ring ;
Let the fhrill trumpets raise their sprightly voice,
While Carmel and high Lebanon rejoice.

He comes, O Jacob, thy long promis'd King!
Celestial envoys the glad tidings bring:
O'er earth's wide compass to the distant main,
With truth and perfect juftice he shall reign.

The sparkling skies shall tarnish and decay,
The fun be quench'd, and stars fhall fade away;
But he fhall rife with a propitious light,
Stand at high-noon, and shine divinely bright.

I shall now leave you to your own sublimer con templation on this unbounded theme, and sub

scribe myself,

SIR,

Your most obedient humble servant,

AMINTOR.

F

LETTER XIII.

To a gentleman in France, from his Sister; giving him a relation of her lover's musfortunes.

My dear Brother,

As my passion for Valerius had, in its beginning, your approbation, you will not blame my constancy at a juncture when the unhappy youth has no other consolation. His misfortunes have brought those virtues into view which, in the height of prosperity, he never found occasion to exert ; and, as his merit rises, you will not reproach me in finding my attachment to him more steady and resolved than in the splendour of his fortune.

You know how much my father piques himself on his quality, and how averse he was, when you left us, to Valerius's proposal, on no other account but his being a citizen, though a man of great virtue and wealth. However, this last motive, after some deliberation, prevailed; I was suffered to receive his addresses, and every thing was preparing to celebrate the marriage.

Valerius had always behaved himself in so obsequious a manner to his father, that he put a considerable stock into his hands, which the young merchant had improved by two or three successful voyages into Turkey; so that it was in his pow er to make a settlement vastly above my fortune, and far beyond my father's expectation; but while