astonish by their variety, extent, number, and loftiest grandeur.* Whatever delights the eye, or gratifies the sense, there abound. Amazing riches fill the earth, and unceasing beauty clothes it in its forests dwells the sagacious elephant; there prowls the ferocious tiger, and there crawls the huge serpent. It is a country filled with all sorts of the most beautiful and extraordinary creatures; and it is the land where the Lord has spread forth the wonders of his almighty power in glorious array; and where the mind dwells with rapture on the varied works of creation. * Modern researches have discovered in India a far more lofty range of mountains than the Andes. They are called the Himmalaya Mountains, and the highest are said to measure upwards of 26,000 feet above the level of the sea: this is more than four miles in height! It would be endless to speak of all the wonders of this lower world, therefore I have briefly referred to a few of the most striking. Did time and space permit, I might run over the unnumbered tribes of living things; the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the fishes of the sea, and all the curious and interesting orders of insects, trees, and plants, which adorn the terrestrial globe. Nothing was made in vain; all bear the marks of a divine hand, and every thing was created to show forth the wisdom of the Lord. We are so awfully taken up with the base pleasures of this world, and so dreadfully alienated from God by sin, that we are lost to the best of enjoyments—those which spring from an intercourse with our Creator, in prayer and meditation. The person who lives to God, and contemplates him through his works, is a happy and blessed character. He sees the hand of his heavenly Father in every thing, and in surveying the beauties of creation, says with Milton,- ، These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty, thine this universal frame, Thus wondrous fair: thyself how wondrous then! In these thy lower works; yet these declare 66 Beautifully diversified as this world is, it is not at all comparable to that, which the child of God hopes to occupy. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."* * 1 Cor. ii. 9. When we contemplate the grandeur and riches of nature, we are quite astonished; and shall be eternally so, when it is our happiness to gaze on nature's God, in his glorious temple. If he has done so much for this perishing state, what must be the splendour of heaven! St. John, in the 21st chapter of the Revelations, furnishes us with an enrapturing and gorgeous account of it. but The greatest beauties of earth fade, and will soon pass away for ever; heaven is "incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away." Happy are they who, while pleased with nature's varied works, have their hearts fixed on him, who is "over all, and above all, God blessed for ever more." Though afflictions may distress them, and the Lord of all worlds may see fit to de prive them of the good things of this world, it is to teach them the great value of those which are imperishable, and will feast their happy souls throughout a glorious eternity. Soon earth, and all the works therein will be destroyed; for all will perish in one awful, dreadful crash. "The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, What a horrible state will those then be in, who have made this world their portion! Where will be their honours, their possessions, and their crowns?Lost, and gone for ever, amidst the general ruin of ruined worlds. A vast number in this world are like the man |