Behold! the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?-Incomparable saying; worthy the wisest of men. Who would not chuse to possess such an elevated devotion, rather than to own all the glittering materials of that sumptuous edifice? We are apt to be struck with admiration at the stateliness and grandeur of a masterly performance in architecture; and, perhaps, on a sight of the ancient sanctuary, should have made the superficial observation of the disciples, "What manner of stones, and what buildings are here!"-But what a nobler turn of thought, and juster taste of things does it discover, to join with Israel's king, in celebrating the condescension of the divine Inhabitant! That the high and lofty. One, who fills immensity with his glory, should, in a peculiar manner, fix his abode there! should there manifest an extraordinary degree of his benedictive presence; permit sinful mortals to approach his majesty, and promise "to make them joyful in his house of prayer!"-This should more sensibly affect our hearts, than the most curious arrangement of stones can delight our eyes. Nay, the everlasting God does not disdain to dwell in our souls, by his holy Spirit; and to make even our bodies his temple.- Tell me, ye that frame critical judgments, and balance nicely the distinction of things: "Is this most astomishing or most rejoicing?"-He humbleth himself, the scripture assures us, even to behold the things that are in heaven. It is a most condescending favor, if HE pleases to take the least approving notice of angels and archangels, when they bow down in homage from their celestial thrones; will he then graciously regard, will he be united, most intimately united to poor, polluted, breathing dust?-Ó! unparalleled honor! Invaluable privilege! Be this my portion,. and I shall not covet crowns, nor envy conquerors. But let me remember what a sanctity of disposition, and aprightness of conversation, so exalted a relation demands: Remember this, "and rejoice with trembling"-Durst I eonmit any iniquity, while I tread these hallowed courts? him.". -How much less proportionate is this poor diminutive edifice, which I have been erecting and embellishing, to sa august a Presence, so immense a Majesty. * Psalm cxii. 6 Could the Jewish High-Priest allow himself in any known transgression, while he made that solemn yearly entrance into the holy of holies,* and stood before the immediate presence of JEHOVAH? No, truly. In such circumstances, a thinking person must shudder at the most remote solicitation to any wilful offence. I should now be shocked at the least indecency of behaviour, and am apprehensive of every appearance of evil. And why do we not carry this holy jealousy into all our ordinary life? Why do we not in every place reverence ourselves;+ as persons dedicated to the Divinity, as living temples of the Godhead? For, if we are real, and not merely nominal Christians, the GoD of glory, according to his own promise, dwells in us, and walks in us.‡ -O! that this one doctrine of our religion might operate, with an abiding efficacy, upon our consciences: it would be instead of a thousand laws to regulate our conduct; instead of a thousand motives to quicken us in his holiness. the influence of such a conviction, we should study to maintain a purity of intention; a dignity of action; and to walk worthy of that transcendently majestic BEING, who admits us to a fellowship with himself, and with his Son JESUS CHRIST. Under The next thing which engaged my attention, was the lettered floor: The pavement somewhat like Ezekiel's roll, was written over from one end to the other. I soon perceived the comparison to hold good in another respect; and the inscriptions to be matter of "mourning, lamentation, and woe." They seemed to court my observation; silently inviting me to read them.- And what would these dumb monitors inform me of?- "That beneath their little circumferences were deposited such and such pieces of clay, Heb. ix. 7. -----PANTAN DE MALIS AISCHUTREO SE AUTON, was the favorite maxim of Pythagoras, and supposed to be one of the best moral precepts ever given to the Heathen world. With what superior force, and very singular advantage, does the argument take place in the Christian schems where we aretaught to regard ourselves, not merely as intellectual beings, that have reason for our monitor, but as consecrated creatures, who have a God of the most consummate perfection ever with us, ever in us. Ezek. ii. 10. which once lived, and moved, and talked; that they had rẻceived a charge to preserve their names, and were the remaining trustees of their memory." Ah! said I, is such my situation? The adorable Creator around me, and the bones of my fellow creatures under me! Surely, then, I have great reason to cry out, with the revering patriarch, How dreadful is this place!* Seriousness and devotion become this house for ever. May I never enter it lightly or irreverently; but with a profound awe, and godly fear! Oh! that they were wise,† said the inspired penman. It was his last wish for his dear people; he breathed it out, and gave up the ghost.-But what is wisdom? It consists not in refined speculations, accurate researches into nature, or an universal acquaintance with history. The divine lawgiver settles this important point in his next aspiration: Oh! that they understood this! That they had right apprehensions of their spiritual interests, and eternal concerns! that they had eyes to discern, and inclinations to pursue the things which belong to their peace!-But how shall they attain this valua ble knowledge? I send them not, adds the illustrious teacher, to turn over all the volumes of literature: they may acquire,. and much more expeditiously, this scene of life, by considering their latter end. This spark of heaven is often lost under the glitter of pompous erudition, but shines clearly in the gloomy mansions of the tomb. Drowned in this gentle whisper amidst the noise of mortal affairs, but speaks dis tinctly in the retirements of serious contemplation-Behold! how providentially I am brought to the school of wisdom! The grave is the most faithful master; and these instances of mortality, the most instructive lessons.-Come then, calm attention, and compose my thoughts; come, thou celestial Spirit, and enlighten my mind; that I may so peruse these awful pages, as to "become wise unto salvation." * Gen. xxviii. 17. + Deut. xxx. 29.. To read his monuments, to weigh his dust, Visit his vaults, and dwell among the tombs! N. Thoughts. POPE Examining the records of mortality, I found the memorials of a promiscuous multitude.* They were huddled, at least they rested together, without any regard to rank or seniority. None were ambitious of the uppermost rooms, or chief seats in this house of mourning. None entertained fond and eager expectations of being honorable greeted in their dark some cells. The man of years and experience, reputed as an ora cle in his generation, was content to lie down at the feet of a babe. In this house appointed for all living, the servant was equally accommodated, and lodged in the same story with his master. The poor indigent lay as softly, and slept as soundly, as the most opulent possessor. All the distinction that subsisted, was a grassy hillock, bound with osiers; or a sepulchral stone ornamented with imagery. Why then, said my working thoughts, Oh! why should we raise such a mighty stir about superiority and precedence, when the next remove will reduce us all to a state of equal meanness? Why should we exalt ourselves, or debase others; since we must all one day be upon a common level, and blended together in the same undistinguished dust? Oh! that this consideration might humble my own and other's pride; and sink our imaginations as low as our habitation will shortly be! Among these confused relics of humanity, there are, without doubt, persons of contrary interests, and contradicting sentiments: But death, like some able daysman, has laid his hand on the contending parties, and brought all their differences to an amicable conclusion.† Here enemies,, sworn enemies, dwell together in unity. They drop every embittered thought, and forget that they once were foes. Perhaps their crumbling bones mix as they moulder; and those who, while they lived, stood aloof in irreconcileable variance, here fall into mutual embraces, and even incorporate with each other in the grave.-Oh! that we might learn from these friendly ashes, not to perpetuate the memory of injuries; not to foment the fever of resentment; nor cherish the turbulence of passion; that there may be as little animosity and disagreement in the land of the living, as there is in * Mista senum ac juvenum densantur funera. HOR. Hi motus animorum, atque hæc certamina tanta, Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescent. VIRG. the congregation of the dead!-But I suspend for a while such general observations, and address myself to a more particular inquiry. Yonder white stone, emblem of the innocence it covers, informs the beholder of one, who breathed out its tender soul almost in the instant of receiving it.-There the peaceful infant, without so much as knowing what labor and vexation mean, "lies still and is quiet; it sleeps, and is at rest.”* Staying only to wash away its native impurity in the laver of regeneration, it bid a speedy adieu to time, and terrestrial things. What did the little hasty sojourner find, so forbidding and disgustful in our upper world, to occasion its precipitant exit? It is written, indeed, of its suffering Saviour, that when he had tasted the vinegar mingled with gall, he would not drink:+ And did our new come stranger begin to sip the cup of life; but perceiving the bitterness, turn away its head, and refuse the draught? Was this the cause why the wary babe only opened its eyes; just looked on the light; and then withdrew into the more inviting regions of undisturbed repose? Happy voyager; no sooner launched, than arrived at the haven. But more eminently happy they, who have passed the waves and weathered all the storms of a troublesome and dangerous world; who, "through many tribulations have entered into the kingdom of heaven; and thereby brought honor to their divine Convoy, administered comfort to the companions of their toil: and left an instructive example to succeeding pilgrims. Highly favoured probationer! accepted without being exercised! It was thy peculiar privilege not to feel the slightest of those evils which oppress thy surviving kindred; which frequently fetch groans from the most manly fortitude, or most elevated faith; the arrows of calamity, barbed with anguish are often fixed deep in our choicest comforts. The fiery darts of temptation, shot from the hand of hell, are always flying in showers around our integrity. To thee, * Job iii. 13. † Matt. xxvii. 34. PRIOR's Sol. |