the touch. Nor this alone, but all the senses are most exactly adapted to their respective offices, and to the exigencies of our present state. Were they strained to a much higher tone, they would be avenues of anguish : were they relaxed into greater insensibility, they would be so many useless Encumbrances. Asp. How admirable and gracious is this provision, which the blessed God has made, to accommodate us with delightful sensations and instructive ideas! The taste, the touch, and the smell, are somewhat straitened in the extent of their operations. The ear carries on a correspondence with a larger circle of objects; but the sight most amply supplies whatever is wanting in all the other senses. The sight spreads itself to an infinite multitude of bodies, and brings within our notice some of the remotest parts of the universe. The taste, the touch, the smell, perceive nothing but what is brought to their very doors; whereas the eye extends its observation as far as the orbit of Saturn; nay glances, and in an instant of time, to the inconceivable distance of the stars. The compass of the earth, and the immensity of the skies, are its unlimited range. From this remarkable variety, with regard to the sphere and activity of the senses, St. Paul forms one of the finest, boldest, and most important comparisons in the world. By this he illustrates the difference between the wisdom which is derived from the word of divine revelation, and the wisdom which is acquired by dint of human application. In his oration to the Athenians, speaking of their most celebrated sages, he says, "If so be they might feel after, and find him," Acts xvii. 27. In his epistle to the Hebrews, speaking of the man Moses, our author observes, that "he endured, as seeing him who is invisible," Heb. xi. 27. Writing to his Corinthian converts, he adds, as a farther heightening of the contrast, "We all beholding with open face the glory of the Lord," 2 Cor. iii. 18. The knowledge of the philosopher is like that obscure and scanty information which is to be obtained by groping with the hand in a dark night: the knowledge of the Christian is like that copious influx of clear and enlarged ideas, which we receive by the mediation of the eye amidst the shining of a bright day. Tully, we find, has in the book before us hit upon some of the most general and obvious uses to which the several parts of the human body are adapted. Yet how superficial and deficient appears his penetration, when we take in the much deeper discoveries, and the much higher improvements of our modern anatomy. Thus, and abundantly more defective, is his knowledge of moral duties and divine doctrines, when compared with what is taught us in the plain sermon on the Mount, and the unstudied epistles of the Jewish tent-maker. Therefore, though I would bless the beneficent God for the ministration of all the senses, and particularly for the noble organs of vision; I would be more especially thankful for that light of the world, Christ Jesus, and his glorious gospel, as well as for that "spiritual eye," by which the one is understood and the other seen,- -a "lively faith." I would also long for that place of beatific enjoyment, where our views of the adorable Godhead, and our acquaintance with the sublimest truths, will as much transcend all our present apprehensions, as the most enlightened saint exceeds the benighted Gentile. Ther. The crowning gift-that which improves the satisfaction, and aug ments the beneficial effects, accruing from all the senses, is speech. Speech makes me a gainer from the eyes and ears of other people; from the ideas they conceive, and the observations they make. And what an admirable instrument for articulating the voice, and modifying it into speech, is the tongue! The tongue has neither bone nor joint; yet fashions itself, with the utmost volubility, into every shape and every posture which can express sentiment, or constitute harmony. This little collection of muscular fibres, under the conducting skill of the Creator, is the artificer of our words*. By this we communicate the secrets of the breast, and make our very thoughts audible. By this we instruct the ignorant, and comfort the distressed; we glorify God, and edify each other+: the academic explains the abstrusest sciences, and the ecclesiastic preaches the everlasting gospel. This is likewise the efficient of music. It is soft as the lute, or shrill as the trumpet; it can warble as the lyre, or resound like the organ. Connecting the sacred anthem with its tuneful strains, we sooth the cares, and beguile the toils of life; we imitate the angelic choirs, and anticipate in some degree their celestial joys. As the tongue requires full scope and an easy play, it is lodged in an ample cavity, and surrounded with reservoirs of spittle, always ready to distil the lubricating dews. It moves under a concave roof, which serves as a sounding-board to the voice, giving it much the same additional vigour and grace as the shell of a violin adds to the language of the strings. Wise, wonderfully wise and eminently gracious, is the regulation both of spontaneous and involuntary motion. Was this regulation reversed, what deplorable inconveniences would take place; nay, what unavoidable ruin must ensue! Deplorable inconveniences; if the discharges of the bowels, or evacuations of the bladder, were quite independent on our leave. Unavoidable ruin; if the action of the heart required the co-operation of our thoughts, or the business of respiration waited for the concurrence of our will. The will, in some cases, has not so much as a single vote; in others, she determines and commands like an absolute sovereign. Nor is there a monarch upon earth so punctually obeyed, as this queen of the human system. If she but intimate her pleasure, the spirits run, they fly to execute her orders; to stretch the arm, or close the hand; to furrow the brow with frowns, or dimple the cheek with smiles. How easily, as well as punctually, are these orders carried into execution! To turn the screw, or work the lever, is laborious and wearisome: but we move the vertebræ, with all their appendent chambers; we advance the leg, with the whole incumbent body; we rise from our seat, we spring from the ground; and though much force is exerted, though a very considerable weight is raised, we meet with no difficulty, we complain of no fatigue. That all this should be effected, without any toil, and by a bare act of the will, is very surprising: but that these motions should be made, renewed, I am sensible that the glottis has a considerable share in modulating the sound, and forming the voice. But as the nature and office of this most curious aperture are very little known by the generality of people, we choose to follow the popular opinion, so neatly described by the poet : " Dædala lingua, Lingua figuratrix verborum, opisexque loquelæ." Ant. Lucret. The articulating tongue is called "our glory," Psal. Ivii. 8. And such indeed it is when devoted to these purposes. It is then a distinction, not only of man from the brutal herd, but of the righteous from the congregation of the ungodly. continued, even while we remain entirely ignorant of the manner in which they are performed, is beyond measure astonishing. Who can play so much as a single tune upon the spinet, without learning the difference of the keys or studying the rudiments of music? Impossible! Yet the mind of man touches every spring of the human machine with the most masterly skill, though she knows nothing at all concerning the nature of her implements, or the process of her operations. We walk, we run, we leap; we throw ourselves into a variety of postures, and perform a multitude of motions; yet are utterly unable to say, which nerve should be active, which muscle hould swell, or which tendon approximate. Put a German flute into the hand even of a sensible person, without a master to instruct him, he is at a loss to make the instrument speak ; much less is he able to sink and soften the sound, to exalt and extend it just as he pleases: yet we are self-taught in the method of forming, regulating, and varying the voice. Naturally, and with unpremeditated fluency, we give it the languishing cadence of sorrow, or the sprightly airs of joy; the low faltering accents of fear, or the elevated tone and rapid sallies of anger. The eye of a rustic, who has no notion of optics, or any of its laws, shall lengthen and shorten its axis, dilate and contract its pupil, without the least hesitation, and with the utmost propriety; adapting itself, even with mathematical exactness, to the particular distance of objects, and the different degrees of light by which means it performs some of the most curious experiments in the improved Newtonian philosophy, without the least knowledge of the science, or so much as any consciousness of its own dexterity. I can never sufficiently admire this multiplicity of animated organs; their finished form, and their faultless order. Yet I must confess myself struck with greater admiration at the power, the truly mysterious power and sway, which the soul exercises over them. Ten thousand reins are put into her hand she is not acquainted with their office, their use, or their name; she has not learned so much as to distinguish one from another; nevertheless she manages all, conducts all, without the least perplexity or the least irregularity; rather with a promptitude, a consistency, and a speed, which nothing else can equal ! Upon the whole, great reason had Euripides to call the human body, Σοφου τεκτονος καλον ποικιλμα. I believe the preceding observations will justify us, if we give a fuller meaning to the poet, and translate his words "the infinitely varied, and inimitably fine workmanship of a great, supreme, unerring Artist." Or, as Virgil speaks, with a pertinency and a spirit which epitomises, all I have said, and expresses all I would say, this bodily structure is indeed—“ non enarrabile textum *." Asp. "Wonderfully," I perceive, "and fearfully are we made," Psalm cxxxix. 14. Made of such complicated parts; each so correctly fashioned, and all so exactly arranged †; every one executing such curious functions, and many of them operating in so mysterious a manner, as may justly render us a wonder to ourselves. Since health depends upon such a That is a structure, not barely correct, or highly finished, but (as Theron has elsewhere expressed it)" beyond description curious." +St. Paul's language on the subject is exceedingly beautiful and expressive, Zuvaguodo→ γεύμενον και συμβιβαζομενον. Eph. iv. 16. numerous assemblage of moving organs; since a single secretion stopped maj destroy the salutary temperature of the fluids, or a single wheel clogged ma at an end to the vital motion of the solids; with what "holy fear shoul we pass the time of our sojourning here below!" 1 Pet. i. 17; trusting, fo continual preservation, not merely on our own care, but on that omnipoten hand which formed this admirable machine; that the same hand which formed it, may superintend its agency, and support its being. When we consider the extensive contrivance and delicate mechanismwhat plans of geometry have been laid; what operations of chemistry an performed; in a word, what miracles of art and elegance are executed, order to furnish us with the necessary recruits, and the several delights life;-is there not abundant reason to cry out, with the same inspire writer, "How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God!" "Thy counsels creating wisdom! Thou hast not been sparing, but even lavish of thy indul gent designs. Thou hast omitted no expedient which might establish my ease, enlarge my comforts, and promote, yea complete, my bodily happiness! And is not this a most endearing obligation "to glorify the blessed God, with our bodies, as well as with our spirits?" 1 Cor. vi. 20. Ther. "Our spirits!" Ay; what is this mansion of flesh, though exquisitely wrought, compared with the noble and immortal inhabitant which resides within? That intellectual being; Those thoughts, which wander through eternity! MILTON. This consideration inclines me to think, that if the casket be so highly polished, the jewel cannot be so excessively coarse as my Aspasio's doctrine of original corruption supposes. Asp. I perceive your aim, Theron; but must beg leave at present to decline all overtures for a dispute. If my arguments have failed, your description has answered its end. I cannot suffer my thoughts to be diverted from a subject which is so very engaging, yet so rarely discussed. I have such a strong desire to recollect and retain what has been observed, that even your conversation will at this juncture lose its relish. Here, therefore, I put a period to our discourse, and must break away from your company, in order to ruminate and digest my notions in some sequestered lonely walk; unless you will permit me, before I retire, to make one remark. And let it not startle my friend if I venture to say, that amidst all his curious observations, he has forgot the principal circumstance of honour and excellence which dignifies the human body. Ther. I have omitted many fine and admirable properties, I confess. But sure I have not forgot the principal and most distinguishing? Asp. You need not be displeased with yourself. It argues no defect in your dissertation. The circumstance I have in my view could never be discovered by following the dissecting knife. It is learned, not from Cheselden's drafts, or the tables of Albinus, but from the word of revelation.—What I mean is this; the human body was exalted to a most intimate and personal union with the eternal Son of God. He who decorated the heaven with stars, and crowned the stars with lustre, "he vouchsafed to be made #esh," John i. 14. "and was found in fashion as a man," Phil. ii. 8. Nay, even now the apparel of that divine and adorable Person. He is our nature; he wears our very limbs, and appears in the dress 1 of humanity, even at the right hand of God, and at the head of all the heavenly hosts. What think you of another privilege, mentioned by the apostle?"Your bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost," 1 Cor. vi. 19. Not your souls only, but your very bodies, are the shrine in which "the high and holy One, that inhabiteth eternity," condescends to dwell. He who sitteth between the cherubim, and walketh in the circuit of the skies, is pleased to sanctify these earthly tenements for his own habitation. And is not this a much grander embellishment, than all their matchless contrivance and masterly workmanship? Just as the rod which budded, and the manna which was miraculously preserved; the sacred oracle of Urim and Thummim, with the cloud of glory covering the mercy-seat; were a much higher distinction to Solomon's temple, than the most heightened beauties of architecture. Nor must I omit the dignity, the transcendent and amazing dignity, which is reserved for these systems of flesh at the resurrection of the just. They will then be refined and improved into the most perfect state, and the most beauteous form; surpassing whatever is resplendent and amiable in the most ornamental appearances of material nature. They will be purer than the unspotted firmament; brighter than the lustre of the stars; and, which exceeds all parallel, which comprehends all perfection, they will "be made like unto Christ's glorious body," Phil. iii. 21; like that incomparably glorious body which the blessed Jesus wears in his celestial kingdom, and on his triumphant throne. When we add all these magnificent prerogatives which are revealed in scripture, to all those inimitable niceties which are displayed by anatomists, what thankfulness, what admiration, can equal such a profusion of favours? When all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul serveys, DIALOGUE XIII. THE morning had been wet. At noon the rain ceased; but the heavens still continued gloomy. Towards evening a gentle eastern gale sprung up, which dissipated the dead calm, and cleared the face of the sky. The sun, which had been muffled in clouds, dropped the veil. Disengaged from the dusky shroud, he shone forth with peculiar splendour. His beams, endeared by their late suspension, were doubly welcome, and produced unusual gaiety. At this juncture Theron and Aspasio walked abroad. They walked alternately on the terraces; one of which was opposite to the country, the other contiguous to the parterre; where the gales, impregnated with the freshest exhalations of nature, breathed the smell of meads, and heaths, and groves; or else, shaking the clusters of roses, and sweeping the beds of fragrance, they flung balm and odours through the air. At a distance were heard the bleatings of the flock, mingled with the lowings of the milky mothers; while more melodious music warbled from the neighbouring boughs, and spoke aloud the joy of their feathered inha |