favour; and exalted thy station above all the creatures. He has endowed thee with reason, to maintain thy do minion he has furnished thee with language, to improve by society; and exalted thy mind with the powers of meditation, to contemplate and adore his inimitable perfections. And in the laws he has ordained as the rule of thy life, so kindly has he suited thy duty to thy nature, that obedience to his precepts is happiness to thyself. O praise his goodness with songs of thanksgiving, and meditate in silence on the wonders of his love. Let thy heart overflow with gratitude and acknowledgment; let the language of thy lips be praise and adoration; let the actions of thy life show thy love to his law.

The Lord is just and righteous, and will judge the earth with equity and truth.

Has he established his and shall he not punish

laws in goodness and mercy? the transgressors of them? O think not, bold man! because thy punishment is delayed, that the arm of the Lord is weakened; nor flatter thyself with hopes that he winks at thy evil doings. His eye pierces into the secrets of every heart, and he remembers them forever. He respects not the persons or the stations of men.~ The high and the low, the rich and the poor, the wise and the ignorant, when the soul has shaken off the eumbrous shackles of this mortal life, shall equally receive from the sentence of God a just and everlasting retribution, according to their works. Then shall the wicked tremble, and be afraid; but the heart of the righteous shall rejoice in his judgment. O fear the Lord, therefore, all the days of thy life, the paths which he has opened before thee. Let prudence admonish thee, let temperance restrain, let jus

and walk in

tice guide thy hand, benevolence warm thy heart, and gratitude to heaven inspire thee with devotion. These shall give thee happiness in thy present state, and bring thee to the mansions of eternal felicity in the paradise of God.

ECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE,

CHAPTER IV.

DESCRIPTIVE PIECES.

SECTION I.

DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

THE glorious sun is set in the west; the nightdews fall; and the air which was sultry becomes cool. The flowers fold up their coloured leaves; they fold themselves up, and hang their heads on the slender stalk. The chickens are gathered under the wing of the hen, and are at rest: the hen herself is at rest also. The little birds have ceased their warbling; they are asleep on the boughs, each one with his head behind his wing. There is no murmur of bees around the hive, or amongst the honied woodbines; they have done their work, and they lie close in their waxen cells. The sheep rest upon their soft fleeces, and their loud bleating is no more heard amongst the hills. There is no sound of a number of voices, or of children at play, or the trampling of busy feet, and of people hurrying to and fro. The smith's hammer is not heard upon the anvil; nor the harsh saw of the carpenter. All men are stretched on their quiet beds, and the child sleeps upon the breast of its mother. Darkness is spread over the skies, and darkness is upon the ground: every eye is shut, and every hand is still.

Who takes care of all people when they are sunk in sleep; when they cannot defend themselves, nor see if danger approaches?—There is an eye that never sleeps; there is an eye that sees in dark night, as well as in the bright sun-shine. When there is no light of the sun, nor of the moon, when there is no lamp in the house, nor any little star twinkling through the thick clouds; that eye sees every where, in all places, and watches continually over all the families of the earth. The eye that sleeps not is God's; his hand is always stretched out over us. He made sleep to refresh us when we are weary; he made night that we may sleep in quiet. As the mother moves about the house with her finger on her lips, and stills every little noise, that her infant may not be disturbed; as she draws the curtains around its bed, and shuts out the light from its tender eyes; so God draws the curtains of darkness around us; so he makes all things to be hushed and -still, that his large family may sleep in peace.

Labourers spent with toil, and young children, and every little humming insect, sleep quietly, for God watches over you. You may sleep, for he never sleeps: you may close your eyes in safety, for his eye is always open to protect you.

When the darkness is passed away, and the beams of the morning sun strike through your eye-lids, begin the day with praising God, who has taken care of you through the night. Flowers, when you open again, spread your leaves, and smell sweet to his praise! Birds, when you awake, warble your thanks amongst the green boughs! sing to him before you sing to your mates!-Let his praise be in our hearts, when we lie down: let his praise be on our lips, when we awake.

SECTION IL

HEALTH.

WHO is she that with graceful steps, and with a lively air, trips over yonder plain?

The rose blushes on her cheeks, the sweetness of the morning breathes from her lips; joy, tempered with innocence and modesty, sparkles in her eyes; and the cheerfulness of her heart appears in all her movements. Her name is Health: she is the daughter of Exercise and Temperance. Their sons inhabit the mountains and the plain. They are brave, active and lively, and partake of all the beauties and virtues of their sister. Vigour strings their nerves, strength dwells in their bones, and labour is their delight all the day long. The employments of their father excite their appetites; and the repasts of their mother refresh them. To combat the passions, is their delight; to conquer evil habits, their glory. Their pleasures are moderate, and therefore they endure; their repose is short, but sound and undisturbed. Their blood is pure; their minds are serene; and the physician does not find the way to their habitations.

ECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE.

SECTION III.

CHARITY.

HAPPY is the man who has sown in his breast the seeds of charity and love! From the fountain of his