self for his execution, took his final leave in these affecting words: “Farewell sun and moon! farewell all the beauties of creation, and comforts of life! farewell my honoured friends! farewell my beloved relations! and farewell, thou precious, precious Book of God!"

Aspasio had scarce uttered the last sentence, when a servant came to let them know “ supper was upon the table."- Very opportunely, said Theron, has our repast waited till our conference is ended. We have showed what a large field of delightful speculation the Scriptures open; and what ample materials for the most refined discourse they afford. As nothing can be more ungraceful, than to neglect in our own conduct what we recommend to the practice of others, let us, this very night, begin to ennoble our interviews with these improving subjects,―let us endeavour to make religious conversation, which is in all respects desirable, in some degree fashionable.

DIALOGUE II.

THE next morning, when breakfast was over, Theron and Aspasio took a walk into the garden-their spirits cheered, and their imaginations livelygratitude glowing in their hearts, and the whole creation smiling around them.

The spot adjoining to the house was appropriated to the cultivation of flowers. In a variety of handsome compartments were assembled the choicest beauties of blooming nature. Here the hyacinth hung her silken bells, or the lilies reared their silver pyramids. There stood the neat narcissus, loosely attired in a mantle of snowy lustre; or the splendid ranunculus wore a full-trimmed suit of radiant scarlet. Pinks were rising to enamel the borders; roses were opening to dress the walls; surrounded on all sides with a profusion of beauteous forms, either latent in the stalk, or bursting the buds, or blown into full expansion.

This was bounded by a slight partition, a sort of verdant parapet, through which they descend by an easy flight of steps, and are presented with the elegant simplicity of the kitchen garden. In one place you might see the marigold flowering, or the beans in blossom. In another, the endive curled her leaves, or the lettuce thickened her tufts: cauliflowers sheltered their fair complexion under a green umbrella; while the burrage dishevelled* her locks, and braided them with blooming jewels, of a finer azure than the finest sapphires. On the sunny slopes, the cucumber and melon lay basking in the collected beams. On the raised beds, the artichoke seemed to be erecting a standard, while the asparagus shot + into ranks of spears. The level ground produced all manner of cooling salads and nourishing esculents. Nothing was wanting to furnish out the wholesome luxury of an antediluvian banquet.

Soon, a high wall intervenes, through which a wicket opens, and transmits them into the regular and equidistant rows of an orchard. This plantation is so nicely adjusted, that it looks like an arrangement of rural piazzas, or a

* Referring to the loose irregular manner of its foliation.

+Alluding, not only to the shape, but also to the growth of this plant, which is so unusually quick, that it may almost be said to start, rather than to rise out of the earth.

collection of diversified vistas. The eye is everywhere entertained with the exactest uniformity, and darts with unobstructed ease from one end of the branching files to the other. On all the boughs lay a lovely evolution of blossoms, arrayed in milky white, or tinged with the softest red. Crowding into one general cluster, without relinquishing any vacant space for leaves, they formed the fairest, the gayest, the grandest alcove, that fancy itself can imagine. It is really like the court of the Graces. None can approach it without finding his ideas brightened, and feeling his temper exhilarated. Contiguous to this correct disposition of things, nature had thrown a wilderness, hoary, grotesque, and magnificently confused. It stretched itself, with a large circular sweep, to the north; and secured both the olitory and the orchard from incommoding winds. Copses of hazel and flowering shrubs filled the lower spaces, while poplars quivered aloft in air, and pines pierced the clouds with their leafy spears. Here grew clumps of fir, clad in everlasting green: there stood groves of oak, that had weathered for ages the wintry storm. Amidst this woody theatre ran a winding walk, lined with elms of insuperable height, whose branches, uniting at the top, reared a stately arch, and projected a solemn shade. It was impossible to enter this lofty labyrinth without being struck with a pleasing dread. As they proceed, every inflection diffuses a deeper gloom, and awakens a more pensive attention.

Having strolled in this darksome avenue without a speck of sunshine, without a glimpse of the heavens, on a sudden they step into open day.— Surprising cries Aspasio, what a change is this! What delightful enchantment is here!-One instant whelmed in Trophonius's cave*, where horror frowns, and darkness lowers, and solitude reigns: transported the next into the romantic scenes of Arcadia, where all is populous, all is lightsome, and all is gay.—Quick as thought, the arches of heaven expand their azure ; turrets and spires shoot into the skies; towns, with their spacious edifices, spread themselves to the admiring view. Those lawns, green with freshest herbage; those fields, rich with undulating corn; where were they all a moment ago?-It brings to my mind that remarkable situation of the Jewish lawgiver, when, elevated on the summit of Pisgah, he surveyed the goodly land of promise; "surveyed the rivers, the flood, the brooks of honey and butter;" surveyed "the mountains dropping with wine, and the hills flowing with milk," Job xx. 17. Joel iii. 18.; surveyed all with those eyes, which, for forty tedious years, had been confined to dry sands, ragged: rocks, and the irksome wastes of a desolate howling wilderness.

Here they seated themselves on the first mossy hillock which offered its couch. The rising sun had visited the spot, to dry up the dews, and exhale the damps that might endanger health; to open the violets, and expand the primroses that decked the green. The whole shade of the wood was colt lected behind them; and a beautiful, extensive, diversified landscape spread itself before them.

Theron, according to his usual manner, made many improving remarks on the prospect and its furniture. He traced the footsteps of an all-comprehending contrivance, and pointed out the strokes of inimitable skill. He

The reader may find a curious account of this cave, together with a very humorous, and (which should always accompany humour, or else it will be like a sting without the honey) an improving description of its effects, in the Spectator, Vol, viii. No. 598, 599.

observed the grand exertions of power, and the rich exuberance of goodness, most signally, most charmingly conspicuous through the whole.-Upon one circumstance he enlarged with a particular satisfaction.

Ther. See, Aspasio, how all is calculated to administer the highest delight to mankind. Those trees and hedges, which skirt the extremities of the landscape, stealing away from their real bulk, and lessening by gentle diminutions, appear like elegant pictures in miniature. Those which occupy

the nearer situations are a set of noble images, swelling upon the eye, in full proportion, and in a variety of graceful attitudes; both of them ornamenting the several apartments of our common abode, with a mixture of delicacy and grandeur.

The blossoms that array the branches, the flowers that embroider the mead, address, and entertain our eyes with every charm of beauty* ; whereas, to other creatures, they are destitute of all those attractives which result from a combination of the loveliest colours and most alluring forms. Yonder streams, that glide with smooth serenity along the valleys, glittering to the distant view like sheets of polished crystal, or soothing the attentive ear with the softness of aquatic murmurs, are no less exhilarating to the fancy than to the soil through which they pass. The huge enormous mountain, the steep and dizzy precipice, the pendent horrors of the craggy promontory, wild and tremendous as they are, furnish out an agreeable entertainment to the human mind, and please even while they terrify; whereas the beasts take no other notice of those majestic deformities, than only to avoid the dangers they threaten.

Asp. How wonderfully do such considerations exalt our idea of the Creator's goodness, his very distinguishing goodness to mankind! And should they not proportionably endear that eternal Benefactor to our affections? His ever-bountiful hand has scattered blessings, and with profuse liberality, among all the ranks of animated existence. But to us he exercises a beneficence of a very superior kind*. We are treated as his peculiar favourites. We are admitted to scenes of delight, which none but ourselves are capable of relishing.

Ther. Another remark, though very obvious, is equally important: The destination of all those external things is no less advantageous, than their formation is beautiful. The bloom, which engages the eye with its delicate hues, is cherishing the embryo fruit, and forming within its silken folds the rudiments of a future dessert. Those streams, which shine from afar like fluid silver, are much more valuable in their productions, and beneficial in their services, than they are amiable in their appearance. They distribute, as they roll along their winding banks, cleanliness to our houses and fruitfulness to our lands. They nourish, and at their own expense, a never-failing supply of the finest fish. They visit our cities, and attend our wharfs, as so many public vehicles, ready to set out at all hours.

Those sheep which give their udders to be drained by the busy frisking lambs, are fattening their flesh for our support; and while they fill their own

Therefore, when the prophet describes the Christian Church, adorned with all the "beauties of holiness," he borrows his imagery from these amiable objects: "Israel shall bud and blossom," Isa. xxvii. 6.-Nay, the very "wilderness," even the Gentile nations, being converted unto Christ, "shall blossom as a rose," Isa. xxxv. 1.-" I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon ;" Hos. xiv. 5. What an elegant picture! and what a comfortable promise!

fleeces, are providing for our comfortable clothing. Yonder kine-some of which are browsing upon the tender herb, others, satiated with pasturage, ruminate under the shady covert-though conscious of no such design, are concocting, for our use, one of the softest, purest, healthiest liquors in the world. The bees that fly humming about our seat, and pursue their work on the fragrant blossoms, are collecting balm and sweetness, to compose the richest of syrups; which, though the produce of their toil, is intended for our good.

Nature, and her whole family, are our obsequious servants, our ever-active labourers. They bring the fruits of their united industry, and pour them into our lap, or deposit them in our store-rooms.

Asp. Who can ever sufficiently admire this immense benignity?-The supreme Disposer of events has commanded delight and profit to walk hand in hand through his ample creation; making all things so perfectly pleasing, as if beauty was their only end; yet all things so eminently serviceable, as if usefulness had been their sole design. And, as a most winning invitation to our gratitude, he has rendered man the centre, in which all the emanations of his beneficence, diffused through this terrestrial system, finally terminate.

But, my dear Theron, is not this apparent, in a much more wonderful manner, throughout the whole economy of redemption? It were a small thing for this inferior class of unintelligent creatures, to be continually employing themselves for our benefit. Even the Son of the most high God, through all his incarnate state, acted the very same part. He took flesh, and bore the infirmities of human nature, not for himself, but for us men, and our salvation. He suffered want, and endured misery in all its forms, that we might possess the fulness of joy, and abound in pleasures for everWhen he poured out his soul in agonies, under the curse of an avenging law, was it not with a compassionate view to make us partakers of eternal blessedness? When he fulfilled, perfectly fulfilled the whole commanding law, was it not for this gracious purpose, that his merits might be imputed to us, that we by his obedience might be made righteous? Yes;

more.

"For us he liv'd,

Toil'd for our ease, and for our safety bled."

Nothing in the whole course

Ther. Pardon me for interrupting you, Aspasio. I have no objection to the general drift of your discourse; but that particular notion of imputed righteousness has always appeared to me in a very ridiculous light. And I must say, that such a puritanical nostrum makes a very unbecoming figure amongst your other manly and correct sentiments of religion.

Asp. You know, Theron, I have long ago disavowed that ignoble prejudice, which rejects doctrines, or despises persons, because they happen to be branded with contemptible names. It is true, the writers styled Puritans, are remarkable for their attachment to this peculiarity of the gospel. It runs through all their theological works, and very eminently distinguishes them from the generality of our modern treatises. But must it therefore be wrong, because maintained by that particular set of people? Or, are they the only advocates for this important truth?

Ther. Ay; it is as I suspected. I have lately conjectured, from several

C

hints in my Aspasio's discourse, that he has been warping to the low ungentleman-like peculiarities of those whimsical fanatics.

Asp. I cannot conceive why you should call them whimsical. To settle faith on its proper basis-the meritorious righteousness of the Redeemer; and to deduce obedience from its true origin-the love of God shed abroad in the heart; to search the conscience, and convince the judgment; to awaken the lethargic, and comfort the afflicted soul; and all from a thorough knowledge, joined to a masterly application, of the divine word ;-these, sure, are not whimsical talents, but real excellencies. Yet these, if we may credit history, entered into the preaching; these, if we will examine impartially, are to be found in the writings, of the Puritans.-And a pearl, you will please to remember, is a pearl still, though it should hang in the Ethiopian's ear. Ther. Ethiopian indeed! You have truly characterised that demure and gloomy generation. I hope you do not intend to introduce their affected solemnity and forbidden reserve into your own easy and engaging conversation. Though, for aught I can judge, this would be no more ungraceful, than to patch such antiquated notions on the refined scheme of Christianity.

Asp. My dear friend, you are too ludicrous; and I begin to catch the infection. We had better return to our first topic. Let us contemplate the wonders of creation; and, as we admire the works, learn to adore 'the Maker.

Ther. None of your evasions, good Aspasio. You must not think to put me off at this rate. I have wanted an opportunity to rally you upon this head, and to argue or laugh you out of these religious oddities.

Asp. If you will not agree to terms of peace, I hope you will allow some cessation of arms. At least till I can muster my forces, and prepare for the vindication of my principles.

Ther. No; upon the spot, and out of hand, you are required to answer for yourself, and these same queer opinions.—I shall serve you as the Roman consul served the procrastinating monarch. When he demurred about his reply to the demands of the senate, and said, "he would consider of the matter;" the resolute ambassador drew a circle round him with his cane, and insisted upon a positive answer, before he stepped over those limits.

Asp. This, however, you will give me leave to observe, that the affair is of a very serious nature. Upon condition that you will dismiss your flourishes of wit, and strokes of satire, I will acquaint you with the reasons which have made me a thorough convert to this doctrine. Once I held it in the utmost contempt, and pitied the simplicity of (as I then styled them) its deluded. admirers. But I am now become such a fool, that I may be truly wise and substantially happy. I have seen my ruined state, and I bless God for this sovereign restorative. It is the source of my strongest consolations, and the very foundation of my eternal hopes.

Ther. Excuse me, Aspasio, if the vivacity of my temper, and the seemingly uncouth tenet, kindled me into a more humorous gaiety than became the occasion. You speak of the point with so much seriousness, and in such weighty terms, as check my levity, and command my respect. Be pleased to execute what you have promised; and the most engaged attention of my mind shall atone for the petulant sallies of my tongue.

Asp. To conceive a dislike of any doctrine, only because persons of a particular denomination have been very officious to promote its reception; this is hardly consistent with an impartial inquiry after truth.