I y. ^ i \ 1 1 un t^ . Zz \ ir* " & -\ i i Mi W )i cq ec , />T ti-' ^ ?^, ^.OF-CAIIFC SSfe *} pn ftv- v OA! |v 8 an.}'i N!VER% o^ fk )| s l o I I S a |o w-J ' s. In Auguft 1743, or thereabouts, he returned from Bid- deford to Weftdn-Favel, leaving behind him many difconfo- late friends, and officiated as curate to his father. Here he paid the greateft attention to his duty, and faithfully preach- ed the gofpel of Chrift. The firft of his writings which raifed the attention of the public, was his Meditations among the tombs, Kefleftions on a flower-garden, and a Defcant on creation, publifhed in Febru- ary 1745-6. Of this kind of writing we had before an exam- ple Rev. Mr J A M E s H E R v E Y. xix pie from no lefs a man than the great philofopher Mr Boyle % in his Occafional reflections on feveralfubjeffs, wit- ten in his younger years. Mr Hervey's performance was fo well received by the public, that it has already pafled thro' about twenty editions in London, beiides many furreptitious ones in Scotland and Ireland. A fecond volume, containing Contemplations on the night and Jlarry heavens, and, A "winter-piece, was pu- bli/hed in December 1747 -f. In June 1750, his health being much impaired by his great attention to duty, and his family and friends judging that the change of air might be of benefit to him, they formed a defign, which they executed, of conveying him to London, under a pretence of his riding a few miles in a friend's pofl- chaife, who was going thither, and of which he pleafantly complains in a letter, dated June 28. 1750, to a friend up- on his arrival there. He ftaid in London until April or May 1752, during which time he was vifited with a fevere ficknefs, which had well nigh put a period to his painful life. But he recovered; and, upon his father's death in 1752, he returned to Wefton, where he conftantly refided till his death. Mr Hervey took his degree of Matter of Arts, at Cam- bridge, * See Boyle's Life, by the late Dr Birch. j- There are few books in the Engliih language, which in fo fliort a time have ever pa/fed thro* fuch numerous and very large editions, as Mr Hervey's Meditations ; which not only pleaie, but improve us ; arid were written with a view of familiarizing to our minds thofe fublime objcfts, which will be the STUDT and DELIGHT of a glorious ETERNITY. How many have they tranfportingly entertained in their retirements and lonely walks, and how often elevated them to thofe lofty heights, from whence they could look down on all things below (the delights of good mens friendfhip excepted) with an eafy indifference! A ftraio. of the moft ferious piety and ardent devotion runs thro' them, and they tend to inculcate fome of the moft diftinguifliing doc- trines of the gofpel, fuch as the neceffity of regeneration, the utter impotency of fallen man to help himfelf, the efficacy of the grace of God for that purpofe, and the juitificauou of a guilty fmner through faith in the blood of Chrift, C 2 xx ' The L I F E of the bridge, in 1752, when he entered at Clare-hall; and as he was of fufficient fhnding at Oxford, he (laid only the few' days required by the Statutes to perform the univerfity- cxercife. . It may be thought Orange, that he who had refufed to hold his exhibition at Oxford, along with a curacy, mould, upon his father's death, accept of the two livings of Wei- ton-Favell and Collingtree, and hold them during his life. It was very far from being his choice, and it was what he had for a long time refufed to do. He was determined a- gainft being a pluralitt; and notwithftanding his father kept him at Oxford, with a defign, that he fliould take his degree jf Mafter of Arts, and conftantly urged him to do it ; yet he could not be perfuaded to yield to fuch a requeft, tho* he was of a fufficient ftanding to have taken the fame, look- ing upon that ftep as a qualification intended for his future holding both his father's livings. When his father died, he remained determined to have Wefton-Favell only; and this he frequently declared to his family afld friends, and refuf- ed to accept of Collingtree, or to qualify himfelf for the fame; infomuch that it was in danger of lapling to the Bi- ihop. But at length, thro* the earnest and conftant intrea- ties of his family, and of his friends, who, unknown to him, had fent to, and procured from Oxford, the neceflary cer- tificates of his being a Bachelor of Arts, in order to his ta- Jcing his Mailer's degree at Cambridge, he was, after much importunity, prevailed on to comply with their requefts, hoping that he might be thereby enabled to do fo much the more good. And when he waited upon Dr Thomas, the then Bilhop of Peterborough, for inftitution to Collingtree, which was near fix months after he had been indutled into Wefton, he faid to him, " I fuppofe your Lordfhip will be v furprifed to fee James liervey come to defire your Lord- 44 (hip ;.o permit him to be a pluralift; but I affureyou, I da ' " it to fatisfy the repeated felicitations of my mother and ** my filter, and not to pleafe myfelf." In November 1752, he publiihed his Remarks on Lord .Bolingbroke's-Iettcrs on the ftudy and ufs cf htftvry, fo far #s they relate to the kijtory of the Old lejlamsnt^ and efpe- dally Rev. Mr JAMES HERVEY. xxi dally to the cafe of Noah ^ denouncing a curfe upon Canaan: In a letter to a lady of quality *. The year following, having been called upon to preach, on the loth of May, the fermon at the visitation of the Rev Dr John Browne, Archdeacon of Northampton, at All-Saints church in that town ; he permitted it, the fame year, for the benefit of a poor difea fed child, to be printed, under the title of The crofs of Chrijl the Christian's glory. He had preached before this another lermon at the fame church, which he had been foliated to print ; but could not then be prevailed upon to do it : but fince his death it has been publilhed under the title of The ministry of reconcilia- tion, &c. -j- The fame year he wrote a recommendatory preface to Burnham's Pious Memorials ; or, The po-wcr of religion on themindinjicknefs, and at death ; exemplified by the ex- perience of many eminent perfons at thofe important feafons. His Theron and dfpa/io, publifhed in January 1755, in three volumes Oftavo, met with the fame approbaricn irom the public as his Meditations ', and the demand for this work like- wife was very uncommon ; it having palFed through three editions in one year :. In * The Rev. Mr Peter Whalley, Vicar of St Sepulchre's, in Northampton, has pubiilhed, by way of fupplement to this piece of Mr Hervey's, a vindication of the evidences and authenticity of the gofpel from the obj.;clions of the late Lord Bolingbroke. j- A defence of this fermon from the groundlefs objections railed againft it by fome inconfiderate readers, will be lound a- mong Mr Hervey's trafts in this edicion. 'j; This is the moft valuable book, written in any language, on that grand and diftinguifhing dodtrine of Chriltianity, the juliification of a (inner before God by the righteoufnefs of Ghrift imputed to him ; which fpreads itfelf through the whole fyftem of divinity ; and which Luther jultly calls articulus ftantis vel cadentis ecdefix. In Mr Hervey's own words, " the beauty and ' excellency of the fcriptures t the ruin and depravity of human ' nature, its happy recovery, founded on the atonemznt, and effected by the Spirit of Chrift, are fome of the chief points ' vindicated, illuftrated, and applied in this work, But the grand article, that which makes the principal figure, is the ' IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of our divine Lord ; from whence " arifes our juftificatioa bsibre God, and our title to every hea- venly xxii The L I F E of the In 1756, Mr Hervey being informed of the defign of re- printing The gofpel-myftfry of fanftification, by the Rev. Mr Walter Marfhall, and of prefixing to it, by way of re- commendation, what he had {aid in its favour in Theron and Afpafio, he wrote a letter, dated Nov. 5. 1756, to his bookfeller, giving his confent, and enlarging on that re- commendation. This he did the more readily, as Mr Mar- fhall's book might (for fo he has declared) be looked upon as no improper fupplement to the dialogues and letters con- tained in Theron and Aipafio. His Theron and Afpalio was attacked by feveral writers, particularly by Mr Robert Sandeman, a congregational preacher at Edinburgh, in a book, entitled, Letters on The- ron and Afpafio ; wherein the doctrine of the gofpel, under the title of the popular doctrine, is moft abominably mifre- prefented, and its tendency afperfed The Arminians too objected to that work ; and Mr John Wefley in particular wrote againft it. Mr Cudworth wrote a defence of The- ron and Afpafio ; and Mr David Wilfon, minifter of the Scots congregation in Bow-lane, London, publifhed a book, entitled, Palxmon's creed reviewed, &c. in which he vin- dicates Mr Hervey's doctrine, and expofes that of Mr San- deman. Mr Hervey's own defence of Theron and Afpafio againft the objections of Mr John Wefley, was tranfcribed fair for the prefs from his fhort-hand copy, within a few pages j and would have been publifhed in a volume of the fame lize with Theron and Afpalio, had he lived a few weeks longer. The manufcript was left in the pofleifion of his brother Mr Wil- liam Hervey, wine-merchant in Miles's-lane, London; who publifhed it in 1766, for the reafons given by him in a pre- face prefixed to it *. In " vcnly bleflmg :. An article, which, though eminent for its " importance, feems to be little underftood, and lefs regarded; ' if not much roiftaken, and almoft forgotten." * This treatife contains the beft, the moft evangelical, and the moft elaborate account of that righteoufnefs, which is im- puted Rev. Mr JAMES HERVEY. xxiii In Auguft 1757, Mr Hervey obliged the public with three fermons preached by him on the late public faft-days. To which, in the third edition, in 1759, were added his vifita- tion-fermon preached in 1753; his poflhumous fermon on the mintttry of reconciliation; and his confiderations on the prevailing cuftom of vifiting on Sundays. In a pofterior edition of thefe were given his Remarks on Lord Boling- broke's letters, and a treatife on the religious education of daughters *. In the fame year likewife, he published a new edition of his favourite author, Mr Jenks's Meditations, in two vo- lumes Oclavo ; to which he wrote a very ftrong recommen- datory preface, fhewing the ufe of thofe medications, and the reafon for fuch republication -j-. He intended to have wrote a treatife on gofpel-holinefs, as a fupplement to Theron and Afpafio: and actually wrote a very excellent and judicious plan of it, which he commu- nicated in letters to fome of his correfpondents ; but he did not live to finifh it, to the very great lofs of the public, His labours, both in his miniflerial office, and in his flu- dy, were purfued by him as long as poflible, under the dif- ad vantage of a very weak confn'tution of body; which, to gether with the feverity of his laft illnefs, he fupported not only with incredible patience, but without a fingle ex- preflion of peeviflmefs. That illnefs had long been coming on him; but greatly increafed in the beginning of October puted to a firmer for his juftification ; and will bt read with the higheft delight, by every one that adores the Son of God as the Lord our righteoufneff. * Thefe fermons ard trafts are fo valuable and excellent, that every one who reads them, will lament that he did not en- rich the library of Chriftianity with more of thofe precious treafures ; which (hew the accomplifhed gentleman, the learn-i ed fcholar, the orthodox divine, the pious Chriftian, the cham- pion for the diftinguifhing doctrines of Chriftianity, and the foe to felf-dependence, and every fpecies of vice and infidelity. f This preface, with that to Burnham's pious memorials, his letter to the -publifher of Ma-lhall on fanftificatioD, one to the publi(her of Mr Traill's works, &c. &c. are annexed to hi* trails in this edition. xxiv The LIFE of the 1758, and grew very formidable in the December follow^ ing. For on Sabbath the gd of that month, in the even- ing, after prayer in his family, he feemed to be arrefted by the melTenger of death ; fo that the united afliftance of his fifter and fervant, with difficulty, enabled him to get up ftairs into his room, from whence he never came down. His illnefs gaining ground every day, he foon became ien- fible that his end was approaching. He had frequent and violent returns of the -cramp, which gave him moft acute pain. He had likewife a hectic cough, which afflicted him fo grievoufly in the night, that he could feldom lye in bed till four in the morning * ; and was often obliged to rife at two, efpecially as opium (how much foever guarded by o- ther medicines) would not agree with him. On the i5th of that month, he complained of a pain in his fide; for which, at his own defire, he was blooded, tho' his phyfi- cian Dr Stonhoufe, in whom he placed the greated confi- dence, had objected to it, apprehending him too weak to bear any evacuation of that kind. When the furgeon came, he could fcarcely perceive any pulfation, and therefore took away no more than four ounces of blood ; intimating to bis relations and friends, that the cafe was defperate, and that he had blooded him very unwillingly, and merely to fatisfy Mr Hervey's defire, who had fome hope that the pain might pofiibly be relieved by it. His curate, the Rev. Mr Abraham Maddock, being much with him in the after- noon of that day, Mr Hervey-fpoke to him in flrong and pathetic terms of his afTurance of faith, and of the great love of God in Chrift. k ' O !" faid he, " what has Chrift, " how much has Chrift done for me ; and how little have I u done for fo loving a Saviour ! If I preached even once a- 4< week, it was at lad a burden to me. I have not viiited '* the people of my parilh, as 1 ought to have done ; and thus ** have preached, as it were, from houfe to houfe. I have " not taken every opportunity of fpeaking for Chrift." Thefe expreffions being accompanied with tears, which * When Mr Hervey was In tolerable health, he rarely lay in bed after fix, even in the winter; and rofe Qill earlier in the fummer. Rev. Mr JAMES HERVEY. xxv were too vifible not to be obferved; and left his tears fhould be mifinterpreted, as they had been converting about his expected end, and of his aflurance of happinefs, he pro- ceeded thus : u Do not think, that I am afraid to die. I u aflure you I am not. I know what my Saviour hath done *' for me, and I want to be gone. But I wonder and la- " ment to think of the love of Chrift in doing fo much for " me; and how little 1 have done for him.'* And in ano- ther converfation, difcourfmg, likewife of his approaching diflblution, which he did with the utmoft calrnnefs and fe- renity ; and of the little which we know of God's word ; he (aid, " How many precious texts are there, big with the '* moft rich truths of Chrift, which we cannot comprehend, ** which we know nothing of; and of thofe we do know, ** how few do we remember ? Bonus textuarius eft bonus ** theologus. " A good textuary is a good divine ;" and ** that is the armour ; the word of God is the fword. Thofe " texts are the weapons, which I muft ufe, when that fub- " tile fpirit, that arch-adverfary of mankind, comes to " tempt and fift me in my laft conflict. Surely I had need " be well provided with thefe weapons ; I had need have ** my quiver full of them, to anfwer Satan with texts ouc " of the word of God, when he aflaults me. Thus did " Chrift when he was tempted in the wildernefs." On the I9th the pains of his body abated, and he grew drowfy and lethargic ; but in the night following his im- mediate death was apprehended. The next day, the 2Oth, he was vifited by Dr Stonhoufe, who declared, that, in his opinion, Mr Hervey could not live above three or four days ; and happening to fpeak of the many confolations through Chrift, which a good man en- joys in the profpect of death, and difcourfmg on the emp- tinefs of worldly honour to an immortal, and on the un- profitablenefs of riches to the irreligious; Mr Hervey re- plied, True, Doctor, true ; the only valuable treafures " are in heaven. What would it avail me now to be Arch- *' bifhop of Canterbury ? Difeafe would mew no refpect to VOL. I. N 9 i. D my xxvi The LIFE of the " my mitre. That prelate * is not only very great, but, u I am told, he has religion really at heart. Yet it is god- " linefs, and not grandeur, that will avail him hereafter. u The gofpel is offered to me a poor country parfon, the 44 fame as to his'Grace. Chrift makes no difference between *' us. Oh ! why then do minifters thus neglect the charge " of fo kind a Saviour; fawn upon the great, and hunt " after worldly preferments with fo much eagernefs, to * 4 t~e difgrace of our order? Thefe, thefe are the things, " Doctor, and not our poverty, or obfcurity, which ren- *' der the clergy fo juftly contemptible to the worldlings. " No wonder the fcrvice of our church, grieved I am- to " fay it, is become fuch a formal lifelefs thing, fince it is, " alas ! too generally executed by perfons dead to godli- " nefs in ail their converfation ; whofe indifference to reli- 4< gion, and worldly-minded behaviour, proclaim the little * 4 regard they pay to the doctrines of the Lord, who bought " them." When the Doctor was going away, Mr Hervey, with great tendernefs, obferved to him, that as not long ago he had a dangerous fall fropi his horfe, by which he was much bruifed ; and as he had been lately ill, and then looked very pale, he hoped he would think on thefe narrow efcapes, fo often fatal to others, as a kind of warning from God to him, and remember them as fuch ; adding, ** How careful * 4 ought we to be to improve thofe years which remain, at " a time of life, when but few can remain for u&-j- ?" The day before his death, Mr Hervey went a few fteps acrofs his room ; but immediately finding his ftrength fail- ing him, he funk rather than fell down; his fall being bro- ken by his fitter, who, obferving his weaknefs, ran and caught him; but he fainted away, and was in all appear- ance dead, it being a confiderable time before any pulfe could be perceived. When he came to himfelf, his brother Mr * The late Dr Thomas Seeker, who died Aug. 3. 1768. f Dr Stonhoufs and Mr Hervey being then between forty and fifty years o'd. The Dotfor lately entered into holy orders in the church of England, and has got a good living in the country. Mr JAM ES HERVEY xxvii Mr William Hervey, who was come from London to vifit him, faid, u We were afraid you was gone." He anfwer- ed, " I wifh I had." And well he might wifh fo, for his ftrength was quite exhaufted, his body extremely emaciated, and his bones fo fore, that he could not bear any one to touch him, when it was neceflary to move him about. Yet, under all this calamity, he was ever praifing God for his mercies -f, and for enduing him with patience:}:. On the 25th (Chrifhnas-day,) on which he died, Mr Mad- dock paying him his morning-vifit, Mr Hervey lifted up his head, and opened his eyes, as he fat in his eafy chair, (for he could not lye in bed,) to fee who it was, and faid, "Sir, I cannot talk with you." He complained much all this day of a' great inward conflict which he had, laying his hand up- on his breaft, and laying, << O ] you know not how great " a conflict I have." During this time, he almoft conftant- ly lifted up his eyes towards heaven, with his hands clafped together in a praying form, and faid, two or three times, **. When this great conflict is over, then-" but faid no more; though it was underflood he meajnt that then he fliould go to reft." Dr Stonhoufe came to him about three hours before he expired. Mr Hervey urged ftrongly and affectionately to the Doctor the importance and care of his everlafHng con- cerns, as here is no abiding place ; and intreated him not to be overcharged with the cares of this life *, but to at- tend, amidlt the multiplicity of his bufmefs, to the " one " thing needful || :" Which f He never received a bit of lemon to moiften his mouth, without thanking God for his bounty and goodnefs, in creating fo many helps and refrelhments to a fick and decaying body \ A few years ago Mr Hervey had a terrible fcvtr at his bro- ther William's houftf, in which he had feveral blifters. On this occafion Mr William Hervey wrote as follows to one of his in- timate friends : " My brother is indeed an example of patience. ' He has not fpoke (during the whole oi* his fevere illnefs) " one fingle word of peeviihnefs. I am perfuaded he prays for < you, and remembers you now he lyes fick upon his bed. I '* hope this will find you and yours well, walking in the fear < of the Lord, and the comforts of his Holy Spirit." * See Luke xxi, 34. || Luk? x. 43. 1)2 xxviii The L I F E of the Which done, the poorcft can no wants endure, And -which not done, the richeft mufl be poor $. POPE. The Doctor feeing the great difficulty and pain with which he fpoke, (for he was almott fuffocated with phlegm and frequent vomitings,) and finding, by his pulfe, that the pangs of death were then coming on, defired that he would fpare himfelf " No," faid he, " Doctor, no ; you tell *' me I have but a few moments to live. O! lejt me fpend 44 them in adoring our great Redeemer." He then repeat- ed the 26th verfe of Pfal. Ixxiii. 7/&o' my flejh and my heart fail me, yet G*d is the ftrength of my heart, and my por- tion for ever ; and he expatiated in a moft (triking manner on thefe words of Paul, i Cor. iii. 22, 23. All things* are yours ; life and death ; for ye are Chrift's . 4t Here/' fays he, " is the treafure of a Chrifuan. Death is reckoned *' among this inventory ; and a noble treafure it is. How " unthankful am I for death, as it is the paflage through * which 1 pafs to the Lord and Giver of eternal life ; and " as it frees me from all this mifery you now fee me en- 44 dure, and which I am willing to endure, as long as God 44 thinks fit ; for I know, he will by and by, in his own 44 good time, difmifs me from the body. Thefe light afflic- 44 tions are but for a moment, and then comes an eternal 44 weight of glory. O! welcome, welcome death! 44 Thou may 'i\ well be reckoned among the treafures of the 44 Chrifiian. To live is Chrift, but to die is gain." After which, as the Doctor was taking his final leave of him, Mr Hervey exprefied great gratitude for his viiits, tho' it had been long out of the power of medicines to cure him. He then paufed a little, and with great ferenity and fweetnefs in his countenance, though the pangs of death were upon him, being raifed s. little in his chair, repeated thofe words, Lord, J Mr Hervey ufed frequently to repeat thefe lines with fuch an emphalis, and fignifteant look, as conveyed their important meaning in a manner not eafily to be forgot. This pafTjge is illuftrated in a very inftruftive manner by Dr Doddridge, in his Fa?fiily-expo/itor t and contains the fub- fiance of what Mr Hervey faid, and to which he referred. Rev. Mr JAMES HERVY. xxix JLord, now lettefl thott thy fcrvant depart in peace, accord- ing to thy moft holy and comfortable -word, for mine oft engaging manner, on every part of the catechifm, as he thought mod conducive to the improve- ment and reformation of his parilh. Voi.I. Ni. E xxxiv The LIFE of the get fome judicious perfon to buy linen, coarfe cloth, (lock- ings, fhoes, &c. for them at the beft hand ; alledging that the poor could not purchafe on fuch good terms what they wanted at the little (hops, and with fmall fums of money. " I am" faid he, " God's fteward for the poor, and I mutt " hufband the little pittance I have to be(tow upon them, " and make it go as far as pofiible." But when money would be really ferviceable to a family, as 'to a prudent houfekeeper, diitrefled by iicknefs or misfortunes, he would give five or more guineas at a time ; taking care that it fhould not be known whence the money came. Pope's com- pliment to Mr Allen of Bath, might be juftly applied to him, who would Do gsod by ftealth) and blujh to find It fame. He was particularly defirous of getting the advice of a phyfician (or at lean; of fome judicious apothecary) for the fick poor ; and was ever ready to procure them the very beft medicines. A molt beneficial fort of charity to man- kind ; and in which it were to be wilhed he had many imi- tators. He would frequently petition fuch phyficians of his acquaintance in different parts of the kingdom, as he apprehended thus charitably dilpofed, to give their advice occafionally, when they rode thro' a town, to fuch poor creatures as the clergyman of the place, or fome fubitaritial inhabitant, fliould recommend as real obje&s of companion. Mr Hervey would then with great pleafure, and with as much gratitude to the phylician, as if done to himfelf, defray the expence of what medicines were wanted. He greatly difapproved of the clergy's attempting to give me- dicines to their parifhioners ; as he judicioufly inferred, that it was impoffible for them to do it with the requifite judg- ment. " Let my brethren," he would fay, " give them " wine, bread, or beer, and get good fpoon-meats made for " them; but medicines are of too important a nature to be "given indifcriminately." He obferved, that by his own intth.'d the lick poor had the very bed medicines, as the phyllciaa favv them himfelf, and bought them very cheap, becaule Rev. Mr JAMES HERVEY. xxxv fceeaufe the apothecary, knowing they were for charitable ufes, charged the phyiician no more for them than prime coft *, with fome little allowance merely for his trouble in compounding them ; and as the phyfician knew what dif- afes were curable, there was no wafte of medicines in fruitlefs attempts to cure cafes, which, tho' actually incura- ble, perfons of lefs judgment could not pronounce to be fo. He gave away a great number of good books, with fuita- ble inductions for their ufe ; and efpecially Bibles. In the blank leaf he frequently wrote fomething capable of making an impreflion, or elle (tuck in a printed paper relating to the promifes of God, in and thro' Jefus Chrift, or to crea- tion, prefervation, and redemption -f. All the future profits of his works he has left to fome of the charitable ufes above-fpecified, except his Meditations ; the copy of which he had. fold, after it had pafled through feveral editions ; which iale of the copy, and the profits of the former impreflions, amounted to about 700 1. all of which he gave away in charity. He faid, that it was de- voted to God, and that he would on no account apply it to worldly ufes; that he wrote not for profit or fame, but to ferve the caufe of God ; and as Providence had blefled his attempt, he thought himfelf bound to relieve the dirtrefles of his fellow-creatures with it. In any expences relating to himfelf, he was extremely frugal, that he might be liberal to others ; and it was al- ways his defire to die juft even with the world. " I will be my own executor," laid he. And as he died on Chrift- mas-day, his fund expired almoft with his life. What little remained, he defired might be given in warm cloa thing to the poor in that fevere feafon. To thefe inftances of his charity, we may properly add an incident, which, how trifling foever in itfelf, yet affords a very ftrong proof, not only of the benevolence of his heart, E 2 but * Whenever he folicited the afllftance of apothecaries on thefe charitable occafions, he defired the favour of them to relinquifli their ufual profits ; promifing, on that condition, to repay what they might be out of pocket. f See a copy of this printed paper among his tracts* xxxvi The LITE of the but of his regard to pra&ical religion, and to the doing of every good work within his power. A day or two before his death, when he was reduced to fuch extreme weaknefs as to be unable to read, and could with difficulty fpeak, a little account being fettled with him by a friend, on the balance of which he received i8s. look- ing on the money with great indiifcrence, he exprefled himfelf to this efFcft: ," I would gladly difpofe of this fmall " fum, in fuch manner as may do the molt good. It is the <* only ad which I now am, and probably the lafl that I fLall " be, able to perform. Give yourfelf the trouble of look- 44 ing amonglt thefe books, and you will find Mr Richards's " pamphlet* : at the latter end of which are, I remember, " fome hints concerning the means of promoting religion 44 in ourfelves or others, which (even with Ibme additions 44 and improvements, which you might eafily make) will preflions of the all-fufficient righteoufnefs of Chritt as the fole requifite to justification before God, and acceptance with him, and (hews that indeed his faith wrought by love. No man had ever a greater difregard for money ; which he efteemed unworthy of his notice on any other account, than as it furnifhed him with the means of doing good. Surely * * This pamphlet (wrote by the Rev. Mr Richards of Nor- thampton, and formerly of Trinity College, Oxford) is entit- led, Hints for religious convsrfation, with 'the afflifted in viind t bcdy, and eftatc^ and with fucb otbtrs as jland ia seed of f pi ritual aftijiance, efpecially at the times when thef^ars confined byjicknefs. f The Hintsy &c. which were printed in the (ingle fheet of pap;r, are fubjoined to Mr Hervey's tracts in. this edition,. Rev. Mr JAMES H R v E Y. xxxvii Surely we may here borrow the fent'unent and exprefllon of the celebrated Mr Pope, and juftly conclude, that He felt his ruling paj/ion Jl rong in death* Mr Hervey was indeed too negligent of his drefs, which, tho' it could not in the lead leflen the refpecl paid to him in his own parifb, and neighbourhood, where he was fo well known, yet he would unqueliionably have avoided it, if he had lived in a more public fcene, where the decency and propriety of appearance are of much greater import- ance. In learning he was inferior to few. Greek was almoft as familiar to him as his native language. He was a great mafter of the daffies ; and in the younger part of his life had written fome copies of verfes, which fhewed no con- temptible genius for poetry. He had a critical knowledge of the Hebrew tongue, and delighted in it. With refpecl: to his private capacity, he was never known to be in a paflion. He lived as in heaven. No worldly concerns (though he fometimes met with very trying ones) ever affe&ed him. His humility rendered him invulnerable. When he wasmifreprefemed and calumniated, he would fay, u Our enemies are fometimes our belt friends, and " tell us truths ; and then we mould amend our faults, u and be thankful for fuch information : and if what * 4 they fay be not true, and only fpoke thro' malice, then " fuch perfons are to be confidered as clifeafed in their minds, *' and that he would pray for them. They are to be piti- ' ed," fays he," and I might be as juftly angry with a man, * who is diieafed in his body." All this he fpoke with humility, ferioufnefs, and fweet- nefs; for it was the language of his heart, and not of af- feftation. In his ordinary transactions with others, he was ever cheerful, punctual, juft, and candid to perfons of every denomination. He frequently wrote religious letters to bis acquaintance according to their different circumttances, in the moft ami- able and convincing manner ; and he feemed to make it al- moft xxxviii The LIFE of the moft an invariable rule, not to write a letter on any occa- fion, without at lead one pious fentence in it * ; and that not introduced in a forced and aukward manner, but inter- woven fo as to appear naturally to arife from the fubjeft. Of this kind fome fpecimens may be feen in the note at the bottom of the page -j*. Not withftanding Mr Hervey lived a very holy and exem- plary life, preaching Jefus Chrift and him Crucified, and in- culcating the practice of real religion and holinefs in heart and life, yet his enemies (for, ftrange as it is, even Mr Hervey himfelf, the moft inoffenfive of men, had enemies) have not fcrupled to aflert, that " his tenets were diflio- " nourable to God, fubverfive of all gofpel-holinefs, de- " (trucYive even of common morality, and very injurious '*to fociety itfelf, by making men melancholy, and regard- " lefs * Nulla dies fine lixea, Nitlla cpifiola Jtne Ckriflo> were Mr Herve- '* maxims. f Thefe fpecimens are taken from hafty meflage-cards, or biiieis, to fome of his intimate friends. *' When 1 fee my dear friend, we will talk about the contents * of his laft. My money is Chrift's, and I only defire chat he '* will give me benevolence to difpofe of it willingly ; difcre- " tion to beftow it prudently. I hope you have quite recover- ed, and adapted the Pfalmift's refolution, Pfal. cxvi. 8, 9. '* What do you think is the meaning of that remarkable expret ' fion, / will walk before the Lord ? In another billet to a perfon about retiring from bufinefs he writes, " Thanks for your Wiijius de xconomia fasderum. The time, I hope, is coming, when you will have leifure to read, a ' heart to relilh, and a tongue to difplay fuch precious doc- trines." In another he writes, ' Let us all remember, my dear friend, that time is upon '* the wing ; eternity is at our door ; therefore what we do " for our Uleffed Matter, we muft do quickly." Mr Hervey's letters were collected, and publifhed, in two volumes oftavo, in 1760. A full and particular account of them is given in the preface prefixed to them in this edition. They exhibit, in their purport, compofition, and tendency, a ftriking and amiable pifture of the ingenuity, learning, can- dour, and piety of the excellent author. Rev. Mr JAMES HERVEY. xxxix lefs of bufmefs." Thefe were the very words of an aba- live and anoymous letter fent to him by the poft; on which, that meek and mofl excellent man obferved to an intimate friend, with all his ufual mildnefs, " Indeed this gentleman 44 may be faid, I think, to write at random. Surely he has *' never read my works. If I knew whereto direct to him, " I mould delire him to turn to what I have advanced " in the ninth paragraph of my Contemplations on the /tarry " heavens *, and fuch a reply, I would hope, might convince u him of his miftake." Some of Mr Hervey's friends thought he carried the Cai- viniftical tenets fo far, that confequences difadvantageous to religion might be deduced from them, and which he him- felf, * Some, I believe, are apt to imagine, that they muft re- nounce fociety, if they devote themfelves to Chrift ; and aban- don all the fatisfaclion of this world, if they once become zea- lous candidates for the felicity of another. But this is a very mi [taken notion, or elfe a very injurious reprefentacion of the dotfrine, which is according to gndlinefs. It was never intend- ed to drive men into defarts, but to lead them through the peaceful and pleafant paths of wifdom, into the blefsful regi- ons of life eternal. It was never intended to ftrike off the wheels of buftnefs, or cut in fuuder the fmews of induftry ; but rather to make men induftrious from a principle of con/ciencf, not frota the inftigations of avarice ; that they may promote their im- mortal happinefs, even while they provide for their temporal maintenance. It has no defign to extirpate our paflions, but only to reftrain their irregularities ; neither would it damp the delights of fenfe, but prevent them from evaporating into va- nity, and fubfiding into gall. A perfon may be chearful a- mongft his friends, yet joyful in God. He may tafte the fweets of his earthly elbte, and at the fame time cherifh his hopes of a nobler inheritance in heaven. The trader may profccute the demands of commerce, with- out neglecling to negociate the affairs of his falvation : The warrior may wear his fword ; may draw, in a juft caufe, that murderous weapon ; and yet be a good foldier of Jefus Chrift, and obtain the crown thac fadeth not away. The parent may lay up a competent portion for his children, and not forfeit his title to the treafures either of grace or glory. So far is Chrifr tianity from obltrutfing any valuable intereiis, or with-holding any real pleafure, that it evidently advances the one, and im- proves the other. xl The L I F E of the felf, inftead of aflenting to them, would have Hartlcd a? and reje&ed with abhorrence. The fact is, the doctrine he delivered in his writings, is purely fcriptural, and agree- able to that contained in ail the confellions of the reform* ed churches ; and is fo far from having a tendency to weak- en the obligations to purity and holinefs of life, that it promotes them in the moft effectual manner, and has the moll happy influence on morality. When peribns of judg- ment have pointed out to him fome expreffions that were liable to be mifunder flood in that refpecl, he always dii- avowed any fuch meaning ; and affirmed, that the fault was not in the evangelical doctrines fo much infifted on by him, but in the mifapprehenfion, ignorance, or inattention of thofe who abufed them to licentioufnefs. He would then add, he was ready to alter or retraft any fentiment or expreflion which he apprehended to be truly objectionable; but that to make'things equally clear to every one's appreheniion, or to have the fame effect upon every one's mind, was an im- practicable attempt ; that he profefTed himfelf a Calvinitt, and that confequently the Arminians would not relifh fome things he advanced, tho' what he wrote was exadly con- formable to the church-articles, which areCalviniftical; yet he hoped they would not reject the whole, becaufe they could not in every point concur with him ; and that his writings in general might be ufeful, how much foever fome of his particular (tho' truly fcriptural) opinions might be doubted or cenfured. And on this head let us hear Mr Hervey hirnfelf. He, in a letter written by him a very lit- tle before his happy death, thus exprefles himfelf: " Do " they who deny faith, and extol their good works, diftin- " guifh themfelves by the practice of them? I will be bold " to fay, that, on an impartial examination, the majority " will be found on the fide of thofe who embrace the doc- ' trine of the imputation of Chrift's righteoufnefs, and " who expect falvation by him alone." Of the compliments publicly paid to his piety and genius, it will be fufficient to infert a paragraph from the North- ampton Mercury, which may be feen at the bottom of next page, Rev. Air J A M E s H E R v E Y. xil page *; and the following eulogium extracted from the Rev. Mr Dodd's poem on the Epiphany: - .. .. '. Thau HERVEY, too, JVhofe page and foul alike br:athe humblcft loi'S Toothy ador'd Redeemer ; ihou haft Jhewn That piety and poli/h'd elegance May well together fiat : and while remains Or piety, or elegance, thy works. Like genuine gold, the touchftone -will abide, And grateful to thy countrymen remain .' Oh ! may 1 to my lowly /trains derive Some merit from the friendf!np of thy name Strains, whofe exalted fubj eft fills my heart So conjfant iijith delight ; and from thy tongue IN CONVERSE pours fuch /tr earns of eloquence. That the wrapt hearer wonders at his fears Of death ere while, and glowing with the love Of JESU, caught from thee, longs to behold His Saviour in the clouds: for who can Jl and Amidft the fweetnefs of Arabian groves, And not bear thence fome fragrance ? Valu 1 d friend, Proceed: and (thy loo feeble Jlrength renewed) May * On Chriftmas day, in the afternoon, died, in the 45th year of his age, the Rev. Mr James Hervey, Re&or of Wefton- Favell, near Northampton, and the anchor of the Meditations on the tombs, flower-garden, &c He was one of the moft emi- nent inftances of the power of Chriftianity upon the human mind. In his minifterial province he was pious, fervent, and indefatigable. In his ordinary connexions with the communi- ty, he was ever chearful, confcientioufly pundlual in all his deal- ings, and amiably candid to perfons of every denomination. To his charities he fet no bounds, fcarcely leaving himfelf the mere requifites of his ftation. Unde- the fevereft trials of in- firmity for feveral years, he difplayed the higheft example of fortitude, ferenity, patience, and an entire refignation to the divine will His writings moft abundantly evidence his learn- ing and ingenuity But, reader, it is not the acquifitions of his underftanding, but the improvements of his heart, and his confidence in the great Redeemer, which will now avail thi* moft excellent man. VOL, I, N i. F xlii The LIFE, &c. May to hoar age thy journey be prolonged, Andjirew'd each ft ep with blcjfings to mankind ! We fiiall clqfe this account of Mr Hervey's life, with the- following elegy en him * : URANIA /peak ! in penjive numbers tell HOTJ) Zi 0^1 trembled when great HE R v F Y fell ! When fair d his ftrength, and 'when his pulfe beat low, jTell how Jhe mourn' d to fee th* impending blow ,' thou, to -whom all fucred themes belong. Pour forth the fweetly-mclancholy fcng ! 44 Alas I grim death hath Jhot the fatal dart, 44 Which long fe cm? d pointed at his languid heart, 44 Th* infatiate tyrant, crown 9 d with funeral gloom % 44 In triumph drags ijirn to the hollow tomb ; * 4 - Who nowfo well can paint the blooming flow' r, " Or preach from Sepulchres at midnight hour ? } *' Who nowfo well the Jlarry heavens fc.an, ** And read the lefturcs Nature meant for man ? ** No more his voice a carelefs world can move, ** Or tell the wonders of redeeming love ; " A'o more fcall thoufands round his pulpit throng^ 44 To hear the heavenly precepts of his tongue: 44 For lo ! above this grofs impurer air, 44 R.eleas y d from ev'ry pain, and every care, 44 He J "oars ah ft (angelic hofts his guide) 44 On wings new plum'd, which ne*er before he try*d. * With * The reader mr.y be affured, that thefe verfes were wrote by ?ivery ferious and well-difpofed young man, apprentice to ajer- fey comber, in the town of Northampton, in a low ftation of life, and of no liberal education ; whnfe mind, by Mr James .Hervey's preaching and writings, had been very early impref- fed with the facred ardor of piety and poetry. The original top 1 is now in the hands of the Rev. Mr Richard Onely, of Clipfton, A. M. ipafter of the free fchool there, to whom it \vas lardy tranfmitted by a friend of the lad's, for his infpec- tion and correflion ; the alterations he has made are not many; sjnd, upon th,e whole, it may be confidered as a kind of Chrifti- an apoiheofis ; or, at leaft, a neat elegiac garland, not altogether y of being hung over tlj,^t great and good man's tomb.; VERSES to Mr HERVEY. xliii . < With rapid fpccd his golden pinions rife * 4 Thro' ftarry plains^ andfkim //;' empyrean fkies. u And now where ffarkting portals wide difplay 44 The blifsful regions of eternal day ; " His Lord receives him 'midft celeflial choirs, *' Who crown his head, andftrike their golden, lyres *' Thro 1 heaven's glad courts the greeting anthems rol/ 9 " And joys new blooming fc aft his ravijh'd foul ; " Joys -which to tell all eloquence is faint , ** And which the loftieft mufe can never faint.' 9 VERSES to Mr HERVEY, ON HIS MEDITATIONS, IN thefe lov'd fcenes, what rapt'rous graces fhine, Live in each leaf, and breathe in every line 1 What facred beauties beam throughout the whole, To charm the fenfe, and (teal upon the foul I In claflic elegance, and thoughts his own, We fee our faults, as in a mirror, fliown : Each truth in glaring characters exprelt, All own the twin-refemblance in their bread: His eafy periods, and perfuafive page, At once amend, and entertain the age : Nature's wide fields all open to his viev/, He charms the mind with fomething ever new : On fancy's pinions, his advent'rous foul Wantons unbounded, and pervades the whole; From death's dark caverns in the earth below, To fpheres, where planets rol), or comets glow. F 2 See xlvi VERSES to Mr HERVEY, Hence may propitious melancholy flow, And fafety find me in the vaults of wo. While ev'ry virtue forms thy mental feaft, I glow with fair fmcerity ac leaft: I feel (thy face unknown) thy heart refin'd, And tafte, with bliis, the beauties of thy mind ; Collecting clearly, through thy lacred plan, What reverence of GOD ! what love to man ! O ! when at laft our deathlefs forms fiiall rife, And flow'rs and ftars defilt to moralize ; Shall then my foul, by thine inform'd, furvey, And bear the fplendors of eflemial day ? But while my thoughts indulge the glorious fcope, (My utmoft worth beneath my humbled hope,) Confcience, or fome exhorting angel, cries, 44 No lazy wimes reach above the Ikies. 44 Would you indeed the perfect fcenes furvey, 41 And mare the triumphs of unbounded day ; 44 His love-diffufive life with ardor live; 44 And die like this divine contemplative.'* London , July 9. 1748. By a PHYSICIAN. TO form the tafte, and raife the nobler part, To mend the morals, and to warm the heart ; To trace the genial fource, we nature call, And prove the GOD of nature friend of all ; HERVEY for this his mental landfcape drew, And fketch'd rhe whole creation out to view. Th' enamell'd bloom, and variegated flow'r, Whofe crimfon changes with the changing hour ; The humble mrub, whofe fragrance fcents the morn, v With buds difclofing to the early dawn ; The oaks that grace Britannia's mountains fide, And fpicy Lebanon 's fuperior pride ; * All * The cedar. on his M E D I T A T I O N S. xlvii AHloudly SOV'RETGN EXCELLENCE proclaim, And animated worlds confefs the fame. The azure fields that form th' extended iky, The planetary globes that roll on high, And folar orbs, of prouded blaze, combine, To aft fubfervient to the great defign. Men, angels, feraphs, join the gen'ral voice : And in the Lord of nature ALL rejoice. His, the grey Winter's venerable guife, Its fhrouded glories, and indruclive ikies J ; His, the fnow's plumes, that brood the ilck'ning blade 5 His, the bright pendant, that impearls the glade; The waving foreft, or the wbifp'ring brake, The furging billow, or the fleeping lake. The SAME, who pours the beauties of the fpring, Or mounts the whirlwind's defolating wing. The SAME, who fmiles in nature's peaceful form, Frowns in the temped, and directs the ftorm. 'Tis thine, bright teacher, to improve the age ; 3 Tis thine, whofe life's a comment on thy page, Thy happy page ; whofe periods fweetly flow, Whofe figures charm us, and whofe colours glow j Where artlef* piety pervades the whole, Refines the genius, and exalts the foul. For let the witling argue all he can, It is religion flill that makes the man. ? Tis this, my friend, that (freaks our morning bright ; *Tis this that gilds the horrors of our night. When wealth forfakes us, and when friends are few ; When friends are faithlefs, or when foes purfue ; Tis this that wards the blow, or ftills the fmart ; Difarms affiiftion, or repels its dart; Within the bread bids pureft rapture rife ; Bids fmiling confcience fpread her cloudlefs ikies. When the dorm thickens, and the thunder roils, When the earth trembles to th' affrighted poles ; The $ Refen-ing to the Winter-pis^. xlviii VERSES to Mr HERVEY, The virtuous mind, nor doubts nor fears aflail ; For ftonns are zephyrs, or a gentler gale. And when difeafe obftrufts the lab'ring breath, When the heart fickens, and each pulfe is death ; E'en then religion (hall fuftain the juft, Grace their laft moments, nor defert their duft. -1748. AS fome new ftar attracts th' admiring fight, His fplendors pouring thro' the fields of light, Whole nights, delighted with th' unufual rays, On the fair heav'nly vifitant we gaze : So thy fam'd volumes fweet furprife impart ; Mark'd by all eyes, and felt in ev'ry heart. Nature, inform'd by thee, new paths has trod, And rifes, here, a preacher for her GOD ; By fancy's aids, myfterious heights fhe tries, And lures us, by our fenfes, to the ikies. To deck thy fly le collected graces throng, Bold as the pencil's tints, yet foft zsfong. In theme*, how rich thy vein ! how pure thy choice ! Tranfcripts of truths, own'd clear from fcripture's voice: Thy judgment thefe, and piety atteft, Tranfcripts read only fairer in thy breath There, what thy works would (hew, we bed may fee, And all they teach in doctrine, lives in thee. Oh ! might they live! Our pray'rs their ftrife engage ; But thy fiVd languors yield us fad prefage. In vain fkill'd med'cine tries her healing art : Difeafe, long foe, entrenches at thy heart. Yet on new labours fhll thy mind is prone, For a world's good too thoughtlefs of thy own. Active, like day's kind orb, life's courfe you run, Its fphere flill glorious, tho' zfettingfun. Redemption opes thee wide her healing plan, Health's only balm, her fov'reign'ft gifc to man. Themes on his MEDITATIONS. xlir Themes fweet like thefe thy ardors, frefh, excite : Warm at the foul, they nerve thy hand to write j Make thy try'd virtues in their charms appear, Patience, rais'd hope, firm faith, and love fincere j Like a big conftellation, bright they glow, And beam out lovelier by thy night of wo. Known were thy merits to the Public long, Ere own'd thus feebly in my humble long* Damp'd are my fires ; my heart dark cares deprefs j A heart, too feeling from its own diftrefs. Proud on thy friend/hip, yet to build my fame, I gain'd my page * a fanftion from thy name. Weak thefe returns (by gratitude tho j led) Where mine (hall in thy fav'rite leaves be read. Yet o'er" my confcious meannefs hope prevails; Love gives me merit, where my genius fails. OH its ftrong bafe my fmall defer t I raife, Averfe to flatt'ry, as unlkill'd to praife. Mile-End Green y MOSES BROWNE* Fcb.3.$. 1749. W Hence flow thefe folemnfounds ? this raptur'd ftrain ? Cherubic notes my wond'ring ear detain ! Yet 'tis a mortal's voice: 'tis HERVEY lings: Sublime he foars on Contemplation's wings : In ev'ry period breathes ecdatic thought. HERVEY, 'twas heav'n thy facred leiTons taught. Celeftial vifions blefs thy ftudious hours, Thy lonely walks, and thy fequefter'd bow'rs. What fav'ring pow'r, difpenfing fecret aids, Thy cavera'd cell, thy curtain'd couch, pervades ? Still hov'ring near, obfervant of thy themes, In whifpers prompts thee, or infpires thy dreams ? JESUS ! effulgence of paternal light ! Ineffably divine ! fupremely bright ! Whofe SUNDAY-THOUGHTS* Voi.. I, N? i. G 1 VERSES to Mr HERVEY, Whofe energy according worlds atteft, Kindled thefe ardors in thy glowing breaft. We catch thy flame, as we thy page perufe; And faith in ev'ry object JESUS views. We in the bloomy breathing garden trace Somewhat like emanations of his grace: Yet muft all fweetnefs and all beauty yield, Idumc's grove, and Sharon's flow'ry field, Compar'd with JESUS : meanly, meanly fhows The brighteft lily, faint the lovelieft rofe. Divine inftruclor ! lead thro' midnight-glooms, To moralizing ftars, and preaching tombs : Thro' the {till void a Saviour's voice (hall break ^ A ray from JACOB'S ftar the darknefs flreak: To him the faireft fcenes their luftre owe ; His cov'nant brightens the celeftial bow j His vaft benevolence profufely fpreads The yellow harvefts, and the verdant meads* Thy pupil, HERVEY, a Redeemer finds In boundlefs oceans, and in viewlefs winds : He reins at will the furious blafts, and guides The rending tempers, and the roaring tides. O give, my foul, thy welfare to his truft : Who rais'd the world, can raife thy fleeping duft I He will, he will, when nature's courfe is run, 'Midft falling ftars, and an extinguifh'd fun ; He will with myriads of his faints appear. O may 1 join them, tho' the meaneft there ! Tho' nearer to the throne my HERVEY fings ; Tho' I at humbler diftance ftrike the firings; Yet both mail mingle in the fame employ, Both drink the fulnefs of eternal joy. Clcrkenwdl Green, JOHN DUICK. Feb. 24. I74S- Hat numbers of our race furvey The monarch of the golden day, Night's w on his M E D I T AT I O N S. Night's ample canopy unfurl'd, In gloomy grandeur round the world, The earth in fpring's embroid'ry dreft, And ocean's ever-working bread ! And ftill no grateful honours rife To him who fpread the fpacious fides, Who hung this air-fufpended ball, And lives, and reigns, and mines, in all J To chace our fenfual fogs away, ,And bright to pour th* eternal ray Of Deity infcrib'd around Wide nature to her utmoft bound, Is HERVEY'S talk ; and well his /kill Celeftial can the talk fulfill : Afcending from thefe fcenes below, Ardent the Maker's praife to (how, His facred contemplations foar, And teach our wonder to adore. Now he furveys the realms beneath, The realms of horror, and of death ; Now entertains his vernal hours In flow'ry walks, and blooming bow'rs ; Now hails the black-brow'd night, that brings ./Ethereal dews upon her wings ; Now marks the planets, as they roll On burning axles round the pole : While tombs, and/*Wr.f, zn&foadcs,. andyfofj Unveil their facred characters OfjufHce, wifdom, pow'r, and love; And lift the foul to realms above, Where dwells the GOD, in glory crown'd, Who fends his boundlefs influence round. So Jacoby in his blifsful dreams, Arrayed in heav'n's refulgent beams, Saw from the ground a fcale arife, Whofe fummit mingled with the fides ; Angels were pleas'd to pafs the road, The flage to earth, and path to GOD. lii VERSES to Mr HERVEY, Hervey^ proceed : for nature yields Frefh treafure in her ample fields ; And in feraphic ecftafy Still bear us to the throne on high. Ocean's wild wonders next explore, His changing fcenes, and fecret ftore ; Or let dire Earthquake claim thy toil, Earthquake, that makes a guilty ifle. So, if fmall things may fhadow forth, Dear man, thy labours, and thy worth, The bee upon the flow'ry lawn Imbibes the lucid drops of dawn, Works them in his my Serious mould, And turns the common dew to gold. London, THOMAS GIBBONS. May 26, 1750. . DElightful author ! whom the faints infpire ! And whifp'ring angels with their ardors fire ! From youth like mine, wilt thou accept of praife ? Or fmile with candor on a ftrippling's lays ? My little laurel (but a (hoot at moft) Has hardly more than one fmall wreath to boaft. Such as it is (ah ! might it worthier be !) Its fcanty foliage all is due to Thee. Oh ! if, amongft the honours of thy brow, This (lender circlet may but humbly grow: If its faint verdure haply may find place A foil to others tho* its own difgrace; Accept it, Hervey, from a heart fincere ; And, for the giver's fake, the tribute wear. Thy foul-improving works perus'd, what tongue Can hold from praife, or check th* applaufive fong ? Put, ah ! from whence mail gratitude obtain } Language that may its glowing zeal explain ? iiow to fuch wondrous worth adapt a drain ? J> Defcrib'd on his MEDITATIONS.. liii Defcrib'd by thee, cold fepulchres can charm ; Storms calm the foul ; and freezing winter warm. Clear'd from her gloomy {hades, we view pale night Surrounded with a blaze of mental light, Lo ! where (he comes ! all filent ! penfive ! flow ! On her dark robe unnumber'd meteors glow ! High on her head a ftarry crown Che wears ! Bright in her hand the lamp of Reafon bears ! Smiling, behold ! flie points the foul to heav'n, And bids the weeping (inner be forgiv'n ! But when thy fancy fhifts this folemn fcene, And ruddy morning gilds the chearful green ; With fudden joy we view the profpecl cha^g'd, And bluming fweets in beauteous order rang'd. We fee the violets ; fmell the dewy rofe, Ad each perfume that from the woodbine flows: A boundlefs perfpeclive there greets our eyes ; Rich vales defcend, and verdant mountains rife. The (hepherds cottages, and rural folds : All, that thy art defcribes, the eye beholds. Amazing limner ! whence this matchlefs pow'r? Thy work's a garden ! ev'ry word a flow'r ! Thy lovely tints almoft the bloom excel), And none but nature's felf can paint fo well ! Hail, holy man ! henceforth thy work (hall ftand (Like fome fair column by a matter-hand, Which, whilft it props, adorns the towYmg pile) At once to grace, and elevate our Ijle. Though (im pie, lofty; though majeftic, plain; Whofe bold deiign the rules of art reftrain. In which the niceft eye fees nothing wrong; Though polifh'd, juft ; and elegant, though firong. 'June 24, 1750. ST GEORGE MOLES-WORTH. I N Pleafure's lap the mufes long have lain, And hung, attentive, on her Syren {train : Still llv -VERSES to Mr HERVEY, Still toils the bard beneath fome weak defign, And puny thought but halts along the line : Or tuneful nothings, dealing on the mind, Melt into air, nor leave a trace behind. While to thy rapt'rous profe, we feel, belong The ftrength of wifdom, and the voice of fong : This lifts the torch of facred truth on high, And points the captives to their native Iky. How falfe the joys, which earth or fenfe infpires, That clog the foul, and damp her purer fires ! Troths, which thy foleran fcenes, ray friend, declare, Whofe glowing colours paint us as we are. Yet not morofely flern, nor idly gay, Dull melancholy reigns, or trifles fway : 111 wou'd the drains of levity befit, And fallen gloom but fadden all thy wit : Truth, judgment, fenfe, imagination, join 5 And ev'ry mufe, and every grace, is thine. Religion prompting the true end of man, Confpinng genius executes the plan ^ Strong to convince, and elegant to charm, Plaintive to melt, or palTionate to warm. Rais'd by degrees, we elevate our aim, And grow immortal as we catch thy flame ; True piety informs our languid hearts, And all the vitious, and the vain departs. So, wfcen foul-fpreading fogs creep flowly on, Blot the fair morn, and hide the golden fun ; Ardent he pours the boundlefs blaze of day, Rides through the fky, and fhines the mid away. O, had it been th' Almighty's gracious will, That I had fliar'd a portion" of thy fkill : Had this poor bread receiv'd the heav'nly beam, Which fpreads its ludre thro* thy various theme ; That fpeaks deep lefTofts from the filent tomb. And crowns thy garden with frefh-fpringing bloom ; Or, piercing thro' creation's ample whole, Now fooths the night, or gilds \h,zftarry pole ; Or on his MEDITATIONS. Or marks how Winter calls her howling train, Her fnows and dorms, that defolate the plain ; With thee the Mufe fhall trace the pleafing road, That leads from nature up to nature's GOD j Humble to learn, and, as fhe knows the more, Glad to obey, and happy to adore. Northampton, PETER. W A 1. 1. z Aug. 25. 1750, OntheRev, Mr JAMES HERVEYV PtOure, by the Rev. Mr JOHN NIXON, A. M. Rcftor of Cold High- am, in Northamptonflrire. WILLIAMS ! 'tis yours to bid the canvas wear, By art illufive, Hervfy's form and air. Oh ! with like happy labour could I trace Each virtue, each exalted Chriftian grace, liach heav'nly gift, with which his foul was bleft, And fix the bright aflemblage in roy bread : Then how tranfcendent far wou'd be my plan, You point his mimic SHADE : I'd live the MAN. MEDI- MEDITATIONS AMONG T H E TOMBS Every Stone that iue look upon in this Kepojitory of p aft Ages^ is both an Entertainment, and a Monitor. Plain-Dealer, VOL. I. N 42. .<.<<.<..<<.<<.<<<<<<*>->>>>.> VOL. I. N? i. li T O Mifs MADAM, npHESE Reflections, the ONE on the deepefl, JL the OTHER on \hzgayefl fcenes of nature, when they proceeded privately from the pen> were addrefled to a lady of the mod valuable endowments : who crowned all her other en- dearing qualities, by a fervent love of CHRIST, and an exemplary conformity to his divine pat- tern. She, alas 1 lives no longer on earth ; un- lefs it be in the honours of a diftinguifhed cha- racter, and in the bleeding remembrance of her acquaintance. IT is impoflible, Madam, to wifh you a richer blefling, or a more fubftantial happinefs, than that the fame fpirit of unfeigned faith ^ the fame courfe of undenled religion^ which have enabled H 2 her Ix DEDICATION. her to triumph over death, may both animate and adorn your life. And you will permit me to declare, that my chief inducement in requeft- ing your acceptance of the following Medita- tions, now they make a public appearance from the /r/?/}, is, that they are defigned to cultivate the fame facred princifle, and to promote the fame excellent practice. LONG, Madam, may you bloom in all the vi- vacity and amiablenefs of youth, like the charm- ing fubjec"l of one of thefe contemplations. But at the fame time remember, that, with regard to fuch inferior accomplimments, you muft one day fad:^ (may it prove fome very remote period !) like the mournful objects of the other. This coniideration will prompt you to go on as you have begun, in adding the meeknefs of ivifdom, and all the beauties of holinefs, to the graces of an engaging perfon, and the refinements of a po- lite education. AND might O ! might the enfuing hints furnifli you with the lead afliftance, in profecu- ting fo defirable an end : might they contribute, in any degree, to eftablifh your faith, or elevate your devotion ; they would, then, adininifler to the author fuch a fatisfaction, as applaufe can- not give, nor cenfure take away : A fatisfaction, which I mould be able to enjoy, even in thofe awful DEDICATION. ki awful moments, when all that captivates the eye is finking in darknefs, and every glory of this lower world difappearing for ever. TH E s E wifhes, Madam, as they are a mod a- greeable employ of my thoughts, fo they come attended with this additional circumftance of pleafure, that they are alfo the fincereft expre- fion of that very great efteem, with which I am, MADAM, Tour mojl obedient^ Mo/l humble feru ant ^ Wefton-Favell, near Northampton, May 20. 1746. JAMES HERVEY. ADVERTISEMENT T O T H E THIRD EDITION. J MUST intreat the pur chafers of the former edi- tions ', to excufe the freedom I have taken, in ma- king federal confiderable additions to this. // has been done at the perfuafion of fome judicious friend s^ who apprehended the piece might be more ufeful y and lefs unworthy of the public patronage, if it touched upon fame very interefiingfubjecls, hitherto omitted. As I had no views, but to render the per- formance more pleqfing and ferviceable ; no reader , / hope, 'will be offended at my practice, or complain of it as injurious. Newerthelefs, as I 'would 'wil- lingly avoid 'whatever might feem to ft and in need of an APOLOGY, I defire leave to declare. That no future enlargements, or alterations , Jhall be fuf- fered to depretiate r what *^*2*<>*2><*2*<>*;>+;>*^ M A D A M, TRAVELLING lately into Cornwall, I happened to alight at a confiderable village in that coun- ty ; where finding myielf under an unexpected necef- fity of flaying a little, I took a walk to the church *. The doors, like the heaven to which they lead, were wide open, and readily admitted an unworthy flran- ger. Pleafed with the opportunity, I refolved to fpend a few minutes under the facred roof. * I had named, in foirie former editions, a particular church, viz. Ki L K H A M PTON ; where fevcral of the monuments, defcribed in the following pages, really exHt But as I thought it convenient to mention foine cafes here, which are not, ac- cording to the bert of my remembrance, referred to in any in- .fcriptions there ; I have now omitted the name; that imagi- nation might operate more freely, and the improvement of the reader be confulted, without any thing that Ihould look like a variation from truth and facl. VOL. I. N i, I 66. MEDITATIONS IN a fituation fo retired and awful, I could not avoid falling into a train of Meditations, Jerious and mourn- fully pleafing which, I truft, Were in ibme degree profitable to me, while they poflfefTed and warmed my thoughts ; and if they may admin ifter any fatisfa&ion to you, Madam, now they are recollected, and com- mitted to writing, I (hall receive a frefh pleafure from them . IT was an ancient pile ; reared by hands, that, ages ago, were mouldered into duft. Situate in the cen- tre of a large burial-ground; remote from all the noife and hurry of tumultuous life. The body fpacious ; the ftruciure lofty; the whole magnificently plain. A row of regular pillars extended themfelves through the midft ; fupporting the roof with fimplicity, and with dignity. The light, that pafTed thro' the win- dows, feemed to fhed a kind of luminous obfcurity ; which gave every object a grave and venerable air. The deepy?/d, how valu'd o/?c teous Judge, (hall give her at that day * \ How happy the hufband, in fuch a iliarer of his bed, and partner of his fortunes ! Their inclinations were nicely-tuned nmjons, and all their eonverfation was harmony. How Olken the yoke to fuch a pair, and what bleflings were twifted with fuch bands ! Every joj? was heightened, and every care alleviated. Nothing feemed wanting to confummate their blifs, but a hope- ful progeny rifmg around them. That they might iec themfelves multiplied in their little ones ; fee their min- gled graces transfufed into their offspring ^ and feel the glow of their affection augmented, by being reflected from their children : '* Grant us this gift," laid their united prayers, " and our fatisfa&ions are crowned ; " we requeft no more.*' Alas \ how blind are mortals to future events ! how unable to difcern what is really good f ! Give me chil- dren^ blem of death : which we cannot but fuppofe to te the volume of infpiration, as it exhibits a fort of abridgment of its whole Contents, in thole animated words; BE YE NOT SLOTHFUL, BUT FOLLOWERS OF THEM, WHO THHOUGH FAITH ANI> PATIENCE INHERIT THE PROMISES, Heb. VI. 12. Beneath, that every part might be pregnant with inftru&ion, are thofe ftriking reflections ; worthy the confederation of the higbejl proficient in knowledge and piety, yet obvious to the under- (landing of the m oft untaught reader; LTFE, HOW SHORT! ETERNITY, HOW LONG ! -May my foul learn the forci- ble purport of this fhort ieffon, in their contracted fpan of time i and all eternity will not be too long, to rejoice in ha- ting learned it. * 2 Tim. iv. 8. -j- Ncfcia mens hominttm fati^ fortifque futur* ! Turno tempus erit, magno cum optaverit emptum, Intaflum Pallanta $ ct cumffdia ijla diemquc Oderit. Vine. VOL. I. N? x, M M E D I'T-A T..I O. N S ^ 'faid Ruchsl,ordje I die *. An ardour of rnipa-^ tience altogether unbecoming, and as miftaken as it was unbecoming, .She dies, not by the dij appointment, but by the accomplifliment, of her :de{ire> if children are, tj parents j like a ilowery chaplet, whofe beauties bloflbin with ornament, and whole odours breathe delight ; death, or fome : fell misfortune, may find means. to entwine themfelves with the lovely wreath* "Whenever our fouls are poured out, with pallionate importunity, after any inferior acquifition ; it may be truly laid, in the words of aur divine Mafter, Ye know not what ye ajk. Does Providence with hold the thing that we long for? It denies in mercy ; and only with-holds the occ ailon of our mil cry, perhaps the in- firrument of our ruin. With a iickly appetite, we often loath what is wholcfome, and hanker after our bane. "\Vlts3rEJmaginati0n dreams of unrningledfweets, there experience frequently finds the bitternefs of wo. '1 herefore may we covet immoderately, neither this nor that form of earthly felicity ; but refer the whole of our condition, to the choice of unerring wifdom. May we learn to renounce our own will ; and be ready to make a facrifice of our warmed wifhes, whenever they run counter to the good pleafure of GOD. For, indeed, as to obey his laws, is to be perfectly free ; ib to rejlgn ourfelves to his difpofal, is- to eftablijh our own happinefs, and to be fecure from fear of evil. HERE a'fmall and plain ftone is placed upon the ground ; purchaled, one would imagine, from the little fund, and formed by the hand, of frugality itfelf. Nothing coftly ; not one decoration added ; only a very fliort infcription ; and that fo effaced, as to be icarcely intelligible. Was the depofitory unfaithful to its truft \ Or were the letters worn, by the frequent re- fort of the iiirviving family, to mourn over the grave of * Gen. xxx. I. among the T O M B S; 91 of a moft valuable and beloved relative : For I per- ceive, upon a cloier inipeclion, that it cove-s the re- mains of a. father ; a religious father ; inatched from his growing offspring, before they were fettled in the world, or ib much as their principles fixed by a tho- rough education. Tins, fure, is the mod complicated diflrefs, that has hitherto come under our coniideration. They^- lemnities of fuch a dying chamber, are fome of the moft melting and melancholy icenes imaginable. There lyes the affectionate huiband ; the indulgent parent ; the faithful friend ; and the generous matter. lie lyes in the lait extremities, and on the very point of diiTolu- tion. Art has done its all. The raging difeafs mocks the power of medicine. It haflens, with, rellillefs im- petuoiity, to execute its dreadful errand ; to rend a- iunder the filver cord of life, and the more delicate tie of focial attachment, and conjugal affeclion. A Jervant or two, from a revering diitance, caft many a wifliful look, and condole their honoured ma-r iterin the language of (ighs. The condefcencling nuJd- neis, of his commands was wont to produce an alacrity of obedience, and render their fervice a pleaibre. The remembrance of both embitters their grief, and makes it trickle plentifully down their honeit cheeks. iiis friends, who have fo often fliared his joys, and glad- dened his mind with their enlive'ning converie, now aremjier'ablecomforters. A iympathizirig and mourn- ful pity is all the relief they are able to contribute ; un- lefs it be augmented by their filent prayers for the di- vine fuccour, and a word of conlblation iuggefted from the fcriptures *. Thoic poor innocents, the children^ croud * Texts of fcripture, proper for fuch an occafion ; contain- ing promifes of fupporc under affliction, Lam. iii. 31. Heh. xii. 6. 2 Cor. iv. 17. of pardon. If. Hii. 5. V/7 i. 18. jt Jehu ii. i, 2. Atts x. 43. of justification, Ram. v. 9, M 2 jRcwfi pi MEDITATIONS croud around the bed ; drowned in tears, and almoft frantic with grief, they fob out their little fouls, and paflionately cry, " Willhe leave us ? leave us in a help- ' lefs condition ! leave us to an injurious world !" Thefe feparate ftreams are all united in the diftreff- ed fpoufe, and overwhelm her breaft with an impetu- ous tide of forrows. In her, the lover weeps, the wife mourns, and alj the mother yearns. To her, the Jofs is beyond meafure aggravated, by months and years of delightful fociety, and exalted friendmip. Where, alas ! can me meet with fuch unfufpe&ed fi- delity, or repofe fuch unreferved confidence ? where find fodifcreet acounfellor; fo improving an example; and a guardian fo fedulouily attentive to the interests of herielf, and her children ? See ! how me hangs o- ver her languifhing bed ; mod tenderly felicitous to prolong a life, important and defirable far beyond her own ; or, if that be impracticable, no lefs tenderly of- ficious to footh the laft agonies of her dearer J elf . Her hands, trembling under direful apprehenfions, wipe the cold dews from the livid cheeks ; and ibme- times flay the finking head on her gentle arms, fome- times reft it on her compaffionatebofom. See ! how ftie gazes, with a fpeechlcfs ardor, on the pale coun- tenance and meagre features. Speechlefs her tongue : but (he looks unutterable things. While all her foft pailions throb with unavailing fondnefs, and her very foul bleeds with exquifite anguiih. Tlnefetfferer^ all patient and adoring, fubmits to the divine will ; and, by fubmiflion, becomes fuperior to his affliction. He is fenfibly touched with the difcon- iolate (late of his attendants ; and pierced with an an- xious concern for his wife and his children ; his wife, who will fqon be a destitute widow ; his chil- dren, Row. viii. :p, 34. 2 Cor. v. 2t. of viftory over death, Pfal. xxiii. 4. Pfal. Ixxiii, 26. i Cor. xv. |6, 57. of a happy /refurrecliofi, John vi. 42. 2 Cor. v. i. Rru. vii. 16, 17. among the TOMBS. 93 dren, who will foon be helplefs orphans. u Yet tho* " caft down, not in defpair." He is greatly refrefhed by his truft in the everlafting covenant, and his hope of approaching glory. Religion gives a dignity to dif- treis. At each interval of cafe, he comforts his very comforters ; and fuffers with all the majefly of wo. The foul, juft going to abandon the tottering clay, colle&s all her force, and exerts her laft efforts. The good man raifes himfelf on his pillow j extends a kind hand to his fervants, which is bathed in tears ; takes an affecting farewell of his friends ; clafps his wife in a feeble embrace ; kiffes the dear pledges of their mu- tual love ; and then pours all that remains of life and of flrength, in the following words : " I die, " my dear children : but GOD, the everlafting GOD, " will be with you. Tho* you lofe an earthly pa- * 6 rent, you have a Father in heaven, who lives ^ for evermore. Nothing, nothing but an unbelie- u ving heart, and irreligious life, can ever feparate u you from the regards of his providence, from the *' endearments of his love." He could proceed no farther. His heart was full ; but utterance failed. After a mort paufe, with diffi- culty, great difficulty, he added, u You, the dear " partner of my foul, you are now the only protec- " tor of our orphans. I leave you under a weight " of cares. But GOD, who defendeth the caufe of ;< the widow, GOD, whofc promife is faithfulnefs u and truth, GOD hath faid, / will never leave u thee t nor forfake thee *. This revives my droop- " i n g Spirits, let this fupport the wife of my bofom ; *' and now, O Father of companions, into thy hands " I commend my fpirit. Encouraged by thy pro- " mifed goodneis, I leave my fatherlefs" Here he fainted ; fell back upon the bed ; and lay, for fome minutes, bereft of his fenfes. As a taper ^ up- on * Heb. xiii. 5, 94 M EDITATIONS on the very point of extinction, is fometimes fudden- denly rekindled, and leaps into a quivering flame ; fb life, before it totally expired, gave a parting ftrug- gle, and once more looked abroad from the opening eye-lids. He would fain have ipoke, fain have utter- ed the ientence he began. More than once he effayed : but the organs of fpeech were become like a broken vefTelj and nothing but the obftrufting phlegm rat- tled in his throat. His ajpect, however, fpoke affection inexpreffiole. With all the father, all the hufband (till Jiving in his looks, he takes one more view of thofe dear children, whom he had often beheld with a pa- rental triumph. He turns his dying eyes on that be- loved woman, whom he never beheld but with a glow of delight. Fixed in this poflure, amidM {'miles of love, and under a gleam of heaven, they mine out their laft. Upon this, the filent forrow burfts into loud la- ments. They weep, and refufe to be comforted. Till fome length of time had given vent to the excels of paflion ; and the confolations of religion had ftaunch- ed their bleeding woes. Then the afflicted family fearch for the fentence, which fell unfinifhed from thofe loved, thofe venerable, and pious lips. They find it recorded by the prophet Jeremiah, containing the dire&ion of infinite wifdom, and the promife of unbounded goodnefs ; Leave thy fat her lefs children; I 'mill preferve them alive ; and let thy uuidoius trujl in me *. This, now, is the comfort of their life, and the joy of their heart. They treafure it up in their memories. It is the beft of legacies, and an in- exhaujlible fund : A fund which will fupply all their wants, by entailing the bleffing of heaven on all their honefl labours. They are rich, they are happy, in this iacred pledge of the divine favour. They fear po evil ; they want no good ; becauie GOD is their portion, and their guardian GOD. No f Jer. xlix. n. among the T M B S. 9^ No fooner turned from one memento of > my own, and memorial of another's deceafe, but a fecond, a third, a long fucceffion of thefe melancholy monitors, croud upon my fight *. That which has fixed my obfervation, is one of a more grave and fable afpeCl than the former. I fuppofe, it preferves the relics of a more aged perfon. One would conjecture, that he made fomewhat of a figure in his ft at ion among the living, as his monument does among the funeral marbles. Let me draw near, and inquire of the ft one, " fi^ho, or "what, is beneath its furface ?" I am in- formed, he was once the owner of a confiderable ef- tate ; which was much improved, by his own appli- cation and management : that he left the world in the bufy period of life, advanced a little beyond the me- ridian. Probably, replied my mufing mind, one of thole indefatigable drudges, who rife early ; late take reft; and eat the bread of carefuinefs ; not to fecure the loving-kindnefs of the LORD, not to make provifion for any reafonable neceffity, but only to amafs toge- ther ten thoufand times more than they can poffibly life . I>id he not lay fchemes for enlarging his fortune, and aggrandizing his family ? Did he not purpofe to join field to field, and' add houfe to houfe, till his poffeflions were aim oft as vaft as his defires ? that^ then, he would fit down, and enjoy what he had acquired ; breathe a while from his toilfome purfuit of things temporal, and, perhaps, think a little of things eternal. But fee the folly of -worldly tvifdom ! How filly, how childifh, is the fagaeity of (what is called} manly and m after ly * - Plurima mortis imago. laborem Sefe ferre, fenes ut in otia tuta rccedant, t) cumfibijintcongeftacibaria. HOR. 96 MEDITATIONS mafterlv prudence, when it contrives more folicitouf- ly for TIME, than it provides for ETERNITY I How ftrangely infatuated arethofe iubtile heads, which weary themfelves in concerting meafures for phantoms of a day, and icarce beftow a thought on everlafting realities ! When every wheel moves on fmoothly ; when all the well-difpofed defigns arc ripening apace for execution ; and the long-expe&ed crifis of enjoy- ment feems to approach; behold 1 GOD from on high laughs at the Babel-builder. Death touches the bubble, and it breaks ; it drops into nothing. The cobweb, mod finely fpun indeed, but more eafily diflodged, is fwept away in an initant ; and all the abortive pro- jecls are buried in the fame grave with their projector. So true is that verdidt, which the wifdom from above pafles on \hefejuccefsfiil unfortunates : " They walk in 44 a vain (hadow, and difquiet themfelves in vain *." Speak, ye that attended fuch a one in his laft mi- nutes ; ye that heard his expiring fentiments / did he not cry out, in the language of disappointed icnfuali- ty ? " O death ! how terrible is thy approach, to a 44 man imaieried in fecular cares, and void of all con- " cern for the never-ending hereafter / Where, alas I 44 is the profit, where the comfort, of entering deep " into the knowledge, and of being dexterous in the 44 difpatch, of earthly affairs ; fmce I have, all the " while, neglecled the one thing needful I Deftruftive 44 miftake ! I have been attentive to every inferior * 4 intereft ; I have laid myfelf out on the trifles of a 44 moment; but havedifregarded/^ww; have forgot 4 * eternal ages ! O ! that my days" Here he was going on to breathe fome fruitlefs wiflies, or to form I know not what ineffectual refolutions : But a fudderi convulfion (hook his nerves ; difabled his tongue j and, in lefs than an hour, diflblved his frame. May the children of this world be warned, by the dying " Pfal, xxxix, 6, among the TOMBS. 97 dying words of an unhappy brother, and gather ad- vantage from his misfortune. Why mould they pant, with iuch impatient ardor, after white and yellow earth, as if the univerfe did not afford fufficient for every one to take a little ? Why mould they lade themfelves with thick clay, when they are to " run *' for an incorruptible crown, and prefs towards the " prize of their high-calling ?" Why fliould they o- verload the veffel, in which their everlafting ALL is embarked ; or fill their arms with Juperfluities , when they are to fwim for their lives f -Yet fo prepofte- rous is the conduit of thofe perfons, who are all in- dujlry, to heap up an abundance of the wealth which perifheth j but are fcarce fo mueh as faintly dejirous^ of being rich towards GOD. O ! that we may walk thro* all thefe glittering toys, at leaft with a wife indifference, if not with a fuperior difdain ! Having enough for the convenien- cies of life, let us only accommodate ourfelves with things below, and lay up our treajures in the regions above. Whereas, if we indulge an anxious concern, or lavifli an inordinate care, on any tranfitory pofTef- fions ; we fhall rivet them to our affections with fo firm an union, that the utmoft ieverity of pain mud attend the feparating ftroke. By fuch an eager at- tachment to what will certainly be ravilhed from us, we (hall only infure to ourfelves accumulated anguifli^ again!! the agonizing hour : we (hall plant, aforehand, our dying pillow with thorns *. SOME, I perceive, arrived at threefcore years and ten, before they made their exit ; nay, fome few religned not their breath, till they had numbered fourfcore re- volving * Lean not on earth ; 'twill pierce thee to the heart ; A broken reed at be'ft, but ofc a fpear : On its lharp point peace bleeds, and hope expires. Nigk VOL, I. N 2. N 98 MEDITATIONS volving harvefls. Thefej I would hope, " remember- " ed their Creator in the days of their youth ;" be- fore their flrength became labour and forrow ; be- fore that low ebb of languishing nature, when the keepers of the houje tremble, and tlioj'e that look out of the windows are darkened */ when even the lighting down of the gra/Jiopper is a burden on the bending moulders, and defire itfelf fails in the lifllefs, lethar- gic foul ; before thofe heavy hours come, and thofe tirefome moments draw nigh, in which, there is too much reafon to fay, ct IV e have no pleajure in them; " no improvement from them." If their lamps were unfurnifhed with oil, how unfit mufl they be, in fuch decrepit circumftances, to go to the market, and buy j* .1 For, befides a variety of diibrders, ariiing from the enfeebled conflitution, their corruptions mufl be furprifingly flrengthened, by fuch a long courfe of irreligion. Evil habits mufl have flruck the deepefl root; muft have twilled them- felves with every fibre of the heart ; and be as tho- roughly ingrained in the difpofition, as the foot in the ^Ethiopian's complexion, or the fpots in the leopard's fkin. If fuch a one, under fuch difadvantages, fur- mounts all the difficulties which lie in his way to glo- ry, it mufl be a great and mighty falvation indeed. If fuch a one efcapes de(lruHon, and is faved at the lafl, it mufl, without all peradventurc, bcfo as by fire t . 'J his is the feafon which flands in need of comfort, and is very improper to enter upon the conflict. The hufbandman * Eccl. xii. 2, 5. I need not remind my reader, that, by the former of thefe figurative exprefiions, is fignified the en- ervated Hate of the hands and arms ; by the latter, the dlm- nefs of the eyes, or the total lofs tf fight: that, tnken in con- nedion with other parts of the chapter, they exhibit, in a fe- ries of bold and lively metaphors, a delcription cf the various infirmities attendant on old age. -j- Matth. xxv. 9. :j: i Cor. iii. 15. among the TOMBS. 99 hufbandman mould now be putting in his fickle, or eating the fruit of his labours ; not beginning to break up the ground, or fcatter the feed. Nothing, 'tis true, isimpofliblswithGoD. Hefaid, Let there be light, and there was light ; inftantaneous light, diffuftd, as quick as thought, through all the difmal dominion of primeval darknefs. At his command, a leprofy of the longed continuance, and of the utmoft inveteracy, de- parts in a moment. He can, in the greatncfs of his Strength, quicken the wretch,' who has lain dead in trefpaifes and fins, not four days only, but fourfcore years. Yet truft: not, O truft not, a point of fuch in- exprcjjible importance, to fo dreadful an uncertainty. GOD may fufpend his power ; may withdraw his help ; may fwear in his wrath, that fuch ajbufers of his long- fuffering {hall " never enter into his reft." Ye, therefore, that are vigorous in health, and bloom- ing in years, improve the precious opportunity. Im- prove your golden hours to the noblefl of all purpo- fes ; fuch as may render you meet for the inhe; itance of faints in light; and afcertain your title to a Mate of immortal youth, to a crown of eternal glory *. Stand not, all the prime of your day, idle ; trifle no longer, * May J be permitted to recommend, as a treafure of fine fentiments, and a treatife particularly appofite to my fubje61y DR LUCAS's INQ.UIRY AFTER HAPPINESS? that part ei'pe- cially, which difplays the method, and enumerates the advan- tages, of improving life, or living much in a iittle time, chap. III. p, 158. of the 6th edit. An author, in whom the gentle- man, the fcholar, and the Chriitian, are mofl happily united. A performance, which, in point of folid argument, unaffected piety, and a vein of thought amazingly fertile, has, perhnps, no fuperior. Nor can I wifh my reader a more refined plea- lure, or a more fubftantial happinefs, than that of having the fentiments of this entertaining and pathetic writer, wove in- to the very texture of his heart. Unleis I might be allowed to wifh, that the writer himfelf had interfperled the glorious peculiarities of the gofpel (on which our happinefs abtblutelv Depends) a little more liberally through all his works. N 2 ioo MEDITATIONS longer with the offers of this immenfe felicity ; but make hafte, and delay not the time, to keep Go D'S commandments. While you are loitering in a gay injenflbility^ death may be bending his bow, and mark- ing you out for fpeedy viclims. -Not long ago, I hap- pened to fpy a thoughtlefs jay. The poor bird was idly bulled in drefling his pretty plumes, or hopping carelefly from ipray to fpray. A fportiman, coming by, obierves the feathered rover. Immediately lie lifts the tube, and levels his blow. Swifter than %vhirlwind flies the leaden death ; and, in a moment, lays the filly creature breathlefs on the ground. Such,yfA may be the fate of the man, who has a fair occaiion of obtaining grace to-day, and wantonly pofl- pones the improvement of it till to-morrow. He may be cut off in the midft of his folly ; and ruined for r/ an eminent part of the wall ? It is not only placed in a more elevated fituation than the reft, but carries a morefplendid and/umptuous air than ordinary. Swords and ipears, murdering engines, and inflruments of jQaughter, adorn the ftone with a formidable magnifi- cence. It proves to be the monument of a noble warrior. Is fuch refpeft, thought I, paid to the memory of this brave foldier, for facrificing his life to the public good? Then, what honours, what immortal honours, are due to the great Captain of our falvation ? who, though Lord of the angelic legions, and fupretne Commander of all the heavenly hofts, willingly offer- ed himfclf a bleeding propitiation for /inner s I The one died, being a mortal; and only yielded up a life, which was long before forfeited to divine juf- tice ; which mult foon have been iurrendercd as a debt to nattirc, if it had not fallen as a prey to war. But CHRIST took flem, and gave up the ghoft, tho' he was the great I AM ; the Fountain of exiftence; who Calls happinefs and immortality all his own. tie, who thought it no robbery to be equal with God ; he, whofe outgoings were /row evcrlafting; even lie was made in the likenefs of man, and cut off out of the land of the living. Wonder, O heavens! be aftonidi- ed, O earth 1 HE died the death, of whom it is-wit- nefTed, that he is " the true GOD, and eternal life *.'* The one expofed himfelf to peril, in the fervice of his Jovereign and his country ; which, though it was glorious to do, yet would have been ignominious, in fuch circumftances, to have declined. But CHRIST Jook the field, tho' he was the lie [fed and only poten- * I John v. 20. VOL. I. N 9 2. P io6 MEDITATIONS tate; the KING of kings, and LORD of lords. CHRIST took the field, tho* he was/Mr^ to drop in the engage- ment ; and put on the harnefs, tho* he knew before- hand, that it muft reek with his blood. That Prince of heaven refigned his royal perfon, not barely to the hazard, but to the inevitable ftroke ; to death, certain in its approach, and armed with all its horrors. And for -whom f Not for thofe who were in any degree deferving; but for his own difobedient creatures ; for the pardon of condemned malefaftors ; for a band of rebels, a race of traitors, the moft obnoxious and in- excufable of all criminals ; whom he might have left to perim in their iniquities, without the leaft impeachment of his goodnefs, and to the difplay of his avenging juftice. The one, it is probable, died expeditioufly ; was fuddenly wounded, and foon {lain. A bullet lodged in his heart, a fword fheathed in his bread, or a battle- axe cleaving the brain, might put a fpeedy end to his mifery, difpatch him " as in a moment/' Whereas the divine Redeemer expired in tedious and protrac- ted torments. His pangs were as lingering, as they were exquifite. Even in the prelude to his laft fuf- fering, what a load of forrows overwhelmed his facred humanity ? till the intolerable prefTure wrung blood, inftead of fvveat, from every pore ; till the cr.mibn, flood flained all his raiment, and tinged the very ftones. Bat when the laft fcene of the tragedy com- menced, when the executioner's hammer had nailed him to the crofs ; O ! how many dlfmal hours did that illuftrjous fuiferer hang ; a fpeiftacle of wo to GOD, to angels, and to men ! His temples mangled with the thorny crown ! his hands and feet cleft with the rugged irons ! his whole body covered with woundsr and bruifes 1 and his foul, his very foul, pierced with, pangs of unutterable diftrefs ! So long he hung, that nature, through all her do- minions, was thrown into iympathizing commotions. The earth' could no longer fuftain fuch barbarous in- dignities, among the T O M B S. 107 dignities, without trembling ; nor the fun behold them, without horror. Nay, fo long did he hang in this extremity of agony and torture, that the alarm reached even the remote regions of the dead.- Never, O my foul, never forget the amazing truth. i he Lamb of GOD was feized ; was bound; was flaugh- tered with the utmoil inhumanity ; and endured death in all its bitterneis, forthee. His murderers, ftudiouf- ly cruel, fo guided the fatal cup, that he taited every drop of its gall, before he drank it off to the very dregs. Once again ; The warrior died like a hero, and fell gallantly in the field of battle. But died not CHRIST as a fool dieth * f Not on the bed of honour, with fears of glory in his breaft ; but, like fome execrable mifcreant, on a gibbet ; with lames of the vile fcourge on his back. Yes, the bleffed JES o s bowed his ex- piring head on the accurfed tree ; liifpended between heaven and earth, as an outcaft from both, and un- worthy of either. What fuitable returns of inflamed and adoring de- votion can we make to the Holy One of GOD ; thus dying, that we might live ? dying in ignominy and anguim, that we might live for ever in the heights of joy, and fit for ever on thrones of glory. Alas ! it is not in us, impotent, infeniible mortals, to be duly thankful. He only, who confers fuch inconceivably rich favours, can enkindle a proper warmth of grate- ful affection. Then build thyfeif a monument, moft gracious IMMANUEL, build thyielf an everJalting mo- nument of gratitude in our fouls. Inf bribe the memo- ry of thy matchlefs beneficence, not with ink and pen but with that precious blood, which gufhed from thy wounded veins. Engrave it, not with the hammer and chizel, but with that fliarpened Jpear, which pierced thy facred fide. Let it ftand conipicuous and indelible, * Sam. Hi. 33. Of this indignity our LORE complains j An ye come 'jut as againft a thief? Match, xxvi. 55. O a, log M E D I T A T I O N S indelible, not on outward tables of (lone, but on th very inmoft tables of our hearts . QN E thing more let me obferve, before I bid adieu to this intombed warrior, and his garnimed fepulchre. Jiow mean are thefe oftentatious methods of bribing the vote of fame, and purchafing a little pofthumous renown 1 What a poor iubftitute for a fet of memo- fable actions, is polilhcd alabafter, or the mimicry of fculptured marble ! The real excellency of this bleeding patriot, is written on the minds of his coun- trymen. It would be remembered with applaufe, ib long as the nation fitbfifts, without this artificial ex- pedient to perpetuate itj. And fuch, iuch is the mo- nument I would wifh for myiclf. Let me leave a memorial in the breafts of my fellow-creatures. Let Surviving friends bear witneis, that I have not lived to myfelf alone, nor been altogether unlcrviceable in my generation. O ! let an uninterrupted ieries of be- neficent offices be the infcription; and the beft inter- efts of my acquaintance, the 'plate that exhibits it. Let : Sir Bcvil Gran-viUe, (lain in the civil wars, at an engage- ment with the rebels. It may poffibly be fome entertainment to the reader, if I fubjoin Sir Bevile's character, as it is drawn by that celebrated pen, which wrote the hittory of thofe ca- lamitous times. u That which would have clouded arty vic- t4 tory," fays the noble hiftorian, 4 ' and made the lofs of " others kfs fpoken of, was the death of Sir Bevil Granvillf. 44 He was indeed an excellent perfon, whofe activity, intereU, 44 and reputation, were the foundation of what had been " done in Cornwall: his temper and affections fo public, that no accident which happened, could make any imprelTion upon him; and his example kept others from taking any thing ill, or at leaft feeming to do fo. In a word, a brighter courage, and a gentler dtfpoiition, were never married to- gethfr, to mrike the moft chearful and innocent converfa- tion.'* CLAR. Htft. Rsb. vol.'IL among the TOMB S, log. i Let the poor^ as they pafs by my grave, point at the little fpot, and thankfully acknowledge, " There lyes " the man, whofe unwearied kindnefs was the conftant Here are the lail remains of that (incere friend, who " -watched for myjoul. I can never forget, with what ' heedlefs gaiety I was porting on in the paths of " perdition ; and I tremble to think, into what irre- *' trievable ruin I might quickly have been plunged, " had not his faithful admonitions arrefted me in the. " wild career. I was unacquainted with the gofpel of u peace, and had no concern for its unfearchable trea- u fures ; but now enlightened by his inftruttroe con- " verfation^ I fee the all-fufficiency of my Saviour ; " and, animated by his repeated exhortations, I count " all things but lots, that 1 may win CHRIST. Me- 4< thinks his difcourfes, feafoned with religion, and u fet home by the divine Spirit, flill tingle in my ears ; u are ftill warm on my heart ; and, I trull, will be more " and more operative, till we meet each other in the " houfenot made withhands, eternal in the heavens." The only infallible way of immortalizing; our charac- ters, a way equally open to the meaneit and moft ex- alted fortune, is, " to make our calling and ele&ion " fure ;" to gain fome fweet evidence, that our names are 'written in heaven. Then, however they maybe difregarded or forgotten among men, they will not fail to be ha"d in evcrlafting remembrance, before the LORD. This is, of all diilinftions, far the nobleft. ., be this thy objer, and every page of fcrip- ture MEDITATIONS ture will fanclify thy paffion ; even grace itfelf will fail thy flame. As to earthly memorials, yet a little while, and they are all obliterated. The tongue of tho'fe, whofe happinefs we have zealoufly promoted, muft foon be filent in the coffin. Characters cut with a pen of iron, and committed to the folid rock, will ere long ceafe to be legible *. But as many as are enrol- led " in the Lamb's book of life," he himfelf declares, fhall never be blotted out from thofe annals of eter- nity (. "When a flight of years has mouldered the triumphal column into dull ; when the brazen ftatue perifhes, under the corroding hand of time ; thoj'e honours ftili continue ; ftill are blooming and incor- ruptible, in the world of glory. Make the extended fides your tomb ; Let ftars record your worth : Yet know, vain mortals, all muft die, As nature's Jicklieft birth. Would bounteous heav'n indulge my pray'r, I frame a nobler choice ; Nor, living, wifh the pompous pile ; Nor, dead, regret the lofs. In thy fair book of life divine, My GOD, infcribe my name : There let it fill fome humble place, Beneath the (laughter 'd Lamb. Thy faints, while ages roll away, In endlefs fame furvive ; Their glories, o'er the wrongs of time Greatly triumphant, live. YONDER entrance leads, I fuppofe, to the vault. Let me turn afide, and take one view of the habita- tion, * Data font ipjis qu9qucfaiafepulchris t Juv. Rev, iii. . - among the T O M B S. in tion, and its tenants. The fallen door grates upon its hinges ; not ufed to receive many vifitants, it admits me with reluctance and murmurs. What meaneth ti\\s jiidden trepidation^ while I defcend the fteps, ajid am vifiting the pale nations of the dead ? Be compo- ied, my fpirits ; there is nothing to fear in thefe quiet chambers. " Heie, evii the wicked ceafe from trou- " bling," Good her.vens ! what a folemn fccne ! how difmal the gloom ! Here is perpetual darknefs, and night even at noon-day. How doleful the folitudsl Not one trace of chearful fociety ; but forrow and terror fecm to have made this their dreaded abode. Hark ! how the hollow dome reibunds at every tread. 1 he echoes , that long have (lept, are awakened, and lament, and figh, along the walls. A beam or two finds its way thro* the grates ; and reflects a feeble glimmer, from the nails of the coffins. Romany of thofe fad fpe&acles, half concealed in (hades, half feen dimly by the baleful twilight, add a deeper horror to thefe gloomy manfions.- I pore upon the infcriptions, and am juft able to pick out, that thefe are the remains of the rich and renowned. No vul- gar dead are dcpofited here. The Mofl Hlufrious , and Right Honourable, have claimed this for their lafl re- treat. And, indeed, they retain fomewhat of a fhadowy pre-eminence. They lye, ranged in mournful order, and in a fort of filent pomp, under the arches of an ample fepulchre ; while meaner corpfes, .without much ceremony, " go down to the ftones of the pit." My apprehenfions recover from their furprife, I find, here are no phantoms, but fuch as fear raifes. Hpw- ever, it ftill amazes me, to obferve the wonders of this nether world. Thofe who received vaft revenues, and called whole lordmips their own, are here reduced to half a dozen feet of earth, or confined in a fcwfoeets of lead. Rooms of ftate, and dimptuous furniture, are jefi^gpedj for no other ornament than the Jhroud, for no r 1 2 MEDITATIONS no other apartment than the darkfome niche. Where is the ftar that blazed upon the breaft, or coronet that glittered round the temples ? The only remains of de- parted dignity are, the weather-beaten hatchment, and the tattered efcutcheon I fee no fplendid retinue furroundirig this folitary dwelling. The lordly equi- page hovers no longer about the lifelefs mafter. He has no other attendant, than a dufty ftatue; which, v/hile the regardlefs world is as gay as ever, the i'culp- tor's hand has taught to weep. Thofe who gloried in high-born anceflors, and noble pedigree, here drop their lofty pretentious. They ac- knowledge kindred with creeping things, and quarter arms with the meaneft reptiles. They fay to corruption^ Thou art my father ; and to the -worm, Thou art my mo- ther and my fifter. Or, fhould they ftili affume the ftyle of diftinftiori, ah ! how impotent were the claim ! how apparent the oftentation ! It is faid by their mo- nument ? HERE LYES THE GREAT. How eafily is it replied by the fpectator, Falfe marble I Where? Nothing but poor andjordid dujl lyes here, Mortifying truth ! Sufficient, one would think, to \vean the moft fanguine appetite from this tranfitory ftate of things ; from its fickly fatisfaclions, its fading glories, its vanishing treafures. For now, ye lying -vanities of life ! Ye ever-tempting, ever-cheating train ! Where are ye now ? and what is your amount ? What is all the world to thefepoor breathlefs beings ? i What are their pleafures f A bubble broke. What their honours f A dream that is forgotten. What the fum-total of their enjoyments below ? Once, perhaps, it appeared to inexperienced and fond defire, ibmething confiderable. But, now death has meafured it with bis line, and weighed it in his fcale, what is the up- ftiot , ? among the TOMBS. 113, fliot ? Alas ! it is morter than a {pan ; lighter than the dancing fpark ; and driven away like the diiToi- ving fmoke. Indulge, my foul, a ferious paufe. Recollect ail the gay things, that were wont to dazzle the eyes, and in- veigle thy affections. Here examine thole baits of fenie. Here form an eftimate of their real value. Suppofe thyiHf firft among the favourites of fortune, who revel in the lap of pleafurc, who fhine in the robes of honour, and fwim in tides of inexhaufted riches. Yet how {boa would the pailing>-bell pro- claim thy exit ! And, when once that iron call has iummoned th.ec to thy future reckoning, where would all thefe gratifications be ? At that period, how will all the pageantry of the moft affluent, iplendid, or luxurious circumftances, vanifh into empty air ! And is this a happinefs Ib paffionately to be coveted ? I thank you, ye relics of founding titles, and mag- nificent names. Ye have taught me more of the lit- tlenefs of the world, than all the volumes of my li- brary. Your nobility arrayed in a winding-meet, your grandeur mouldering in an urn, are the moil indif- putable proofs of the nothingncfs of created thing?. Never, furely, did Providence write this important point in fuch legible characters, as in the ames of .My Lord, or on the corpfe of His Grace *. Let others, if they pleaie, pay their obfequious court to your wealthy fons ; and ignobly fawn, or anioufly fue, for preferments ; my thoughts ftiall often refort, in pen- five contemplation, to the fupulchres of their iires ; and learn, from their ileeping duft, to moderate my expectations from mortals, to fland dijengaged from every undue attachment to the little interests of time ; to get above the delufive amulernenfs of honour, the gaudy tinfels of wealth, and all the empty ma- clows of a perifhing world. HA R K ! *' Morsfola faietur fint hominum corpufrula. Juy I. N 2, ii 4 MEDITATIONS HARK ! what found is that! -In fuch actuation, every nolle alarms. -Solemn and flow, it breaks a- gajn upon the filent air. -'Tjs the ftriking of the clock. Defigned, one would imagine, to ratify aU my ferious meditations. Methinks, it fays Amen, and fets a feal to every improving hint. It tells me, that another portion of my appointed time is elapfed. One calls it, u the knell of my departed hours." 'Tis the watch-word to vigilance and activity. It cries in the ear of reafon, u Redeem the time. Catch the *' favourable gales of opportunity : O ! catch them, *' while they breathe ; before they are irrecoverably ?' loft. The fpan of life mprtens continually. Thy ct minutes are all upon the wing, and haflening to be u gone. Thou art a borderer upon eternity, and ma- " king inceifant advances to the ftate thou art con- " templating." May the admonition fink deep into an attentive and obedient mind I May it teach me that heavenly arithmetic, of " numbering my days, " and applying my heart unto wifdom I" I have often walked beneath the impending pro- montory's craggy cliff ; 1 have fometimes trod the vaft ipac-s of the lonely delert ; and penetrated the inmoft receipts of the dreary cavern : but never, never beheld nature louring, with IP tremendous a form j never felt iuch impreffions of awe, ftriking co|d on my heart ; as under thefe black-browed arches, amidft thefe mouldy walls, and furrounded by fuch rueful objedls, where melancholy, deepeft melancholy, for ever fpreads her raven wings. Let me npw emerge frorn the damp and dreadful obfcurity. Farewell, ye feats of defolation, and fhades of death ! Gladly I revifit the realms of day. HA v IN G caft afuperficialview upon thefe receptacles of the dead, curioiity prompts my inquiry to a more intimate furvey. Could we draw back the covering of the tomb 5 could we difcern what thofe are now, who among the T O M B Si once were mortals, O ! how would it furprife and grieve us ! Surprije us, to behold the prodigious tranf- formation which has taken place on every individual ; grieve us, tb obferve the difhonour done to our nature in general, within thefe fubterraneous lodgments ? Here, the fweet and winning afped i that wore per- petually an attractive fmile, grins horribly a naked, ghaiUy fkull.* The eye, that outmbne the diamond's brilliancy, and glanced ks lovely lightning into tiie moft guarded heart ; alas ! where is it \ Where (hall we find the rolling fparklcr ! How are all its ipright- ly beams eclipfed, totally eclipfed ! The tongue^ that once commanded all the power of eloquence, in this ftrarige land, " has forgot its cunning/' Where are now thofe ftraihs of harmony, Which ravifhed our ears I Where is that flow of perluafion, which carried captive our judgments ? The great matter of language and of long, is become filent as the night that furrounds him. The pampered fie(n, ib lately clothed in purple and fine linen, how is it covered rudely with clods of clay 1 There was a time, when the timoroufly nice creature would fcarce u * ad- venture to fet a foot upon the ground, for delicate- "' neisandtendernefs J but is now enwrapped in clam- my earth, and ileeps on no ibfter a pillow than the rag- ged gravel- ftones. Here u \.\\zftrorig men bow them- k4 felves." The nervous arm is unftriing ; the brawny linews are relaxed ; the limbs, not long ago the feats of vigour and activity, lye down motionleis ; and the bones, which were as bars of iron, are cru mbled into duft. Here the man of bufinefs forgets all his favounte fchemes, and difcontinues the purfuit of gain. Here is a total frand to the circulation of merchandize, and the hurry of trade. In thefe folitary receiles, as in the building of Solomon's temple, is heard no found of the hammer and axe. The winding- -Qieet and the coffin arc the utmoft bound of all earthly devices. " Hither- " to * Deut. xxviii. 56. P 2 no MEDITATIONS u to may they go, but no farther." Here tliefons of plenfure take a final farewell of their dear delights. No more is the fenfualift anointed with oil, or crown- ed with rofe-buds. He chants no more to the melo- dy of the viol, nor revels any longer at the banquet of wine. Inftead of fumptuous tables, and delicious treats, the poor voluptuary is himfelf a feaft for fat- tened infefts ; the reptile riots in his flefh ; ." the " worm feeds fweetly on him *." Here alfb beauty fails ; bright beauty drops her luftre here. O ! how her rofes fade, and her lilies languifb, in this bleak foil ! How does the grand leveller pour contempt upon the charmer of our hearts ! how turn to defor- mity, wjiat captivated the world before ! Co u L D the lover have a fight of his once-inchanting fair-one, what a ftartling aitonifhment would feize him ! tc Is this the object I not long ago fo paffionate- w ly admired ! 1 fa id,, me was divinely fair, and u thought her fomewhat more than mortal. Her " form was fymmetry itfelf ; every elegance breathed " in her air; and all the graces waited on her motions. tc -'Twa-s mufie when (lie {poke : but, when (he " fpoke encouragement, 'twas little lefs than rapture. tc How my heart danced to thofe charming accents 1 c *A;nd can t hat w y c h fome weeks ago was to admi- *' ration lovely, be now fo infufferably loathfome f " Where are thofc bluftiing cheeks ? where the coral tc lips ? where that ivory neck, on which the curling u jet, in fuch glody ringlets, flowed ? with a thoufand uo mohts ? quid habet illius, iliius^ *i{ fplralat amores, >u-, for a perma- "' nent and fubftantial good. But how is it fallen ! " fallen from an orb, not its own I and all that 1 can u trace on earth, is but a putrid mafs." - Lye, poor Flordla ! lye deep, as thou doft, in ob- fcure darknefs. Let night, with her impenetrable fhades, always conceal thee. May no prying eye be witneis to thy difgrace : but let th^ furviving fiftcrs think upon thy ftate, when they contemplate thy idol in the glafs. When the pleafing image rifes graceful- ly to view, furrounded with a world of charms, and flufhed with joy at the confcionfnels of them all ; then, in thole minutes of temptation and dangers, when vanity ufes to (teal into the thoughts, then let them remember, what a "veil of horror is drawn over a face, which was once beautiful and brilliant as theirs. Such a feafonable reflection might regulate the labours of the toilet, and create a more earned folicitude to- polifh the jewel, than to varnifh the cajket. It might then become their higheft ambition, to have the mind decked with divine virtues, and dreffed after the ami- able pattern of their Redeemer's holinefs. And would this prejudice their peribns, or depre- tiate their charms ? Quite the reverfe. It would fpread a fort of heavenly glory over the fined: Jet of features, and heighten the loveKnefs of every other engaging accomplifhment. What is yet a more invi- ting conflde'ration, thele flowers would not wither with nature, nor be tarnifhed by time ; but would o- pen continually into richer beauties, and flourijh even in the -winter of age. But the moil incomparable re- commendation of thefe noble qualities, is, that from their hallowed relics, as from the fragrant ames of the phvniX) will ere long arife an illuftrious form, bright as the wings of angels, lafting as the light of the new Jerufalein. For my part, the remembrance of this fad revolu- tion (hall make me aftiamed to pay my devotion to a flirine ii8 MEDITATIONS fhrine of periftiing fiefh, and afraid to expeft all my happinefs from fo brittle a" joy. It lliall teach me, not to think too highly of well->proportioned clay, tho' formed in the mod elegant mould, and animated with the fweeted ibul. 'Tis heaven's lad, bed, and crown- ing gift, to be received with gratitude, and cherim- ed with love, as a mod valuable blelfing ; not wor- fhipped with the inccnfe of flattery, and drains of fulfome adoration, as a goddefs. It will cure, 1 trull, the dotage of my eyes ; and incline me always to pre- fer the fubdantial u ornaments of a meek and virtu- fliall tranf- mit you fafe to paradife. Believe in him ; and you fliall be no lofers, but unfpeakable gainers, by your difiblution. For hear what the oracle of heaven fays upon this important point, H^bflfo l)d(eveth iri #?#r no evil : thou (halt one day (hake it off by a joyful refurreftion, andjuffer. no harm. RE s u R-R EC T ION \ That chearing word eafes my mind of an anxious thought, and folvesa mofl moment- ous queftion. I was going to afk, " Wherefore do alt " thefe corpfcs lye here, in this abject condition ? Is this u their final ftate ? Has death conquered ! and will the " tyrant hold captivity captive \ How long wilt thou for* " get them, O LORD ? For ever ?" No, faith the voice from heaven ; the word of divine revelation ; The righteous are all " prifoners of hops +-.** There is an hour, (an awful fecret that, and known only to all-for- feeing wifdom,) an appointed hour there is, when an act of grace will pafs the great feal above, and give them an imiverfal dilchargc,a general delivery from the abodes of * Luke x. 19. f phil ! - 7 3- 2 - Tim - iv - 7- 8 - t 2 Pet * i. 14. ]i If. xi. 8. 4- Acts xxviii. 35. H- Zech ix. 12. among the T O M B S. I2 of corruption. Then mall the LORD JESUS defccnd from heaven, with the fhout of the archangel, and the trump of Go D . Dejt ruction itfelf (hall hear his call, and the obedient grave give up her dead. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, they fhake off the flecp of ten thoufand years ; and fpring forth, like the bounding roe, to " meet their L o R D in the " air." And, O ! with what cordial congratulations, what tranfporting endearments, d6 the foul and body, thofe affectionate companions, re-unite ! But with how much greater demonftrations of kindnefs, are they both received by their compaflionate Redeemer ! The An- cient of days, who comes in the clouds of heaven, is their friend, their father, their bridegroom. He comes with irrefiftible power and infinite glory ; but they have nothing to fear from his majefHc appearance. Thofe tremendous Jolemnities^ which fpread defolation and aftonifhment through the univerfe, ferve only to inflame their love, and heightdn their hopes. The Judge, the awful Judge, amidft all his magnificence and fplcndor, vouchsafes to confels their names ; vouchfafes to commemorate their fidelity, before all the inhabitants of the ikies, and the whole aflembled world. Hark! the thunders arehufhed. Seel the lightnings ceafe their rage. The angelic armies fland in filent fufpenfe. The whole race of Adam is wrapped in pleating or anxious expectation. And now that a- dorablePerfon, whofe favour is better than life, whofe acceptance is a crown of glory, lifts up the light of his countenance upon the righteous. He fpeaks ; and what ravifhing words proceed from his gracious lips i "What ecftafies of delight they enkindle m the breafts of the faithful ! " I accept you, O my people ! Ye " are they that believed in my name. Ye are they tc that renounced yourfelves, and, are complete in me, 44 I fee no fpot or blemifh in vou j for ye are warned " in MEDITATIONS " in my blood, and clothed with my righteoufnefs. nomers have inftruments to calculate the diilances of the planets : ttut what numbers can ftate, what lines can guage, the lengths and breadths of eternity ? " It " is higher than heaven; what canft thou do \ deep- " er than hell ; what canft thou know ? the meafure u thereof is longer than the earth, broader than the *' fea *.' ? Myfterious, mighty exiftence ! A fum not to be lef- fened by the largeft deductions ! An extent not to be contracted by all poifible diminutions I None can tru- ly lay, after the mofi prodigious wade of ages, " So ' c much of eternity is gone." For when millions of centuries are elapfed, it is but juft commencing ; and when millions more have run their ample round, it will be no nearer ending. Yea, when ages, numerous as the bloom of fpring, increaied by the herbage of ium- mer, both augmented by the leaves of autumn, and all multiplied by the drops of rain, which drown the winter ; when thefe, and ten thoufand times ten thouiand more, more than can be reprefented by a- ny fimilitude, or imagined by any conception ; when all thefe are revolved and finished, eternity, vaft, boundlefs, amazing eternity, will only be beginning I What a pleafing, yet awful thought is this ! full of delight, and full of dread. O ! may it alarm our fears, quicken our hopes , and animate all our endeavours ! Since we are foon to launch into this endlefs and in- conceivable ftate, let us give all diligence to fecurc our entrance into blifs. Now let us give all diligence; becaufe there is no alteration in the icenes of futurity. The wheel never turns : all is ftedfaft and immoveable beyond the grave. Whether we are then feated on fche throne, or itretched on the rack, a feal will be fet to our condition, by the hand of everlafting mercy, pr inflexible juftice. The faints always rejoice amidfh the * Job xi. 8. 9, 128 MEDITATIONS Hie fmiles of heaven ; their harps are perpetually tu- ned; their triumphs admit of no interruption. The ruin of the -wicked is irremediable. The* fatal ientence, once pafTed, is never to be repealed. No hope of ex- changing their doleful habitations. But all things bear the fame difmal afpedl for ever and ever. THE 'wicked my mind recoils * at the apprehcn- fion of their mifery. It has ftudioufly waved the fear- ful fubjeft, and feems unwilling to purfue it even now. But 'tis better to reflect upon it for a few minutes, than to endure it to eternal ages. Perhaps, the con- federation of their aggravated mifery may be profitably terrible ; may teach me more highly to prize the Sa- viour, who " delivers from going down into the bot- " tomleis pit ; may drive me, like the avenger's fword, to this only city of refuge for obnoxious fm- ners. The wicked feem to lye here, like malefactors, in a deep and flrong dungeon ; referved againft the day of trial. " Their dep arture was without peace." Clouds of horror fat louring upon their doling eye-lids, mod fadly foreboding the u blacknefs of darknefs forever." When the laft ficknefs feized their frame, and the in- evitable change advanced ; when they faw the fatal arrow fitting to the firings, faw the deadly archer aiming at their heart, and felt the envenomed fhaft fattened in their vitals ; good GOD ! what fearfulnefs came upon them ! what horrible dread overwhelmed them ! How did they ftand muddering and aghafl upon the tremendous precipice ! exceflively afraid to plunge into the abyfs of eternity, yet utterly unable to main- tain their flanding on the verge of life. O 1 what pale reviews, what ftartling profpe&s, confpire to augment their forrows ! They look back- ward, and behold ! a mofl melancholy fcene ! Sins unrepented * -Animus mcminijff'e horrst^ luttuqite refugit, VJRC S among the T O M B S. 129 unrepented of ; mercy flighted ; and the day of grace ending! They look forward, and nothing prefents itfelf, but the righteous Judge, the dreadful tribunal, and a moft folemn reckoning. They roll around their affrighted eyes on attending friends. If accomplices in debauchery, it fharpens their anguim, to confider ihis farther aggravation of their guilt, that they have not finned alone, but drawn others into the fnare. If religious acquaintance, it ftrikes a frefh gafh into their hearts, to think of never feeing them any more, but only at an unapproachable diftance, feparated by the unpaf fable gulf, At laft, perhaps, they begin to pray. Finding no o- ther poflible way of relief, they are conftrained to ap- ply unto the Almighty. With trembling lips, and a faltering tongue, they cry unto that fovereign Beingj '" who kills and makes alive." But why have they deferred, fo long deferred their addreffes to GOD? Why have they defpifed all his councils, and ftood in- corrigible under his incefTant reproofs ? How often have they been forewarned of thefe terrors, and moft importunately intreated to feck the LO RD -while he might be found? 1 wifh they may obtain mercy at the eleventh, at the laft hour. I wifh they may be fnatched from the jaws, the opened, the gaping, the almoft clofing jaws of damnation. But, alas I who can tell, whether affronted Majefty will lend an ear to their complaint ? whether the Holy One will work a mira- cle of grace in behalf of fuch tranfgrefTors ? He may, for aught any mortal knows, " laugh at their calamity, u and mock when their fear cometh." Thus they lye groaning out the poor remains of life; their limbs bathed in IWeat ; their heart Struggling with convulfive throes ; pains infupportable throbbing in every pulfe ; and innumerable darts of agony trans- fixing their confcience. In that dread moment, how the frantic foul Raves round the wr n s of her clay tenement ; VOL. I. N 2. R MEDITATIONS Runs to each avenue; and JJirieks for But JJirieks in vain ! How wi/hfully Jhe Looks On all /he's leaving, now no longer hers ! ^4 little longer, yst a little lunger, (J I might /he ft ay, to -wafii aivay her crimes, And fit her for her pa/Jage ! Mournful fight 1 Her very eyes iveep blood; and every groan S/'u heaves, is big with horror : but the foe, Like a Jlaunch murderer, fteady to his purpoje, Pur jues her cloje through every lane of life, Nor mifjes once the track; but preffes on; Till, forc'd at laft to the tremendous verge, At once fie jinks *. If this be the end of the ungodly > " My foul, coniei " not thou into their iecret ! Unto their alterably,