represent to the mind scenes far more beautiful and glorious, than either the eye hath beheld or the ear reported. But the utmost efforts of imagination, assisted by all the light which scripture and experience furnishes, fail in the attempt to give us a true idea of the glories of heaven.

How dreadful must be that punishment, where light is for ever excluded, and hope never comes; where the felicity of saints, is exchanged for the misery of devils, the joys of Paradise for the endless sorrows of perdition; where remorse and prayer avail nothing; where the howling of devils, and the cries of misery never cease; where the anxious enquiry for a momentary respite is answered with the doleful sounds of eternity! eternity! and when the vengeance of inflexible justice, is administered without any mixture of mercy.

If the outward and external frame of this world, is amazingly beautiful and glorious; if

the sun, moon, and stars furnish illustrious proofs of the wisdom and greatness of God; and if even the meanest part of the creation is capable of affording entertainment and surprize to an inquisitive and contemplative mind; how great must be the beauty, magnificence and splendour of the heavenly world? that world where the great God gives the fullest display of his infinite perfections. O the immensity of that place! it hath no bounds.

The brightness of it! God is the sun.-The purity of it! Nothing that defileth shall ever enter into it.

MISCELLANIES.

THE world is a great house, consisting of

upper and lower stories, the structure stately and magnificent, uniform and convenient, and every room well and wisely furnished.

Light is the great beauty and blessing of the universe-like the first born, it doth of all visible beings most resemble its great parent, in purity and power, brightness and beneficence by the view of it, let us be led to, and assisted in the believing contemplation of him who is the father of lights.

They who believe all the good spoken of themselves, and all the evil spoken of others, are unhappily mistaken on both sides.

Men may give good advice; but they cannot give the sense to make a right use of it.

If we view ourselves with all our failings in a just light, we shall rather be surprized at our enjoying so many good things, than disappointed because there are any which we want.

The true honour of man consists not in. the multitude of riches or the elevation of rank, for experience shews, these may be possessed by the worthless, as well as the deserving.

If a man cannot find ease within himself, it is to little purpose to seek it any where else.

Power is not always proportionate to the will, one should always be consulted before the other, but the generality of men begin by willing, and act afterwards as they can.

Affectation sooner discovers what one is, than it makes known what one would fain appear to be.

Great wants proceed from great wealth, and make riches almost equal to poverty.

It is fortunate for human nature that there are desires which cannot be satisfied; otherwise the most sorry man would make himself master of the world.

We meet with great difficulties in conquering pride, by resisting it; how potent then must it be when flattered.

Men of indifferent parts are apt to condemn every thing above their own capacity. He must be a very unfit judge of wit, who innocently believes, that he has himself as much as any man needs to have.

A great part of mankind employ their first years to make their last miserable.

How many prodigals are there who by dying, pay nature only what they owe her.