A prodigy, that to the world announc'd
A new religion and dissolv'd the old:
The temple's sacred veil was rent in twain
From top to bottom, 'midst th' attesting shocks
Of earthquake and the rending up of graves.
Now those mysterious symbols, heretofore
Curtain'd from vulgar eyes, and holiest deem'd
Of holies, were display'd to public view:
The mercy-seat, with its cherubic wings.
O'ershadow'd, and the golden ark beneath
Cov'ring the testimony, now through the rent
Of that dissever'd veil first saw the light;
A world redeem'd had now.no farther need
Of types and emblems, dimly shadowing forth
An angry Deity withdrawn from sight
And canopied in clouds. Him, face to face,
Now in full light reveal'd,,the dying breath
Of his dear Son appeas'd, and purchas'd peace
And reconcilement for offending man.

Thus the partition wall, by Moses built,
By Christ was levell'd, and the Gentile world
Enter'd the breach, by their great Captain led
Up to the throne of grace, opening himself
Through his own flesh a new and living way.
Then were the oracles of God made known
To all the nations, sprinkled by the blood
Of Jesus, and baptiz'd into his death;
So was the birthright of the elder born,
Heirs of the promise, forfeited; whilst they,
Whom sin had erst in bondage held, made free
From sin, and servants of the living God,
Now gain'd the gift of God, eternal life.

Soon as those signs and prodigies were seen
Of those who watch'd the cross, conviction smote
Their fear-struck hearts. The sun, at noon-day dark:
The earth convulsive underneath their feet,
And the firm rocks, in shiver'd fragments rent,
Rous'd them at once to tremble and believe.
Then was our Lord by heathen lips confess'd,

When the centurion cry'd, In very truth
This righteous person was the Son of God;
The rest, in heart assenting, stood abash'd,
Watching in silence the tremendous scene.

The recollection of his gracious acts,
His dying pray'rs and their own impious taunts
Now rose in sad review; too late they wish'd
The deed undone, and sighing smote their breasts.
Straight from God's presence went that angel forth,
-Whose trumpet shall call up the sleeping dead
At the last day, and bade the saints arise
And come on earth to hail this promis'd hour,
The day-spring of salvation. Forth they came
From their dark tenements, their shadowy forms
Made visible as in their fleshly state,
And through the holy city here and there
Frequent they gleam'd, by night, by day, with fear
And wonder seen of many: holy seers,
Prophets and martyrs from the grave set free,
And the first fruits of the redeemed dead.

They, who with Christ transfigur'd on the mount Were seen of his disciples in a cloud Of dazzling glory, now, in form distinct, Mingling amidst the public haunts of men, Struck terror to all hearts: Ezekiel there, The captive seer, to whom on Chebar's banks The heavens were opened and the fatal roll Held forth, with dire denunciations fill'd, Of lamentation, mourning and of woe, Now falling fast on Israel's wretched race: He too was there, Hilkiah's holy son, With loins close girt, and glowing lips of fire By God's own finger touch'd: there might be seen The youthful prophet, Belteshazzer nam'd Of the Chaldees, interpreter c' dreams, Knowledge of God bestow'd, in visions skill'd, And fair, and learn'd and wise: the Baptist here, Girt in his hairy mantle, frowning stalk'd, And pointing to his ghastly wound, exclaim'd,

Ր

Ye vipers! whom my warning could not move
Timely to flee from the impending wrath
Now fallen on your heads; whom I indeed
With water, Christ hath now with fire baptized:
Barren ye were of fruits, which I prescrib'd
Meet for repentance, and behold! the ax
Is laid to the unprofitable root

Of every sapless tree, hewn down, condemn'd
And cast into the fire. Lo! these are they,
These shadowy forms now floating in your sight,
These are the harbingers of ancient days,
Who witness'd the Messias, and announc'd
His coming upon earth. Mark with what scorn
Silent they pass you by: them had ye heard,
Them had ye noted with a patient mind,
Ye had not crucified the Lord of Life:
He of these stones to Abraham shall raise up
Children, than you more worthy of his stock;
And now his winnowing fan is in his hand,
With which he'll purge his floor, and having stor'd
The precious grain in garners, will consume
With fire unquenchable the refuse chaff.

THE WONDERS OF NATURE.

OW mighty! how majestic! and how mysterious are Nature's works! When the air is calm, where sleep the stormy winds? In what char bers are they reposed, or in what dungeons confined? But when He, "who holds them in his fist," is pleased to awaken their rage, and throw open their prison doors, then with irresistible impetuosity, they rush forth, scattering dread, and menacing destruction.

The atmosphere is hurled into the most tumultuous confusion. The aerial torrent bursts its way over mountains, seas, and continents. All things feel the dreadful shock. All things tremble before the furious blast. The forest, vexed and torn, groans under the scourge.

Her sturdy sons are strained to the very root, and almost sweep the soil they were wont to shade. The stubborn oak, that disdains to bend, is dashed headlong to the ground; and, with shattered arms, with prostrate trunk, blocks up the road. While the flexile reed, that springs up in the marsh, yielding to the gust, (as the meek and pliant temper, to injuries, or the resigned and patient spirit, to misfortunes) eludes the force of the storm, and survives amidst the widespread havoc.

For a moment, the turbulent and outrageous sky seems to be assuaged; but it intermits its wrath, only to increase its strength. Soon the sounding squadrons of the air return to the attack, and renew their ravages with redoubled fury. The stately dome rocks amidst the wheeling clouds. The impregnable tower totters on its basis, and threatens to overwhelm whom it was intended to protect. The ragged rocks are rent in pieces; and even the hills, the perpetual hills, on their deep foundations are scarcely secure. Where now is the place of safety? when the city reels, and houses become heaps! Sleep affrighted flies. Diversion is turned into horror. All is uproar in the elements; all is consternation among mortals; and nothing but one wide scene of rueful devastation through the land.

The ocean swells with tremendous commotions. The ponderous waves are heaved from their capacious bed, and almost lay bare the unfathomable deep. Flung into the most rapid agitation, they sweep over the rocks; they lash the lofty cliffs, and toss themselves into the clouds. Navies are rent from their anchors; and, with all their enormous load, are whirled swift as the arrow, wild as the winds, along the vast abyss. Now they climb the rolling mountain; they plough the frightful ridge; and seem to skim the skies. Anon they plunge into the opening gulf; they lose the sight of day; and are lost themselves to every eye.

How vain is the pilot's art; how impotent the mariner's strength! They reel to and fro, and stagger

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like a drunken man." Despair is in every face, and death sits threatening on every surge. But when Omnipotence pleases to command, the storm is hushed to silence; the lightnings lay aside their fiery bolts, and the billows cease to roll.

DIALOGUE ON PHYSIOGNOMY.

Enter FRANK and Henry.

Frank. IT appears strange to me that people can be so imposed upon. There is no difficulty in judging folks by their looks. I profess to know as much of a man, at the first view, as by half a dozen years' acquaintance.

Henry. Pray how is that done? I should wish to learn such an art.

Fr. Did you never read Lavater on Physiognomy? Hen. No. What do you mean by such a hard word? Fr. Physiognomy means a knowledge of men's hearts, thoughts, and characters by their looks. For instance, if you see a man, with a forehead jutting over his eyes like a piazza, with a pair of eyebrows, heavy like the cornice of a house; with full eyes, and a Roman nose, depend on it he is a great scholar, and an honest man.

Hen. It seems to me I should rather

go below his

nose to discover his scholarship.

Fr. By no means: if you look for beauty, you may descend to the mouth and chin; otherwise never go below the region of the brain.

Enter GEORGE.

Geor. Well, I have been to see the man hanged. And he is gone to the other world, with just such a great forehead and Roman nose, as you have always been praising.

Fr. Remember, George, all signs fail in dry weather.

Geor. Now, be honest, Frank, and own that there