Stones, and all Manner of precious Stones. Which, when nicely polished, advantageously fet, and prodigal of their Luftre, ftand Candidates for a Place on the royal Crown, or a Seat on the virtuous Fair One's Breaft. I will not, with our Men of Gallantry fay, they emulate the living Brilliancy of her Eyes; rather they ferve as a Foil, to fet off the Beauties of her accomplished Mind, and amiable Converfation. Whofe Price, according to the unerring Eftimate of Inspiration, is fuperior to Sapphires, is far above Rubies *.—If these shining Rarities, extracted from the Cabinets of the Earth, are an Ornament to Some, are they not an Incitement to All? All who have read those animating and glorious Words; They shall be mine, faith the LORD, in the Day when I make up my Jewels †.

Here are Quarries, ftocked with Stones, inferior in Beauty to the Jeweler's Ware, but much more eminently beneficial. Which, when properly ranged, and cemented with a tenacious Mortar, form the convenient Abodes of Peace, and build the ftrongest Fortifications of War: defending Us from the Inclemencies of the Weather, and the more formidable Affaults of our Enemies. These constitute the Arches of the Bridge, which convey the Traveler, with perfect Security, over the deep and rapid Stream; enabling both Man and Horse to pass, with eafy Intercourse, from one Bank of the broadest River to another. Thefe give Us the rocky Girdles of our Quays, and ftrengthen the Arms, the ftupendous Arms of the Mole: which ftretch themfelves far into the Ocean; curb the Impetuofity of the Surge; and fkreen the helpless Bark, while tempeftuous

* Prov. xxxi. 10.

† Mal. iii. 17.

tempeftuous Waves, like a Savage disappointed of its Prey, foam, and roar, and rage around.

These ftony Treafures are comparatively foft, while they continue in the Bowels of the Earth; but acquire an increasing Hardness, when expofed to the open Air. Was this remarkable Peculiarity reversed, what Difficulties would attend the Labours of the Mafon? His Materials could not be extracted from their Bed, nor fashioned for his Purpofe, without infinite Toil. Suppose his Work completed, it could not long withstand the Fury of the Elements; but infenfibly mouldering, or inceffantly decaying, would elude the Expectations of the Owner; perhaps, might prove an immature Grave, instead of a durable Dwelling.

Here are vaft Layers of Clay. Which however contemptible in its Appearance, is abundantly more advantageous, than the Rocks of Diamond, or the Veins of Gold. This is moulded, with great Expedition and Ease, into Veffels of any Shape, and of almost every Size. Some, fo delicately fine, that they compose the most elegant and ornamental Furniture, for the Tea-table of a Princess. Others, fo remarkably cheap, that they are ranged on the Shelves, and minifter at the Meals, of the Peafant. All fo perfectly neat, that no Liquid takes the leaft Taint, nor the niceft Palate any Difguft, from their cleanly Services.-The CREATOR, who never forgets and never neglects even the meaneft of the People, has diftributed this most necessary Kind of Earth in the greatest Abundance. It is found in every Country, almoft in every Field. It lies near the Surface, and is obtained with little Labour,

and with very little Expence. Thus haft Thou, O GOD, of thy Goodness, prepared for the Poor.

A Multiplicity of other Stores, are locked up by Providence, in those ample Vaults. The Key of all is committed to the Management of Industry; with free Permiffion to produce each particular Species, as Neceffity fhall demand, or Prudence direct.

Which fhall we moft admire, the bountiful Heart, the liberal Hand, or the All-difcerning Eye of our Great CREATOR? How obfervable, how admirable is the Precaution, in removing these useful but cumbrous Wares, from the Superficies; and ftowing them, in proper Repofitories or Lumberrooms, beneath our Feet!-Were they scattered over the Surface, the Ground would be choaked and embarraffed with the enormous Heaps. Our Roads would be blocked up, and fcarce any Portion left free for the Operations of Husbandry.Were they buried extremely deep, or funk to the Center of the Globe, it would coft Us immense Pains to procure them; or rather, they would be quite inacceffible.-Were they uniformly spread into a Pavement for Nature; the Trees could not strike their Roots, nor the Herbs fhoot their Blades, but universal Sterility must ensue.-Whereas, by their prefent Difpofition, they furnish Us with a Magazine of metallic, without caufing any Diminution of our vegetable Treafures. Fofils of every fplendid and ferviceable Kind enrich the Bowels, while Bloom and Verdure embellifh the Face of the Earth.

So judicious is the Arrangement of this grand Edifice! So beneficent the Destination of its whole

Furniture *! In which, all is regulated with confummate Skill, and touched into the highest Perfection. All moft exactly adapted to the various Intentions of Providence, and the manifold Exigencies of Mankind. Supplying every Want, We can feel; and gratifying every Wish, We can form.

Infomuch, that the whole Syftem affords a favourite Topic of Praise, even to those distinguished Beings, who ftand on the Sea of Glafs, and have the Harps of GOD in their Hands. They lift their Voice and fing, Great and marvelous are thy Works, O LORD GOD Almighty †!—And is there not Reafon, my Afpafio would fay, infinite Reason, for Us to join this triumphant Choir? Adding Gratitude to our Wonder, and Love to our Hallelujahs? Since all thefe Things are to Us, not merly Objects of Contemplation, but Sources of Accommodation : not only a majestic Spectacle, bright with the Dif play of our CREATOR's Wisdom, but an ineftimable Gift, rich with the Emanations of his Goodness. The Earth hath He fet before the Inhabitants of Glory, but t Earth hath be given to

No Notice is taken of the Ocean, in this little Rentroll of Nature's Wealth; because a distinct Sketch is given of that grand Receptacle and its principal Services, in Letter IX.

+ Rev. xv. 3. Great and marvelous are thy Works, O LORD GOD Almighty! Juft and true are thy Ways, Thou KING of Saints! The firft Part feems to mean, what the infpired Writer calls, The Song of Mofes. The fecond contains, what he ftyles, The Song of the LAMB. The firft, I fhould imagine, relates to the ftupendous Works of Creation. The fecond alludes to the far more wonderful Scheme of Redemption. The former, defcribing the Syftem of Nature, is recorded by Mofes; the latter, comprehending the Salvation of the Saints, is accomplished by CHRIST.

the Children of Men *.-Having given Us Ourselves; given Us a World; has He not a Right, a most unquestionable Right, to make that tender Demand? My Son, give me thy Heart +.

Shall I add another Paffage? Which, viewed with any but the laft Paragraph, will be like the Head of Gold, eminent and confpicuous on Feet of Iron and Clay. It is taken from the finest philofophical Oration, that ever was made. I never read it, but with a Glow of Delight, and with Impreffions of Awe. It is, in fhort, inimitably spirited and fublime.-You think, perhaps, I act an impolitic Part, in being fo lavish of my Praise; and that the Quotation muft fuffer, by fuch an aggrandizing Introduction. But I am under no Apprehenfions of this Kind. Forbear to be delighted, if You can; cease to admire, if You can; when You hear OMNISCIENCE itfelf declaring, That, on Sight of this univerfal Fabric, emerging out of Nothing, THE MORNING STARS SANG TOGETHER, AND ALL THE SONS OF GOD SHOUTED FOR JOY 1.-The Syftem was fo graceful, so magnificent, and, in all Refpects, fo exquifitely finished; that the most accomplished Intelligences were charmed, were transported. They knew not how to express themselves on the great Occafion, but in Shouts of Exultation, and Songs of Praife. Is it poffible for Imagination to conceive an Encomium, fo juft, fo high, fo beautifully noble !-I am fure, after so much Delicacy, and Majesty of Sentiment, any thing of mine must

be

Pfal. cxv. 16. xxxviii. 7.

Prov. xxiii. z6.

↑ Job