revolutions, from the firft period of its existence, to the final confummation of all things. And what general notion can we form of that plan, which we can conceive to be more worthy of wisdom itfelf to contrive; and of goodness itself to delight in the purfuit and execution of— what plan indeed more neceffary, after the diforder that was introduced into the world; than that of a melioration, and improvement of it, in all its parts; and in every capacity? Rifing, in the language of poetry

By due gradation, nature's facred law;
Nature delights in progrefs, in advance;
From worse to better *-

From feeming evil, ftill educing good;
And better thence again, and better still:
In infinite progreffion t.

We have feen fome inftances of improvement and benefit in the laft chapter,

* Dr. Young's Night Thoughts, ix. p. 383.

+ Thompson.

Cc 4

and

and in fome of the foregoing ones. Others may be recounted: There are feveral prophecies in Ifaiah, which have a near relation to that which was last under confideration; and which seem to point at fome other improvements which are actually carrying on at this time. What think you of the following paffages? In the wildernefs fhall waters break out, and ftreams in the defert. And the parched ground fall become a pool; and the thirsty land Springs of water*.

I will open rivers in the high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: 1 will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fprings of water †.

Behold, I will do a new thing: Now it fhall Spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the defert ‡?

Ifai. xxxv. 6, 7,

+ Jer. xli. 18.

Jer, xliii. 19. Comp. ver. 20. and ch. xliv. 3.

And

And what think ye of thofe vast undertakings, which have been for fome years of late, and ftill are, carrying on in this kingdom, of opening canals, and floods of water; not only for pleasure and ornament, but for the use and benefit of navigation; and carrying thefe artificial rivers acrofs other rivers; through mountains, and rocks, and moraffes, and various other places, which feemed to forbid the attempt: But which yielded to the fkill and contrivance, and indefatigable industry of one man? With fuch a pattern before their eyes, what may not pofterity attempt? Is not this doing a new thing? Opening rivers in high places-in the very heart of them-And fountains in the midst of valleys in the very depth of them; where they do not naturally spring? This feems to be not only controuling, but even reverfing nature's laws, by which fountains are not opened in valleys, but in hills and high places, and rivers run not over hills, but in valleys.

I will open rivers, fays the AlmightyWhat he doth by the inftrumentality of men, he doth by himself. It is he that giveth wisdom to the wife, and that teacheth man knowledge. I will make a way in the wilderness-and ways have been made in wilderneffes.

What think ye of these texts? I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the fhittahtree, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree: I will fet in the defert the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together*. Inftead of the thorn, fhall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier, fhall come up the myrtle-tree: And it fhall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlafting fign, that fhall not be cut off †.

The Lord fhall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her wafte places, and he will make her wilderness like Eden; and her defert like the garden of the Lord: Joy and gladnefs fhall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody ‡ •

* Ifai. xli. 19.

+ Ch. lv. 13. Comp. ch. lx. 13.

+ Ifai. li. 3.

And the defolate land fhall be tilled; whereas it lay defolate in the fight of all that passed by. And they fhall fay, This land that was defolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the wafte, and defolate, and ruined cities, are become fenced, and are inhabited*.

These texts are primarily meant of the land of Judæa: But they may be understood of the kingdom of the Meffiah in general, which extends to all lands.

In this view, what think ye of the great improvements in hufbandry of various kinds, and in its feveral branches, which are made, promoted, encouraged, and patronized among us? And particularly, of that spirit of planting, and raising all manner of trees and fhrubs; as well for ufe, as for ornament; not only thofe of our own growth, but all kinds of exotics, being brought from the most distant parts of the world, and from the moft different climates, to be naturalized in the foil of Great Britain, to adorn and enrich it?

* Ezek. xxxvi. 34, 35.

Now