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A FEW LINES,

SPOKEN AT EDNAM,

THE BIRTH-PLACE OF THE CELEBRATED THOMSON,

When in the Room where it is supposed he was born.

AND is this the place where he who sung in strains sublime the sweets of spring, with all the beauties of the flushing year, was born? the honour of his nation, and the delight of the Muses;-whose works, chiefly those of his Seasons, stand unrivalled even by the Georgics themselves: nor could Virgil, that Prince of Latin Poets, boast of more harmonious numbers than thou, O THOMSON! whose lofty verses, fam'd through the world, supply the place of a stately monument, which, if ever due to the memory of a Poet, thine well deserved. Up that majestic ladder, the rounds of which thou hast so elegantly described, may all ascend to contemplate, not only the God of Nature, but also the God of Grace, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the worlds were made. If this be not the use which is made of thy lofty strains of poetry, and my low themes of prose, I'm afraid all will prove but a trifling amusement.

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DESCANT ON CREATION.

THE works of God are a great book, consisting of three incomprehensible volumes, namely, Nature, Providence, and Grace; which continually lie open for the perusal of all in heaven and all on earth. It was on the former of these man first opened his eyes in paradise.

Beholding the magnificence of the ample page, how astonished would he be at finding himself, and observing creation around! Incomparably more so than man now, who is born of a woman, and gradually comes from an unthinking to a thinking state; from infancy to childhood, and from childhood to manhood. Soon as the stupendous

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wonders permitted his mental powers to act in regularity, would not such, or similar, be the reflections of his then perfectly pure and rational soul? What am I? Where am I?

Of what am I and all around me made? Who made us? and for what end was I and all creation formed? A divine ray shining through his soul, doubtless, resolved the all-important questions, making known the Creator and the end of creation.

Struck with amazement at the infinite greatness, glory, and transcendent goodness, of the Lord God his Maker, the Creator of heaven and earth, and the bounties of creation, would not he, for some considerable time, be lost in gratefully wondering, especially at the infinite kindness of the Lord God, in condescending so low, as graciously to enter into covenant with him, his creature, and that in name of all his posterity? Those who are of opinion that man did not stand more than one day, allow him but little time indeed, either for admiring the works of creation, or celebrating the praises of the Creator.

Although, in consummate wisdom, for the wisest of reasons, the Most High God hath seen it best to conceal from us how long, or how short, man continued in a state of innocence; yet it is probable, both from scripture and reason, that he stood for a good space of time. First, when we reflect, if it were possible for any, in a moment, to be removed into the midst of some great country or city, without his knowledge; upon looking up, what would his astonishment be? All wonder---all admiration! How would he stand amazed! lost in reflection,-founded every power of his mind! Whether in a dream, in a vision, or awake, he beholds all, he is equally uncertain. Not knowing what to think, would not he stand in contemplation, not for a short space, but for a long time? And can we suppose that Adam, as has been already observed, would be less astonished at finding himself, and beholding creation around? Nay, certainly unspeakably more so would he be. In the other case, the powers of the mind and body were not new, but in that of Adam perfectly so: till that time, unfelt and unknown. At once perfect

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