Preface to Contemplations on the Night and the Starry Heavens

T17E have already exercised our speculations on ’ the Tombs and Flowers, surveying nature covered with the deepest horrors, and arrayed in the richest beauties. Allegory taught many of the objects to speak the language of virtue; while imagination lent her colouring, to give the lessons an engaging air; and this with a view of imitating that divine Instructor, who commissioned the lily*, in her silver suit, to remonstrate in the ear of unbelieving reason; who sent his disciples (men ordained to teach the universe) to learn maxims of the last importance from the most insignificant birds* that wander through the paths of the air, from the very meanest Herbs* that are scattered over the, face of the ground t. Emboldened by the kind acceptance of the pre-

* Matt. vi. 26, 28, 29, 30.

t Celebrated writers, as Demosthenes and Cicero, Thucydides and Livy, are observed to have a style peculiar to themselves. Now, whoever conccxii PREFAOE.

ceding sketches, I beg leave to confide in the same benevolence of taste for the protection and support of the two remaining Essays, which exhibit a prospect of a still life and grand operation; which moralize on the most composed and most magnificent appearances of things; in which fancy is again suffered to introduce her imagery,

siders the discourses of Christ, will find him distinguishing himself by a style which may properly be called his own. Majestic, yet familiar; happily uniting dignity with condescension; it consists in teaching his followers the sublimest trutns by spiritualizing on the most common occurrences; which, besides its being level to the lowest apprehensions, and admirably adapted to steal into the most inattentive heart, is accompanied with this very singular advantage — that it turns even the sphere of business into a school of instruction, and renders the most ordinary objects a set of monitors, ever soliciting our regard, because ever present to our senses. So that, I believe, it may be said of this amiable method, in which our Lord conveyed, as well as of that powerful energy which attended his doctrines, that never man spake like this man.’ lhe harvest approaching, he reminds his disciples of a far more important harvest, John iv. 35. Matt. xiii. 39. when immortal beings shall be reaped from the grave, and gathered in from all the quarters of the. earth; when every human creature shall sustain the character of valuable wheat, or despicable tares; and accordingly be lodged in mansions of everlasting security, or consigned over to the rage of unquenchable fire. In his charge to fishermen, when they are commencing preachers, Matt. iv. 19 he exhorts them, conformably to the nature of their late occupation, to use the

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but only as the handmaid of truth; in order to dress her person and display her charms, to engage the attention and win the love even of the gay and of the fashionable; which is more likely to be effected by forming agreeable pictures of nature, and deriving instructive observations, than by the laborious method of long-deduced arguments or close-connected reasonings. The contemplation of the heavens and the earth, of their admirable properties and beneficial changes, has always afforded the most exalted gratification to the human mind. In compliance with this prevailing taste, I have drawn my serious admonitions from the stupendous theatre and variegated scenery of the universe; that the reader may learn his duty from his very pleasures, may gather wisdom, mingled with virtue, from the most refined entertainments and noblest delights.

The evening, drawing her sables over the world, and gently darkening into night, is a season peculiarly proper for sedate consideration. All circumstances concur to hush our passions, and soothe our cares; to tempt our steps abroad, and prompt our thoughts to serious reflection,

Then is the time [charm,

For those, whom wisdom and whom nature To steal themselves from the degenerate crowd, And soar above this little scene of tilings; To tread low-thoughted vice beneath their feet;

same assiduity and address in winning souls, as they were wont to exercise in catching the finny prey. For the farther illustration of this no less useful than curious subject, I would refer my reader to a valuable note in Sir Isaac Newton’s Observations on the Prophecies, p. 148. 4to. edition.

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To soothe the throbbing passions into peace; And woo lone quiet in her silent walks *.

The favor I would solicit for the first of the following compositions, is, that it may be permitted to attend in such retired and contemplative excursions; to attend, if not under the character of a friend, at least in the humble capacity of a servant or a page — as a servant, to open the door of meditation, and remove every impediment to those best exercises of the mind, which blend advantage with amusement, and improve while they delight; as a page, to gather up the unstable, fluctuating train of fancy, and collect her fickle powers into a consistent, regular, and useful habit of thinking.

The other, conversant among the starry regions, would lead the imagination through those beautiful tracts of unclouded azure, and point out to the judgment some of those astonishing particulars which so eminently signalize the celestial worlds: a prospect this, to which curiosity attracts our eyes, and to which Scripture itself often directs our study; a prospect beyond all others most excellently calculated to enlarge the soul, and ennoble its conceptions; to give the grandest apprehensions of the everlasting God, and create sentiments of becoming superiority with relation to all transitory interest; in a word, to furnish faith with the surest foundation for a steady affiance and true magnanimity of spirit, to afford piety the strongest motives, both for a lively gratitude and profound veneration.

While Galiiaeo lifts his tube, and discovers the prodigious magnitude of those radiant orbs; while Newton measures their amazing distances, and

* Thorns. Autumn, 1. 973. last edit.

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unites the whole system in harmonious order, by the subtle influences of attraction; I would only, like the herald before that illustrious Hebrew *, proclaim at every turn, Bow the knee, and adore the Almighty Maker; magnify his eternal name, and make his praise, like all his works, to be glorious.’

* Gen, xli. 43.