were swept away, there might still remain a more ample field over which the Divinity may expatiate', and which he may have peopled with innumerable worlds'. If the whole visible creation were to disappear', it would leave a solitude behind it'; but to the infinite Mind', that can take in the whole system of nature', this solitude might be nothing—a small', unoccupied point in that immensity which surrounds it', and which he may have filled with the wonders of his omnipotence'. Though this earth were to be burnt up', though the trumpet of its dissolution were sounded', though yon sky were to pass away as a scroll', and every visible glory which the finger of the Divinity has inscribed upon it', were to be put out for ever'-an event so awful to us, and to every world in our vicinity', by which so many suns would be extinguished', and so many varied scenes of life and of population would rush into forgetfulness-what is it in the high scale of the Almighty's workmanship? a mere shred`, which', though scattered into nothing', would leave the universe of God one entire scene of greatness and of majesty'. Though this earth and these heavens were to disappear', there are other worlds which roll afar'; the light of other suns', shines upon them'; and the sky which mantles them', is garnished with other stars'. Is it presumption to say', that the moral world extends to these distant and unknown regions'? that they are occupied with people'? that the charities of home and of neighbourhood flourish there'? that the praises of God are there lifted up', and his goodness rejoiced in'? that piety has its temples and its offerings? and that the richness of the divine attribute', is there felt and admired by intelligent worshippers'? And what is this world in the immensity which teems with them? and what are they who occupy it? The universe at large', would suffer as little in its splendour and variety by the destruction of our planet', as the verdure and sublime magnitude of a forest', would suffer by the fall of a single leaf. The leaf'.. quivers on the branch which supports it. It lies at the mercy of the slightest accident'. A breath of wind'. . tears it from its stem', and it lights on the stream of water which passes underneath', In a moment of time', the life which we know by the microscope', it teems with', is extinguished'; and', an occurrence so insignificant in the eye of man and on the scale of his observation', carries in it', to the myriads which people this little leaf', an event as terrible and as decisive as the destruction of a world'. Now, on the grand scale of the universe', we', the occupiers of this little ball', which performs its little round among the suns and the systems that astronomy has unfolded', we may feel the same littleness', and the same insecurity. We differ from the leaf', only in this circumstance, that it would require the operation of greater elements to destroy us. But these elements exist. The fire which rages within, may lift its devouring energy to the surface of our planet', and transform it into one wide and wasting volcano'. The sudden formation of elastick matter in the bowels of the earth'-and it lies within the agency of known substances to accomplish this'-may explode it into fragments. The exhalation of noxious air from below', may impart a virulence to the air that is around us'; it may affect the delicate proportion of its ingredients'; and the whole of animated nature may wither and die under the malignity of a tainted atmosphere'. A blazing comet may cross this fated planet in its orbit', and realize to it all the terrours which superstition has conceived of it. These are changes which may happen in a single instant of time and against which nothing known in the present system of things', provides us with any security. They might not annihilate the earth', but they would unpeople it'; and we', who tread its surface with such firm and assured footsteps', are at the mercy of devouring elements, which', if let loose upon us by the hand of the Almighty', would spread solitude', and silence', and death, over the dominions of the world'. Now, it is this littleness', and this insecurity', which make the protection of the Almighty so dear to us, and which bring', with such emphasis', to every pious bosom', the holy lessons of humility and gratitude. The God who sitteth above', and who presides in high authority over all worlds', is mindful of man'; and', though at this moment his energy is felt in the remotest provinces of creation', we may feel the same security in his providence', as if we were the objects of his undivided care. It is not for us to bring our minds up to this mysterious agency'. But', such is the incomprehensible fact, that the same Being', whose eye is abroad over the whole universe', gives vegetation to every blade of grass, and motion to every particle of blood which circulates through the veins of the minutest animal'; that', though his mind takes into its comprehensive grasp', immensity and all its wonders', I am as much known to him', as if I were the single object of his attention; that he marks all my thoughts; that he gives birth to every feeling and every movement within me`; and that', with an exercise of power which I can neither describe nor comprehend', the same God who sits in the highest heaven', and reigns over the glories of the firmament', is at my right hand,' to give every breath which I draw', and every comfort which I enjoy. SECTION XI. Pleasures of Hope.-CAMPBELL. With thee', sweet Hope', resides the heavenly light' Primeval Hope! the Aōnian muses say', When man and nature mourned their first decay'; When peace and mercy', banished from the plain', Auspicious Hopè`! in thy sweet garden grōw' His bark carēĕring o'er unfathomed fields'; With meteor-standard to the winds unfurled', Looks', from his throne of clouds', o'er half the world'. Now far he sweeps', where scarce a summer smiles' On Behring's rocks', or Greenland's nāked isles', Cold on his midnight watch the breezes blow' From wastes that slumber in eternal snow': And waft', across the wave's tumultuous roar', The wolf's long howl from Onalaska's shōre`. Pôôr child of danger', nursling of the storm', But Hope can here her moonlight vigils kēēp', Friend of the brave! in peril's darkest hour', When front to front the bannered hosts combine', As rings his glittering tube', he lifts on high' SECTION XII. Address to Greece.-BYRON. He'.. who hath bent him o'er the dead', Have swept the lines where beauty lingers',) And'-but for that sad', shrouded eye' That fires not, wins not, wèēps not'.. now', Where cold obstruction's apathy' Appals the gazing mourner's heart', The doom he dreads', yet dwells upon';- 'Tis GREECE', but living Grēēce'... nō mōre'! We start,... for sôUL.. is wanting there'. That parts not quite with parting breath'; A gilded halo'.. hovering round decay`, The farewell beam of feeling`.. past away! Spark of that flame', perchance'.. of heavenly birth', Which gleams', but warms no more its cherished earth' Clime of the unforgotten brāve'! Whose land'.. from plain to mountain-cave", Was freedom's home', or glory's grāve`— · Shrine of the mighty! can it be, That this.. is all remains of thêê'? Approach, thou craven', crouching SLAVE': Sây, is not this Thermopyla'? These waters blue'.. that round you lave'- These scenes' their story not unknown'Arise, and make again your own'; Snatch from the ashes of your sires The embers of their former fires'; And he whō', in the strife expires', Will add to theirs a name of fear That tyranny shall quake to hear`, And leave his sons a hōpe', a fame They', too', will rather die'.. than shâme': For.. freedom's battle'.. once begun', Bequeathed by bleeding sire to son', Though baffled oft', is ever won`. Bear witness', Greece', thy living page', Thy heroes', though the general dōōm' 'Twere long to tell', and sad to trace' SECTION XIII. The Passions.-COLLINS. When Musick', heavenly maid', was young, Sweet lessons of her forceful art', Each' (for madness ruled the hour') Would prove his own expressive power. First', Fear', his hand', its skill to try', |