Watts - Houston-Packer Collection BX5207.W3 S4x 1805 v.3

SECT. Iv.] THE HAPPINESS OF SEPARATE SPIRITS. 41T him with new matter for the praise of God in the long successions of eternity. There is scarce an animal of the more complete kind, but would entertain an angel with rich curiosities, and feed his contemplation for an age. What a rich and artful structure of flesh upon the solid and well compact- ed foundation of bones ! What curious joints and hinges, on which the limbs are moved to and fro ! What an in- conceivable variety of nerves, veins, arteries, fibres, and little invisible parts, are found in every member! What various fluids, blood and juices, run through and agitate the innumerable slender tubes, the hollow strings and strainers of the body ! What millions of folding - doors are fixed within, to stop those red or transparent rivulets in their course, either to prevent their return backwards, or else as a means to swell the muscles and move the limbs ! What endless contrivances to secure life, to nourish nature, and to propagate the same to future animals ! What amazing lengths of holy meditation would an angel run upon these subjects ! and what sub- lime strains of praise would a heavenly philosopher raise hourly to the Almighty and All-wise Creator ! And all this from the mere. brutal world ! But if we survey the nature of man, he is a creature made up of mind and animal united, and would furnish .still more numerous and exalted materials for contem- plation and praise ; for he has all the richest wonders of animal nature in him, besides the unknown mysteries of mind or spirit. Surely it will create a sacred pleasure in happy souls above; to learn the wonders of divine skill exerted and shining in their own formation, and in the curious workmanship of those bodily engines in which they once dwelt and acted. Then let them descend to herbs and plants. How numerous are all the products of earth upon her green surface, and all within her dark bowels ! All the vege- table and the mineral kingdoms ! How many centuries would all these entertain an heavenly enquirer ! The worlds of air, and the worlds of water, the pla- netary and the starry worlds, are still new objects rich with curiosities ; these are all monuments of divine wis- dom, and fit subjects for the contemplation of the blessed. Nor can we be supposed to have for ever done with them VOL. III. E

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=