MISCELLANEOUS TIIom :HTs. 831 Suppose when I had finished this heathen temple, and basked there with pleasure under the rays of my bright idol, some fanciful and ingenious painter should attempt to cover the building all round with his own ornaments ; suppose Raphael himself should use his pencil with exquisite art, and with mingled colours and images of a rich variety and beauty over- spread all the walls, the doors, and the transparent roof of it ; how would this seclude the sun's best influences, and shut this idol deity out of his own temple ? Nay, though the image of the sun should be drawn there ten thousand times over in lines of gold, with a pretence to represent him in all his wondrous effects, yet every line will forbid the entrance of a sun-beam, and the worshipper within must dwell in twilight, or perhaps adore in darkness; be must lose the true sight of his planetary God, and the benefit of his cheering beams. Not the richest skill of a Zeuxis or Apelles beautifying the walls of this fabric, could ever supply the absence of the sun, or compensate the loss of light and heat. Such are the rites and ceremonies of human wisdom, when they are contrived as ornaments of divine worship. A sacred institution mingled with the devices of men, is in truth nothing else but glass darkened with the colours of a painter, laid thick upon it. These inventions may appear to the fancy, not only grave and decent, but artful and honourable too; they may pretend assistance to the devout worshipper, and glory to God himself; but in reality they exclude him from his own temple. Sometimes they skew a painted idol in the stead of him, for nothing can effectually represent God, but his own pure appoint- ments ; and so far as the ornaments prevail above the simple ordinance, they prevent all the kind influences of his power and grace ; for he vouchsafes to transmit these no other way, but through his own institutions. " When the church of Rome honours God with her lips, and her priests set up their thresholds by my thresholds, saith the Lord, and their posts by my posts, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations, and in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the command- ments of men. " Is. xxix. 13. compare with Mat. xv. 8, 9. and Ezek. xliii. 8. XIII. The Midnight Elevation. t NdWreigns the night in hèr tublimest 2 In vain I wish, in vain I try noon, To closemy eyes and learn to die; Nature lies hush'd; the stars their Sweet slumbers from my restless pillow watches keep; fly ; I wait thy influence, gentle sleep, Then be my thoughts serene as day, Come shed thy choicest poppies Be sprightly as the light, down, Swift as the sun's far - shooting ray, On every sense, sweet slumbers seal And take a vigorous flight: my eyes, Swift fly, my soul, transcend these T ;r'd with the scenes of slay, with dusky skies, painted vanities. And trace the vital world that lies Beyond those glimmering figes thatgild and cheer-the night. 2
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