360 MISCLLLANËOUS THOUGHTS. the immediate possession and government of the great Creator. One sort of these mansions are little, narrow, dark, damp rooms; where there is much confinement, very little good com- pany, and such a clog upon one's natural spirits, that a man can- not think or talk with freedom, nor exert his understanding, or any of his intellectual powers with glory or pleasure. This is the earth in which we dwell. A second sort are spacious, lightsome, airy and serene courts open to the summer-sky, or at least admitting all the valuable qualities of sun and air, without the inconveniences; where there are thousands, of most delightful companions, and every thing that can give one pleasure, and make one capable and fit to give pleasure to others. 'i'his is the heaven we hope for. A third sort of apartments are open and spacious too, but under a wintry -sky, with perpetual storms of hail, rain and wind, thunder, lightning, and every thing that is painful and offensive ; and all that is among millions of wretched com- panions cursing the place, tormenting one another, and each endeavouring to increase the public and universal misery. This is hell. Now what a dreadful thing is it to be driven out of one of the first narrow dusky cells into the third sort of 'apartment, where the change of the room-is infinitely the worst? No won -. der that sinners are afraid to die. But why should a soul that has good hope, through grace, of entering into the serene apart- ment, be unwilling to leave the narrow smoaky prison he has dwelt in so long, and under such loads of inconvenience ? Death to a good man is but passing through a dark entry, out of one little dusky room of his father's house, into another that is fair and large, lightsome and glorious, and divinely enter- taining. O may the rays and splendours of my heavenly apart- ment shoot far downward, and gild the dark entry with such a cheerful gleam as to banish every fear when I shall be called to pass through ! XXXIII --A Hornet's Nest destroyed. WHAT curious little creatures were these ; how bright and beautiful the body of them ! how nimble and sprightly the several limbs ! how swift the wing of this insect for flight, and the sting as dreadful for its own defence, and for the punish- ment of those that hurt it. What rich contrivance is there in all the invisible springs of this little engine? and yet here are thousands of them destroyed at once, and reduced to com. mon earth. If any artist among men could have framed but one such a
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