C PREFA СЕ. REATION is a fubject which fills every reasonable creature with wonder; and in no season more than Spring. Then nature having burst the iron fetters of stern winter, and broken down its icy prison, shivering at first, creepeth gently forth; but now having become vivid, wantons gaily over all the fields, strewing the earth with flowers, and pouring melody from every grove, while it awakens in the human breast agreeable sensations, enlivening the mind to fublimity of thought and sweet contemplation. It is therefore in order to point out fome suitable fubjects for this, which may be happily improven for our advantage, the following work is compofed. I am well aware, that those who expect to find in it, that, elegance of expreffion, fublimity of thought, or strength of judgment, which the fubjects require, will be much disappointed; and also that those who wish to shew their skill in criticism, will find ample scope for employing their pens. ALL I shall say by way of recommendation of it to my Readers is, I hope they will find nothing in it contrary to found principles, but may find some little entertainment to pass a vacant hour, and fome passages which, through the Divine bleffing, may prove useful to them. And that this last may be the cafe, hath been, during the time of compofing it, and still is, the fincere wish of theirs respectfully, JAMES FISHER. A few Lines Spoken at EDNAM, the birth place of the celebrated THOMSON, when in the Room where it is supposed he was born. AND is this the place where he who sung in strains fublime the sweets of Spring, with all the beauties of the flushing year, was born! the honour of his nation, and the delight of the Muses, whose works, chiefly those of his Seafons, stand unrivalled even by the Georgics themselves: nor could Virgil, that Prince of Latin Poets, boast of more harmonious numbers than thou, O THOMSON! whose lofty verses, fam'd through the world, fupply the place of a stately monument, which, if ever due to the memory of a Poet, thine well deserved. Up that majestic ladder, the rounds which thou hast so elegantly described, may all afcend to contemplate, not only the God of Nature, but also the God of Grace, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the worlds were made. If this is not the use which is made of thy lofty strains of poetry, and my low themes of profe, I'm afraid all will prove but a trifling amusement. A DESCANT ON 1 CREATION. THE works of God are a great book, confifting of three incomprehenfible volumes, namely, Nature, Providence, and Grace; which continually lye open for the perufal of all in heaven, and all on earth. It was on the former of those man first opened his eyes in paradife. a Beholding the magnificence of the ample page, how aftonished would he be at finding himself, and observing creation round! Incomparably more fo than man now, who is born of a woman, and gradually comes from an unthinking to thinking state; from infancy to childhood, B a : |