No more o'er guilty minds he shakes the rod, Angels that from their sphery thrones descend Her bays each science scatters on thy bier; She heard a darling husband's parting groan; No mournful pupil pour'd the tender tear; Her only refuge plac'd in heav'n and prayer. That dear sad sight she wishes now in vain, Heav'n, gracious still, our real bliss befriends, She bid in vision to his ravish'd eyes Thrice happy spirit! while you praise above O, if still conscious of our bliss or woe, Till my soul, kindled at so fair a flame, And wing'd for bliss and heav'n, like thine shall rise To join her kindred-angels in the skies. THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. ILLUSTRATED IN A COURSE OF SERIOUS AND PRACTICAL ADDRESSES, SUITED TO PERSONS OF EVERY CHARACTER AND CIRCUMSTANCE: WITH A DEVOUT MEDITATION OR PRAYER -ADDED TO EACH CHAPTER. Testifying-Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jefas Christ. Whom we preach; warning every Man, and teaching every Man in all Wisdom; that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus. Col. i. 28. TO THE REV. DR. ISAAC WATTS. REVEREND AND DEAR SIR, WITH the most affectionate gratitude and respect, I beg leave to present to you a book, which owes its existence to your request, its copiousness to your plan, and much of its perspicuity to your review, and to the use I made of your remarks on that part of it, which your health and leisure would permit you to examine. I address it to you, not to beg your patronage to it, for of that I am already well assured; and much less from any ambition of attempting your character, for which, if I were more equal to the subject, I should think this a very improper place: but chiefly from a secret delight, which I find in the thought of being known to those whom this may reach, as one whom you have honoured, not only with your friendship, but with so much of your esteem and approbation too, as must substantially appear, in your committing a work to me, which you had yourself projected as one of the most considerable services of your life. I have long thought the love of popular applause a meanness, which a philosophy far inferior to that of our divine master might have taught us to conquer. But to be esteemed by eminently great and good men, to whom we are intimately known, appears to me, not only one of the most solid attestations of some real worth, but next to the approbation of God and our own consciences, one of its most valuable rewards. It will, I doubt not, be found so in that world, to which spirits like yours are tending, and for which, through divine grace, you have obtained so uncommon a degree of ripeness. And permit me, Sir, while I write this, to refresh myself with the hope, that when that union of hearts, which has so long subsisted between us, shall arrive to its full maturity and endearment there, it will be matter of mutual delight, to recollect, that you have assigned me, and that I have, in some degree, executed a task, which may perhaps, under the blessing of God, awaken and improve religious sentiments in the minds of those whom we leave behind us, and of others, who may arise after us in this vain, transitory and insnaring world. Such is the improvement you have made of your capacities for service, that I am fully persuaded, heaven has received very few, in these latter ages, who have done so much to serve its interests here below; few, who have laboured in this best of causes with equal assiduity, and equal success. And therefore I cannot but join with all who wish well to the christian interest among us, in acknowledging the goodness of providence to you and to the church of Christ, in prolonging a life at once so valuable and so tender, to |