that presence of God which some of the di-beyond imagination, so probably is the extent vines call his glorious, and others his majestic, of it. There is light behind light, and glory presence. He is indeed as essentially pre- within glory. How far that space may reach, sent in all other places as in this; but it is in which God thus appears in perfect majesty, here where he resides in a sensible magnifi- we cannot possibly conceive. Though it is cence, and in the midst of all those splen- not infinite, it may be indefinite; and, though dours which can effect the imagination of cre- not immeasurable in itself, it may be so with ated beings. regard to any created eye or imagination. If 'It is very remarkable that this opinion of he has made these lower regions of matter so God Almighty's presence in heaven, whether inconceivably wide and magnificent for the discovered by the light of nature, or by a ge- habitation of mortal and perishable beings, how neral tradition from our first parents, prevails great may we suppose the courts of his house among all the nations of the world, whatsoever to be, where he makes his residence in a more different notions they entertain of the God-especial manner, and displays himself in the head. If you look into Homer, the most an- fulness of his glory, among an innumerable cient of the Greek writers, you see the supreme company of angels and spirits of just men made power seated in the heavens, and encompassed perfect? with the inferior delties, among whom the Muses This is certain, that our imaginations canare represented as singing incessantly about not be raised too high, when we think on a his throne. Who does not here see the main place where omnipotence and omniscience strokes and outlines of this great truth we are have so signally exerted themselves, because speaking of? The same doctrine is shadowed that they are able to produce a scene infinitely out in many other heathen authors, though at more great and glorious than what we are the same time, like several other revealed able to imagine. It is not impossible but at truths, dashed and adulterated with a mix- the consummation of all things, these outward ture of fables and human inventions. But apartments of nature, which are now suited to pass over the notions of the Greeks and Ro-to those beings who inhabit them, may be mans, those more enlightened parts of the taken in and added to that glorious place of pagan world, we find there is scarce a peo- which I am here speaking, and by that means ple among the late discovered nations who are made a proper habitation for beings who not trained up in an opinion that heaven is the are exempt from mortality, and cleared of habitation of the divinity whom they worship. their imperfections for so the scripture seems 'As in Solomon's temple there was the to intimate when it speaks of "new heavens Sanctum Sanctorum, in which a visible glory and of a new earth, wherein dwelleth rightappeared among the figures of the cherubims, eousness." and into which none but the high priest him 'I have only considered this glorious place self was permitted to enter, after having made with regard to the sight and imagination, an atonement for the sins of the people; so, if though it is highly probable that our other we consider the whole creation as one great senses may here likewise enjoy the highest temple, there is in it this Holy of holies, into gratifications. There is nothing which more which the High-priest of our salvation entered, and took his place among angels and arch-angels, after having made a propitiation for the sins of mankind. ravishes and transports the soul than harmony; and we have great reason to believe, from the descriptions of this place in holy scripture, that this is one of the entertainments of it. 'With how much skill must the throne of And if the soul of man can be so wonderfully God be erected! With what glorious designs affected with those strains of music which huis that habitation beautified, which is contrived man art is capable of producing, how much and built by him who inspired Hiram with more will it be raised and elevated by those in wisdom! How great must be the majesty of which is exerted the whole power of harmony! that place, where the whole art of creation The senses are faculties of the human soul, has been employed, and where God has chosen though they cannot be employed, during this to show himself in the most magnificent man-our vital union, without proper instruments ner? What must be the architecture of infinite in the body. Why therefore should we exclude power under the direction of infinite wisdom? the satisfaction of these faculties, which we A spirit cannot but be transported, after an find by experience are inlets of great pleasure ineffable manner, with the sight of those ob- to the soul, from among those entertainments jects, which were made to affect him by that whice are to make up our happiness hereafter? Being who knows the inward frame of a soul, Why should we suppose that our hearing and and how to please and ravish it in all its most seeing will not be gratified with those objects secret powers and faculties. It is to this ma- which are most agreeable to them, and which jestic presence of God we may apply those they cannot meet with in these lower regions beautiful expressions in holy writ: Behold of nature; objects, "which neither eye hath even to the moon and it shineth not; yea the seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into the stars are not pure in his sight.' The light of heart of man to conceive? I knew a man the sun, and all the glories of the world in which in Christ (says Saint Paul, speaking of himwe live, are but as weak and sickly glimmer-self) above fourteen years ago, (whether in ings, or rather darkness itself, in comparison of the body I cannot tell, or whether out of the those splendours which encompass the throne body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) such an of God. one caught up to the third heaven. And I As the glory of this place is transcendent knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) how I AM at present sitting with a heap of letters that he was caught up into Paradise, and before me, which I have received under the heard unspeakable words, which is not possi-character of Spectator. I have complaints ble for a man to utter." By this is meant that from lovers, schemes from projectors, scandal what he heard was so infinitely different from from ladies, congratulations, compliments, and any thing which he had heard in this world, advice in abundance. that it was impossible to express it in such words as might convey a notion of it to his hearers. · I have not been thus long an author, to be insensible of the natural fondness every person must have for their own productions; and I begin to think I have treated my correspondents a little to uncivilly in stringing them all together on a file, and letting them lie so long unregarded. I shall therefore, for the future, think myself at least obliged to take some notice of such letters as I receive, and may possibly do it at the end of every month. My well-wisher Van Nath is very arch, but not quite enough so to appear in print. It is very natural for us to take delight in inquiries concerning any foreign country, where we are some time or other to make our abode; and as we all hope to be admitted into this glorious place, it is both a laudable and useful curiosity to get what informations we can of it, whilst we make use of revelation for our guide. When these everlasting doors shall be open to us, we may be sure that the In the mean time I intend my present paper pleasures and beauties of this place will infi- as a short answer to most of those which have nitely transcend our present hopes and expec-been already sent me. tations, and that the glorious appearance of The public, however, is not to expect I should the throne of God will rise infinitely beyond let them into all my secrets; and, though I whatever we are able to conceive of it. We appear abstruse to most people, it is sufficient might here entertain ourselves with many if I am understood by my particular corresponother speculations on this subject, from those dents. several hints which we find of it in the holy scriptures; as, whether there may not be different mansions and apartments of glory to beings of different natures; whether, as they excel one another in perfection, they are not admitted nearer to the throne of the Almighty, and enjoy greater manifestations of his presence; whether there are not solemn times and occasions, when all the multitude of heaven celebrate the presence of their Maker in more extraordinary forms of praise and adoration; as Adam, though he had continued in a state of innocence, would, in the opinion of our divines, have kept holy the sabbath-day in a more particular manner than any other of the seven. These, and the like speculations we may very innocently indulge, so long as we make use of them to inspire us with a desire of becoming inhabitants of this delightful place. Philadelphus will, in a little time, see his query fully answered by a treatise which is now in the press. It was very improper at that time to comply with Mr. G. Miss Kitty must excuse me. The gentleman who sent me a copy of verses on his mistress's dancing is, I believe, too thoroughly in love to compose correctly. I have too great a respect for both the universities to praise one at the expense of the other. Tom Nimble is a very honest fellow, and I desire him to present my humble service to his cousin Fill Bumper. I am obliged for the letter upon prejudice. The petition of P. S. granted. I thank Aristippus for his kind invitation. My friend at Woodstock is a bold man to undertake for all within ten miles of him. I have in this, and in two foregoing letters, treated on the most serious subject that can employ the mind of man-the omnipresence of the Deity; a subject which, if possible, should never depart from our meditations. We have considered the Divine Being as he inhabits infinitude, as he dwells among his works, as he is present to the mind of man, and as he discovers himself in a more glorious I must consider farther of it before I indulge manner among the regions of the blest. Such W. F. in those freedoms he takes with the laa consideration should be kept awake in us dies' stockings. I am afraid the entertainment of Tom TurDover will hardly be relished by the good cities of London and Westminster. at all times, and in all places, and possess our I am obliged to the ingenious gentleman who minds with a perpetual awe and reverence. sent me an ode on the subject of the late SpecIt should be interwoven with all our thoughts tator, and shall take particular notice of his and perceptions, and become one with the last letter. consciousness of our own being. It is not to When the lady who wrote me a letter, dated be reflected on in the coldness of philosophy, July the 20th, in relation to some passages in but ought to sink us into the lowest prostration a lover, will be more particular in her direcbefore him, who is so astonishingly great, won- tions, I shall be so in my answer. derful and holy.' No. 581.] Monday, August 16, 1714. Sunt bona, sunt quædam mediocria, sunt mala plura The poor gentleman, who fancies my writings could reclaim an husband who can abuse such a wife as he describes, has, I am afraid, too great an opinion of my skill. Philanthropos is, I dare say, a very wellmeaning man, but a little too prolix in his compositions. Constantius himself must be the best judge | This cacoëthes is as epidemical as the smallin the affair he mentions. The letter dated from Lincoln is received. Arethusa and her friend may hear farther from me. Celia is a little too hasty. Harriot is a good girl, but must not courtesy to folks she does not know. I must ingenuously confess my friend Samson Benstaff has quite puzzled me, and writ me a long letter which I cannot comprehend one word of. Collidan must also explain what he means by his drigelling,' I think it beneath my spectatorial dignity to concern myself in the affair of the boiled dumpling. pox, there being very few who are not seized with it some time or other in their lives. There is, however, this difference in these two distempers, that the first, after having indisposed you for a time, never returns again: whereas, this I am speaking of, when it is once got into the blood, seldom comes out of it. The British nation is very much afflicted with this malady, and though very many remedies have been applied to persons infected with it, few of them have ever proved successful. Some have been cauterized with satires and lampoons, but have received little or no benefit from them; others have had their heads fastened for an hour together between a cleft board, which is made use of as a cure for the disease when it appears in its greatest malignity. There is indeed one kind of this mala I shall consult some literati on the project sent me for the discovery of the longitude. I know not how to conclude this paper bet-dy which has been sometimes removed, like ter than by inserting a couple of letters which are really genuine, and which I look upon to be two of the smartest pieces I have received from my correspondents of either sex: 'BROTHER SPEC. the biting of a tarantula, with the sound of a musical instrument, which is commonly known by the name of a cat-call. But if you have a patient of this kind under your care, you may assure yourself there is no other way of recovering him effectually, but by forbidding him the use of pen, ink, and paper. ́ While you are surveying every object that falls in your way, I am wholly taken up with But, to drop the allegory before I have tired one. Had that sage who demanded what beau- it out, there is no species of scribblers more ofty was, lived to see the dear angel I love, he fensive, and more incurable, than your periwould not have asked such a question. Had odical writers, whose works return upon the another seen her, he would himself have loved public on certain days and at stated times. the person in whom heaven has made virtue We have not the consolation in the perusal of visible; and, were you yourself to be in her these authors which we find at the reading of company, you could never, with all your lo- all others, namely, that we are sure if we have quacity, say enough of her good-humour and but patience, we may come to the end of their sense. I send you the outlines of a picture, labours. I have often admired an humourous which I can no more finish, than I can suf- saying of Diogenes, who reading a dull author ficiently admire the dear original. to several of his friends, when every one began to be tired, finding he was almost come to a blank leaf at the end of it, cried,' Courage, lads, I see land.' On the contrary, our progress through that kind of writers I am now speaking of is never at an end. One day makes work for another-we do not know when to promise ourselves rest. I am your most affectionate brother, 'GOOD MR. PERT, 'I will allow you nothing until you resolve me the following question. Pray what is the reason that, while you only talk now upon Wednesdays, Fridays, and Mondays, you pretend to be a greater tattler than when you spoke every day, as you formerly used to do? If this be your plunging out of your taciturnity, pray let the length of your speeches compensate for the scarceness of them. I am, good Mr. Pert, 'Your admirer, It is a melancholy thing to consider that the art of printing, which might be the greatest blessing to mankind, should prove detrimental to us, and that it should be made use of to scatter prejudice and ignorance through a people, instead of conveying to them truth and knowledge. I was lately reading a very whimsical treatise, entitled William Ramsay's Vindication of Astrology. This profound author among many mystical passages, has the following one: The absence of the sun is not the cause of night, forasmuch as his light is so great that it may illuminate the earth all over at once as clear as broad day; but there are tenebrificous and dark stars, by whose influ * Put in the pillory. Alluding to the noise made in the Theatres at the condemnation of a play. THERE is a certain distemper, which is mentioned neither by Galen nor Hippocrates, nor to be met with in the London Dispensary. Juvenal, in the motto of my paper, terms it a Ramsay, (or more properly Ramsey) contended that cacoëthes; which is a hard word for a disease where he read of "darkness over the land of Egypt that this absurdity of his was even supported by Scripture, called in plain English, The itch of writing.'may be felt." ence night is brought on, and which do ray out | been there: he never hired a house in his life, darkness and obscurity upon the earth as the without leaving all about it the seeds of wealth, sun does light.' I consider writers in the same view this sage astrologer does the heavenly bodies. Some of them are stars that scatter light as others do darkness. I could mention several authors who are tenebrificous stars of the first magnitude, and point out a knot of gentlemen, who have been dull in concert, and may be looked upon as a dark constellation. The nation has been a great while benighted with several of these antiluminaries. I suffered them to ray out their darkness as long as I was able to endure it, till at length I came to a resolution of rising upon them, and hope in a little time to drive them quite out of the British hemisphere. No. 583.] Friday, August 20, 1714. Ipse thymum pinosque ferens de montibus altis, With his own hand, the guardian of the bees Drylen. and bestowing legacies on the posterity of the owner. Had all the gentlemen of England made the same improvements upon their estates, our whole country would have been at this time as one great garden. Nor ought such an employment to be looked upon as too inglorious for men of the highest rank. There have been heroes in this art, as well as in others. We are told in particular of Cyrus the Great, that he planted all the Lesser Asia. There is indeed something truly magnificent in this kind of amusement: it gives a nobler air to several parts of nature; it fills the earth with a variety of beautiful scenes, and has something in it like creation. For this reason the pleasure of one who plants is something like that of a poet, who, as Aristotle observes, is more delighted with his productions than any other writer or artist whatsover. Plantations have one advantage in them which is not to be found in most other works, as they give a pleasure of a more lasting date, and continually improve in the eye of the planter. When you have finished a building, or any other undertaking of the like nature, it immediately decays upon your hands: you see it brought to the utmost point of perfection, and from that time hastening to its ruin. On the contrary, when you have finishEVERY station of life has duties which are ed your plantations, they are still arriving at proper to it. Those who are determined by greater degrees of perfection as long as you choice to any particular kind of business, are live, and appear more delightful in every sucindeed more happy than those who are deter-ceeding year than they did in the foregoing. mined by necessity; but both are under an But I do not only recommend this art to men equal obligation of fixing on employments, of estates as a pleasing amusement, but as it is which may be either useful to themselves, or a kind of virtuous employment, and may therebeneficial to others: no one of the sons of fore be inculcated by moral motives; particuAdam ought to think himself exempt from that larly from the love which we ought to have labour and industry which were denounced to for our country and the regard which we ought our first parent, and in him to all his posteri- to bear to our posterity. As for the first I ty. Those to whom birth or fortune may need only mention what is frequently observed seem to make such an application unnecessary, by others, that the increase of forest trees does ought to find out some calling or profession by no means bear a proportion to the destrucfor themselves, that they may not lie as a bur- tion of them, insomuch that in a few ages the den on the species. and be the only useless parts of the creation. nation may be at a loss to supply itself with timber sufficient for the fleets of England. I Many of our country gentlemen in their know when a man talks of posterity in mattets busy hours apply themselves wholly to the of this nature, he is looked upon with an eye of chase, or to some other diversion which they ridicule by the cunning and selfish part of manfind in the fields and woods. This gave oc- kind. Most people are of the humour of an old casion to one of our most eminent English fellow of a college, who, when he was pressed writers to represent every one of them as ly-by the society to come into something that ing under a kind of curse pronounced to might redound to the good of their successors, them in the words of Goliah, I will give grew very peevish: We are always doing,' thee to the fowls of the air and to the beast says he, 'something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.' of the field.' Though exercises of this kind, when indulg- But I think men are inexcusable, who fail in ed with moderation, may have a good influ- a duty of this nature, since it is so easily disence both on the mind and body, the country charged. When a man considers that the putaffords many other amusements of a more ting a few twigs into the ground is doing good noble kind. to one who will make his appearance in the Among these, I know none more delightful world about fifty years hence, or that he is perin itself, and beneficial to the public, than haps making one of his own descendants easy that of planting. I could mention a nobleman or rich, by so inconsiderable an expense, if he whose fortune has placed him in several parts finds himself averse to it, he must conclude that of England, and who has always left these he has a poor and base heart, void of all genervisible marks behind him, which show he has ous principles and love to mankind. There is one consideration which may very | She was exceedingly beautiful; and, when she much enforce what I have here said. Many was but a girl of threescore and ten years of honest minds, that are naturally disposed to do age, received the addresses of several who made good in the world, and become beneficial to love to her. Among these were two brothers, mankind, complain within themselves that they Harpath and Shalum. Harpath being the firsthave not talents for it. This therefore is a good born, was master of that fruitful region which office, which is suited to the meanest capaci- lies at the foot of mount Tirzah, in the southern ties, and which may be performed by multi-parts of China. Shalum (which is to say the tudes who have not abilities sufficient to de-planter in the Chinese language) possessed all serve well of their country, and to recommend the neighbouring hills, and that great range of themselves to their posterity, by any other me-mountains which goes under the name of Tirthod. It is the phrase of a friend of mine, zah. Harpath was of a haughty contemptuous when any useful country neighbour dies, that spirit; Shalum was of a gentle disposition, be'you may trace him;' which I look upon as a loved both by God and man. good funeral oration, at the death of an honest husbandman who hath left the impressions of his industry behind him in the place where he has lived, It is said that among the antedeluvian women, the daughters of Cohu had their minds wholly set upon riches; for which reason the beautiful Hilpa preferred Harpath to Shalum, because of his numerous flocks and herds, that covered all the low country which runs along the foot of mount Tirzah, and is watered by several fountains and streams breaking out of the sides Upon the foregoing considerations, I can scarcely forbear representing the subject of this paper as a kind of moral virtue; which, as I have already shown, recommends itself likewise by the pleasure that attends it. It must of that mountain. be confessed that this is none of those turbu- Harpath made so quick a despatch of his lent pleasures which are apt to gratify a man courtship, that he married Hilpa in the hunin the heats of youth; but, if it be not so tu-dredth year of her age; and, being of an insomultuous, it is more lasting. Nothing can be lent temper, laughed to scorn his brotber Shamore delightful than to entertain ourselves lum for having pretended to the beautiful Hilpa, with prospects of our own making, and to walk when he was master of nothing but a long chain under those shades which our own industry has of rocks and mountains. This so much proraised Amusements of this nature compose voked Shalum, that he is said to have cursed his the mind, and lay at rest all those passions brother in the bitterness of his heart, and to have which are uneasy to the soul of man, besides prayed that one of his mountains might fall that they naturally engender good thoughts, upon his head if ever he came within the shaand dispose us to laudable contemplations dow of it. Many of the old philosophers passed away the From this time forward Harpath would never greatest parts of their lives among their gar- venture out of the valleys, but came to an undens. Epicurus himself could not think sensual timely end in the two hundred and fiftieth year pleasure attainable in any other scene. Every of his age, being drowned in a river as he atreader, who is acquainted with Homer, Virgil, tempted to cross it. This river is called to this and Horace, the greatest geniuses of all anti-day, from his name who perished in it, the quity, knows very well with how much rapture river Harpath; and, what is very remarkable, they have spoken on this subject; and that issues out of one of those mountains which ShaVirgil in particular has written a whole book lum wished might fall upon his brother, when on the art of planting. he cursed him in the bitterness of his heart. This art seems to have been more especially Hilpa was in the hundred and sixtieth year of adapted to the nature of man in his primæval her age at the death of her husband, having state, when he had life enough to see his pro- brought him but fifty children before he was ductions flourish in their utmost beauty, and snatched away, as has been already related. gradually decay with him. One who lived be- Many of the antediluvians made love to the fore the flood might have seen a wood of the tallest oaks in the acorn. But I only mention this particular,in order to introduce,in my next paper, a history which I have found among the accounts of China, and which may be looked upon as an antediluvian novel. No. 584.] Monday, August 23, 1714, Come, see what pleasures in our plains abound: HILPA was one of the hundred and fifty daughters of Zilpa, of the race of Cohu, by whom some of the learned think is meant Cain. young widow; though no one was thought so likely to succeed in her affections as her first lover Shalum, who renewed his court to her about ten years after the death of Harpath; for it was not thought decent in those days that a widow should be seen by a man within ten years after the decease of her husband. Shalum, falling into a deep melancholy, and resolving to take away that objection which had been raised against him when he made his first addresses to Hilpa, began, immediately after her marriage with Harpath, to plant all that mountainous region which fell to his lot in the division of this country. He knew how to adapt every plant to its proper soil, and is thought to have inherited many traditional secrets of that art from the first mau. This employment turned at length to his profit as well as to his amusement: his mountains were in a few years shaded with young trees, that grad |