Samaritan, one of the abhorred nation, whom the Jew hated with the most implacable malignity. Though the Levite bad neglected an expiring brother; though the priest had withheld his pity from one of the Lord's peculiar people; the very moment this Samaritan sees the unhappy sufferer, he melts into commiseration. He forgets the imbittered foe, and considers only the distressed fellow-creature. He springs from his horse and resolves to intermit his journey. The oil and wine, intended for his own refreshment, he freely converts into healing unguents. He binds up the wounds, sets the disabled stranger upon his own beast, and, with all the assiduity of a servant, with all the tenderness of a brother, conducts him to an inn.-There he

If this was a parable, we cannot but admire the accuracy of our Lord, both in laying the scene and selecting the circumstances. It is the maxim of a great critic,

Ficta voluptatis causâ sint proxima veris.

And how very apparent is the air of probability in this sacred apologue. The way from Jerusalem to Jericho, lying through a desert, was much infested by thieves, and too commodious for their purposes of violence. What could be more likely to happen, than the passage of a priest and Levite along the road, since Jericho was a city appropriated to the Levitical order, and contained no less than twelve thousand attendants on the service of the Temple ?

How judiciously is the principal figure circumstanced? Had the calamity befallen a Samaritan, it would have made but feeble impressions of pity; and those, perhaps, immediately effaced by stronger emotions of hate. But when it was a Jew that lay bleeding to death, the representation was sure to interest the hearer in the distress, and awaken a tender concern. Had the relief been administered by a Jew, the benevolence would have shone; but in a much fainter light. Whereas, when it came from the hands of a Samaritan, whom all the Jews had agreed to execrate, and rank with the very fiends of hell; how bright-how charmingly and irristibly bright was the lustre of such charity! Let the reader consider the temper expressed in that rancorous reflection, Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil,' John viii. 48. Let him compare that inveterate malevolence with the benign and compassionate spirit of our amiable traveller; then let him say, whether he ever bebeld a finer or a bolder contrast! Whether, upon the whole, he ever saw the ordonnance of descriptive painting more justly designed, or more bappily executed!

I would beg leave to observe farther, that the virulent anfmosity of the Jew discovers itself even in the lawyer's reply,'he that shewed mercy on him.' He will not so much as name the Samaritan; especially in a case where he could not be named without an honourable distinction. So strongly marked, and so exactly preserved are the ra non, the manners or dis tinguishing qualities of each person in the sacred narrations,

deposits money for his present use, charges the host to omit nothing that might conduce to the recovery or comfort of his guest; and promises to defray the whole expense of his lodging, his maintenance, and his cure. "

What a lively picture this of the most disinterested and active benevolence! A benevolence, which excludes no persons, not even strangers or enemies, from its tender regards. Which disdains no condescension, grudges no cost, in its labour of love. Could any method of conviction have been more forcible, and at the same time more pleasing, than the interrogatory pro posed by our Lord, and deduced from the story? 'Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? Or can there be an advice more suitable to the occasion, more important in its nature, or expressed with a more sententious energy, than' Go thou, and do likewise?! In this case, the learner instructs, the delinquent condemns, himself. Bigotry bears away its prejudice; and pride (when the moral so sweetly, so imperceptible insinuates) even pride itself lends a willing ear to admonition.

Asp. It has been very justly remarked, that this eloquence of similitudes, is equally affecting to the wise, and intelligible to the ignorant. It shews, rather than relates, the point to be illustrated. It has been admired by the best judges in all ages; but never was carried to its highest perfection till our Lord spoke the parable of the prodigal, which has a beauty that no paraphrase can heighten; a perspicuity that renders all interpre tation needless; and a force which every reader, not totally insensible, must feel.

Ther. The condescension and goodness of God are every where conspicuous. In the productions of nature he conveys to us the most valuable fruits, by the intervention of the loveliest blossoms. Though the present is in itself extremely acceptable, he has given it an ad. ditional endearment by the beauties which array it, or the perfumes which surround it. In the pages of reve

Discentem,' says Seneca upon the subject, et audientem in rem presentem adducunt.'-Epist. lix. + Luke xv. 11, &c.

lation likewise, he has communicated to us the most glorious truths, adorned with all the graces of compo. sition, such as may polish the man of genius, and improve the man of worth; such as highly delight our ima. gination, even while they cultivate and refine our mo. rals. So that they really are, as one of their divine authors very elegantly speaks, 'Like apples of gold in pictures of silver.'

Asp. Who then would not gladly receive that gracious exhortation, 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly? Who would not willingly obey that benign command, Thou shalt talk of it, when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way; when thou liest down, and when thou risest up?"

When I consider the language of the Scriptures, and sometimes experience their energy on my soul, I am inclined to say, 'Other writings, though polished with the nicest touches of art, only tinkle on the ear, or affect us like the shepherd's reed. But these, even amidst all their noble negligence, strike, alarm, transport us, somewhat like the voice of thunder, or the archangel's trumpet.'

When I consider the contents of the Scriptures; and believe myself interested in the promises they make, and the privileges they confer; I am induced to cry out, "What are all the other books in the world, compared with these invaluable volumes? No more than an entertaining novel, or a few prudential rules for domestic economy, compared with a parent's will, a royal charter, or an imperial grant of titles and manors.'

Prov. xxv. 11.-Theron follows the received translation. I should prefer the exposition of Glassius, who supposes m

to signify, Retiacula argentea, in quibus oculi sunt minutissimi, penetrabiles tamen visu." According to this interpretation, the passage will present us with apples of gold in net-work, or lattice-work, of silver; where the fine fruit receives a new charm, by shewing itself through the elegant apertures of the salver.

+ Col. iii. 16.-The word of Christ-so the apostle calls the whole inspired writings, and thereby asserts the divinity of his Master-dwell; not make a short stay, or an occasional visit, but take up a fixed and stated residence-richly; in the largest measure, and with the greatest efficacy, so as to fill the memory, sway the will, and actuate all the affections.

Deut. vi. 7.

All these circumstances remind me of an encomium most deservedly given to the Bible; which, though quite artless, is, I think, abundantly more expressive, than the most laboured efforts of rhetoric. It came from the lips of a martyr; who, being condemned to die for his inviolable adherence to the doctrines of Scripture, when he arrived at the stake, and had composed himself for execution, took his final leave in these affecting words: Farewell, sun and moon! farewell, all the beauties of creation and comforts of life! farewell, my honoured friends! farewell, my beloved relations! and, farewell, thou precious, precious book of God!'

Aspasio had scarce, uttered the last sentence, when a servant came to let them know Supper was upon the table.' Very opportunely, said Theron, has our repast waited till our conference is ended. We have shewed what a large field of delightful speculation the Scriptures open, and what ample materials for the most refined discourse they afford. As nothing can be more ungraceful, than to neglect in our own conduct what we recommend to the practice of others, let us, this very night, begin to ennoble our interviews with these improving subjects: let us endeavour to make religious conversation, which is in all respects desirable, in some degree fashionable.

Should the serious reader want any farther persuasives to this most beneficial practice, he may see how particularly our divine Master observes the strain of our conversation, Luke xxiv. 17.; how strictly he has commanded such social communications, as may tend to the use of edifying, Eph. iv. 29.; and what an evidence will arise from this article, either for our acquittal or condemnation, at the day of everlasting judgment, Matt. xii. 36, 37.

DIALOGUE II.

Walk through the gardens-The beautiful frame and beneficial ordination of things-Preparatory discourse on the imputation of Christ's righteousness Meaning of the terms settled.

THE next morning, when breakfast was over, Theron and Aspasio took a walk into the garden; their spirits cheered, and their imaginations lively; gratitude glowing in their hearts, and the whole creation smiling around them.

The spot adjoining to the house was appropriated to the cultivation of flowers. In a variety of handsome. compartments were assembled the choicest beauties of blooming nature. Here the hyacinth kung her silken bells, or the lilies reared their silver pyramids. There stood the neat narcissus, loosely attired in a mantle of snowy lustre: or the splendid ranunculus wore a full-trimmed suit of radiant scarlet. Pinks were rising to enamel the borders; roses were opening to dress the walls; surrounded, on all sides, with a profusion of beauteous forms, either latent in the stalk, or bursting the buds, or blown into full expansion.

This was bounded by a slight partition, a sort of verdant parapet. Through which they descend by an easy flight of steps, and are presented with the elegant simplicity of the kitchen-garden. In one place you might see the marigold flowering, or the beans in blossom. In another, the endive curled her leaves, or the lettuce. thickened her tufts: cauliflowers sheltered their fair complexion under a green umbrella; while the burrage dishevelled her locks, and braided them with blooming jewels, of a finer azure than the finest sapphires. On the sunny slopes the cucumber and inelon lay basking in the collected beams. On the raised beds, the artichoke seemed to be erecting a standard, while the asparagus shot into ranks of spears. The level ground produced all manner of cooling sallads and nourishing Hiantem Flore decoro

Narcissum.

+ Refering to the loose irregular manner of its foliage. Alluding, not only to the shape, but also to the growth of the plant; which is so unusually quick, that it may almost be said to start, rather than to rise out of the earth.