Afp. It has been very justly remarked, That this Eloquence of Similitudes, is equally affecting to the Wife, and intelligible to the Ignorant.-It fhews *, rather than relates, the Point to be illuftrated.-It has been admired, by the best Judges, in all Ages. But, never was carried to its higheft Perfection, till our LORD fpoke the Parable of the Prodigal +.Which has a Beauty, that no Paraphrase can heighten a Perfpicuity, that renders all Interpretation needlefs and a Force, which every Reader, not totally infenfible, must feel.

Ther. The Condefcenfion and Goodness of GOD are, every where, confpicuous-In the Productions of Nature, He conveys to Us the moft valuable Fruits, by the Intervention of the lovelieft Bloffoms. Though the Present is, in itself, extremely acceptable; He has given it an additional Endearment, by the Beauties which array it, or the Perfumes which furround it. In the Pages of Revelation likewife, He has communicated to Us the most glorious Truths, adorned with all the Graces of Compofition. Such as may polish the Man of Genius, and improve the Man of Worth. Such as highly delight our Imagination, even while

Difcentem, fays Seneca upon the Subject, & audientem in rem prefentem adducunt. Epift. lix.

+ Luke xv. 11.

Afpafio had fcarce uttered the laft Sentence, when a Servant came to let them know; "Sup

per was upon the Table."-Very opportunely, faid Theron, has our Repaft waited, till our Conference is ended. We have fhewed, what a large Field of delightful Speculation, the Scriptures open; and what ample Materials for the most refined Difcourfe*, 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 defirable, in some Degree fashionable.

*Should the ferious Reader want any farther Perfuafives, to this most beneficial Practice; He may fee-How particularly our divine MASTER obferves the Strain of our Converfation; Luke xxiv. 17.-How strictly He has commanded fuch focial Communications, as may tend to the Ufe of Edifying, Eph. iv. 29.-And what an Evidence will arife from this Article, either for our Acquittal or Condemnation, at the Day of everlafting Judgment, Matt. xii. 36, 37,

DIA

DIALOGUE II.

T

HE next Morning, when Breakfast was over, Theron and Afpafio took a Walk into the GardenTheir Spirits cheared, 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 affembled the choiceft Beauties of blooming Nature. Here, the Hyacinth hung her filken Bells, or the Lilies reared their filver Pyramids. There, stood the neat Narciffus, loosely * attired in a Mantle of fnowy Luftre; or the fplendid Ranunculus wore a full-trimmed Suit of radiant Scarlet. Pinks were rising to enamel the Borders; Rofes were opening to dress the Walls; furrounded, on all Sides, with a Profufion of beauteous Forms, either latent in

Narciffum.

Hiantem Flore decora

the

the Stalk, or bursting the Buds, or blown into full Expanfion.

This was bounded by a flight Partition; a Sort of verdant Parapet. Through which they' defcend by an easy Flight of Steps; and are presented with the elegant Simplicity of the Kitchen-Garden.-In one Place, You might fee the Marigold flowering, or the Beans in Bloffom. In another, the Endive curled her Leaves, and the Lettuce thickened her Tufts: Collyflowers fheltered their fair Complection, under a green Umbrella; while the Burrage difshevelled her Locks, and braided them with blooming Jewels, of a finer Azure than the finest Saphires.-On the funny Slopes, the Cucumber and Melon lay basking in the collected Beams. On the raifed Beds, the Artichoke feemed to be erecting a Standard, while the Afparagus fhot + into Ranks of Spears. The level Ground produced all Manner of cooling Sallets and nourishing Efculents. Nothing was wanting to furnish out the wholesome Luxury of an Antediluvian Banquet.

Soon, a high Wall intervenes. Through which a Wicket opens, and tranfmits them into the regular and equi-distant Rows of an Orchard. This Plantation is fo nicely adjusted,

that

Referring to the loofe irregular Manner of its Foliation. +Alluding, not only to the Shape, but also to the Growth of this Plant; which is fo unusually quick, that it may almost be said to start, rather than to rise out of the Earth.

that it looks like an Arrangement of rural Piazzas, or a Collection of diverfified Viftas. The Eye is, every where, entertained with the exactest Uniformity; and darts, with unobftructed Ease, from one End of the branching Files to the Other. On all the Boughs, lay a lovely Evolution of Blossoms; arrayed in milky White, or tinged with the foftest Red. Crouding into one general Cluster, without relinquishing any vacant Space for Leaves, they formed the faireft, the gayeft, the grandest Alcove, that Fancy itself can imagine.—It is really like the Court of the Graces. None can approach it, without finding his Ideas brightened, and feeling his Temper exhilarated.

Contiguous to this correct Difpofition of Things, Nature had thrown a Wilderness; hoary, grotesque, and magnificently confused. It ftretched itself, with a large circular Sweep, to the North; and fecured both he Olitory and the Orchard from incommoding Winds.Copfes of Hazel, and flowering Shrubs, filled the lower Spaces. While Poplars quivered aloft in Air, and Pines pierced the Clouds with their leafy Spires. Here, grew Clumps of Fir, clad in everlasting Green: there, stood Groves of Oak, that had weathered, for Ages, the wintry Storm.-Amidft this woody Theatre, ran a winding Walk; lined with Elms of infuperable Height: whofe Branches, uniting at

the