My gladden'd eye unwilling quits the fkies, A. GIBBS. ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. CHARM me, ye facred Leaves,* with nobler HARM me, ye themes, With op'ning heav'ns, and angels rob'd in flames ; Ye reflefs paffions, while I read, be aw’d :— And rev'rend patriarchs talk'd (as friends) with Or hear the voice to flumb'ring prophets giv'n, Or gaze on vifions from the throne of Heav'n. BROOME. *The Holy Scriptures. THE RAINBOW. THE HE appearance of the Rainbow raises the ideas to the utmoft heights of fublimity; from a world broken or changed, this variegated arch is placed confpicuous to every eye; not only to remind us of the punishment of guilt, but to confirm our belief and dependence on divine wisdom, goodness, and mercy. Even the humble villager, the ruftic cottager, the blooming milkmaid, and the watchful fhepherd, lift up their hearts in grateful adoration, on beholding this noble pledge of the inviolable fidelity of their Creator. But who can paint a fcene so grand, equally with the pious HERVEY? "Behold a Bow of no hoftile intention.-A "Bow painted in variegated colours on the un"difturbed cloud. How vaft is the extent, how "delicate the texture, of that showery arch! It "compaffeth the heavens with a glorious circle, "and teacheth us to forget the horrors of the "ftorm. Elegant its form, and rich its tincture; "but more delightful its facred fignificancy. "While the violet and the rofe blufh in its beau"tiful afpect, the olive branch fmiles in its gra"cious import. It writes in radiant dyes what "the angels fang in harmonious ftrains; "Peace " on earth, and good will towards men." It is "the ftamp of infurance for the continuance of "Seed time and Harveft-for the prefervation " and fecurity of the vifible world. It is the "comfortable token of a better state, and a hap THE PASSION-FLOWER. AMONG all the beauties which shine in funny robes, and fip the filver dews, this, I think, has the noblest import, if not the finest prefence. Were they all to pafs in review, and expect the award of Superiority from my decifion, I fhould not hesitate a moment: Be the prize affigned to this amiable candidate, which has fo eminently diftinguifhed, and fo highly dignified herself, by bearing fuch a remarkable refemblance to "The Righteous Branch-The Plant of Renown."-While others appoint it a place in the parterre, I would tranfplant the Paffion-Flower, or rather transfer its facred fignificancy to my heart. There let it bloom, both in Summer, and in Winter; bloom in the most impreffive characters, and with an undecaying luftre. That I may also wear-wear on my very foul the traces of Immanuel. In a groupe of Tulips, or a knot of Pinks, one perceives a difference in almost every individual. Scarcely any two are turned and tinctured exactly alike. Each allows himself a little particularity in his dress, though all belong to one family. A pretty emblem of the fmaller diffe rences between Proteftant Chriftians. There are modes in religion which admit of variation, without prejudice to found faith, or real holinefs. Another circumftance recommending and endearing the flowery creation, is their regular fucceffion. They make not their appearance all at once, but in an orderly rotation. While a proper number of thefe obliging retainers are in waiting, the others abfcond; but hold themselves in a posture of fervice, ready to take their turn, and fill each his respective station, the moment it becomes vacant. The Snow-drop, foremost in the lovely train, breaks her way through the frozen foil, in order to prefent her early compliments to her Lord. Dreffed in the robe of innocency, fhe fteps forth, fearless of danger, long before the trees have ventured to unfold their leaves, even while the icicles are pendent on our houses. Next peeps out the Crocus; but cautiously, and with an air of timidity. She fears the howling blaft, and skulks clofe in her low fituation. She feems afraid to make large excurfions from her root, while fo many ruffian winds are abroad, and fcouring along the æther. Nor is the violet laft in this fhining embaffy of the year; which, with all the embellishments that would grace a royal garden, condescends to line our hedges, and grow at the feet of briars. Freely, and without folicitation, she distributes the bounty of her emiffive sweets, while herself, with an exemplary humility, retires from fight, feeking rather to adminifter pleasure, than to win admiration, Emblem, expreffive emblem, of those modeft virtues, which delight to bloom in obfcurity which extend a cheering influence to multitudes, who are fcarcely acquainted with the fource of their comforts! Motive, engaging motive, to that ever active benevolence, which ftays not for the importunity of the diftreffed, but anticipates their fuit, and prevents them with the bleffings of its goodness!-The poor Polyanthus, that lately adorned the border with her sparkling beauties; and, transplanted into our windows, gave us a fresh entertainment, is now no more. I faw her complexion fade; I perceived her breath decay; till at length fhe expired; and dropt into her grave.-Scarcely have we fuftained this lofs, but in comes the Auricula, and more than retrieves it. Arrayed fhe comes, in a variety of fplendid forms, with an eye of chryftal, and garments of the moft gloffy fatin; exhaling perfume, and powdered with filver.The favorite care of the florift; who could forbear grieving at their departure, did not the Tulips begin to raise themselves upon their fine wands, or ftately ftalks? They flufh the parterre with one of the gayeft dreffes that blooming Nature wears; delightfully difplaying their Creator's glory. Soon arifes the Anemony, encircled at the bottom with a spreading robe, and rounded at the top, into a beautiful dome. In its loosely flowing mantle you may observe a noble negligence; in its gently bending tufts, the niceft fymmetry. I would term it the fine gentleman of the garden, because it seems to have learnt the fingular addrefs of uniting fimplicity with refinement, of reconciling art and cafe.-The fame month has the merit of pro |