O ye mighty men, ye rich, ye honour-
able, ye worldings ! all come hither
and taste but one hour s enjoyment
of a solitary communion with the
Almighty, and you will soon forsake
your glories, your titles, and all your
earthly interests, and quickly be
enamoured with the lives of the re-
tired Baints, who have wisely left the
chase after riches and pleasures here,
to pursue immortal crowns of glory
ready for them at the ew^ ol ^€\x
/Amt and Aappy race \



.■i...W «••■«■• •««



meut io the wilderneRs: He n
tempted, indeed, but he overcaii
and bow glorious was the triump
the angels came and ministered ui
liim. It was a great appcaranc
but he that forsakes the conversati
of the world, is a companion only
fur angels, whose time is, like b
employed in the contemplation
their great Creator. Think up
thy Saviour, O my soul ! when
went up into a mountain by himst
to pray, and continued all night



OF SOLITUDK. 1 1

high devotion inspired his heavenly
Houl in his retirement, where, se-
cure from the officious crowd of ad-
mirers, and the disturbing world, he
could more freely enjoy the blessed
presence of the Deity, and an uiiin>
terrnpted converse with his Father
and the blessed Spirit ?

What lively and sensible enjoy-
ments of God's presence, O my soul !
have blessed the solitudes of retired
saints ! Thus devout and heavenly
Daniel ; thus fervent Peter ; thus
John, the beloved disciple of my
Lord ; thus all the inspired prophets,
apostles, and blessed saints and her-
nitB, were taken up with visions of
glory, and scenes of their future hap-
pioess, even before they put on im-
mortality.
OF SOLITUDE.
