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to see, and returned thanks to God, for conducting their voyage to such a happy issue. They then took possession of the country, for the crown of Castile and Leon. The Spaniards, while thus employed, were surrounded by many of the natives, who gazed, in silent admiration, upon actions of which they could not foresee the consequence. The dress of the Spaniards, the whiteness of their skin, their beards, their arms, appeared strange and surprising. The vast machines, in which they had traversed the ocean, that seemed to move upon the waters with wings, and uttered a dreadful sound resembling thunder, accompanied with lightning and smoke, struck them with such terror, that they began to respect their guests as a superior order of beings, and concluded that they were children of the sun, who had descended to visit the earth. The Europeans were scarcely less amazed at the scene before them: every herb, and shrub, and tree, were different from those which flourished in Europe. The inhabitants appeared in the simple innocence of nature, entirely naked: their black hair, long and uncurled, floated upon their shoulders, or was bound in tresses around their heads: they had no beards, and every part of their body was smooth: their complexion was of a dusky copper colour; their features singular, rather than disagreeable; their aspect gentle and timid: their faces, and several parts of their body, were fantastically painted with glaring colours. They were shy at first through fear; but soon became familiar with the Spaniards, and, with transports

of joy, received from them glass beads and other baubles; in return for which, they gave them such provisions as they had, and some cotton yarn; the only commodity of value. they could produce. Towards evening Columbus returned to his ships, accompanied by many islanders in their canoes, which, though rudely formed out of the trunk of a tree, they rowed with surprising dexterity. Thus, in the first interview between the inhabitants of the old and new worlds, every thing was conducted amicably, and to their mutual satisfaction: the one, enlightened and ambitious, formed already vast ideas, with respect to the advantages which they might derive from the regions that began to open to their view; the other, simple and undiscerning, had no foresight of the calamities and desolation which were approaching their country.

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but not at rest or ease of mind, They sat them down to weep:

For thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy: I dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah, lvii. 15.

END OF THE NINTH BOOK.

BOOK X.

56 Vicegerent Son! to thee I have transferr'd

59

The Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. John, v. 22. Nor is it to be wondered at that he should have so great power lodged in him; for the Father now, in his own person, judges no man; but has given the administration of all judgment to the Son, before whom all men are bound to appear, and by whom they are to be assigned to their final and eternal state.

that I intend

Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Psalms, lxxxv. 10.

But not creative power alone we praise;

The time must come, when, scorch'd with

ardent heat,

The elements shall melt: one dreadful blaze,

From nature's funeral pile, the eye shall greet; Both earth and heaven their destiny must meet, That awful hour which bids them cease to be:

Yet mercy shall o'erspread the judgment seat, In that dread hour, from doubt, from terror free. Redemption's glorious plan shall fix our hopes on B. B. W.

thee.

62 And destin❜d man himself to judge man fall'n. And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the son of man. John v. 27. God will accomplish to him all those glorious predictions which represent him as possessed of universal and perpetual dominion, and coming in the clouds of heaven in that day when the judgment is set, and the books are opened. Let us labour to secure an interest in him; treating him with that submission, duty, and obedience, which becomes at once the divinity of his nature, and the dignity of his office.

85 Of high collateral glory:

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To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev. iii. 21. But even this most expressive promise was not equal to all the purpose of a Saviour's love; that nothing, therefore, might be wanting to enkindle the most generous ambition, he has been pleased to speak of our sitting down with him upon his throne, as he is set down on his Father's throne. And who then will ever scruple to suffer with him, when thus assured of reigning with him in everlasting glory.

the voice of God they heard Now walking in the garden, by soft winds

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Adam no longer courted an interview with his Maker, but dreaded his approach; and, on hearing his voice in the garden, he hid himself with Eve in a thicket. But the criminals could not escape the search of omniscience. The God of love appeared in judgment, and` in an awful

manner demanded, "Adam where art thou?" Trembling and fearful, he replied, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." The Judge, in the language of meekness, said, "Who told thee that thou wast naked? hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat?"

In this trial, how condescending, tender and benevolent is the Almighty!

137 This woman, whom thou maď'st to be my help, And the man said, The woman that thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Gen. iii. 12.

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thus abash'd reply'd. The Serpent me beguil'd, and I did eat.

Eve, in her confession, simply told the truth. "The serpent beguiled me and I did eat." The enquiry being ended, judgment was passed, beginning with the serpent, who was "cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field ;" a sentence which has taken place in the most literal manner, as there is no creature in the world more generally dreaded and detested. 184 Saw Satan fall like lightning down from Heaven,

I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Luke x. 18. And he said unto them, I know that it is and must be so: for I myself saw Satan the great prince of the demons, falling like lightning from heaven on his first transgression, and well remember how immediate and dreadful his ruin was; and I foresee in spirit that renewed, swift and irresistible victory, of which this present

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