736

and Satan, bowing low,

As to superior spirits is wont in heaven.

Let every soul, be subject unto the higher powers; for there is no power but God. the powers that be are ordained of God. Rom. xii. 1. While subjects learn reverence and obedience to their magistrates, not only for wrath but for conscience sake, may magistrates learn a correspondent care to answer that end of their office, which an apostle makes the foundation of such precepts as these; and to be indeed a minister of God for good, a terror not to good, but to evil works. Great Britain is happy in a government to which this character may justly be applied. Its subjects are under the greatest obligations to the divine goodness, in having so remarkably overthrown the attempts of those who would have left us little use of the scripture, but would themselves have abused it, to have rivetted on the heaviest of fetters, by perverting this passage of St. Paul, as if he had intended to subvert every free constitution under heaven; and to put a sword into the hands of merciless tyrants, to kill and take possession of the heritage of the Lord, counting his people but as sheep for the slaughter. we are thus happy, we shall be doubly inexcusable, if we fail in rendering both honour and tribute, where they are so justly due. May we extend our care to the universal law of love; and may it be so deeply engraven on our hearts, that the practice of every social virtue may be easy and delightful.

While

740 Down from the ecliptic.

The ecliptic represents that part of the heavens which the sun seems to describe, by the earth's annually revolving round it.

END OF THE THIRD BOOK.

BOOK IV.

2

5

Th' apocalypse cry in heaven aloud,

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants, things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. Rev. i. 1.

"Woe to the inhabitants on earth !”

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea; for the devil is come unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Rev. xii. 12.

10 The tempter ere the accuser of mankind

His cruelty, his subtilty, his experience in all the arts of destruction, are painted out with dreadful propriety, in the old serpent, the great dragon; but, formidable as his violence, or artful and potent as the confederacy of infernal spirits may be, here is a victory gained over him, which calls for the congratulation of all the armies of the Lord: the dragon and his angels are cast out; the saints are enabled to triumph over him, feeble and impotent as they are. But in what way are they able to overcome him? It is by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.

46

than to afford him praise

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because that, when they knew not God, they glorified him not; neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

79 0 then at last relent:

Afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance. Hebrews, xii. 17.

121 Artificer of fraud

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Cor. ii. 11. For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Cor. ix. 14.

160 Beyond the Cape of Hope,

The Cape of Good Hope, South of Africa.

161 Mozambic,

A strait between the island of Madagascar, and Zanguebar, in Africa.

163 Of Araby the blest ;

:

Arabia Felix, or Arabia the Happy, is a rich and populous country in Asia; abounding in fragrant spices, myrrh, frankincense, and cassia : hence comes the saying, "All the sweets of Arabia."

168 Than Asmodeus

And Raphael was sent to heal them both; that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobit's eyes, and to give Sara, the daughter of Raguel, for wife to Tobias, the son of Tobit; and to bind

Asmodeus, the evil spirit, because she belonged to Tobias, by right of inheritance. Tobit, ii. 171 From Media

171

183

Its chief cities were Ecbatana, the capital and summer residence of the kings of Persia ; Cyropolis, on the north, near the Caspian Sea; and Roga, of which mention is made in the history of Tobit.

post to Egypt there fast bound.

Egypt is a narrow vale on both sides of the river Nile; bounded by parallel ridges of mountains or hills. It is the most considerable part of Africa; and was once the seat, if not the parent, of science.

As when a prowling wolf,

He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. John, x. 1. Let Christ be regarded, by us, as the door from whom all good teachers derive their authority, and to whom they direct their administrations; and let it be our care, that we enter in by this door. Let inferior shepherds learn their duty, so plainly suggested here: let them know their sheep, and take as particular notice as they can of each single person committed to their care; and let them go before them in all the paths of duty; for what could the greatest enemy of the flock do worse, than to lead them by example into the paths of destruction? Happy souls who are entered in by this gate! their safety their comfort is secure; they enjoy a holy liberty and plenty, and, going in and coming out, they find pasture. If we are