The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-06-02
SERIOUS RMrLEcTEoNs.
AN EVENING MEDITATION.

IA
Now all is hushcd and nature seems to
make q pause: the sun has withdrawn his
radiance yet the gloom from yonder western
sky bespcaks him still at hand, promising to
return with his reviving warmth, when ma
ture is refreshed with darkness. The moon
borrows her light. and bestows it upon us;
she arises in silent majesty, humby waiting
to reign when he resigns his throne. No
chorus ushers in his reign, no rays announce
her approach; gently she steals on the world,
and sits in silent majesty to view the good
she does. She lights the wandering travel
lers. She warns the earth with gentle heat;
she dazzles not the eye of the philosopher,
bat invites him to view and to admire. How
sill is nature! not brcezei each tree enjoys
its shadow undisturbed: the unruhled rivers
glide smoothly on, rejecting natures face;
here, through this road, by the side OF this
fair stream, let me steal gently, step by step,
wrapped up in thoughts OF futnrlty. y time
| will come when earth, and seas, and sun,
and stars will be no more-what then VIII be
my ghts.-Think, oh therefore, think
now that time is nothing to eternity; think,
all nature, sun, and earth, and man, and an
gels, are nothing to thy God. Think, that
thou art tothyselfthy all; thysef once lost,
4nothing can give thee Joy or pain from with
out, but all will be conccntcrcd in thy own
misery: if happiness be thy lot, then wilt
thou be capable of enjoying also the happi-
ness of others, thus redoubling thy own. OH
my soul, behold yon spangled sky-coun'
the number of the stars-No, thy counting
fails; then think on that eternity which
awaits thee i'll another world; think too now
how great is the goodness of God, to grace
our little world with beauties to attract tho
eve and captivate the mind. Beauties by
day to cheer, to cnliven, to call forth thy. ac
tive powers to hustle with the busy, beauties
and blessing inviting thee to see, to taste, tt
smell, to hear.-Bcauties too, Oh see b!
night, beauties transccndent and glorious
such as draw up the eyeto yon vast concave
where the mind follows i'll silent wonder
quickly passing from star to star, till strucl
with the beauty of the whole, it feels 9TH
hand that made them is divine'" Passion,
this silent hour and awful scene, SHRINK
away unperceived, and every light idea HE
off. The mind takes the rens, and the DO
DIV seems for a while to partake Of the spir
itI,al nature it will have hereafter. Liste
then. while reason is uninterrupted, to tn
c silent counsil of nature; every shadow whs
pers, such are you, \ breeze may blow yo
i away-to- morrow you may be no more
tread then, as now, with caution throug
the slippery path of life; beware OF the brl
ars and thorns that lie athwart your way
mistake not shadow for substance. Brus
away, as the dew Oh the ground, at ever
step, the little affairs that momentar,ly rls
to check your progress towards hcaveI
This river too has its lesson to give, 1t iis liz
the cool hour of reflection, when consclenc
II gives back the actions of our lite in ieglbl
characters-Oh may they be as smooth. see
it seems to say, how fair is my face! -ho
transparent am you see my depth; eve
the ground whence spring is open to you
view.--Let your conscience be ever
, smooth, as clear, rs open; let your brea
need no disguise, SO will no troubled water
impede your heavenly voyage. Now agail
behold the stars, they have a language; an
with powerful tongue, they call on me
It adore the great king Of heaven and eaitl
whose name they write III golden charat
tcrs, legiblc to all mankind. They proc!a''
him. Creator Of all worlds and the trien
of man.
Let me, then, often read this book an
listen to this tale. Let me, like them, pr'
claim nv Makers praise, by shining in tt
orb in which his hand has placed me; n'
over-eap the bound, nor strive to rise abov
nor dare to sink beneath the sphere where
am. So when the sun. and stars and cart
shall be no more, my Creator shall raise n
to another world. "to Shine like the stars II
ever more.''