Litchfield enquirer., 1832-02-02
For shs Enquirer. ON THE STUDY OF NATURE.


 Whose votaries feast raptures ever new!
 O for the voice and fire of Seraphim,
 To sing thy glories with devotion due" Beatie.
 Ofal the pursuits in which the mind of man can be engaged, she study and contemplation of Nature is the agreeable. This occupation never tires because the objects that engage it, perpe,ualy producing new and exalted impressions. Nor is it any excuse for Degiectng this employment, to say, that others have frequently penetrated into the orcana, and portrayed the gories, the charms and the mysteries creation, to render them familiar and uninte esng. The greatest minds, in all ages of the world have turned with satety and disgus, from the folies, and vices, and ossentation of the multitude, and sought with enthusiastic ardor the pure enjoyments resulting from tranquil meditation the incomparabIs works of their great Creator. And whether they studied with the profound investigation of the philosopher surveyed with the rapture of the poet, this extensive ed they banqueed upon the feast soul, and found their hearts refreshed, their spirits nvigoraed, their minds improved, and their devotions expanded.
 Nature has been justly styled '',he Handmad ot Religion" Not tha, her influence alone is sufficient to refine and purify the heart from the gross corrup- tons of sim and draw forth the shining evidence the souls immortality, and disclose the solemn reali ties of the eternal word but that her mild and blend ed light borrows increasing splendor from the Sun O Revelation. All things seem to harmonize with the perfectons and attributes of the Deity and a single blade grass or tho most humble fowere that blooms in the valley, srikingy displays his benevolence and skill as the brightest star in the Armament For the invisible things of him from the creation Of the world clearly seen being understoodby the things that are made; hia eternal power and Godhead."
 Depraved indeed must he the character of man, when he ceases to admire ie Volume of Nature open 10 his vew and enstamped with all that is sub lime and beautiful, by ihe hand of Omnpoiencc. If the dull and Insipid round Of secular business, or tho vapid and demoraIizing pursuit of pleasure and diss- patton, are all that engross the faculties of moral and accountable beings, how wretched mus, be their en- ioymens They live the slaves of sensuaity; and, like sheep and oxen surfeit themselves the boun- ties of Nature, without regarding the silent instruction she is ready to impart o all who seek for wisdom- They siarve the soul, while they ramper the body.
 Those departed spirits, who shone with peculiar lusire in their day and generation-who stood forth .he reforners and benefacors of innnk ind deyoted their leisure hours 10 retired communion with their Maker, in the groves and felds Ia the cool of the evening, the venerable pariarchs walked abroad to gaze on the beautiful scenes around them, and kndle a holy fcrvor of adora,ion 10 him who spanned the heavens, and spread abroad the earth beneath lhem They felt the inspiration of the Almighty; and the world appeared 10 them glorious temple, in which they might worship with acceptance. And they loYked up 10 the blue canopy above them, and beheId he wonders ofhis creative power and wisdom, the and ihe which he had ordained, pour ing flood of silver radiance over inc fields oI his iIlimiable empire. How did their hearts burn within them, the incense of their praise ascendcd on hgh-a pure offering 10 their Maker. Even the Heathen sagcs and philosophers could almost realize the truths of the BibIe in their mediiaens on the Universe and their ideas of immortality, if not cor rect grand and elevating.
 Why are the poets, who owe their fame to the in- spiration oi Nature, much applauded3 It is be- cause their glowing descriptions impress. upon the imagination some faint image Of the original The painter who draws a striking represention of a land scape and with proper shade and eoloring, produces picture that bears even distant resemblance to re- aliiy is lauded and admired long as his works cx ist Let US go, then 10 the source-let us draw from the fountain and while derive new raptures from every unfolding charm of Nature, may our souls be drawn from the debasng influence of vice, and enar ged with sentiments of virtue and religion.
 SIGMA.
 ,1,rnc