the utmost Concern to her.  The Cares or Pleasures of the World strike in with every Thought, and a Multitude of vicious Examples [give [2]] a kind of Justification [to [3]] our Folly.  In our Retirements every thing disposes us to be serious.  In Courts and Cities we are entertained with the Works of Men; in the Country with those of God.  One is the Province of Art, the other of Nature.  Faith and Devotion naturally grow in the Mind of every reasonable Man, who sees the Impressions of Divine Power and Wisdom in every Object on which he casts his Eye.  The Supream Being has made the best Arguments for his own Existence, in the Formation of the Heavens and the Earth, and these are Arguments which a Man of Sense cannot forbear attending to, who is out of the Noise and Hurry of Human Affairs. Aristotle says, that should a Man live under Ground, and there converse with Works of Art and Mechanism, and should afterwards be brought up into the open Day, and see the several Glories of the Heaven and Earth, he would immediately pronounce them the Works of such a Being as we define God to be.  The Psalmist has very beautiful Strokes of Poetry to this Purpose, in that exalted Strain, The Heavens declare the Glory of God:  And the Firmament showeth his handy-work.  One Day telleth another:  And one Night certifieth another.  There is neither Speech nor Language:  But their Voices are heard among them.  Their Sound is gone out into all Lands:  And their Words into the Ends of the World. [4] As such a bold and sublime manner of Thinking furnishes very noble Matter for an Ode, the Reader may see it wrought into the following one. [5]

  I. The Spacious Firmament on high
        With all the blue Etherial Sky,
        And spangled Heav’ns, a Shining Frame,
        Their great Original proclaim: 
        Th’ unwearied Sun, from Day to Day,
        Does his Creator’s Pow’r display,
        And publishes to every Land
        The Work of an Almighty Hand.

  II.  Soon as the Evening Shades prevail,
        The Moon takes up the wondrous Tale,
        And nightly to the listning Earth
        Repeats the Story of her Birth: 
        Whilst all the Stars that round her burn,
        And all the Planets in their turn,
        Confirm the Tidings as they rowl,
        And spread the Truth from Pole to Pole.

  III.  What though, in solemn Silence, all
        Move round the dark terrestrial Ball? 
        What tho’ nor real Voice nor Sound
        Amid their radiant Orbs be found? 
        In Reason’s Ear they all rejoice,
        And utter forth a glorious Voice,
        For ever singing, as they shine,
        ‘The Hand that made us is Divine?’

C.

[Footnote 1:  [that]]

[Footnote 2:  [give us]]

[Footnote 3:  [in]]

[Footnote 4:  Psalm xix. 1-3.]