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Literary
June 4, 1789
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A devotional meditation contrasting the charms of rural nature—birds, flowers, seasons—with the surpassing beauty and joy of God's grace. Urges the soul to prioritize divine service over worldly pleasures, incorporating poetic verses on creation praising the Creator.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE MONITOR.
The charms of rural nature,
especially in the months of spring and summer, afford pleasure to the eye, fruit to the taste, music to the ear, and instruction to the mind: the birds on every bough, the flowers on every side, and variegated scenes presented to the view around, all conspire to excite pleasure, admiration, and devout acknowledgments in the thinking and serious spectator, while sun, moon, stars, and all the orbs above appear,
"To sing the God of seasons as they roll."
But what are nature's charms, when put in competition with the beauty and loveliness of the God of Grace? Whose smile alone makes heaven, with all the glorious inhabitants thereof, rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The world, with all it can afford to felicitate and entertain the possessors of its riches, honours, joys and pleasures, is but a mere blank when compared to His all-gracious presence and the joys at His right hand, where there are pleasures for evermore. Oh, then, my soul! Let it be thy constant wish to know more, love more, serve more and better, Him, whose handy works all nature shows, while grace and glory speak his matchless praise, and teach both heaven and earth to spread abroad his fame.
Earth flies with all its charms it has in store,
Its snares and gay temptations are no more;
Creatures no longer their allurements boast,
Creation's self, with all her beauty's lost;
The sun, moon, stars, and yonder fields of light,
Withdraw and vanish from my gazing sight,
While GOD is all in all.
The charms of rural nature,
especially in the months of spring and summer, afford pleasure to the eye, fruit to the taste, music to the ear, and instruction to the mind: the birds on every bough, the flowers on every side, and variegated scenes presented to the view around, all conspire to excite pleasure, admiration, and devout acknowledgments in the thinking and serious spectator, while sun, moon, stars, and all the orbs above appear,
"To sing the God of seasons as they roll."
But what are nature's charms, when put in competition with the beauty and loveliness of the God of Grace? Whose smile alone makes heaven, with all the glorious inhabitants thereof, rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The world, with all it can afford to felicitate and entertain the possessors of its riches, honours, joys and pleasures, is but a mere blank when compared to His all-gracious presence and the joys at His right hand, where there are pleasures for evermore. Oh, then, my soul! Let it be thy constant wish to know more, love more, serve more and better, Him, whose handy works all nature shows, while grace and glory speak his matchless praise, and teach both heaven and earth to spread abroad his fame.
Earth flies with all its charms it has in store,
Its snares and gay temptations are no more;
Creatures no longer their allurements boast,
Creation's self, with all her beauty's lost;
The sun, moon, stars, and yonder fields of light,
Withdraw and vanish from my gazing sight,
While GOD is all in all.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Poem
Hymn Or Psalm
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Nature
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Rural Nature
Divine Grace
Religious Praise
Soul Devotion
Creation Beauty
Literary Details
Title
The Monitor.
Form / Style
Prose Meditation With Embedded Verse
Key Lines
"To Sing The God Of Seasons As They Roll."
Oh, Then, My Soul! Let It Be Thy Constant Wish To Know More, Love More, Serve More And Better, Him, Whose Handy Works All Nature Shows, While Grace And Glory Speak His Matchless Praise, And Teach Both Heaven And Earth To Spread Abroad His Fame.
Earth Flies With All Its Charms It Has In Store,
Its Snares And Gay Temptations Are No More;
Creatures No Longer Their Allurements Boast,
Creation's Self, With All Her Beauty's Lost;
The Sun, Moon, Stars, And Yonder Fields Of Light,
Withdraw And Vanish From My Gazing Sight,
While God Is All In All.