Whose rugged sounds gave no delight to hear, When he was thus on acts of mercy bent, And each infirmity to heal intent: A paralytic to be cur'd they brought, But vainly still to introduce they sought, 35 40 Line 40. Luke v. 19. The learned Dr. Shaw in his "Travels into several parts of Barbary and the Levant," explains in a very ingenious and satisfactory manner, the method by which the paralytic was let down in the midst before Jesus. See page 277 &c. Dr. Shaw says that the words in Luke which are translated " they let him down through the tiling" should be tranflated" they let him down over, along the side, or by the way of the roof." He says that the houses in the east were made in the form of a quadrangle, with an area in the middle, over which area they sometimes draw a kind of awning to shelter from the inclemencies of the weather. He supposes that they rolled up this awning when they let the paralytic down. They did all this from the house-top, which was terraced over, For at the door a various multitude, Prest eager to behold, and to intrude. At length the sick man o'er the tiles they bore, 50 over, and on which they sat or walked in the cool of the evening. It was made flat, and surrounded with a parapet wall. Zephaniah speaks of" them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops" i. 5. Solomon says "It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house." Prov. xxiv. 25. It is said in Matthew, "That preach ye upon the houfe-tops." x. 27. If we consider thefe circumstances, we shall find the objections of Mr. Woolston against the probability of this miracle of our Saviour to be very futile. There was no danger that the people below would have their heads broken by tiles, for no tiles whatever were removed. The good man of the house had no cause to appre hend any injury to his property, (which Mr. Woolston supposes) for nothing was done contrary to cus tom. Take up thy bed, and to thy house depart, And as he travell'd o'er the favour'd land, Cried, give great son of David, give us light! That I at once, can this relief afford? Yea, this, they said, we firmly think, dear Lord! his sacred hand, 55 60 The darken'd orbs let in the beamy day, 75 The bliss that flows from many an earthly scene; 80 85 The dawn of morning, and the close of ev'n, With all the fair magnificence of heav'n. To him that's blind, ah! what afflictions flow! To him to wander o'er the vernal fields, For at each slow and trembling step he takes, 95 100 105 Line 105 &c. A society for the Relief of the Indigent Blind, has been lately instituted at Liverpool, which deserves, in many respects, to be imitated every where. Many blind poor of both sexes, have been engaged in different branches of manufactures, and earn weekly from three to six shillings each. They were employed in spinning linen yarn, and reeling it; in making shirts, sheets, whips, woollen mops, baskets, hampers, &c. It was proposed also to instruct them in the principles |