Who in the highest Heav'n has fix'd thy throne,
Supreme of gods, unbounded, and alone:
Grant thou, &c.

The fhield of Ajax is, however, more particularly defcribed than the fhield of Goliah.

Stern Telamon, behind his ample fhield,
As from a brazen tower, o'erlook'd the field.
Huge was its orb, with feven thick folds o'ercaft,
Of tough bull-hides, of folid brafs, the laft.

But the circumftantial account of the gi ant's fpear, the weight of its head, his greaves of brafs, and his target; his coat of mail, and his maffey helmet, are all fuch evidences of his aftonishing STRENGTH, and, apparently, invincible vigour, that, without any parade or fuperfluity of words, they give us the exact image of the favage, who called out, in an exclamation, worthy of him, "Give me a man, give me a man, "that we may fight together."

But if, indeed, we expect in any performance to find a character delineated with parallel

K 4

parallel force-if we wish to read any defcription like Goliah of Gath, we must fearch for it in the writings of one, whofe infpiration was chiefly drawn from the fources of facred compofition. Milton drank at the fountain-head, and his poetry flowed

-From Siloa's brook,

Faft by the oracle of God.

The fublimity with which he has drawn Satan, when

-Front to front he stood,

In terrible array,

is fuch a piece of poetry, and exhibits fuch an affemblage of grand images, as nothing but a genius altogether illimitable could poffibly furnish. Long quotations, however, not coming within the defign or compafs of this work, I fhall only present such lines as fhew the Prince of Darkness not very unlike-in point of warlike preparation, and perfonal appearance-to the gi

ant,

ant, who was fubdued by the youth David; and with thefe verfes we will clofe the Effay.

-Before the cloudy van,

On the rough edge of battle e'er it join'd,
Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanc'd,
Came tow'ring, arm'd in Adamant and gold.
Then on the heads of foes,

Main promontories flung, which in the air
Came fhadowing. Long time in evil scale
The battle hung-Like a god he seem'd,
Stood he, or mov'd; in ftature, motion, arms,
Now wav'd his fiery fword, and in the air
Made horrid circles. A broad fun his shield,
While expectation flood in horror.

K. 5

STORY of ELIJAH and the Widow of ZAREPHAT H.

PASSAGE.

AND SHE SAID, AS THE LORD THY GOD LIVETH, I HAVE NOT A CAKE, BUT A HANDFUL OF MEAL IN A BARREL, AND A LITTLE OIL IN A CRUSE.

THIS paffage is pregnant with pleafing illuftrations, being taken from a ftory inferior to few, if any, in facred compofition for it not only abounds with most agreeable incidents, but furnishes at ftriking and confpicuous moral: the virtue of Gratitude is very emphatically illuftrated. on the one hand, and the duty of Hofpitality, on the other. Nor has it escaped, indeed, the remark of feveral writers; but the scriptures, as I have before had occafion to observe, are treafuries affording inexhausted novelty to their admirers.