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 force-if we with to read any defcription like Goliah of Gath, we muft 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. 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 prefent fuch 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 vaft and haughty ftrides 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 Thadowing. Long time in evil fcale
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.

STORY OF ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH. -

PASSAGE.

And he faid, 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 crufe.

HIS 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 moft agreeable incidents 'but furnishes a 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 efcaped, indeed, the remark of feveral writers; but the fcriptures, as I have before had occafion to obferve, are treasuries af'fording inexhaufted novelty to their admirers.

The perfons particularly concerned in this facred drama, are, Elijah the prophet, and a poor widow-woman, who lived, by very hard and constant labour; fo hard indeed, that fhe was obliged to pick her fagot to light her fire, before fhe could bake the bread, which that labour had gleaned. At the time of her firft meeting with Elijah, she was more than ufually ftraightened; for her whole ftock confifted of a handful of meal, and a little oil; and she was then stooping, in search of a few fticks, to drefs this fcanty modicum, to preserve from death, herself

and

and her fon. Yet this was the critical period-even while fhe was thus affectionately employed-this was the moment marked out by Providence, to try the ftrength of her fympathy it was alas! no time to bestow while her bounty was thus circumfcribed nor was it a fit feafon to fhew the natural courtesy of her temper, when he was exerting her laft efforts in relief of her child, and wanted in the foreft degree, the ordinary accommodations of life herfelf. Under this preffure of her circumftances, it is worth while to see how the conducted herself. When Elijah the prophet (who figures fo fplendidly in facred hiftory) foretold, that a divine punish. ment should alight upon Ahab (a man, who is reprefented as wicked and ill. difpofed above all that were before him) then, to escape that refentment, which his prophecy had kindled against him in the breast of Ahab, he hid himself by the brook Cherith, where the ravens were commanded to cater for his fupport, while the brook fup

plied

plied him with drink. The resource of the stream however foon failing, he again fought fhelter elsewhere, and removed to Zarephath, where he no fooner arrived, than he beheld this widow-woman engaged, as before defcribed, in gathering fticks; and he immediately called to her, and requefted her to fetch him a little water in a veffel. This was not unreafonable; but did not he render it fomewhat fo, when he again called her back as fhe was haftening to oblige him, to defire fhe would bring a morfel of bread likewife in her hand? A morfel of bread, and a little water, was, to be fure, afking the favour in as decent language as could be; but in this poor woman's particular fituation, it must have, had a very important found; there is a most beautiful display of her charitable heart, in her answer.—“ 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 crufe: "and behold, I am gathering two "fticks that I may go in and drefs, it

" for