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RELIGIOUS EMBLEMS,

JEING A SERIES OP

EJ¥GR.AriJ¥GS OJ¥ WOOID,

EXECUTED BY

THE FIRST ARTISTS IN THAT LINE,

FROM

DESIGNS

DEAWN ON TUE BLOCKS THEMSELVES BY

J. THURSTON, ESQ.

THE

DESCKIPTIONS

WRITTEN BY

THE REV. J. THOMAS, A.M.

CHAPLAIN TO THE EARL OP CORKE AND ORRERY.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY T. BBNSL£Y, DOLT COURT, FLEET STREET;

AND SOLI) BY R. ACKEIIMANN, REPOSITOBY OK A UTS, N" lOI, STIl/WU.

1809.

DetritateD, bp ipmiussicn,

• TO

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF CORKE AND ORRERY,

AS A TESTIMONY OF RESPECT

HIS LORDSHIPS OBEDIENT

AND DEVOTED SERVANTS,

JOSEPH THOMAS. JOHN THURSTON.

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2010 with funding from

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

http://www.archive.org/details/religiousemblemsOOthur

A LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

The Dowager Lady Asgill.

General Ackland.

Mr. Armstrong.

Mrs. Ashley.

Mrs. Altham.

Mr. Ackermann, G Copies.

' Amatis, Esq.

Mrs. Amos.

B.

The Marquis of Bath.

The Hon. and Rev. George Bridgeman.

The Hon. Captain Boyle

The Hon. Mrs. Boscawen

Lady Blunt.

Mrs. Blunt.

Miss Blunt.

Lord Amelius Beauclerc.

Matthew Baillie, M. D.

Mrs. Boucher.

Mr. Brown.

Andrew Burt, Esq.

John Burt, Esq.

Captain Baillie.

Langley Brackc-nbury, Esq.

George Blackman, Esq.

Mrs. Blackman.

John Bcardmore, Esq.

William Blake, Esq.

Mrs. Bell.

Mrs. Baker.

Bryantj Esq.

Mr. Bailey.

Osborn Barwell, Esq. H. Brookj Esq.

C. The Earl of Corke. The Countess of Corke. The Hon. Captain Cadogan. J.W.Chase, Esq. Thomas Chandless, Esq. Mr. Jasper Capper. Messrs. Colnaghi and Co. 12 Copies. Richard Cosway, Esq. R. A. R. H. Cromeck, Esq. 2 Copies. Mr. Crosby, 6 Copies. C. Cooke, Esq. Thomas Calverley, Esq. Lady de Crespigny.

Cochrane, Esq.

J. Cristal, Esq.

The Rev. James Capper.

The Reverend Doctor Craven, Master of

St. John's College, Cambridge. Thomas Crawley, Esq.

D.

Charles Denham, Esq. John Coucher Dod, Esq. Colonel Dyke. Mr. Edward Davis. Mr. Dadley. Captain D'Arcy.

E. The Marquis of Ely. Joseph Evans, Esq. 10 Copies. Mrs. Evertoii.

SUBSCRIBERS.

Henry Fuseli, Esq. R.A. John Flaxmao, Esq. R.A.

G.

Lady Glyn.

The Rev. Laurence Gardner.

Valentine Grimste.id, Esq.

Sir Thomage Gage, Baronet.

Mr. Edward Gibbon.

Mr. Edmond Pitts Gapper.

Mrs. Griffiths.

Miss Gordon.

Mrs. Graham.

Mrs. Gubbins.

H. The Hon. Lady Honeywood. George Henry Harlow, Esq. Isaac Heaton, Esq.

Doctor Hague, Professor of Music, Cam- bridge. Hugh Haniraersley, Esq. Miss Hamilton. Henry Hoare, Esq. Henry Merrick Hoare, Esq. Charles Hoare, Esq. Mr. Frederick B. Hering. Jolin Hinde, Esq. Mr. Harris. Mr. Charles Heath. The Rev. J. D. Haslewooil. David Haynes, Esq. John Heaviside, Esq.

The Rev. Christian Jefferson. The Rev. John James. Mr. Johnson, 2 Copies.

K. Edward Knipe, Esq. Mrs. Knipe.

Mrs. Pamelit Knipe. Anthony Kirwan, Esq. Mr. Josiah Kesteven. Mr. Kaye. Colonel O'Kelly.

Mr. Limmer.

Joseph Lathbury, Esq.

M.

The Viscountess Dowager Montague.

Mr. Maling.

Mr. Mayd.

Mr. Miller, 12 Copies.

Mr. Thomas Munday.

Mr. Richard Martin.

N.

Henry Nourse, Esq. John Neale, Esq.

Miss Ogle.

O.

P.

William Stephen Poynby, Esq.

The Rev. James Plumptre.

Miss Parke.

Miss Porter.

Robert Kerr Porter, Esq.

Mrs. Pope.

Miss Price.

Miss Pearson.

The Rev. Fleetwood Parkhursi.

P. Pigottc, Esq.

Mrs. Pollen.

Mr. Parish, G Copies.

Mrs. Parkhurst.

The Rev. Preedy.

William Pearce, Esq.

SUBSCRIBERS.

Thomas Ring, Esq.

The Rev. Rogers Ruding.

Messrs. Robinson and Co. 12 Copies.

The Rev. Edward Richards.

Robinson, Esq.

Thomas Ruffin, Esq. Mrs. Riley.

S. The Countess Dowager Spencer The Earl of Shannon. The Princess SherbattoflF. Lumley St. George Skeffington, Esq. Miss Starke.

Edward VValwyn Shepheard, Esq. Mrs. Shard. Mr. Thomas Serle.

Sabbs, Esq.

Mrs. Smith.

Sir Walter Stirling, Baronet.

The Rev. George Sandby.

Mr. Sultaby.

Captain Stancliffe.

Seymour, Esq.

Mr. Sergeant.

Mr. Anthony Stratton.

Mrs. Sutton.

Robert Sharrard, Esq.

Miss Thomas. Miss Temple. Mrs. Trotter. Lewis Teissier, Esq. Mrs. Teissier. Mrs. Thomas. Miss Thomas. Miss Louisa Thomas. Colonel Toone. Mrs. Thompson. Mr. J.Thompson. J. V. Thompson. Mr. Edward Thomas.

V. and W.

Messrs. Vernor,Hood, and Sliarpe, 2 Copies.

George Walker, Esq.

Mr. John Wilson.

Mr. Walmsley.

The Rev. Thomas Whalley

John Whitmore, Esq.

Mrs. Whitmore.

D. P. Watts, Esq.

Mrs. Weston.

Mr. Winchester.

Messrs. White and CcFleetStieet, 12 Copies.

DESTMUCTIO>" OF DEATH AND SIN,

■ ill r.v.dlow up dca'h In victory.

DESTRUCTION OF DEATH AND SIN.

When the cruel destroyer, Death, has at length completed his work of desolation, and subdued all animated nature under his power, he shall himself be overthrown, his crown torn from him, and his iron sceptre broken in pieces, by the mightier power of the Saviour.

Then shall his beloved help-mate, the enchantress Sin, be despoiled of all her destroying arts and charms, and, joined in his fall, shall crown the final triumph of our blessed Redeemer.

HOPE DEPARTING.

r^naiD n^pn^j n'?mn :^n^*n n^yi:'-) mpni

The Iiope of the righteous shrill be ^l.idness; but the cvpect.ition of the wicked shall per

HOPE DEPARTING.

Behold the awful close of an ill-spent life! See the last friend of human kind forsakes the impious man in his dying moments. The last lingering ray with which Hope cheers the departing spirit is with- drawn from his shuddering and benighted soul : a dreadful and aveng- ing horror seizes on his brain. Earth and heaven seem armed against him. Conscience proclaims to him that the one he has outraged, and the other he has defied. Desperate in guilt, he rejects Avith horror the mediation and redeeming grace of the Saviour; and, spurning his Holy Sacrament, he sets the seal on his own destruction.

THE JOYFUIL KETHIBUTION.

THE JOYFUL RETRIBUTION.

The dying moments of the riohteous man arc clieered by the sweet assurances of approaching bliss: Hope, kindhng into confidence, points to the emblems of his salvation through suffering. The cup of bitter- ness, says she, has been thy portion in this world; like thy divine Master, thou hast been " despised and rejected of men, a man of sor- rows, and acquainted with grief." But here thy sufferings shall cease; expect now the glorious retribution that awaits thee; prepare now to enter into the Joys of thy Lord, to hear him pronounce the reward for thy faith and truth in this transporting sentence: " Come, ye blessed! enter now into the kingdom of your Father, prei)ared for you since the foundation of the world;" there to liynm eternal praises to him who is, who was, and is to come — Holy! llolv! Lord (iod Almiuhtv!

CALL TO VIGILANCE.

Wiuh :iml p.ay, i

I temi'tatioll. Si. Mark xiv. JS.

CALL TO VIGILANCE.

Slumberee, awake! see thy perilous situation. The foe is preparing his unerring shaft to strike thee down from thy couch of fancied secu- rity, into ihe dreadful gulph of perdition, that opens Avide beneath to receive thee!

Slumberer, awake! suffer not the syren Sin, with pleasure in her train, to lure thee through the broad and easy road that leads to destruction; but rather follow thou the track of bright Religion, whose ways are ways of pleasantness, and all whose paths are peace: for remember, that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.

THE WORLD 3IADE CAPTITE.

Vi- wnlked acccidinv in the course of this wot lei, acconlif; to the yvincc of the power of tho air. Fphesians ii. 2.

THE WORLD MADE CAPTIVE.

The watchful enemy has seized this globe of lightness and vanity, and is endeavouring to secure it in his car; while lust and gluttony, with the rest of his infernal team, are hastening Avith their prize down the deep descent to perdition. The danger is extreme. It is on its polar anchor, the redeeming cross and the strong chain of divine love attached thereto, that all hopes of deliverance must depend.

FLOCKS REFMESHED.

I nu- all \t> ftut l.iliour and arc heavy laden, .iiid I Hill icficsli you. St. Matthc

FLOCKS REFRESHED.

The flocks, faint with heat and wearied with travel over the burninor desert, arrive at a place of rest and refreshment.

The friendly palm receives them under its ample shade, while they slake their thirst at the clear fountain that bubbles at its foot: as when of old, Moses, by divine command, struck the rock at Horeb, whence gushed forth waters to allay the thirst of the exhausted IsraeUtes.

Such is thy saving grace, thou blessed Redeemer of mankind! to thy fallen and sinful people.

SEED SQ^Yy.

.A(f,pOV, (TU 0 CTSTEipa;, 8

Thou foul! tlmt whicli till

ncd, ixc-pt it li'w 1 Cuiintlli,!

SEED SOWN.

As the seed is deposiled in the earth, from whence it will, at the appointed season, spring forth and tiourish; so is the human body placed in the same humble receptacle, wailing for that awful moment when the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incor- ruptible, and we shall be changed; then shall be brought to pass llii' saying that is written; ' Death is swallowed up in victory. 0! death! where is thy sting? O! grave! where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 13ul thanks be to God, who giveth us ihe victory through our Lord Jesus CInist.'

RESCUED FR03I THE FILOODS.

'3X inn D^aa -\2vn o

Wlien thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; And ihiouch the rivers, thiy shall not overflow thic. Isaiah xliii.

RESCUED FROM THE FLOODS.

Seated on the rock of salvation, our blessed Lord stretches forth the powerful arm of his mercy to rescue sinking sinners from the floods. He holds out to them the sti-ong cable of his gracious and divine promises, by which they who have faith to trust to it, are firmly attached to the anchor of redemption, and thereby securely drawn through the tem- pestuous ocean of sin, and landed in transports of grateful love at the feet of their ever-glorious Redeemer ; who shall be to them as a covert from the storm, and a refuge from ihe floods.

CONSTANCY.

Be thou niithful unto deatli, and I will give tliee a crown of life Revelation ii. 10.

CONSTANCY.

Stedfast Christians cling fast to the cross of Christ, and will neither be driven or enticed from its sheltering protection.

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which is graciously granted to their constant and fervent prayers, their good resolutions gradually acquire a degree of strength and confirmation that renders them invincible to all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and they can behold without terror all the mental and physical storms that rage around, and vainly strive to shake them from the firm pole of security.

THE FATE OF AVARICE,

M)l 9rj(raupt^ere u/^jv S):o->7,Lp»? sui Tr,g 'yr,;^ ottv ar,; kxi (3pi;

I .ay not up for yourselves ireasurt and where thieves break (

I earth, where moth and rust doth Cvurupi, fi and stenl. St Matthew vi. 19.

THE FATE OF AVARICE.

HoAv dreadful musl be the summons of dcatli to the avaricious man! with what reluctance does he resign the keys of hiss adored, liis solely adored treasures; and whilst he perceives the ill-concealed rapture and impatience that sparkle in the eyes of the prodigal fool to whom he is compelled to leave them, and thence reads their approaching fate, how must Ihc anguish of his lot be imbittered! Such, and so dreadful would be his feelings, were he but departing to non-existence, to anni- hilation! bul what overwhelming weight of sorrow must accrue from his reflections on the terrible futurity that awaits him; and when he thinks on the following awful and solemn truth— Thou fool! this night shall thy soul be required of thee; then whose shall those ihings be whicii ihou hast provided?

SELF-SUFFICIENT INaUIRERS.

r tli.in the tliikli.

SELF-SUFFICIENT INQUIRERS.

Behold the emblem of those proud reasoners, who, bhnd lo the radiations of the Holj Spirit, think to attain a saving knowledge by the unaided efforts of their own speculations; who retire into darkness to search out the light ; who say, in the pride of their hearts, iiuman nature alone is adequate to the discovery of divine truths, and human virtue to the performance of the duties requisite to salvation. () vain and foolish, for is it not written, " I will destroy the wisdom (if the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of tlu; jjiudenl. "

THE WOMILD WEIGHED.

To be laid in the balance, they arc altogether lighter than vanity Psalm Ixii

THE WORLD WEIGHED.

The earth, when weighed in the scales of divine truth, is found Hghter than vanity; neither will the addition of wealth and honour, nay, nor of all that the heart of carnal man can devise or covet, be found sufficient to turn the beam. For what are the pleasures of youth, the honours of manhood, or the wealth of age? Will they last, and can we carry them with us beyond the grave? Alas! no! they will all vanish as the shadow of a dream. But in thy heavenly kingdom, O thou God Eternal! there is neither darkness nor vanity, neither dreams nor shadows; but all is truth, all is light for ever and ever.

CASTING OFF IIXCF31BRAXCES.

Let lis therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of I

CASTING OFF INCUMBRANCES.

Let us cast off every thing tliat may entangle, or obstruct our flight, to the mansions of our heavenly Father; every earthly jileasure, ho^v- ever dear, we should resolutely discard and tear from our hearts, if they tend to alienate us from God, and oppose the grand interests of our salvation.

For what is a man jMofited, if he shall gain the Avholc Morld, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in cxchanu;c for his soul?

THE DAUGHTEIRS OF JERUSALEM],

I cliargc you, O djiijlltcls of Jclusaki

iiid my bclovtii, lluit you tell liini, tliat I am sick of love The Song of Solomon,

THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM.

The soul thai has enjoyed the ecstatic bhss of divine communion, and been wedded to her Redeemer, feels for her glorious bridegroom an inexpressively ardent affection. If it please him to withdraw awhile from her presence, and hide the brightness of his countenance, his absence fills her bosom with anxiety and terror; in all the agonies of despairing love, she addresses herself to every one professing to know, and have influence with her divine partner, beseeching them to aid her with their prayers and supplications, " to move his pity and regain his love."

FAINTING FOR THE LIYING WATERS.

: □'n'?x ^''7^< ra'n T'SJ p

As the hart pniitflli after tile wiur-bni*!, so p.mlfth niv soul atur tlice, O Co.l. P^jlni xlii.

FAINTING FOR THE LIVING WATERS.

O THOU refresher of wearied and distressed spirits — thou who quencliest the noisome thirst of this world — thou who purifiest the sinner from all unrighteousness — let me taste of the living waters of thy sweetness, that I may feel thy virtues and behold thy glories. O! let me slake my thirst with the streams of thy mercy; for thou art the spring of life, the source of immortality, the fountain of bliss eternal.

THE SOUI, ENCAGED.

iig my »oul out u( prisun, that I may praise tity name. IHjIni cxtii

THE SOUL ENCAGED.

The body is the cage in which the soul is confined; the imprisoner and deUverer, Birth and Death, sit opposite to each other. How dif- ferent are their aspects! The treacherous charms of the one, full of the most ensnaring promises, with an averted face courts our sight from behind the veil of time. — Death, with an honest frown, shews the keys of freedom; and the captive, turning an anxious eye towards ihe door of deliverance, awaits, in trembling hope, for the announcing of the Divine mandate, which will command the conqueror of the body, The King of the Grave, through its portals lo set the imprisoned soul at liberty.

SINNERS HIDING IN THE GRATE.

Wliitlier slull I iji. from Jhy Sniiit ? Or nliithcr sli.ill 1 Ace from tliy presence ? Tsaln

SINNERS HIDING IN THE GRAVE.

Vain, confident sinners, deceive not 3'^ourselves with the fallacious hope that your oflfences may remain unobserved by the all-searching eye of divine justice; rather fall down penitently at the feet of your blessed Redeemer, and trust to his infinite mercy, than presumptuously attempt to elude his search, or resist his power. Think not that in the close recesses of the grave, or under the dark extended mantle of Hades, you will find shelter firom the lightnings of divine vengeance; for though you dig into hell, thence shall his hand take you; and though you climb up to heaven, thence will he bring you down also.

AWAITING THE DAWN OR DAY-SPRING.

; Islcoptlicslcc]. oi'dcnth.

AWAITING THE DAWN, OR DAY-SPRING.

This dark globe of earth, surrounded with foggy vapours, intercepts from my longing eyes the divine light of the sun of righteousness.

I sit among the tombs, involved in dismal shades, with no other light than the faint glimmering of the taper of sense fixed in the eyeless socket of a skull!— When will these glooms disperse? Hasten on thy course, O cheering harbinger of day! give me the blessed hope and assurance that the heavenly light will at length appear and chase away the darkness that now sits heavy on my soul.

WOUNDED IN THE MENTAL EYE.

»'i< "ja"? -i::'^ tit ^^ : niD oil nnnni^i

r

Tlicle is a vvny hIihIi sccmetli light unto .1 man; but tlic cml I hereof :11c the «-.iys of death. Proverbs

WOUNDED IN THE MENTAL EYE.

When the sinner, gazing on the objects which ensnare his soul, is wounded in the mental eye (his conscience) by the shafts of divine love, and struggles rebclliously against the pain, that would, if endured, throw off all evil propensities and corruptions; Satan, the arch-empiric of this world, is ever ready to administer his treacherous aid. — Ah, Sinner! beware of trusting to his art! the balm he pours into the wound is an enchanted poison; it may indeed assuage the anguish, and charm the mind to repose: but with the sense of pain all feeling is destroyed, and each drop from his accursed vial by degrees corrodes the nerves of true vision, and finally extinguishes the sight. Blind, though believing (by ihe deceiving vapours fuming in his head) ihat he sees clearer than ever, he sinks into the arms of oblivion; he clings to her bosom in fatal security ; and drinks, as the finisher of his cure, large draughts from the intoxicating vessel of the world, which com- pletes his delusion, and confirms his fate.

For " The end of the carnal mind is death."

FEMTIIilZING IRIJLLS.

s |Ur) J'nj/no-)) £K rot/ diUiva.

But whosocvc-rdrinkclll of the water lh.it I sliall give liini, shall never thirst. .St. John iv. 14.

FERTILIZING RILLS.

From the foot of the cross, seated on the heavenly mount of mercy, issues out the pure spring of redeeming grace; it divides into many streams, which in their descent carry ferlihty and beauty to all the inferior regions, dispensing abundance to the flocks and herds that inhabit them.

How pure an emblem is this of the divine intlucnco which the gospel of Christ has upon those who receive it gladly! To them it cometh with healing in its wings, it visits them like the day-spring from on high, it pitielh their sufferings and hcalcth their sorrows; and, lastly, leads ihcm to life eternal.

THE FOREST FELLER.

Every tree tli.it hriiijeth not lortli good fruit

; fire. St. Matthew vii. 19.

THE FOREST-FELLER.

The human race are as trees in the vast forest of this world, various in their forms and character, and in their degrees of utiUty, strength, and beauty: but they are ahke destined to fall under the ax of the undis- tinguishing and inexorable feller.

They are then made use of according to their different qualities — some are applied to the noblest purposes. The cedars of Lebanon are the temple of the Most High; Avhilc the vile and worthless are cast into the fire and perish.

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