History of Madeley: including Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and CoalportRandall, John
History
History of Madeley: including Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and Coalport
Randall, John
Madeley (Shropshire, England) -- History
“From thence I have seen three or four as fine sunsets as I at any
time have seen, and if the gradual going down, and last, last twinkle
of the once radiant orb, the instant when it was, and was not, to be
seen—made me think of that awful moment when the last sigh consigns
the departing soul to different if not distant scenes, the glorious
effulgence gilding the western horizon with inimitable magnificence,
naturally suggested the idea of celestial splendour, and inspired the
wish that (through the assistance of His grace) a faithful obedience
to the requirings of our great Maker and Master, may in that solemn
season justify the hope of my being admitted into that city which
hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine on it, for the
glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”
The Wrekin was a favourite object; to its summit he made his annual
pilgrimage, together with his family, his Dale relations, his clerks, and
most of the members of the little Society of Friends. The following bit
of landscape painting betrays a master hand, and is so faithful in
itself, depicting no less the features of the country than the genius of
his mind, that we incorporate it with our present sketch:—
“We went upon the Wrekin,” he writes, “sooner than usual this year,
that my children might partake of the pleasure. The weather was
pleasant, though rather windy. From the top of that hill the
prospect is so rich, so extensive, so various, that, considered as a
landscape only, it beggars all description; and yet I cannot forbear,
as thou desirest it, mentioning the tufted trees in the adjoining
woods, upon which, occasioned perhaps by the uncommonness of the
scene, I always _look down_ with a particular pleasure, as well as
survey those more distant, which are interspersed among the corn and
meadows, contrasted with the new-ploughed fallow-grounds and pastures
with cattle; the towns and villages, gentlemen’s seats, farm-houses,
enrich and diversify the prospect, whilst the various companies of
harvest men in the different farms within view enliven the scene.
Nor are the rivers that glitter among the laughing meadows, or the
stupendous mountains which, though distant, appear awfully dreary
without their effect considered part of the landscape only. But not
to confine the entertainment to visual enjoyment, what an
intellectual feast does the prospect from that hill afford when
beheld, ‘or with the curious or pious eye.’ Is not infinite power
exerted, and infinite goodness displayed, in the various as well as
plentiful provision for our several wants. Should not the
consideration expand over hearts with desires to contribute to the
relief of those whose indigence, excluding them from an equal
participation of the general feast, is for a trial of their faith and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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