Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

With respect to the other elementary principle' which the Majolo speaks of, as serving to guide him in the study of mankind, the sympathetic and antipathetic nature of the 'mind', it is not sufficiently definable', for us to trust ourselves with the subject: but we will so far concede to our Author, as to admit the justness of his motto, that

There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamed of in your philosophy.

[ocr errors]

We have given more copious extracts from this small volume, than its size or its pretensions might seem to warrant; but it appeared to us to be the only method of doing justice to the Author. The present work, we are informed, constitutes only a part of a considerable design, of an epic character. We have, therefore, thought it deserving of a proportionate degree of attention. You have heard my story,' says the Majolo, in concluding the conversation, and read my book; do you "think me a fool, or a man of genius? The Author seems to anticipate the perplexity which the reader would feel on a similar question being put to him. It was not easy,' he replies, to find a proper answer to such a question.' In the usual acceptation of the word, there would be no propriety whatever in the application of the former term to the Author of such a production. The latter designation in its highest. sense, would scarcely be due to him. We may safely allow him the full benefit of the opinion he expresses of the Majoło, that he is unquestionably possessed of an uncommon mind:" but perhaps this uncommonness may relate more to kind than degree of ability. There is a modification of the two properties, folly and genius, existing in combination with each other, which will often be found to entitle a man to a certain degree of literary fame, and to constitute him a character highly interesting, but which, at the same time, disqualify him for the higher efforts and sustained exertions of intellect.

On the whole, we feel some curiosity to hear the conclusion of the Majolo's history.

Art. X. A Serious Address to the Clergy of the United Kingdom on the Duties of the Pastoral Office, in a Visitation Sermon, preached at the Parish Church of St. Paul's, Covent-garden, on the 18th of May, 1815, before the Archdeacon of Middlesex and his Clergy. By the Rev. W. Gurney, A. M. Rector of St. Clement Danes, Strand; Minister of the Free Chapel, Westminster, &e. 8vo. pp. 25. Price Is. W. Walker. 1815.

THIS is a plain, but very earnest and sensible Sermon, from 1 Pet. v. 2. and 3. "Feed the flock of God," &c. It has no great pretensions to originality, to depth of thought, or to eloquence, but the preacher's modest expectation that his 'language,

though simple, would not disgust,' that his 'arguments, though 'plain, would not be weak,' and that his application, though 'close, would not be offensively personal,' will, we think, appear to readers in general, to be fully justified. Such a Dis. course, as it conveyed to the audience nothing that was new, though it might serve to revive what was forgotten, as it was perfectly scriptural, but not strikingly ingenious, and as the truths it contained were at least familiar to the understandings of his clerical brethren, might be expected to excite no peculiar wish in his audience for its publication. Yet it is, at the same time, so unexceptionable in point of sentiment, and so moderate in point of expression, that it would be difficult to imagine that the omission of the customary request on the part of the Archdeacon or his clergy, arose from any feelings of disapprobation or personal disrespect,

The following passage may serve as a specimen of Mr. Gurney's style.

'But suppose that there should be found some solitary individual, who, for filthy lucre, from necessity in his circumstances, or because he was thought unfit for any other profession, from a desire to obtain a country residence, where he might indulge himself in the pleasures of the field and of the world, had entered into the Church, and received commission to preach that Gospel which he never practises; must he not be considered as having awfully departed from the spirit of the Church in saying, I trust I am inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon me this sacred office? must not his conduct disgust the true Churchman, offend every Christian, and even give occasion to the wicked to blaspheme, and to deride and contemn the Church? This would be but a miserable ensample to the flock, who, if they did punctually follow such a leader, must perish together with him. Is the picture too strongly drawn? Then let us, my beloved brethren, endeavour, by the grace of God, earnestly sought for in constant prayer, to blot out every line of this horrible figure, by becoming universally ensamples to the flock over which God hath made be slandered by our neighbours, we may l We may deserted by conscientious Dissenters upon minor points of difference, but we shall never be deserted of our God, nor long be despised of our neighbours, while we conscientiously and individually act up to the spirit of our Church, as exhibited in her Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy. pp. 18, 19.

us overseers.

be..

We cannot, however, dismiss this Sermon, without alluding to the notice it has drawn forth from a contemporary Journal, in an article of a highly offensive character. The Reviewer confesses that he did expect a philippic personal enough, and 'that the form of sound words would hardly have been retained 'to the end. Yet,' he adds, except certain Calvinistic inuendoes respecting experimental feeling, &c. there is little 'doctrine, and less personality; all is sufficiently tame and spi'ritless."

[ocr errors]

The principal objection the Reviewer brings forward, respects the style of Mr. Gurney's Sermon. It is so vague, so 'unsatisfactory, so ill expressed.' And, after punning on the word 'frame,' and jesting upon a solemn passage which he chooses to misapply, he proceeds to prove the badness of the style from the following instance.

In page 8. occurs the following inexplicable passage. "Hope, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, entereth into that (what?) within the vail, whither our forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus."'. British Critic for November, 1815, p. 234.

Can any thing be more calculated to excite the triumphant sneer of an infidel, than the conduct of a professedly orthodox Reviewer, who undertakes to criticise in theology, without knowing that while thrusting at a living preacher, he strikes an inspired Apostle !

After this specimen of the critic's consummate ignorance, Mr. Gurney may safely smile at the harmless malignity of his flippant remarks, though he may justly complain that the Conductors of a Literary Journal of so high pretensions, should suffer a writer, capable of thus mistaking the language of Scripture, to disgrace their pages with personal invective.

Mr. Gurney's real offence, however, it should seem, in the eyes of this critic, was not preaching or publishing this Visitation Sermon. The following passage contains, we presume, his indictment.

[ocr errors]

Now who would suppose after this, that Mr. G. would introduce, under colour of a Bible Association, strange shep'herds of various denominations, within the very walls of his 'own Church, to lead his flock astray, and by their unsuffer'able cant and disgusting dissensions, to desecrate the sanc'tuary of God.'

It is not to be wondered at, that those who find the language of Scripture inexplicable,' should be unfriendly to Bible associations but the charge implied in the above extract, betrays something worse than ignorance in the mind which framed it.

Art. XI. Baxteriana: containing a Selection from the Works of Baxter. Collected by Arthur Young, Esq. F.R.S. 12mo. pp. vi, 304. Price 5s. 6d. Hatchard. 1815.

THE

HE name of Richard Baxter is one which all parties respect, and all sincere Christians affectionately revere. A collection of extracts from his works, cannot fail of being valu able, and the present volume stands, therefore, in small need of our recommendation. But we cannot refuse ourselves the gratification of transcribing the interesting and ingenuous ac

count given by the venerable Editor, of the origin of this publication.

.

Eighteen years ago he suffered a severe domestic calamity, which, for the first time in his life, led his mind into a train of thought very different from all that had formed, till then, his pursuits, pleasure, or occupation. For the first time, he began seriously to think of that which a Christian ought to think of every day of his existence-a future state. When the chains which tie us to the world begin to break, it is time to reconsider the principles of the religion we have professed; the heart demands consolation, and nominal Christianity has it not to give; for any solid comfort, we must drink deeper. I read much, and sometimes conversed on the subject, enough to hear it urged, that a man who had been publishing books all his life, should make an open profession of his faith, by adding one to the number: in truth, I should have done this long ago, but found the admirable productions already before the public so numerous, that it appeared presumption to publish any work confessedly inferior to those I was in the habit of perusing.'

Mr. Young proceeds to state, that having early accustomed himself to extract, for his own improvement, the most impressive passages of the works he perused, and finding that the works of Baxter alone had furnished sufficient to fill a volume, he thought a selection from these, especially as some of the works from which they are taken are scarce, might be useful to many readers, on which account he hopes the present intrasion will be forgiven.

[ocr errors]

The contents of the volume are arranged in seven books, subdivided into chapters. The titles of the books are, The 'Moral State of Man;' The essential Doctrines of the Chris'tian Religion;' The Remedy for the disordered State of Man-Justification by Faith alone;' Conversion; The Holy Spirit;' Necessity of Good Works;' Death and 'Judgement.'

The following impressive testimony, with which the Introduction concludes, will prove, we trust, a salutary appeal to the feelings and conscience of the reader, as it cannot fail of exciting sentiments of veneration for the Author.

I will not lay down the pen without most earnestly intreating those who are but entering on life, to be persuaded to pay a constant attention to the duties of religion, especially the four great means of grace, prayer, public worship, reading the scriptures of truth, and as much as circumstances will permit, meditating on their contents. I can with truth assure such, that when I reflect on the various errors and miscarriages of my life, previous to my mind taking a serious turn, I am clearly convinced that I should have avoided many, had I listened with more submission to the persuasion of a most valuable and pious mother, whom I did not learn sufficiently to esteem till many years after I had lost her; and I speak this in allu

:

sion both to temporal and eternal objects. In truth, there is but one principle that ought to govern mankind; to think, speak, and act in such a manner as will please God, and to avoid all that will offend him not the Supreme Being, the Great First Cause of modern philosophers, but the God of Revelation. O my young friends, let me with truth assure you, that though I have experienced some highly flattering, and partaken of many brilliant scenes, yet would I not exchange the consolation and hope which Christianity gives me while blind, and quickly descending to the grave, for the most pleasing moments of my former life, with rejuvinescence to enjoy them.

The tranquillity of a mind gradually reposing in the clearest hope of a better world, is an enjoyment that cannot be purchased at too dear a rate. It is not easy, sufficiently to value the peaceful close of a busy life, provided that repose is founded on the bright views of Christian hope looking beyond the grave: the mist of doubts and perplexities dissipated in the meridian splendour of gospel truth; the storms of life softening into silence; the delirium of pleasure, and the dreams of dissipation fled, and the freed mind resigned to the dictates of reason; the wounds of conscience cured by the balm of eternal love; the heart, lacerated by the loss of those once so dear to us, in full expectation of a re-union never more to be broken; every angry passion hushed into peace; the evils of life sunk in resignation to the Divine will; the fervent desire of the renovated heart approaching the verge of never-ending enjoyment; and the whole soul reposing on the bosom of a Saviour's love. These ought to be the privileges of a real Christian, and will be so in proportion to the steadiness of his faith. May the perusal of the excellent Baxter, contribute to increase and strengthen such faith, and excite such hope in the mind of every reader." pp. iv-vi.

Art. XII. Athaliah: a Sacred Drama. Translated from the French of Racine. Foolscap 8vo. pp. xxviii. 96. Price 3s. Edinburgh, Oliphant and Co. 1815.

WE

E have frequently had occasion to speak of the difference between the Greek and the English drama ;-a difference, indeed, so great, as to appear of kind rather than of degree. The Greek drama, a poem of simple structure, of few incidents, of few personages; abounding in splendid description and dignified sentiment; with much eloquent declamation, and still more empty verbiage,-the English, a play full and bustling, overflowing with traits of character, and strokes of passion:-the Greek, a thing to be admired; the English to be felt:-the Greek, chaste and elegant, symmetrical and unimpassioned, as a Corinthian temple; the English, pressing upon the feelings, like the long aisles of a gothic abbey, yet, like them, enlivened with an inexhaustible variety of beautiful and grotesque imagery.

We have sometimes thought that the nature of the Greek tragedy, is to be ascribed to its origin It was originally a hymn in honour of some deity, which was afterwards interrupted by

« EdellinenJatka »