of the themes, give utterance to sacred truths, scriptural images, and devotional feelings. By them has religion been adorned and presented before the eyes of the world, like the bride in the Canticles, with such excelling loveliness, that even her despisers have been startled into admiration, and exclaimed, 'Who is this that looketh forth like the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?' It must be acknowledged, that not only in "Psalms," but also in "Hymns and Spiritual Songs," our literature is discreditably deficient of examples that will bear comparison, as effusions of genius, with the praises of their gods, which are the glory of Pagan verse in every age and every country where idolatry has prevailed. There is, however, among us, no lack of compositions in this class, which any Christian may sing with the spirit and with the understanding also; but in so few of these are found the light and perfection of poetry, that men of taste, who are generally men of the world, almost instinctively pass them by, as altogether unworthy even of examination. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? they say; and when it is answered, 'Come and see,' they will not; though, like him. of old, who asked the same question, but on receiving the same invitation obeyed it, they might, had they done likewise, have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph ;'-and found him even in structures of verse comparatively as mean as the stable in which the Redeemer was born, as coarse as the swaddling-clothes in which he was wrapt, and as rude as the manger in which he was laid-the palace, the regalia, and the throne of his humiliation. It may be sufficient for general use, that these things should be 'Holiness unto the Lord,' as the humblest utensils in the sanctuary were required to be of pure gold;-but is it not meet and right, that the Lord should be worshipped in the beauty of holiness and that those who, like Bezaleel, the son of Uri, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, with all that are wise-hearted, who have been filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting precious stones to set them, and in carving of timber, to make all that the Lord commanded for the furniture and adornment of the tabernacle in the wilderness, including the ark of the covenant itself, down to the holy garments for the priests, the anointing oil, and the sweet incense for the altar;-is it not meet, and right, and the bounden duty also of those who are similarly endowed by the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, to call upon their souls, and to stir up all that is within them to bless his holy name, in such strains of music and of song, as shall enable millions, to whom the like talents have not been entrusted, to stand up, and bless the Lord, in the same exalted, animating, and delightful lays; thus giving glory to God in the highest on earth, as saints and angels do in heaven? There is little reason to regret that Mr. Horne did not thus devote his talents for the use of the Church, since there is little reason to believe that he would have supplied the lack of service in others, on this score. The relics of his verse which have been preserved are pleasing, ingenious, and, like every thing else from his hand, show the overflowing goodness of his heart, and the cheerful aspect of his piety. One of these is known by mutilated copies of it in Selections of Hymns. It is worth preserving at length, though few of the clauses are happy in the setting of the minute gems of thought which they contain. In reading it, one cannot help thinking how much better every stanza, except perhaps the first and the last, might have been constructed, with the very same ideas and figures found in each. THE LEAF. 'We all do fade as a leaf.'-Isa. lxiv. 6. SEE the leaves around us falling, Sons of Adam, once in Eden, Virgins, much, too much presuming Griping misers, nightly waking, Sons of honour, fed on praises, Learned sophs, in systems jaded, Youths, though yet no losses grieve you, Let not cloudless skies deceive you, Venerable sires, grown hoary, Hither turn the unwilling eye, Think, amidst your falling glory, Autumn tells a winter nigh. Yearly in our course returning, Thus we preach this truth concerning, Heaven and earth shall pass away.' 3 On the tree of life eternal, Man, let all thy hope be staid, Bears a leaf that shall not fade. In the lines on Garrick's Funeral Procession," the first two stanzas are strikingly impressive; and they are quite enough for the occasion; the rest are more, and therefore less, because they detract from the dignity of these. From one of the most gorgeous pageants on record of living vanity over dead genius, contrasted with the most solemn interment that ever took place on this earth, when, in the person of the second Adam, was fulfilled the sentence pronounced upon the first, Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,' that (having 'the keys of death and the grave') He might bring life and immortality to light,' by his glorious resurrection, the poet descends to a poor play of words upon repentant David,' (Garrick) and David's Son,' (the Lord from heaven.') ON DAVID GARRICK'S FUNERAL PROCESSION. THROUGH Weeping London's crowded streets, As Garrick's funeral pass'd, Contending wits and nobles strove Who should forsake him last. Not so the world behaved to Him Who came that world to save, By solitary Joseph borne, Unheeded, to the grave. |