ham, was the favourite pupil of Parr at Norwich school. He is author of a work on the Christian [The Love of our Country.] Evidences; two volumes of sermons, 1819 and 1822; Whence does this love of our country, this unirersal a third volume of sermons preached before the so- passion, proceed! Why does the eye ever dwell with ciety of Lincoln's Inn, where he succeeded Dr Heber; fondness upon the scenes of infant life? Why do we and also of a vastly improved edition of Morell's breathe with greater joy the breath of our youth? Greek Thesaurus, which engaged his attention for Why are not other soils as grateful, and other heavens about eleven years. as gay? Why does the soul of man ever cling to that The Rev. SIDNEY SMITH, well known as a witty earth where it first knew pleasure and pain, and, unmiscellaneous writer and critic, is a canon residen- der the rough discipline of the passions, was roused to tiary of St Paul's. Mr Smith published two volumes the dignity of moral life! Is it only that our country of sermons in the year 1809. They are more re- contains our kindred and our friends! And is it nomarkable for plain good sense than for originality or thing but a name for our social affections! It cannot eloquence. A few sentences from a sermon on the be this; the most friendless of human beings has a Love of our Country will show the homely earnest-country which he admires and extols, and which he ness of this author's serious style : would, in the same circumstances, prefer to all others under heaven. Tempt him with the fairest face of [Difficulty of Governing a Nation.] nature, place him by living waters under shadowy trees of Lebanon, open to his view all the gorgeous It would seem that the science of government is an allurements of the climates of the sun, he will love unappropriated region in the universe of knowledge. the rocks and deserts of his childhood better than all Those sciences with which the passions can never in these, and thou canst not bribe his soul to forget the terfere, are considered to be attainable only by study land of his nativity; he will sit down and weep by and by reflection; while there are not many young the waters of Babylon when he remembers thee, oh men who doubt of their ability to make a constitution, Sion! or to govern a kingdom : at the same time there cannot, perhaps, be a more decided proof of a superficial DR HERBERT MARSH. understanding than the depreciation of those difficulties which are inseparable from the science of govern DR HERBERT Marsh, bishop of Peterborough, ment. To know well the local and the natural man; who died in May 1839 at an advanced age, obtained to track the silent march of human affairs ; to seize, distinction as the translator and commentator of with happy intuition, on those great laws which re- Michaelis's Introduction to the New Testament, gulate the prosperity of empires; to reconcile prin- one of the most valuable of modern works on diviciples to circumstances, and be no wiser than the nity. In 1807 this divine was appointed Lady Martimes will permit; to anticipate the effects of every garet's professor of divinity in the university of speculation upon the entangled relations and awkward Cambridge, in 1816 he was made bishop of Llandaff, complexity of real life; and to follow out the theo- and in 1819 he succeeded to the see of Peterborough. rems of the senate to the daily comforts of the 5t. Besides his edition of Michaelis, Dr Marsh published tage, is a task which they will fear most who know it Lectures on Divinity, and a Comparative View of the best--a task in which the great and the good have Churches of England and Rome." He was author also often failed, and which it is not only wise, but pious of some controversial tracts on the Catholic question, and just in common men to avoid. the Bible society, &c. in which he evinced great acuteness, tinctured with asperity. In early life, [Means of Acquiring Distinction.] during a residence in Germany, Dr Marsh published, It is natural to every man to wish for distinction; in the German language, various tracts in defence and the praise of those who can confer honour by their of the policy of his own country in the continental praise, in spite of all false philosophy, is sweet to wars; and more particularly a very elaborate His. every human heart; but as eminence can be but the tory of the Politics of Great Britain and France, from lot of a few, patience of obscurity is a duty which we the T'ime of the Conference at Pilnitz to the Declaration owe not more to our own happiness than to the quiet of War, a work which is said to have produced a of the world at large. Give a loose, if you are young marked impression on the state of public opinion and ambitious, to that spirit which throbs within you; in Germany, and for which he received a very conmeasure yourself with your equals; and learn, from siderable pension on the recommendation of Mr Pitt. frequent competition, the place which nature has al- About the year 1833 appeared the first of the lotted to you; make of it no mean battle, but strive celebrated Tracts for the T'imes, by Members are hard ; strengthen your soul to the search of truth, and the University of Oxford, which have originated follow that spectre of excellence which beckons you on a keen controversy among the clergy of the church beyond the walls of the world to something better of England, and caused a wide rent or schism than man has yet donc. It may be you shall burst in that ancient establishment. The peculiar docout into light and glory at the last; but if frequent trines or opinions of this sect are known by the failure convince you of that mediocrity of nature term Puseyism, so called after one of their first and which is incompatible with great actions, submit most intrepid supporters, Dr EDWARD BOUVERTE wisely and cheerfully to your lot; let no mean spirit Pussy, second son of the late Hon. Philip Pusey, and of revenge tempt you to throw off your loyalty to your grandson of the Earl of Radnor. This gentleman country, and to prefer a vicious celebrity to obscurity was born in 1800, and educated at Christ-church crowned with piety and virtuc. If you can throw new college, Oxford, where, in 1828, he became regius light upon moral truth, or by any exertions multiply professor of Hebrew. In conjunction with several the comforts or confirm the happiness of mankind, other members of the university of Oxford (Mr this fame guides you to the true ends of your nature: Newman, Professor Sewell, &c.), Dr Pusey established but, in the name of God, as you tremble at retributive an association for spreading and advocating their justice, and, in the name of mankind, if mankind be views regarding church discipline and authority, and dear to you, seek not that easy and accursed fame from this association sprung the Tracts for the which is gathered in the work of revolutions ; and deem Times. The tenets maintained by the tract writers it better to be for ever unknown, than to found a were chiefly as follows :-They asserted the three momentary name upon the basis of anarchy and fold order of ministry—bishops, priests, and deacons. irreligion. They claimed a personal, not a merely official de E scent from the apostles ; that is, they declared that stirring--possessing, indeed, the fire and energy of not only had the church ever maintained the three a martial lyric or war-song. In November 1804 orders, but that an unbroken succession of indivi- the noble intellect of Mr Hall was deranged, in conduals, canonically ordained, was enjoyed by the sequence of severe study operating on an ardent and church, and essential to her existence; in short, that susceptible temperament. His friends set on foot a without this there could be no church at all. They subscription for pecuniary assistance, and a lifeheld the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, of sacra- annuity of £100 was procured for him. He shortly mental absolution, and of a real, in contradistinc- afterwards resumed his ministerial functions, but in tion to a figurative or symbolical presence in the about twelve months he had another attack. This Eucharist. They maintained the duty of fasting, of also was speedily removed ; but Mr Hall resigned his ritual obedience, and of communion with the apos- church at Cambridge. On his complete recovery, tolic church, declaring all dissenters, and, as a new he became pastor of a congregation at Leicester, cessary consequence, the members of the church of where he resided for about twenty years. During Scotland, and all churches not episcopal, to be mem- this time he published a few sermons and criticisms bers of no church at all. They denied the validity in the Eclectic Review. The labour of writing for of lay-baptism ; they threw out hints from time to the press was opposed to his habits and feelings. time which evidenced an attachment to the theolo- He was fastidious as to style, and he suffered under gical system supported by the nonjuring divines in a disease in the spine which entailed upon him acute the days of James II. ; and the grand Protestant prin- pain. A sermon on the death of the Princess Charciple, as established by Luther--the right of private lotte in 1819 was justly considered one of the most interpretation of Holy Scripture-they denied.'* The impressive, touching, and lofty of his discourses. tracts were discontinued by order of the bishop of In 1826 he removed from Leicester to Bristol, Oxford; but the same principles have been main- where he officiated in charge of the Baptist contained in various publications, as in MR GLADSTONE's gregation till within a fortnight of his death, two works, On the Relation of the Church to the State, which took place on the 21st of February 1831. and Church Principles; MR CHRISTMAS's Discipline The masculine intellect and extensive acquireof the Anglican Church, &c. In 1843 Dr Pusey was ments of Mr Hall have seldom been found united suspended from preaching, and censured by the to so much rhetorical and even poetical brilliancy university for what was denounced as a heretical of imagination. His taste was more refined than sermon, in which he advanced the Roman Catholic that of Burke, and his style more chaste and cordoctrine of transubstantiation. The publications on rect. His solid learning and unfeigned piety gave this memorable controversy are not remarkable for a weight and impressiveness to all he uttered and any literary merit. The tracts are dry polemical wrote, while his classic taste enabled him to clothe treatises, interesting to comparatively few but zea- his thoughts and imagery in language the most lous churchmen. appropriate, beautiful, and commanding. Those who listened to his pulpit ministrations were entranced by his fervid eloquence, which truly disclosed the REV. ROBERT HALL. beauty of holiness,' and melted by the awe and fervour with which he dwelt on the mysteries of The Rev. ROBERT HALL, A. M. is justly regarded death and eternity. His published writings give as one of the most distinguished ornaments of the but a brief and inadequate picture of his varied body of English dissenters. He was the son of a talents; yet they are so highly finished, and display Baptist minister, and born at Arnsby, near Leicester, such a combination of different powers of logical on the 2d of May 1764. He studied divinity at an precision, metaphysical acuteness, practical sense academy in Bristol for the education of young men and sagacity, with a rich and luxuriant imagination, preparing for the ministerial office among the Bap- and all the graces of composition--that they must tists, and was admitted a preacher in 1780, but be considered among the most valuable contributions next year attended King's college, Aberdeen. Sir made to modern literature. A complete edition of James Mackintosh was at the same time a student his works has been published, with a life, by Dr of the university, and the congenial tastes and pur. Olinthus Gregory, in six volumes. suits of the young men led to an intimate friendship between them. From their partiality to Greek literature, they were named by their class-fellows [On Wisdom.] * Plato and Herodotus. Both were also attached to the study of morals and metaphysics, which they ferior to wisdom, in the same sense as the mason who Every other quality besides is subordinate and incherished through life. Hall entered the church as lays the bricks and stones in a building is inferior to assistant to a Baptist minister at Bristol, whence he the architect who drew the plan and superintends the removed in 1790 to Cambridge. He first appeared work. The former executes only what the latter conas an author by publishing a controversial pamphlet trives and directs. Now, it is the prerogative of entitled Christianity Consistent with a Love of Free wisdom to preside over every inferior principle, to dom, which appeared in 1791; in 1793 he published regulate the exercise of every power, and limit the his eloquent and powerful treatise, An Apology for indulgence of every appetite, as shall best conduce to the Freedom of the Press; and in 1799 his sermon, Modern Infidelity considered with respect to its Influence preside, it sits as umpire on every difficulty, and so one great end. It being the province of wisdom to on Society. The latter was designed to stem the gives the final direction and control to all the powers torrent of infidelity which had set in with the French of our nature. Hence it is entitled to be considered Revolution, and is no less remarkable for profound as the top and summit of perfection. It belongs to thought than for the elegance of its style and the wisdom to determine when to act, and when to ceasesplendour of its imagery. His celebrity as a writer when to reveal, and when to conceal a matter—when was further extended by his Reflections on War, a to speak, and when to keep silence--when to give, and sermon published in 1802 ; and The Sentiments proper when to receive ; in to regulate the measure of to the Present Crisis, another sermon preached in all things, as well as to determine the end, and pro1803. The latter is highly eloquent and spirit- vide the means of obtaining the end pursued in every deliberate course of action. Every particular faculty * A New Spirit of the Age. VoL I. p. 207. or skill, besides, needs to derive direction from this; 84 they are all quite incapable of directing themselves. story, and of once more attaching the epoch of British blindness of man to futurity !-ever doomed to grasp and ashes in his hands; to sow the wind, and reap the [From the Funeral Sermon for the Princess Charlotte whirlwind. of Wales.] Born to inherit the most illustrious monarchy in REV. JOHN FOSTER. the world, and united at an early period to the object of her choice, whose virtues amply justified her pre- The Rev. John FOSTER (1770-1843) was author of ference, she enjoyed (what is not always the privilege a volume of Essays, in a Series of Letters, published in of that rank) the highest connubial felicity, and had 1805, which was justly ranked among the most orithe prospect of combining all the tranquil enjoyments ginal and valuable works of the day. The essays are of private life with the splendour of a royal station. four in number-on a man's writing memoirs of himPlaced on the summit of society, to her every eye was self; on decision of character ; on the application of turned, in her every hope was centred, and nothing the epithet romantic; and on some of the causes by was wanting to complete her felicity except perpe- which evangelical religion has been rendered less tuity. To a grandeur of mind suited to her royal | acceptable to persons of cultivated taste. Mr Foster's birth and lofty destination, she joined an exquisite essays are excellent models of vigorous thought and taste for the beauties of nature and the charms of expression, uniting metaphysical nicety and acuteretirement, where, far from the gaze of the multitude, ness with practical sagacity and common sense. He and the frivolous agitations of fashionable life, she also wrote a volume on the Evils of Popular Ignoemployed her hours in visiting, with her distinguished rance, several sermons, and critical contributions to consort, the cottages of the poor, in improving her the Eclectic Review. Like Hall, Mr Foster vas virtues, in perfecting her reason, and acquiring the pastor of a Baptist congregation. He died at Stapleknowledge best adapted to qualify her for the pos- ton, near Bristol. session of power and the cares of empire. One thing only was wanting to render our satisfaction Himself, Mr Foster thus speculates on a changeable In the essay on a Man's Writing Memoirs of complete in the prospect of the accession of such a character, and on the contempt which we entertain princess ; it was, that she might become the living at an advanced period of life for what we were at an mother of children. earlier period :The long-wished-for moment at length arrived ; but, alas! the event anticipated with such eagerness will Though in memoirs intended for publication a form the most melancholy part of our history. large share of incident and action would generally be It is no reflection on this amiable princess, to sup- necessary, yet there are some men whose mental hispose that in her early dawn, with the dew of her tory alone might be very interesting to reflective youth so fresh upon her, she anticipated a long series readers ; as, for instance, that of a thinking man reof years, and expected to be led through successive markable for a number of complete changes of his scenes of enchantment, rising above each other in speculative system. From observing the usual tensfascination and beauty. It is natural to suppose she city of views once deliberately adopted in mature identified herself with this great nation which she life, we regard as a curious phenomenon the man was born to govern; and that, while she contemplated whose mind has been a kind of caravansera of ou. its pre-eminent lustre in arts and in arms, its commerce nions, entertained a while, and then sent on pil. encircling the globe, its colonies diffused through both grimage; a man who has admired and dismissed sys- | hemispheres, and the beneficial effects of its institu- tems with the same facility with which John Bundle tions extending to the whole earth, she considered found, adored, married, and interred his succession of them as so many component parts of her grandeur. | wives, each one being, for the time, not only better Her heart, we inay well conceive, would often be than all that went before, but the best in the crention. ruffed with emotions of trembling ecstacy when she You admire the versatile aptitude of a mind sliding reflected that it was her province to live entirely for into successive forms of belief in this intellectual others, to compass the felicity of a great people, to metempsychosis, by which it animates so inany ber move in a sphere which would afford scope for the bodies of doctrines in their turn. And as none of exercise of philanthropy the most enlarged, of wisdom those dying pangs which hurt you in a tale of India the most enlightened ; and that, while others are attend the desertion of each of these speculative forlas doomed to pass through the world in obscurity, she which the soul has a while inhabited, you are eswas to supply the materials of history, and to impart tremely amused by the number of transitions, and that impulse to society which was to decide the des- cagerly ask what is to be the next, for you never tiny of future generations. Fired with the ambition deem the present state of such a man's views to be fur of equalling or surpassing the most distinguished of permanence, unless perhaps when he has terminated her predecessors, she probably did not despair of re- his course of believing everything in ultimately beviving the remembrance of the brightest parts of their lieving nothing. Even then, unless he is very old, or feels more pride in being a sceptic, the conqueror of quities, after having been so long beguiled, like the all systems, than he ever felt in being the champion mariners in a story which I remember to have read, of one, even then it is very possible he may spring up who followed the direction of their compass, infallibly again, like a vapour of fire froin a bog, and glimmer right as they thought, till they arrived at an enemy's through new mazes, or retrace his course through half port, where they were seized and doomed to slavery. of those which he trod before. You will observe that it happened that the wicked captain, in order to beno respect attaches to this Proteus of opinion after his tray the ship, had concealed a large loadstone at a changes have been multiplied, as no party expect him little distance on one side of the needle. to remain with them, nor deem him much of an ac- On the notions and expectations of one stage of life quisition if he should. One, or perhaps two, consider- I suppose all reflecting men look back with a kind of able changes will be regarded as signs of a liberal contempt, though it may be often with the mingling inquirer, and therefore the party to which his first or wish that some of its enthusiasm of feeling could be his second intellectual conversion may assign him recovered—I mean the period between proper childwill receive him gladly. But he will be deemed to hood and maturity. They will allow that their reason have abdicated the dignity of reason when it is found was then feeble, and they are prompted to exclaim, that he can adopt no principles but to betray them; What fools we have been—while they recollect how and it will be perhaps justly suspected that there is sincerely they entertained and advanced the most something extremely infirm in the structure of that ridiculous speculations on the interests of life and the mind, whatever vigour may mark some of its opera- questions of truth; how regretfully astonished they tions, to which a series of very different, and some- were to find the mature sense of some of those around times contrasted theories, can appear in succession them so completely wrong; yet in other instances, what demonstratively true, and which imitates sincerely veneration they felt for authorities for which they the perverseness which Petruchio only affected, de- have since lost all their respect; what a fantastic imclaring that which was yesterday to a certainty the portance they attached to some most trivial things ; sun, to be to-day as certainly the moon. what complaints against their fate were uttered on It would be curious to observe in a man, who should account of disappointments which they have since remake such an exhibition of the course of his mind, collected with gaiety or self-congratulation; what the sly deceit of self-love. While he despises the happiness of Elysium they expected from sources system which he has rejected, he does not deem it to which would soon have failed to impart even common imply so great a want of sense in him once to have satisfaction ; and how certain they were that the feelembraced it, as in the rest who were then or are now ings and opinions then predominant would continue its disciples and advocates. No; in him it was no through life. debility of reason; it was at the utmost but a merge If a reflective aged man were to find at the bottom of it; and probably he is prepared to explain to you of an old chest—where it had lain forgotten fifty that such peculiar circumstances, as might warp even years—a record which he had written of himself a very strong and liberal mind, attended his con- when he was young, simply and vividly describing his sideration of the subject, and misled him to admit whole heart and pursuits, and reciting verbatim many the belief of what others prove themselves fools by passages of the language which he sincerely uttered, believing. would he not read it with more wonder than almost Another thing apparent in a record of changed every other writing could at his age inspire ? He opinions would be, what I have noticed before, that would half lose the assurance of his identity, under there is scarcely any such thing in the world as simple the impression of this immense dissimilarity. It would conviction. It would be amusing to observe how seem as if it must be the tale of the juvenile days of reason had, in one instance, been overruled into some ancestor, with whom he had no connexion but acquiescence by the admiration of a celebrated name, that of name. He would feel the young man thus or in another into opposition by the envy of it; how introduced to him separated by so wide a distance of most opportunely reason discovered the truth just at character as to render all congenial sociality imposthe time that interest could be essentially served by sible. At every sentence he would be tempted to reavowing it; how easily the impartial examiner could peat—Foolish youth, I have no sympathy with your be induced to adopt some part of another man's opi- feelings, I can hold no converse with your understandnions, after that other had zealously approved some ing. Thus, you see that in the course of a long life a favourite, especially if unpopular part of his, as the man may be several moral persons, so various from Pharisees almost became partial even to Christ at the one another, that if you could find a real individual moment that he defended one of their doctrines against that should nearly exemplify the character in one of the Sadducees. It would be curious to see how a these stages, and another that should exemplify it in professed respect for a man's character and talents, the next, and so on to the last, and then bring these and concern for his interests, might be changed, in several persons together into one society, which would consequence of some personal inattention experienced thus be a representation of the successive states of one from him, into illiberal invective against him or his man, they would feel themselves a most heterogeneous intellectual performances, and yet the railer, though party, would oppose and probably despise one another, actuated solely by petty revenge, account himself the and soon after separate, not caring if they were never model of equity and candour all the while. It might to meet again. If the dissimilarity in mind were as be seen how the patronage of power could elevate great as in person, there would in both respects be a miserable prejudices into revered wisdom, while poor most striking contrast between the extremes at least, old Experience was mocked with thanks for her in-between the youth of seventeen and the sage of seventy. struction ; and how the vicinity or society of the rich, The one of these contrasts an old man might contemand, as they are termed, great, could perhaps melt a plate if he had a true portrait for which he sat in the soul that seemed to be of the stern consistence of early bloom of his life, and should hold it beside a mirror Rome, into the gentlest wax on which Corruption in which he looks at his present countenance; and the could wish to imprint the venerable creed— The right other would be powerfully felt if he had such a genuine divine of kings to govern wrong,' with the pious infe- and detailed memoir as I have supposed. Might it rence that justice was outraged when virtuous Tarquin not be worth while for a self-observant person, in early was expelled. I am supposing the observer to perceive life to preserve, for the inspection of the old man, if all these accommodating dexterities of reason ; for it he should live so long, such a mental likeness of the were probably absurd to expect that any mind should young one? If it be not drawn near the time, it can itself be able in its review to detect all its own obli- never be drawn with sufficient accuracy. DR ADAM CLARKE. name. REV. ARCHIBALD ALISON, we see the world withdrawn from us, the shades of ourselves alone. It is an hour fitted, as it would Another distinguished dissenter was Dr Adam seem, by Him who made us to still, but with gentle CLARKE (1760-1832), a profound Oriental scholar, land, the throb of every unruly passion, and the author of a Commentary on the Bible, and editor of a ardour of every impure desire ; and, while it veils for collection of state papers supplementary to Rymer's a time the world that misleads us, to awaken in our Fædera. Dr Clarke was a native of Moybeg, a vil- hearts those legitimate affections which the heat of lage in Londonderry, Ireland, where his father was a the day may have dissolved. There is yet a farther schoolmaster. He was educated at Kingswood scene it presents to us. While the world withdraws school, an establishment of Wesley's projecting for from us, and while the shades of the evening darken the instruction of itinerant preachers. In due time upon our dwellings, the splendours of the firmament he himself became a preacher; and so indefatigable come forward to our view. In the moments when was he in propagating the doctrines of the Wesleyan earth is overshadowed, heaven opens to our eyes the persuasion, that he twice visited Shetland, and es- radiance of a sublimer being ; our hearts follow the tablished there a Methodist mission. In the midst successive splendours of the scene; and while we of his various journeys and active duties, Dr Clarke forget for a time the obscurity of earthly concerns, continued those researches which do honour to his we feel that there are 'yet greater things than these.' He fell a victim to the cholera when that There is, in the second place, an eventide in the fatal pestilence visited our shores. year—a season, as we now witness, when the sun with. draws his propitious light, when the winds arise and the leaves fall, and nature around us seems to sink into decay. It is said, in general, to be the season of The Rev. ARCHIBALD ALISON (1757–1838) was melancholy; and if by this word be meant that it is senior minister of St Paul's chapel, Edinburgh. the time of solemn and of serious thought, it is unAfter a careful education at Glasgow university doubtedly the season of melancholy; yet it is a meand Baliol college, Oxford (where he took his de- lancholy so soothing, so gentle in its approach, and gree of B.C.L. in 1784), Mr Alison entered into so prophetic in its influence, that they who have sacred orders, and was presented to different livings known it feel, as instinctively, that it is the doing of by Sir William Pulteney, Lord Loughborough, and God, and that the heart of man is not thus finely Dr Douglas, bishop of Salisbury. Having, in 1784, touched but to fine issues. married the daughter of Dr John Gregory of Edin- When we go out into the fields in the evening of burgh, Mr Alison looked forward to'a residence the year, a different voice approaches us. We regard, Scotland, but it was not till the close of the last even in spite of ourselves, the still but steady adrances century that he was able to realise his wishes. In of time. A few days ago, and the summer of the year 1790 he published his admirable Essay on the Nature was grateful, and every element was filled with life, and Principles of Taste, and in 1814 two volumes of and the sun of heaven seemed to glory in his ascen. sermons, justly admired for the elegance and beauty dant. He is now enfeebled in his power; the desert of their language, and their gentle persuasive in no more “blossoms like the rose;' the song of joy is culcation of Christian duty. On points of doctrine no more heard among the branches; and the earth is and controversy the author is wholly silent:, his strewed with that foliage which once bespoke the writings, as one of his critics remarked, were de- magnificence of summer. Whatever may be the pessigned for those who want to be roused to a sense sions which society has awakened, we pause amid this of the beauty and the good that exist in the universe apparent desolation of nature. We sit down in the around them, and who are only indifferent to the lodge of the wayfaring man in the wilderness,' and feelings of their fellow-creatures, and negligent of we feel that all we witness is the emblem of our own the duties they impose, for want of some persuasive fate. Such also in a few years will be our own conmonitor to awake the dormant capacities of their dition. The blossoms of our spring, the pride of our nature, and to make them see and feel the delights summer, will also fade into decay; and the pulse that 1 which providence has attached to their exercise. A now beats high with virtuous or with vicious desire, i selection from the sermons of Mr Alison, consisting will gradually sink, and then must stop for ever of those on the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, We rise from our meditations with hearts softenei and winter, was afterwards printed in a small and subdued, and we return into life as into a shadowy volume. scene, where we have disquieted ourselves in vain.' Yet a few years, we think, and all that now bless, [From the Sermon on Autumn.] or all that now convulse humanity, will also have perished. The mightiest pageantry of life will passThere is an eventide in the day-an hour when the loudest notes of triumph or of conquest will be the sun retires and the shadows fall, and when nature silent in the grave; the wicked, wherever active, will assumes the appearances of soberness and silence. It cease from troubling, and the weary, wherever sufferis an hour from which everywhere the thoughtless fly, ing, will be at rest. Under an impression so proas peopled only in their imagination with images of found we feel our own hearts better. The cares gloom; it is the hour, on the other hand, which in the animosities, the hatreds which society may have every age the wise have loved, as bringing with it engendered, sink unperceived from our bosons in sentiments and affections more valuable than all the the general desolation of nature we feel the littleness splendours of the day. of our own passions—we look forward to that kindrei Its first impression is to still all the turbulence of evening which time must bring to all-we anticipate thought or passion which the day may have brought the graves of those we hate as of those we lore. forth. We follow with our eye the descending sun Every unkind passion falls with the leaves that fall -we listen to the decaying sounds of labour and of around us; and we return slowly to our homes, and toil; and, when all the fields are silent around us, to the society which surrounds us, with the wish only we feel a kindred stillness to breathe upon our souls, to enlighten or to bless them. and to calm them from the agitations of society. If there were no other effects, my brethren, of such From this first impression there is a second which appearances of nature upon our minds, they would ! naturally follows it: in the day we are living with still be valuable--they would teach us humility, and men, in the eventide we begin to live with nature; I with it they would teach us charity. & |