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HARVEY Minister of the Free Church, aS'^ JoJinhj Newfoundlands St. John's, iV. F, Thomas McConnan. 1853. J. T. BuRTOK, Printkr. J r'/Art^ H37e KV nfP^ To THE REV. JOHN BONAR, Convener op the Colonial Committee OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, To WHOSE UNWEAUIED LABOURS AND PATERNAL CARS The Free Churches in the Colonies Are so deeply endebted, These pages are respectfully inscribed. -pj Ddri Hvored, the Pool wliii.'i h( views th moro ge young pc the subst fihort pan In an i be a useU to endeav understan heart. \1 the follow! but imperi St. Johi 18th J a3 s v_ PREFACE. .hort pamphlet. ° '""'"'■" "'"''" «"° «■«"« of* ^""^ age, such as this, when mind is so ,ct;v^ ,-, be a useless effort to commend the Bible Z 1! • ! """"" to endeavour to secure f„r ;>. 1 *° """""'' «»<' understanding. Td sTm^' I^^ f:^ -f: '"'° »"" heart We mu.t respect bofo^ete c n o e oIT-l'' the following tract is founded • and ?» „ff J ^ "'''* but imperfeftl, su^^^^'t.X X'^tjl ""'^'^''« St. John's, N. F 18th Nov., 1853. ^3^1^ J Pocti most pc Truth ai much } Poctry.- betweon influence Tcstamoi coptions Book.— ( readin CONTENTS. Poctiy of a Book.-Book3 rulo tho TOld.-Tbo Bibl. „ , "7 15«anty— Its Divinity and Humanity.-Why so Zt T^- '?. "'^ Biblc-Charactoristics of Ilcbre, I'oclry.-Insp.rauon an.l Office of tho Prophct.-Distinction intr"" , T' ""' l'"P''«'-T''o Book of ftaln,3,-u" ma. cnco and d,.ractcr.-Why so littlo Poetry in f.o Kow Toslament-Litcrary e.ccllenclos of tho Biblo.-JW copl,o„s regarding tho Bible.-Not a «ak or unroadabk frdinlonrBl'!' "*"'-^"'^""'-' -' ^-«-. m Erratum, In tlio 2nd page, Tth line— for « teachers of the grcat'^ road " teachers of the past." I the grcat)i JiOiulon can, at tliia momont n .. "^ ^ , * '^ '^ PC'^oa lu or I]russcls almo a ea 1 ' , : r?" '"^''•' ^/"'''"^^ '" ^^^'-''^ A.Kl wcro tl.0 uhisj cr n ' >^i,c ext Iwl^'l ? '1' *''' "^'-^'^ '•*^°'»- sage from Sj.h.ey wou U-oaoh T . '', ^"^''•"l''a. a nics- pose wo sl.ould hoar o' a ^''/ .'^°"^^^''^"'' J^ut then sup. coui. speak to th;^l:3^t^:^rIiofs :^'' "° ™'" «rO/l«;/m<^, thoiprhthevboi,rof).n , r^i '"''"' '^^^ t^>9 out on tho briad hcfav /b gV;' ' '.I?"^ '^'^''•'''' ^''^•^««~ of American or Austra bn f.? \ ^ "^ "f '''*"' '" '^•" <^<-'Pti.3 I'ovorberato in tho ears and hoMr^r. J ^ "'"^^ ^''^ voice had crumbled into ZtsLlfl T" ^^"^""cs after he graph a mere childS nLVr^ "°* pronounco tho tele- a diLover; l^s b "^^^^^^^ 'TV-^^^^^ "ith this ? Su4 mdo fronf old rag:i7tver"n^^^^^^ j^«- ""'"g bJthoand.o^il^laTbu^ ^^-"S'^^^ tU thin loaves they are scattoto^ . ., ^"*^''*^' ^"^ <^» «'ese and cottages, Lu conturts a^^^^^^^^ '''^'' P^^^^es is crumbled into dusrS ifflf . I ',^'''^ *''«' '"'^"^^ t'^em lovingly converlgtith lis^t h^'s o^ea^^ ^if T «"" Saul to tho°e.chantresn m^flj^;?^'^ f) '■11 V m 13 power ia her spell to bring Lack the dead. The shadp of the old Hebrew firophet stands before the King in stern and awful majesty ! Is there not something as wonderful almost accomplished now without enchantment by the magic of books. You walk into a well-filled library— there are the mighty dead ranged around— the poets, philosophers, historians— all the great thinkers and teachers of the great! It is a huf^o catacomb, where the great departed are embalmed and pre- served. They are not unwilling to be disturbed in their majestic repo.ie ; but, at a word, will gather round you, reveal their secrets, impart all their knowledge and converse with you as old familiar friends. You can call up Herodotus the venerable " father of history", and he will tell you how that strange old world looked, as seen through his eyes ; and how humanity employed itself, when he walked the earth. There are his thoughts and words,— but where the hand that wrote them ! And so too you can evoke the all-comprehending spirit of Shakespeare and glow over his magic creations ; or soar with Milton on his wing of gloom or grandeur- or sympathize with the gentle Cowper. Here are earth's real Kin'^3 and Heroes embalmed in their lofty mausoleums. A truly wonderful— nay, if we think of it deeply, an awful place is that where the great ones of the earth are lying in state ! Think again ho,ir powerful the sway exercised over the destinies of man by those apparently feeble things we name books. How they can gladden our fire-sides— wean us from the gnawing cares of life— charm us into smiles— teach us wisdom— preserve the discoveries of the human mind, and hand them down from generation to generation, so as to ren- der the return of barbarism an impossibility ! How they can shake kingdoms— overturn thrones — create revolutions- make despots tremble ! The ideas of great minds, which books diffuse among the mass of mankind, in point of fact, move the whole and rule the world. Divine wisdom, which always displays itself in selecting the best means to accom- plish the best ends, has employed this powerful agency to work out God's gracious purposes to man. In the Bible, "the book of books," we have the divine mind making itself visible, the thoughts of God taking form and embodiment in human language. This book therefore takes its place at the head of all literature, as being the incarnation of divine ideas ; and h; merel No" interc( saving adapte in evei fully. be the sistibly than tl] tories, and gos kindled employ* men ho complis; therefor power, r product! so captii all natio; endeavoi influence In ore to be — a embody that is to speak to dress his light, in c made the responds Why, in i one anoth wherever as it flashc glorious pi Why is thi curtains so cloud-drap V ..._^ he sliadp of n stern and jrful almost ;ic of books, the mighty torians — all .t is a huge 1 and pre- d in their you, reveal verse with rodotus the u how that 3 ; and Low th. There that wrote prehending eations ; or indour; or tarth's real leuma. A iwful place ; in state ! i over the s we name an us from —teach us mind, and as to ren- (V they can olutions — da, which it of fact, )m, which to accom- agency to he Bible, king itself )diment in ace at the ine ideas ; all other 8 and has influenced the huuian mind more than merely human productions. . Now since God has chosen a hook as the mcdi.im nf intercourse with us, as the means o? i ruTS land savmg us, wo miglit naturally expect to find that" book adapted to accomplish its object, and tWcfo e fiS m every respect, to sway the Ll of man mosfc joS '^t mt ;ott;;Sitoo,, ''%^ ''- n^'^^^^^ a ^- ho moonlit;;:?^^;. ^oZ^c:^^^:z than the Bible has ruled the tide of human action I^: * kindKi so„i„s-ooIo„,.a tl,:Sj, i ^ o'- lo int!2~ so caphvatod tho attention, or gained a place in tl^^a Lc-Jils of all nations who have had acces^to its Klowin- m'cs I ot .?f Mtro"'''f°"'"^' "" 0-°- "'' -«?' ot'iu ^:lz toJe-fKetlE'!,^'"r'=''' """•"' '''■" Goe it " book of books." So wisely and so wonderfully has God mingled the human and tho divme in this universal book. Is there not in this respect a striking point of resemblance between the book and him who is the great subject of it — tho God-man, at once divine and human, — our brother according to the flesh, and therefore endeared to us and able to sym- pathise with us, because tried and tempted as we are ? IJo became a perfect Saviour through sulternig — by becoming one of our race, a true and perfect man. And so the Bible is fitted to our wants, by being at once human and divine, Suppose that it had been otherwise, and that, instead of humanizing his thoughts, God had written the whole Bible as the ten commandments were written, on tables of stono, with his own hand, and sent it down, without human inter- vention, directly from heaven ; who does not see that in such a case, though it nii'^ht be awe-inspiring, yet it could not come home to our hearts, win our affections, and become the household book, the staff of our declining years, the sweet comforter in the hour of loneliness and sorrow, the friend of youth and age that it now is ? God, therefore, has adopted the form of revelation best suited to bring home the ever- lasting truths he Avished to impart to our feelings, and to our hearts. The Bible is thus man's book as well as CJod's. If these principles bo correct they will furnish an answer to the question, why has God given us so much of the Bible in the form, of poetry ? It must strike every reflecting mind as remarkable, that so many books of the Bible are'cast in the poetic mould. Without mentioning the poetic fragments •which, like " orient pearls,'' are scatceied through the his- toric portions,, we can point to the book of Job as being wholly a grand poem ; the psalms we all reckon poetry ; Solomon'3 Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs — nearly the whole of Isai under IV^ew : to ace faculty Sine tliunde in the 1 to conv order t their fc natural forcible thofie m ings an( can spoi so fitted How wo sweet w( of millioi human i nations s most pot genuine great woi guiding t which str sound th again we of the bes Still fa; feeling tei ings of ou deeply mo striken or tion is big] must creal emotions o must have when the s eternal spl feelings' and ! it as divine aliens. Wo lips at once Vie feel that our warm and place it God for the So wisely an and the resemblance ct of it — tho ?r according ible to sjm- 3 are ? IJo y becoming so the Bible and divine. , instead of vhole Bible les of stone, uman inter- that in such it could not become the the sweet he friend of las adopted ! the ever- and to our God's. 1 an answer f the Bible !Cting mind ! cast in the fragments igh the liis- 5 as being on poetry; V the whole u!ioA ^•.^'•^''^''^^"^ ^^'' '"'"°^' prophets comes under ho same designation ; while the closing book of tho ^e^y lestaraent is highly poetic in structure. How are we Since, as we Lave seen^ God has not spoken to us in thunder tones from Sinai, nor sent down a revelation wrtten in the language of the third heavens, but " moved holy men" to convey las will, it follows that these inspired men muTt^n thetf dl'' "*'"'^''^^'' '^'''' '^'^ forms of^utterancet^hich then ie low-men were accustomed. Still farther, we migh ?orc;[ft.rf ''* '^f- ^°^'^ ^''^^'''' ^-^"Id "S« the S torcible, s n king and impressive forms of human speech those most likely to arouse the attention, captivate the feei: ings and move the heart. Now of all forms in wh ch man can speak the thought that is heaving his own bre.4 nonTk so fitted to anest the attention powerfully as that of poetr^^ How world-Wide the influence of the true poet! HoThis swee words re-echo for centuries through the huts and ha s pfmilhonsofmen, and move all hearts? He understood numan nature well who said "give me ihe makin' of a nations songs and I care not who makes their laws.'^ The most potent of all who bear sway over the human spi -it is the genuine poet If then the EiWe was to be fittedfo he great work of moving the world, -moulding men's minds and guiding their conduct, it must not neglect the use of that which struck the deepest cord in the human heart; it mus sound the poet's lyre if the world is to follow after. Hero again we see divine wisdom displaying itself in tho selection of the best means to accomplish the end in view. btill farther,— poetry is always the form in which Btron<> feeling tends to embody itself. The deepest and tenderes F cl? ings ot our nature find utterance in song. Whether we ii^ deeply moved with sorrow or joy, rage or terror ; whether awe- striken or passion-tost, the lan^uag? of rhe excited imaoinl tion IS highly figurative, and therefore poetic. Strong fedfn. must create poetry And conceive, for a moment, what rapt emotions of awe and pity^of terror, wonder and adoratii must have swept through the souls of the Hebrew S^^^ when he spirit of inspiration moved them, and visions Tf tho eternal splendours broke in upon them, and they felt « ho I : ifi 8 . burden of the Lord" laid upon them, and woe be unto tlrcm if they refused to bear it! No wonder that, in such circum- stances, their words are sometimes as battles—deep, earnest as death itself! No wonder that they reject the cold forma ofcalm speech, and find vent for their billowy emotions in thesublimest flights of imagination! With deep burning thoughts in their hearts, and dealing with the great realiticH of man s destiny, we could not conceive of their language being the quiet and measured speech of every-day wfe. Hence the gifts of poetry and prophecy were so often com- bined m the same person. The poet's imagination alono could body forth, in meet form, the glowing thought kindled by the inspiration of the Eternal in the prophet's breast. Ihe prophets of the Bible are on this account so frequently endowed with the poetic faculty. Great thoughts must have an impressive utterance. Cold prose would have been but a poor vehicle for the surging thoughts of a fiery -eyed seer charged with heaven's commission, and full of clowin<' earnestness. ° As an instance illustrative of the difference in power be- tween prose and poetry as a mode of utterance, and at the same time of the fact that deep emotion seeks expression in the poetic form, we might refer to David's Elegy over Saul and Jonathan. Even as related by the historian, the story itselfis most affecting. The moody, dark-souled Saul, so rash, daring, and full of fiery life and energy ; passionate yet capable of much generosity and kindness ; subject to the evil spirit ^of rage and revenge by turns, but swayed too by music s witching power into woman's gentleness and tender- ness—is a man, on the whole, not entirely unlovely, and, with all his faults and sins, draws our regard and pity towards him. And then the generous, loving Jonathan, so unselfish and devoted in his attachment, perishing tragically but gloriously with his guilty parent, awakens even a deeper interest. Even in plain prose the tale touches the most in- sensible heart. But hark ! a deeper, higher note is struck ; the poet with his eye of melting pity and tenderness looks Upon the scone ; the chords of the soul are swept by a mas- ter s hand ; and the soft wail breaks from David's harp over the good and brave who had fallen in battle. « The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places ;— how are the mighty fallen, compa It eml remen magic Ag of Bil remari its Goi very so relief, 1 revolve Hence its una] God in great w Archite univers< around which I " waxed lasting. is the vc God of I the ceda storm is wind." scatterec His ; for ocean is an Omni] ment int( or Kome. with the '. pleasure, poet-prop the melod lofty ima^ making G Hence th< Deity. 1 unto tlrcm if such circuni- ieep, earnest ) cold forma ' emotions in leep burning peat realities} nv language ery-day life. 5 often corn- nation alono ugLt kindled bet's breast. 10 frequently ts must have ) been but a ry-eyed seer of glowing n power be- and at the expression in y over Saul m, the story ed Saul, so issionate yet i to the evil lyed too by and tender- lovely, and, pity towards 30 unselfish igically but n a deeper be most in- I is struck ; mess looks fc by a mas- 8 harp over rhe beauty the mighty 9 fallen," &c. No elegy, of ancient or modern times, can Le compared mh th.s death-dirge, in soft and mouS beauty It embalms the memory of Gilboa's slain for everlasS of ^T^fh?!"^ *\*'"' ^^ *^^ °f "^® "^o''® Striking peculiarities tJ.tu ^'fy "^^^ "'* ^« uninteresting! ^ The mos? remarkable characteristic of this portion of reve ation L Its Grod-pervaded character. It is this that ronlritn • very soul and essence, and makes ft s and our^n ll •'*' relief, from all other poetry, tl at t cln^oslLu tc!!? revolves around Him,indii full of a se^^^^^^^^^^ gt^oEL^cSj^ wK\"'V,'".^'Sr^"* ^y ^l"«h ^e see Hir'^a^nd 'Wd^d^'w^h-!' n'^- ^;^^^^^P '""^ ^'^^ aside, iaving lasTfnl qtf T. '/^' '' \^' '*™' ^''"^ everlasting to ever- astmg. Ihat thunder-psalm, pealed from the Hnrt X, i the oedf™ o^tt;' is .J««:„t;' e;ftf .cattejed b^ His hand. TU,.lcT' th % cH .H' ! Hi3 ; for the earth is only "rich bv ffia hk.!w;„"" -n, ocean is but the mirror of His toL if ! „.*'?'»«■ -f ''« »n Omnipresent God te Mfe'^aTpoe ;Vf'' h " Wei"'' the melodies of the upper sanctuary, bent all the powerTof kfty .magmations and profound intellects to the graSd end of makmg God known to man, and lifting up mfn to God Hence thejr poetry is holy-a reflection %f ?he awfu^^faco of Deity. The divine element pervades the whole. >:'il V i 10 Is not ti»i3 tho very clement wo so much want in nim^u jvuh our own life in this nineteenth cenTu -^ N"" We wantt feel more deeply the sonso of a present, personal God -o behold 1 .m „. all things, and all ivents i'n H m For alTs? he sad disease of our age is that it " has forgotten God '' Life ,s no longer, as to these Hebrew men, a sfcred thine • human dest.ny s not felt to be grand and awful, duty does oteina . What with our mammon-worship and sore scramhll or nches as the one thing needful, we have got to fa^cv thfs morHriT' '^°^^' '" ''^''''^' ^-^ fi'^d ourselves Hvingm Sn>or \T^^ ^,^,'>rJ<-shop, a great mart for buy n|and stl mg, or a huge stall where we may eat and sleep, lleli- u Lo'?L"n'j-'''''^' our every-day life-docs not^go^ h us nUo the ordmary employment and render all sacred-does e tiT:? Hh " ff'rr'"'^ ^^•ith the earthly. Heaven seem To n eielva nn 5 r."' ' -"^ ''^'Sion is too often resorted maZ^tiri\.^'''*° ^"''' conscience, or as a means of escapmg tie eternal consequences of wron--doine How o£suSt*'re"'^T? '^ °^^" ^^^- -iked'i:^ ctoimty s light, "seeing Him who is invisible !'» Life was we eve" rS^^r ''"" ' ?"' ''''^''^ ' life-elemt^t hit \ fi ^"y^^'"S great or good, it must be by cettins foiM^' h'^ ^T''''^^ *'^^"g^ not in the sa^^H^eb ew ttditioi! ^^1!? "^'^k"^ ''*'^'°". ^ ^'^'^"S spirit-not a dead tmh tion Let us by CDmmunion with their writings seek *ratik':i&^^^^^^ '' *^'- -" -^- ^iKt Another striking characteristic of the Hebrew poetry is its umversahty, and consequent adaptation to the mindYo? a men ot whatever country or colour. It is singular to find ha poetry, written two or three thousand yearfaJo in a lTnJin"''""P''il"' r"*''^' ^«« ^''^ translated Into aU languages, read by all nations, and is readily understood and tbe'n'inir'f Vf"' ''^\'' ^^ ""• ''"^^ iSnSer III tne ilindoo,---the African and the Laplander —the inhX itant of the Eastern and Western World-men of the fir^^ and the nineteenth century, can all enter S L spirit et^,K ^'f^^'T'''" no extensive course of traSto S n onT *\J,"^^^^*^«d /ts figures, allusions anTyfv d desciiptioas. How comes it that Old Testament song is thus univer Weca influeii of the infiucn the ser land ; I sooner the coi be mod that m( betweoi stern fc of a Pc Palestir aspects, chose fc world, a municat riches a whose w tine is a were, of may be ; rounded breaks ir of Jordai enclosing wood-cov flocks, gl scenes lie barren ; eternal g mornings eastern n the lamps at midnig eagle soai Here food shadow ai thirsty det V .,.__,^,. ant to mingle We want to nal God,--to . For alas ! ;otten God." icred thing; ; duty does 3r the death lore scramble to fancy this es living im- • buying and leep. lleli- not go with acred — docs iaven seems 'ten resorted J a means of oing. How walked in ' Life was lement. If } by getting oe Hebrew -not a dead itings, seek whole life ooetry is its ninds of all ular to find ago, in a i into all irstood and lander and the inhab- f the first ^Q spirit of training to and vivid ong is thus 11 wi'!r'l'""''"i^? ^' '' ^'^••* f^^ *^c whole human family ? We can trace, at least, one secondary cause of this in the influence of the climate and scenery of Judea upon he mS of the sacred poets. External nature exerts a very powS nfluence upon the minds of all, but especially on LS of 17 k"?. '^''^'J'" ^^g^'^'"'- A poet may be bornTany and ; but his productions will be largely^ tinged by the cenery among which he lives, and the ^pects oT nature in be n,.Tfi J K* It ^'f'' ^^^ ^-^^^^ '^'^ of 1"« thought wU tharmopM • ^ "'' ^ wT '' Sayety, the shadows or funshine that meet his eye. What a wide diversity, for example sterrfoVt " rf ^ grandeur of an Ossian, Liliar She ofTp.?. ? , "''*"''°.?*'^'^^y »0't^' and the rich glow PaLf- J'',^'",^"'^^*^^^^^^^^ of the south! Now asne ctrthe fitt r^'' ^'V^" ''' '^^'''' ^^^^^^^ ^"^ outward aspects, the fittest nurse for a universal poet. Just as God choso for Israel, through whom he meant to influence the world, a country the most central and best adapted for com! mumcation with east and west, so he fitted that land in Us riches and diversities of Bcener^, to form a race of ioets whose words would be world-wid; in their influence. Pale tine IS a sort of epitome of the whole world-a museum asit were of creation. The productions of almost alcouitres may be met with there, and specimens of all climates. Sur! rounded by burning parched deserts on the south and east it breaks mto an the rich loveliness of the tropics inXvaf^^^^ of Jordan. Here the rugged vine-clad hills kiss the cloud? wood ^nf '""a^''' ^'/T *^^ ^°^^"^«* ^^J««' flower-decked and n rf/ ' ^"'^ ^^^'^ tho rich plain, with its browsing flocks, gladdens the eye. The dreariest and the lovXs? barl Vn^'i^^^'^'-*^^"^^^^' ^«d the most savagely barren; till the slopes of Lebanon, in the north, with its eternal snow crown the whole. And then those brieht mornings m that « clime of the sun," and tLrgorgeous eastern mghts, so brilliant with « the poetry of helvli"- the lamps hung up m the streets of the city of God ! There at midnight was heard the lion's roar ;-and there too the eagle soared ! Here was a « meet nurse for a poetic chUd ' stTnw lr"^t^°' *^? imagination ! Storm^nd cZ- SL! 8 unshme-nver and forest-Bnow-clad peak and fcbirsty desert, all here; and thus from nature in all h^r ■s«": ^i 12 changing moods, the poet could draw, so that men of every clime and country could understand Lis glowing speech, as well as that of their own poets. And thus when God touched the heart of these great and good men with the fire from oft" his altar, he placed them iu the hcautiful land of Taleatine, as on an exalted platform, from which they mir^ht address the populations of the world ; and he spread out at -heir feet all the treasures of nature, that they might gather flowers from all, to weave a glorious garland for the brow of Jehovah. And nobly have they accomplished their task. Their picture- language, drawn from the whole of creation, has found the world for an audience ; and is at once understood in arctic or antartio, temperate or torrid zone. So wonderfully and so wisely has the Bible been '^ made for man." Another feature of Old Testament poetry, and one which constitutes its greatest charm, is its intense hopefulness. It is bright with the rainbow tints of hope. With beaming eye and eager hand, it is erer pointing to a brighter and better future ; and wavmg man onward to nobler heights than he has yet reached. In the midst of the deepest darkness there are ever the rosy tints of joy-bearing morning breaking in, and at " even-tide it is light." The woes and sufferings of the present are not eternal ;— comfort thee then weary one, weeping is but for a night. See already the morning breaks, the shadows flee ; and soon '^ thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself ; for ihe Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning Ishallbe ended." buch is the general strain of Hebrew song — hopeful, buoyant, cheering, and ever pointing to the future. Nor is it difficult to account for this. We have had bards of hope ancient and modern, but who could sing of it in such heart-thrilling strains as the Hebrew seer, whoso vision God had strengthened to look across the gulf of time — to penetrate the gloom of centuries, and afar off to discern him who was " the desire of all nations" — " the hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof." These old bright-eyed bards had climbed the mountains of prophecy ; and, long before their fellows, they had discovered the long-looked for Messiah, who was to restore man to God, break the prison-bars of sin, and bring back the bliss of Eden. No wonder they should break forth into rapturous struns, enough to make <' the little hills rejoioo their ii raptiin there a such vi They 1 above t spirit ness is is baski witlihoh mere dr a certaii founded laud wa; beautifu race ho have bea her bosoi son givei that evcM On this ( centuries death. ! and henc( harp. B thera, anr dious. I poet-prop] the overti In exat with the Beauty is only as it on the peb The beauti at once we mere worsl with the po ment, the f he clothes it men of every ving spcecli, as !n Ciod touched he firo from ofi' id of ralestine, ^^ht address the it :heir feet all 3r flowers from w of Jehovah. Their picture- has found the )od in arctic or lerfully and so md one which pefutneas. It I beaming eye jr and better ighta than ho darkness there ; breaking in, d suflcrings of then weary ' the morning shall no more ; for the Lord thy mourning n of Hebrew (ointing to tho is. We have I could sing of w seer, whoso gulf of time — to discern him i of Israel and d bards had before their Messiah, who irs of sin, and should break he little hills rejoloo on every side" and " nil m,^ * ^ , their harula." No Lndo • M ' *'"''' ^^ "'« ^^rest clap rapture ut tho vSu ot" M ss t. IT-' ^^"-"'^^ ^^""^ ^vZ there are such gleams of go ^^ vornll'th"^" '' "^ 7^"^^^ Huch vision or the tutiiro ov< / Z^U '"* ' ""^^^^ • ^'^^ They behold '' the u'^n :; o?' "£r> ''"'^'•^ '^'^''^ ' above the raountain.V'-.oarth if ,| 7^. ',^?'*' ^-^'^'ted spirit of love is every whrre-Avlr^^^ ^"°'' ''^^aven-the ."t'ss is running a. a Hvir anlS !,''"^'^'~'''«^^«<^"s- ".basking in the smi ^of^ho AI „t ^'1'!!' ^^^^ 'oveliness withhold himself at viLnV Hkc^S' ^ T'''' ^^^'^ ''^^^ niero dream of tho iina-inationfr '''''' '^^ ^^'^ ^ a certainty rooted m^rfi'm ^^ T'' '^^«I^^-it was founded on tho promise of (]oT i? *''' everlasting hiJI,, laud was to be the birtt ce'; ,^.^'1' "^'?'-f'/^«i'- own loved beautiful language ho was1o sne^k ("T^ ' ^" ^^''^' ^^^n race he should b'^e born How^ e t v i'o.r'.''^'-^^ ^^^^'^ have beat high, for possibly the chiM«r>''' ^''^'^ ^^^^ her bosom may be - i;^ hone' ' ' M "^'??/' ^^"^'^^ to son given." Thus Judea was the I.;;;?/' ohdd born-the ^lat ever gladdened the pr sobblf t °^^!~?' '^"fe'^'t^sc On this divino hopo its So hon ?"i ^''^'\.^^ humanity, centuries, and calmly hid doir-l ''T ^'^'^ ^^r ion- death. This was the's uL S^^^^^^^^ ^" *^« Pi"ow o1 and honco too the loudest notes tt ^F P*^"' ^^'P'-aise j harp. Bright visions of "f^l • '^'''^^'^^ ^''^^ l>avid'a the£, and madJ'S hurts' uSrid'tr' '''''' ^^^'- dious. High and holy was thl m;=«- • *^'*"' ''''^'^'ns melo- poel.prophe1s to sinfof To e's br HiL?''" *' '^''' g^'^ed the overture in the |rand OratorL of r'^ "'^"^l^-to perform .In examining the°poetrv of th?« f.^''^'°'P^'°"- w.th the deep /..r^X^, ^ tha ''i/' ?^' ^^ ^^^"^'k Beauty is subordinate to truth In Iff ^ '^^'^'' *^« whole, only as it were incidentallf~Hk« of ^'^'' ' ""^^ ^^^^^ea out, on the pebbly beach, or ^^1/^"^ T'' '' ''' ^^^^^s' Thei.a«.'ial drapery of tliinjis, and has soon that all thin;jrs tcnijioral rest upon and n)ii)-:lo with tiio eternal — that tho material dej ends on tlie pj iritual, and all on (iod. llo comes forth, therefore, into the high- ways of tho worhl and preaches of sin, duty, immortality, (Jod. llo appeals to tho conscience ; tho poet to tho imagination. llo has the poet's glowing eye ; but adds tc it tho projhot's earnest perception of duty, high as heaven, deep as hell ; and would make his fellows lovo and practice tho right, and shun and hato tho wrong. An illustration may make this distinc- tion clearer. " Consider," said tho Great Teacher, " tho lilies of Iho field, they toil not neither do they spin ; and yet, I say unto you that oven Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like ono oftheso." That was a deep, poetic glanco into tho divinely beautiful ; beholding more of that element in the lily's delicikte tints than in all tho gorgeous magnificence of Solomon's court. How beautiful, after all, must bo this ruggodcanh, with her huge ribs of rock, and cloud-cajiped mountains, and hoarsely-resounding seas, and blustering winds, to produce and nourish so fair a child as the little lily of the vale — to cherish it so tenderly on her rough breast ! That is the poet's glance, liut the divine man does not rest satisfied with awakening admiration for the beautiful ;— this liurable flower he connects with God and man, and from it discourses the loftiest of sermons. " If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is and to-morruvv :;; cir'^t into the oven, will he not mucl) more clothe you, yp of httlo faith?" To tho poetic is added tho deepe • '..u\ \' civment. Thus it is all through the poetry of the Bible. A deep religious purpose predominates throughout ; and highest truth io wedded to glowing beauty. It is difficult, if not impossible, to define in words that ^^Y?t riovis. divine influence named inspiration, which stirred r, ' soul >f the prophet. This much seems clear, and should ba 10 VS-. satisfactory — that it was no mere result of human ;;oniu3, and m who re impulse was one in a sta hut the c.;;i!o uj ■^O'lie til pcd blustering ic little lily gh breast! )es not rest tii'ul ; — this uid from it clotho the is ci^'^t into 'ft 0* littlo il c!«.incnt. >. A deep ghest truth ^ords that lich stirred and should of human U Xomu9, or cxalt-d slate of tho natural faculties I.nf . ■ i in a .,t ih. n •'• • ; l''"ir ''^' ""'<-'^'' I'o was not ever after but must robo itself in Imnn „ ^^'","^'''^ ^^ '^"'^"^ ly -commissioned ; and " thus sailu Z T „ J- ^ T" '""'^•'°- :nIpaQ man ♦l,,.4. r<-j _ * ... '" press on "thei7iwn V^ 'ZV^r'' ^^''T ^"^* ^ ^^^P ^^' ^"ter them-ut?ered word?fbn/ '' ^^^r ^^'^ generations ingless-that a e souS. sfi i"i:l ''i ^'"'"f J"^^"" and Leartq of Tn«n r ^^ V . . churches and homes men werthet^ propreJs-^?^,' olThf T^ ^1' '^^^'^- eagle eye"— the Great Wnnfff^ J^^ ^'°" heart and tions. They feared Gocrifff?' °^*1?^ ^"d of all na- Tho. do noSir A tz^i^:^:j:^ i p 16 to rebul^e their godlessness. The liypocrlsy of priest and ruler thoj lay bare ; and preach repentance in the name of the Most High. The church and the world continually re- quire men coming " in their spirit and power" to reform and revive. Our brief limits do not permit farther reference to the characteristics of Hebrew poetry. Itg connexion with the great events recorded in the history of the Jewish nation such as the creation, the deluge, the emancipation from' Egyptian bondage— all instinct with poetry, would form a very interesting study ; while its form, distinguished by the name oi paralellism, is well worthy of investigation. Passin-' over these topics, we prefer directing attention, in a few brie? remarks, to one portion of Old Testament poetry, that be- yond all doubt has taken by far the deepest hold upon the human heart, and been most employed in the exercises of religion— namely the book of Psalm'j. We might name the book of Psalms, the hymnoIo<^y of the ancient church— the poetry of her devotion ; or tharform in which her inspired ones expressed their own rapt feclincrs of awe, reverence, gladness and praise. Praise, no less than prayer, seems to be the natural language of man's heart Whether the soul is throbbing with feelings of love and gratitude to the Creator— or gazing upon his glorious works with rapture ; or looking down with trembling awe into the depths ofits own mysterious being— these deepest emotions ot the heart gush out in song ; and taking music as a noble accompaniment, form a part, equally edifying and deli'^htful as prayer, m the worship of God. Such is the origin of that form of sacred poetry we name Psalm. It is devotion robintr itselt in the beautiful drapery of poetry. ° It would be difficult to over-estimate the influence those sacred hymns of the Hebrews must have exerted over the hearts and lives of the people, throughout their whole exist- ence as a nation. More even than all their sacrifices, cere- inonies and religious festivals, must these religious odes have kindled and kept alive the flame of devotion in millions of hearts. If it be true that the songs of a nation sway the heart of the whole more than any other agency, it is equally true that the hymnology of a church exerts a deeper influence than all else over the religions life of its members. Doctrinal disquis with tl most ( colours }>aiisori who wi Tlie amoii'v view. heritag which 1 'lO chu lioly inl These a divine p in whiel balm for tlie days religion lowly vii sweet ly heart tc where t that onc( is soundi lips still ; to the he divine th heart of 1 gling upv gratitude soul find recorded expressed struggUnj of three t ture, so h the humai men of a i instance c of a small f priest and the name of mtinually re- reform and •ence to the ion with tho iwish nation, ipation from iould form a ished by the )n. Passing n a few brief ry, that be- old upon tho exercises of lology of the that form in )t feelings of 10 less than nan's heart. )f love and rious works iwe into the ist emotions as a noble d delightful rigin of that otion robing uence those ed over the vhole exist- ifices, cere- 3 odes have millions of 1 sway the t is equally er influence Doctrinal 17 most directly; clLrto tl^ ' '* reaches the heart colours the lii^^o^deep,vAT.^^^^ ""''' '^'''^y'^ «"^» parison. Give us the mS'n/p f ^"', V' '''^^' ^" com- ivho .ill fram^W a'rticts ofbet? ^'"^'^ '^^''■^' ^^ ^«' ^^^:fSi:^2::'^tlf'' '"' ^f psalms/not view/ These ps:irt:' ^Ire^p^^^^ ot'o' ^^f ™^ "''^ lientage of the human family iLfTsL'Tf '"'-".'« ^vhich ior three thousand years in all 1 / ^ang«age m ^'^ church has been pouri'ngTuVbi'souTlo'Go^^ IvJT' liolym(erest thus fathers arnm^Vl Vv. u^' ^^^'^'^ These are the strains bwLh til ?''" Hebrew Psalms! divine praises anHoared on tvnln'^'°'-" r'^'^' ^«"g t^e in which they found France fn.T • ""'"« *"? '^^^ ^^'^^^^ ' balm for their sorrow ThSlrln'f "^^^ '^°^^*'°» ««d a the days of its beal, ra-ecS t^f T^^M ^°.^^«^°"' *» religion ; and througl/ Judea's 1^1 '*! ?'l ^'%^ ^^^""^ '^ losvly vine-clad cotta-e S mi i , ^^ ]f''' ^^°^ «>any a sweet lyrics of devotroawaLr^n^r.^"^^^ "^f "''""' *'>^«o l^eart towards hl'ven S'^M ol T',' "^' ''^^ ^^ '^^^ where the father Cshinpel" tZ '"'^ '^f" ^'^"^ ^'^^^'^ that once made its a-rhes S . V °'^ ',^"* *^'^ ^^^Im, is sounding ihrou'h the hnr'f f 'f ^"f' ^^'''^ "°<= ^^^d : i lipsstill;i^h7slatediH '?'* ""'^ ^'"^'^ ^'^« l^"«nan to the heart as ever He e :^:°"i^- V''"V'^' ^"^ ^« «^ ^^^r divine thoughtsrburnint oris Zf^""^''^'' ^^""^^ <^''^^- struggling to ut er Hnw ?> f^"^^^' *^' ^^^^^ t^^ins it is of tlfree thousand years Ho: «' T'"''^- ''''''^ ^^'^ ^'--^ck ture, so hoary wiU^an cmitv ^r".' f ''"*'" *^^-^">' ^i^^ra- the human mind Al \5' "".• '^ *° "'^^'" » ^^o^d upon men of a newage, a^d is buS w-^^T^'"' r'''-8''''^o instance can be'adduced to he ll tp^""'^' ^' ^'''^^'^ Of a small rude nation btclL^:. Z ?:;^-;:rand 'd 18 a -'•ti.-r^ ^er m every sh sacrifices, ) other lands ; ier and wider lest and most And, at this Greenlander e red men of ds, and the ^e all thrilled centuries, in ail through intheus have prayer from could think spiritual and d just as a it increases, the religious t appears in ipair — in its 'e described spirit in its titully does ittlo book of ho may bo pply to his ere for his press them they are." his book an an emotion represented lower of all both more ason of the timers des- Scripture." odies from ire for all 19 men and all worshippers — not IomI nr i;r«:*«j • x. • from ever ast nf^ to evp>-l'iS« "«d«r of thy insignificance fGrelre^^^^^^^^^^^ "" '' ^ ''"'' that spirit of thinorobedTnl^^^^ ""' «*^^« " own Son is no iLcrediWe ale ^ ^«L ^^^ ''^'"^V^^^ by God's more than all thrown ItVm:!.^^^^^^^^^^ *'^ ^^^^*-^« tiie grandest thing eyer written with :»C Hi 20 pen" says one of our greatest literary critics, presents a noble subject of study to the christian and the schoiar Isaiah and the other prophets offer a most invitin.' field of investigation ; but we prefer occupying our brief r''emainli..r space with one or two thoughts on the poetry of the New lestament. The two volumes of the Old and New Testaments present a very striking contrast, in a literary point of view This however, is nothing more than we might expect. The a^os in which they were produced were strikingly different "^A mighty change had passed over Judea and the Jens durin- the long interval that elapsed between the days of Isaiah and Paul. Nineveh and Babylon were entombed- the Assyrian empire had been swallowed up; the- Persian monarchy had sunk in ruins ; a new power had grown up m'ld spread its huge arms from the seven-hilled city. Pome was supreme, and her iron hand had grasped Judea; her laws governed it, and her ideas and civilization were maduallv leavening society. Grecian and Poman phiiosoplfy had to some extent, influenced the Jewish mind. In these altcJod circumstances the New Testament had birth. Upon con- trasting It with the old, we find that while the bulk of the latter is prophetic and poetic in strucu;re, the latter is al- most entirely historic and didactic. The coming of Messiah— the great event for which the old dispensation prepared the way— seems to have " struck the muses dumb." One mieht have expected, before hand, that the appearance on earth of the Great Deliverer would have awakened strains of trium- phant rapture, such as never before thrilled the human heart • and that some Christian Isaiah would havo sung as joyously of the "childborn" as he whose time-worn ey's saw his day through the mist of centuries. But, strange to say, the harp of udah IS almost silent. The New Testament has no book of Isalms-notlnng to compare with Job in richness of imagination ;_and only the closing book recalls the gorgeous visions of Isamh. _ How are we to account for this ; sieing that the same Jewish mind, and the same beautiful land gave birth to both volumes ? We may not be able to answer such a question fuly, but we may possibly conjecture something approaching towards the truth. ° One bute of feeling. exDccta • awakens is unfav main fac awaken than his tion of a than tha the hea adopted, mind, un that the In adc which th' were Go( mercy in salvation Lord's lif they had in the fac like earnt message, Their par The mosi story — th would nat see them their gosp account f Leisure, r poem. is eraphati closes the fact, as ha enacted po embodied, t he Go d-m ♦ Edinbur s, presents a tho scholar. iting field of ief reuiainiiijj; of the New ncnts present view. Tills, t. The different. ages Jews during ys of Isaiah tombed ; the tljo Persian jrown up and . l?ome was lea ; her laws re gradually Jophy had, t(; these altered Upon con- bulk of the latter is al- af Messiah — prepared tlie One might e on earth of ns of trium- uman heart ; as joyously I saw his day iay, the harp has no book richness of the gorgeous this ; seeing *ul land gave answer such :e something 21 One main element in poetry is hove.. This beinHfni .** • t^:i '''^^ ^'^ ^' "^^'?^- -- p-'" «!"*„; he; teelmg Ihe fu ure is man's immemorial hvmn '' Thn expectation, therefore, of any important eve t invariablv awakens more poetic strains than its actual adv^nf '"^ p"^,?y f„I? .k ^-^ • ° "'»"''»■•. in expectation, would natnrallv than h,s actual appearance. For keeping alive theeTMcta trnl:t'o7po:;r":!::p;t^ aT-fr" ^'^-«- ^^^ Ih. heart, li^l, itTaj b^ h ISt'T-'"'''?"? '° adopted ,0 largely,' thi, mLs 'of n£' n°' iXlZ m,nd under the Old Mapcnsation ; but r cln a,il see that the same conditions did not exist under the Kew ^ .hl\|^'X,'i^,r^::-s*^^^^^^^ 3^dSh^::rt£-^zSi^H The,r part was rather to act a great poen than t^o ZT^' Leisure, reflecfon and quietude are needed to producT^h« closes the volume with the glories of t^^f Z a'lv "e In faet, as has been truly sud, "the New TcftTment Lfall of enacted poetry-not written or enunciated/'- The "„t"f ■ m 22 wor'k-nr Toi, 1 °''^°'^''"' *'"««''' S^'^^'^r the heroic worker. He ^yho does a great work is greater than he who onljr describes It; and his T>ork is greater than the poem founded on ,t. So the divine life atd work of Jesus~hS victory over siu and death-hig spotless humanity and perfect fZj7^'\^T' '''^ ^""'f'"'^ ''''' ^"« people redeemed- form the most glorious of all enacted poems. We feel not he want of the poet's creations, while'we have thes U^^^^^^ realities to converse Avith. "'^"wi Still the poetic element is not altogether wantin<^ in the New Testament. The birth of Messiah awoke the riumber- jng harp of Judah, and drew forth, at least in three instances hymns of praise worthy of the great occasion. The sonr^g of Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah-short but rapturous^u?- burstg of praise-breathe the very soul of gratitude, and are not unworthy the best days of Hebrew song. The harp of Judah, silent for centuries, is once more struck to welcome the new-born King ; and then, as though its task were done, Its strings are snapped asunder in this final effort, and we hear it no more. Sweet are the parting notes from this dear harp whose strains had thrilled million? of hearts. Like the morning star, it « melts away into the light of heaven » leaving, not darkness, but a flood of increasing radiance These short anthems are the only specimens of pure poetry to be found m the gospels ;-so sparingly does song mingle with the simple, earnest story of the evangelists. But then may Aye not trace the poetic element throughout the gospels- mingling in them liko some bright golden thread, and adding beauty to truth ? In the discourses and parables of hf Saviour we can often discern the poetic feeling of him who uttered them. Possessed as he was of " a trul body and a reasonalle soul; m virtue of his perfect humanity, Ve may we 1 believe that tlie intellectual liohcs of that « soul" Avero of the highest order : and we have evidence in the poetic gloAv that constantly breaks forth in the midst of his moraS- courses, robing truth in beauty, that one of the highest en- dowments of humanity was not wanting. Wo d seem the same quahty in the writings of the apostles ; but on ^3 we cannot dwell, farther than to remark, that in the Apo a ypse we meet panoram spirit, fit J-eavi two of th the book 33ible noi did it no not, with and attet the disco The migl iucontrov Consid not of on( not of a si minds. '' ferent boc authors, ^ hundred work, was orders of i poets, pro and an ac< singularly regard to yet, Strang unity, — h3 contradicti single min( diversity. a part wou a parallel. Cathedral, mense num lay beam o out seeing i standing av finishing sti in all its m that there y obed in human ter the heroic »r than he who lan the poem of Jesus — his itjr and perfect redeemed — We feel not 3 these higher anting in the ! the slumber- ree instances, The songs of apturous out- tude, and are The harp of : to welcome ik were done, ffort, and we tes from this learts. Like of heaven," idiance. fpure poetry song mingle But then, he gospels—- 1, and adding tbles of the of him who body and a lity, we may ' soul" were s poetic glow 3 moral dis- hightst en- discern the t on this we Apocalypse 23 we meet once more with the poet's words of fire, and the panoramjc visions of the prophet ; and a book, poitio in its spirit, fitly closes the volume of revelation. fJ;7r^*l'^P°'^''^'*^*^^'™'^' ^«* "s glance at one or two ot those literary excellencies which have aided in civing the book so powerful a hold upon the human mind Ilfd hf mt Tot^Z ^'ir^ ^^ "^^" '^ S^««* intellectual power ; did it not possess literary merit of the highest order, it could and aTtonT' " Tn'^'' \T '' ^^°S commanded thVrepet th« rWn • '^ fV'^'^^^ and kept its place in the midst of tie discoveries of science and the advances of philosophy Iho mighty sway it has wielded, and continues to 3 ii iucontrovertible proof of its power as a book ' Consider the mode of its composition. It is the literature no of one period, but of many ages ; it conta ns the houlhte* mhid ' Tl^^' "^"^ '^'' consfru?ted the whole, but of S minds Ihe volume we name Bible contains sixtv-six dS^ ferent books, or tracts, written by about th rty-sS d fferen auhors who hved scattered over a period of aVeasTfiffeeu to?k ;VtriibfeV'r'^ and gr^uaUy, like Creation's woTK, was the 13ible built up ! Then consider what diflerent oraersof mind worked at its construction-kings, general^ poets, prophets courtiers, peasants, fishermen, a phvsYcian and an accomplished scholar ! Ko other book has been «o singularly constructed-by authors so widely separated t regard to time, or by persL of such varSaSy. 1^ un tv hS *? ''^' '>' ^''^ '' ^ ""^'^'^ possessZf s^i^ uni y,--ha3 a beginning, middle and end, and is as free from contradictions and inconsistencies as though produeed W a single mind It 3 as remarkable for its'inCas for its diversity. Nothing could be dispensed with To take awav a paialle . Suppose we saw a building, such as St Pad's Cathedral, rising up gradually year after year -an ^ mense number of hands are employed about i^tTVarpente^; % beam on beam, and masons stone on stone blindly S' out seeing the relation of their work to the whole or inder standing what s to be the grand result. A Crh Se m all Its magnificent proportions. But who could te ieva that there was no planning or presiding mind employed up^ ■M 24 it? Who could resist the conviction that these workmen were carrying out the design of one mind, and ronlizing the architect s plan. Its unity— the harmony of its parts— their mutual adaptation, with the immense diversity of operations all proclaim the presiding mind. Shall we reason different^ regarding this wonderful book, reared age after age by so many different workmen, and standing entire and complete a glorious temple ? Can we resist the conviction that the' Iniinite Mmd planned and presided over the whole ; and that ArcWtect" ^^^^ carrying out the design of the Great And then besides, we can see one most important result accomplished by employing such a variety of workmen. A book addressed to all, and intended to influence all orders of mind, must be adapted to all. But what book can suit such a numerous and varied audience ? No one man indeed, were he the most universal genius, could satisfy the tastes, or suit the mental and moral peculiarities of all men. But by em- ploying so many different writers— « men of like passions with ourselves"— and giving full play to their own indivi- duality, divine wisdom, has made the Bible the most wonder- ful of all books m its adaptation to the human famfly The imaginative and the practical,— the logical and the intuitive— the poetical and prosaic— the pensive and the cheerful— the philosophic and the matter-of-fact— those fond of history and those who delight in close argument— men of every taste and temperament, can come and find their appropriate nutriment m the pages of this book, " made for man." One other great charm in the Bible has often been dwelt onj-ita stmphcif.^. Genuine simplicity is one of the rarest and most difficult attainments in an author ; but there is no other quality that charms us more, or wins such universal Mgard. The books most read and loved are the simplest Witness such universal favourites as the Pilgrim's Progress! Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield, or Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. Iheir great charm is their entire simplicity. The style is natural, free from affectation, and suits the story, so that we say here is nature— here is truth. Nor is it only simple books we love ; but, as we advance in experience, we learn to pnze above every thing simplicity of character. We may be caught for a time hy gUtter and show, if accompanied by ?so workmen ronlizi'ng the 1 parts — their )f operations, on differently • ago, by 60 id complete, ion that the >le ; and that f the Great )rtant result orkmen. A all orders of n suit such a indeed, wero istes, or suit But by em- iko passions own indivi- aost wonder- im?ly. The i intuitive — leerful — the history and ry taste and e nutriment been dwelt )f the rarest I there is no h universal le simplest, 's Progress, son Crusoe, 'he style is ', so that we >nly simple wo learn to We may upanied by 25 boldness and self-confidenco, but by and by wo sco through the man of cunnmg and tricks ; ^^o long for go.rtl.rre.l and natural-that is what it seems to bo. So wU la bo?k J J wo do Oct trickery, affectation, straining aftc eff'ct mere rhetonc that is all froth without subsU.nce-wc um a^nv from such To retain a permanent hold, a b^ok nus Ue Bimplo and natural ; the words such as thJ t' ou.l\ Zt\l prompt Simplicity, however, does not mean s mSvor childishness ; it consists in a conformity between ilTSZ and the expression A simple writer rises with lis H' If ho writes history ho will uso the narrative style-if „S; or a work of imagination ho will mount into fig/rc Now the t^nS I '' Pf,-.^'"'."'^"^^ a si^'P'^^ book. There is no gliS or tinsel-nothing introduced for the sake of effect-no wcllh^i epithets to dazzle or astonish. Its histories an tain It 13 that multitudes regard the Bible as tho n osTrer ul fX'^M't- .^''!^'^' '^'''' individuals, whose mndsTre unl appdy blinded by prejudice and misconceptionr ma-'ne that they might find tho Bible the most charLin^^ ani tha grandest of books, did they but study it in a ri'^h sr '.Ht Littlo do they suspect, not only that here is the mos Iri portan truth, but also the leftist and sweetot roef^y-tho' most thrilling eloquence-the most captivating lives ^of the great and good-and all that is most sublime, pct„,o.,„« and pathetic n thought and expression, in the\.e^; li S perfection ; that the Bible is not only the most imnorta t bu he most beautiful book in the world. It was Je s id by the witty and sarcastic Dr. South, of a gentlcman\!ho I,nJ declared that he would not lot his' son refd l e E^blo Ics U should spoU his style, that "he thus showed hild 'is grlJ ':! -.» t6 a blockhead as a deist ; and to know no more of the excellence of language than he relhhed the divinity oftruth.'' A book pronounced by Shell v, on the ground of literary excdienco a^one, " the best booic," and which Bvron, for tho same reason, constantly read, can be no despicable' or dull produc- There can bo little doubt that with all the Bible circulation tha .3 going on so hopefully, there is a groat practical neglect of tho B.bio ; and very often, even in christian housch Jdsl 18 found to bo the cUane.t book in the house/ There is reason to fear that, even among our church-going people th" Biblo docs not receive that intelligent, earnest and Imbilual reading, wluch its intrinsic worth and divine orig.n OctSand In very many cases, misconception and ignorance, Te^'aX^ ntl^^'nl '^\^''\^ ^'^^° a great d^al to do\ i such neglect. Unhappily, the Bible has been made so freouentiv a oattlo ground by contending sects; and been regSd o generally as merely an arsenal for supplying offf n Ive or defensive armour an the battles of the churches that hi thi mmds of multitudes it is associated only i" h bftte^^^^^^^^^^^^^ cal quan-els, or clou^ Uisputations ; and thus its beauty iS been hidden and its value obscured. Ji this way it as comu topass that vast numbers, instead of rega^diig the Biblomxts true character, as a loving and lovely book! quickemng and soul-stirring-addressing every part of mn'^ nature-stimulating his intdlect-cultivttinc his tast« «n^ 8ancti5;ing tho whole inan,-have been led to t^rn fi^^^ as a disagreeable volume, out of which angry digDXnta might chop texts with each other. But we s^o/atTesenJ the dawn of a better day. Tho dust raised around tbrbook by contending parties is clearing off, and juster ^^ews are Wn"° '''^' V ^^'" ^T.S^tting to see that l/ere is ou nobl/s' heritage-embodying highest truth with screnest beauty •!! an intellectual storehouse that can never be exhausted -a^ a reasury of moral and religious truth that isTnolh foJ man s deepest wants. It is beginning to bo seen thft thI hope of the world centres on the Bible-on leaven n^he Ty tllT?;:f ''' ''T ^IT ^^^ -nvictionlmalcLj way, that it is no mere dry body of divinity, or obiect of superstitious veneration, but the loving friend of man -th/ kmd comforter in tho hour of sorrow ;1he frie«d of pAg«2; of quick informing sucii pur] arrives, a fire" — or oldest aii( Peter— tl reasoning commontc histories. Thus Ave I the same and dccpc Thus wo £ would Icai better — tc anrl to hi truths. Tliis int regarded c in vain it' i as the Sav must seek its teachin, prayer for purpose. We cone and piety li the cuitivat even in i ts * littv. Dr r:! ' mijsmm f the excellence ■uth." A book rary excellenco for tho same or dull produc- tible circulation ractical neglect liouscholds, it U80. There ia ii)g people, the '' and habitual origin demand, nco, re-.^arding do wiih such so frequently Q regarded so 5 offensive or ify that in the •itter theologi- ita bcautj has I way it has regarding the lovely book- part of man's is taste— and > turn from it ^y disputants e at present und the book er views are is our noblest St beauty ; — lausted ; and I enough for en, that the eavening the on is making or object of f man; the of progress; the safeguard in life's stern battle ; tho guido to « clorv honour and immortal) y ;" man's book as well as God's; Wo may and wc should read the Biblo inteUectually—rov mental improvement and gratification. If God has si.Hi.klcd Its pages with so many beauties, it was not surely witlioufc desiga on his pait ; and it cannot be without loss on our t ari It wo remain insensible to these. They have been t,lactd there for our advantage, and wo should bring our miiul ii.lo oon act with t/iem. It is lawful and profitable to take up iho iiiblo, not only for devotional purposes, but as n means ot quicvcning tlio imagination, gratifying the taste and iiifoniiM.g the intellect. Its author evidently meant it lur sucii puri,03cvs Wo may come then, when a leisure hour arrives, and fill our minds with Isaiah's " rapt rr. i hctio n -■''7o»v'^''so vith Job's ihilosojliic grandeur in tliit oldest ar.d best ot poems— or listen to tho cheerful voice of letcr-the nervous logic of Poul, cr the homely, riaoticil reasoning ot James. Or again, with the aid of an intelli-ont commentator, of maps and chronology, we may oxploie its histories, loliow its narratives, or divo into its gcoi:iaihv. Ihus wc should li;.vc a noble intclhctual exercise Taiid lit the same tune, obtain a clearer understanding of God's brok and deepen our lovo and respect for the sacred volun.c! liius we should bind it to our hearts by new tics. .And (his would lead us, wc might hope, to something far higher a.;d better— to love the moral beauty and holiness of the tible, am to have our souls Ciuickcning into divine life by its This intellectual reading of the Eible, however, should bo regarded only as subservient to a higher aim. All will bo in vain it it do not make us savingly acquainted with Jesua as the fcaviour. It is not enough to admire its beauties ; wo must seek to have our souls sanctified and saved by means of Its teachings. We must therelbre read it on our knees— v ith prayer for the Spirit's guidance, and with a high spiritual purpose. ° ^ We conclude with the words of one* whose intellect, taste and piety have done so much in commending tho Biblo to the cultivated intelligence of the age. " There is loveliness even in its letter ; but there is life for our souls in its di^ ino * Itev. Di: J. Hamilton^ -~ — ■ • -I 28 significance That Book which God has fnado the monumcnl IZ g'j^^'/^fe^Pt'on, and where ho has put his oWn pc^ potual bhekinah do you chooso it as the gymnasium uhm you may nourish a youth truly sublime ; the castle v^hcre [n a world of impiety and an ago of peril, you ma/fi, K trcnchmcnt for your faith and protection for your princ^nlc^ Uu) sanctuary at whoso oraelo you may find answ r to^yo;; doubts and hght upon your path ; the spirit's home, whitS your affections shall every day rcturli, and where vou^ character shall progressively ennoble into a conformity S iuch a royal residence." v^mwimiiy >^uu