Being of a serious turn of mind, and filled with a deep sense of religion, he associated with pious people of every denomination, and his natural sweetness of temper recommended him to all who knew him. He did not, however, obtain any higher preferment than the curacy of Biddeford, till the death of his father, the Rev. Mr. S. Hervey, when he went to Cambridge, and took his degree of Master of Arts, and entered on the family livings of Weston Favel and Collingtree, near Northampton, of the annual value of £180. He discharged his duties as a minister of the gospel, in such a manner as would have done honour to one of the primitive fathers; and his compassion to the miserable will be long remembered by many persons, besides those of his parish. His health gradually BIBLICAL COLUMN. MR. EDITOR. 998 SIR,-With a high degree of pleasure, With the most profound respect, Kettering, July, 1821. declining, he fell into a lingering con- The Biblical Column, or Sacred Pillar; sumption, and died on Christmas day, in the year 1758. Besides his Meditations among the Tombs, he also wrote Reflections on a Flower Garden, a Descant on Creation, Contemplations on the Night and Starry Heavens, Theron and Aspasio, &c. The profits arising from the sale of his works, together with the principal part of his income, he converted, whilst living, to the use of the distressed. The church of Weston, (dedicated to St. Peter) is a very small building, consisting merely of a body and chancel, with a coped tower, containing five bells. The register begins 1549. The interior of it is plain and unadorned. There are no stately monuments to attract the notice of the curious. The only thing to recommend it to the attention is, that within these walls the pious and charitable Hervey exercised his ministry, and that here his remains are deposited till the resurrection of the just. Near the communion table, within the rails of the altar, is a stone, void of decoration, on which is the following inscription: "Here lie the remains of the Rev. JAMES HERVEY, A. M. late Rector of this Parish, that very pious man, And much admired author, Who died December 25th, 1758, In the 45th year of his age. Reader, expect no more to make him known, reared to commemorate Britain's Glorious Institution, the British and Foreign Bible Society. "Tis sweet to mark a stately column rise, And watch its progress till it gain the skies." WALKING some time ago, in a shady grove near the centre of England, Î fell into a train of reflections, upon a certain popular subject, which, in some rsepects, may be considered as the order of the day. The grand object of my reflections was, the erection of monumental pillars in different parts of the kingdom, to commemorate the heroic acts of certain military and naval commanders; who, by their extraordinary prowess, have eminently distinguished themselves, for the benefit of their country. I felt no particular objection to pillars being raised, and monuments erected, that events of importance (at least in a national point of view) might be transmitted to posterity, even to the latest generation; that our children, and children's children, by beholding such columns, might inquire the meaning thereof, and be led to admire those seasonable interpositions of Divine Providence, and extol the God of armies, and the Lord of hosts. Pursuing my reflections, a few thoughts darted into my mind, respecting achievements and conquests of another kind: not victories obtained by the thundering cannon, the glitter ing spear, or the furbished sword, but | the successes achieved by the grand and memorable institution, the British and Foreign Bible Society::-a victory of a very different nature from that gained in the field of Mars; less dazzling, indeed, in its splendour, but of greater importance to the well-being of the community. In the former, the joy which animated the patriot's breast was dashed and qualified by many an imbittering recollection; the gallant friend who perished nobly in his country's cause-the father torn from his heart broken relatives and the wounds and mutilations of thousands of brave soldiers, must call forth feelings in which joy can have no part. Alas! when millions are stretched in mangled heaps upon the hostile field, can the mind in that situation taste of joy, or feast on pleasure? The day that spills a deluge of human blood, and bids the tears of natural affection flow in rivers round the land, cannot be a day of true enjoyment; scenes of this kind have occurred almost sufficient to melt into tenderness the obdurate heart of a Nero. But admitting, upon many occasions, a train of uninterrupted success; yet, even in that case, the conqueror pushes forward, like another Alexander, to the limits of the world, and then, like him, re-measures back his course, fatigued with triumph, a burden to himself and to mankind, at a loss what to do with the immense tracts he has depopulated, and melancholy with the reflection that an acre of his conquests would suffice to maintain him, and a few feet of earth only would hide his remains from the world. Very striking is the inscription on the sepulchre of Cyrus: "I am Cyrus, he who subdued the Persian empire. Friend, whoever thou art, or wherever thy native country, envy me not the scanty space that covers my claycold ashes." (Vide Plutarch's life of Alexander.) Let the greatest hero that ever existed upon the face of the earth, turn aside from this mournful epitaph, and ask, "Is it worth while to be conqueror?" Of all the plagues which the pride of man has engendered, the rage of conquest is the most destructive. But to return more immediately to the pleasing subject of my contemplations; namely, the victories of religion, the conquests of piety, and the 1000 triumphs of grace. Here we have a system great, grand, and glorious; a species of warfare, at once overpowering, unmixed, and unalloyed. The sublime triumphs obtained through the medium of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and other similar institutions, are, by virtuous energy, general co-operation, and the blessing of God; and they may be enjoyed with the most perfect complacency, at periods very far distant. It is the success arising from these God-like plans, which shall raise us to a distinction above all Greek, above all Roman fame; it is this which will immortalize our country, when the most durable monuments of its military grandeur, and its naval skill, shall have perished and decayed; when the greenest laurels of a Wellington shall have lost their verdure, and the proudest trophies of a Nelson "their memorial and their name;" when the dim twilight of time shall recede before the approaching splendours of eternity, and the sun having set in the last night of the world, a brighter dawn than ever gladdened the universe, shall renovate the dominions of darkness and of death. I was, therefore, now led more closely to reflect upon the erection of a monumental pillar, to commemorate the numerous advantages, and transcendent glories, arising from the British and Foreign Bible Society. In imagination, I saw the stately column rise-just in its proportions; sublime in its associations; and grand and magnificent in all its parts. This lofty pillar reared its head upon an immense four-square base, each square represented certain emblematical devices, characteristic of the actual state of the four quarters of the globe, over each of which the name was inscribed in large letters. The square of the formidable base upon which EUROPE was engraven, first arrested my attention. Under the word Europe was a richly adorned canopy, which covered a small company of persons who were conferring together. Subsequent proceedings have amply proved the result of their conference, which was to use every effort to circulate the sacred scriptures without note or comment throughout the world. This representation, I considered as the origin of the British and Foreign Bible Society: "Who 1001 Biblical Column. 1002 hath despised the day of small things?" | Temple of Juggernaut, the funeral In another part of the scenery, on this pile, or the worship of the Ganges! quarter of the base of the column, May such superstitions speedily come were a number of Bibles and Testa- to an end! May the idolaters, accordments, with labels appended to them, ing to the language of ancient proupon which was written, "The Holy phecy, "cast away their idols to the Scriptures, for distribution throughout moles and to the bats." May the the world." At a short distance ap- scriptures of truth soon be opened on peared a vessel on the sea, from which the tomb of Confucius, and audibly were proceeding several boats towards read with purity of intention, from the beach, contiguous to the cliffs the stupendous car of Juggernaut ! called "Albion." Here was the grand May the water of life quench the flames depository of the sacred records. Ap- of the funeral pile! and may the whole parently the most vigorous exertions of the inhabitants of the great contipervaded the scene of action; the nent of India, instead of bending to a mariners, as they arrived, were laden river, fall down and worship the Lord with bales of the heavenly treasure, their maker. designed as the freight of the vessel called the TEIGNMOUTH, which was destined to carry the word of God to the heathen nations. What cargo was ever equal to this? What were the commodities of the ships of Hiram, in the days of Solomon, though they consisted of cedar, gold, peacocks, &c.? What was the merchandise of Tyre, the grand emporium of commerce, and mart of nations, when compared with the invaluable cargo of the TEIGNMOUTH, which received the inestimable treasure, the word of God? I then surveyed the quarter of the base where AFRICA was engraved. From a luminous cloud, a scroll was let down, bearing an inscription, the reading of which gave me exquisite pleasure; "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." No sooner had I read the encouraging words, than my eyes were attracted by the appearance of a numerous assembly upon the summit of a mountain; a Missionary, a messenger of peace, whose "feet appear beautiful upon even such mountains," was about to address the Hottentot tribes; his finger was placed upon the passage of holy writ, recorded Malachi i. 11. My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts." 66 I next turned to the square of the pedestal bearing the inscription of ASIA: there I beheld pourtrayed, Idolatry, Cruelty, and Superstition, in their most horrid forms. Upon a rising ground appeared an immense pile, Upon the right of the square, formover the gate of which, in letters of ing this part of the pedestal supportgold, were, THE TEMPLE OF JUGGER-ing the stately column, was a landNAUT. Very near, appeared a vast multitude, approaching with eagerness to worship at the horrid shrine of this monstrous idol. In the back ground was exhibited the funeral pile, surrounded by Bramins and a vast concourse of people. A priest being dead, his widow was about to offer up herself in sacrifice to the fury of the flames: horrid practice! O when shall it for ever cease! Towards the bottom, thousands of miserable creatures were falling prostrate on the sandy beach, and paying their adorations to the river Ganges. But, upon the summit of a hill, was a scene of a truly interesting nature; a Christian Missionary, under the wide-spreading branches of a Banian tree, was proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation to the tribes of India. How delightful this part of the scenery, when compared with the No. 33.-VOL. III. scape view of the christian colony "Bethelsdorf." This country formerly lay waste, but now, cultivation and verdure appear in every direction. Even literally, as well as morally, the words of the prophet are brought to pass, "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree, &c." Many of the Africans, once almost as fierce as the lions ranging their deserts, have by christian instruction, and by imbibing christian principles, lost their native ferocity; and they exemplify in their experience, the beautiful imagery of the illustrious prophet, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb," &c. Isai. xi. 6–9. It is certainly a most interesting sight, to see an ambassador of heaven, a messenger of God, opening his credentials, and acting upon his mission, 3 S 1003 Siege of Sancerre. 1004 in the midst of Hottentot kraals, and | pected to have seen its summit, as surrounded by sable and Hottentot easily as may be discovered those of clans! This shall be more frequently the case, when the empire of the illustrious Redeemer shall extend "from the river, to the ends of the earth." Hasten, thou matchless Saviour, the coming of thy kingdom! I now turned to the last square of the base; the scene represented AMERICA. This square was principally taken up with one great and grand object, namely, what in that country is denominated "a religious camp meeting:" tents are pitched to receive the immense multitudes, who are approaching in every direction; these tents are not raised for hostile purposes, not for soldiers engaged in earthly warfare, but for the armies of the living God; such as have enlisted under the banner of the "Prince of Peace," and are engaged against the world, the flesh, and the devil. In the centre of the camp, 1 beheld with sensations of delight, the christian standard, fully unfurled, and bearing this expressive motto; "The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge." In the back ground, as far as the eye can reach, are to be seen a number of waggons, filled with those who came from far to celebrate this religious festival. In this survey, I was reminded of the march of the tribes of Israel, when three times in the year they went up to worship the Lord at Jerusalem. How would they exult, on their march, when they beheld in prospect the lofty turrets, the towering spires, and, above all, the massy dome of the magnificent temple. They would almost forget the teils incident to their journey, in the delightful anticipation of soon worshipping in Zion before God, (Psalm lxxxiv.) And do not these Americans exult in a similar manner, when they gain the first sight of the christian standard, in the centre of the christian camp? They march with alacrity towards the spot, singing as they go, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." In America such scenes have been frequently realized, whilst great benefit has been derived by man, and much glory has redounded to God. After surveying the base of this majestic and stately column, I was next led to look at the column, or pillar, that rose so high upon it. I ex the monument in London, Pompey's and Trajan's pillars in other places, and several that might be named of modern erection, to commemorate some great exploit, or perpetuate some vast achievement. But the summit of the Biblical Column was above the clouds, and consequently beyond the sight of mortals. Reflecting upon what this might mean, I conjectured that it was designed to represent the advantages of the British and Foreign Bible Society, as extending beyond the present scene, and involving a part of the glories of eternity. The blessed Bible may be compared to a golden key, by which we are enabled to unlock the cabinet containing the treasures of Divine grace, which are the pledges of future felicity. The Bible is a celestial lamp shining upon our path. and conducting us to the kingdom of glory. It is a celestial chart, accurately pointing out our way through the wilderness of this world to the Canaan of unending delights. Having indulged in these contemplations, I retired from the grove, re-entered my study, and was, in some measure, absorbed in reflecting upon the god-like institution: more especially on the sublime simplicity of its design, the transcendent superiority of its constitution, the magnificent importance of its operations, and the paramount splendour of its results. SIEGE OF SANCERRE. MR. EDITOR. SIR,-In one of my daily perambulations round London, I perchance met with a very curious old book, in good preservation, full of very interesting, and highly entertaining matter, relative to the troubles of France, more particularly during that period which the Protestants were so cruelly and inhumanly persecuted, under the bigoted and relentless Duke of Guise. It is intituled, “An Historical Collection of the most Memorable Accidents and Tragicall Massacres of France, under the Raignes of Henry II.– Francis I.-Charles IX.-Henry III. -Henry IV. now living; conteining all the troubles therein happened during the said Kings times, untill this present yeare, 1598: Imprinted at London by Thomas Creede, 1598." There is a peculiar satisfaction in perusing the histories and narratives of our ancestors: their minute particularizing, and quaint expressions, forcibly persuade us into a thorough conviction of their reality: truth appears to have been their grand object and end. Thus, with all the imagery of ancient times forcibly pourtrayed, the mind feasts with an unpalled appetite on the intellectual banquet, which is altogether delightful. We cannot read an old author, of two or three centuries back, with that driving haste with which we are accustomed to run over modern publications, posting with the utmost speed to the "Finis." No, we must here stop by the wayside, look about us, contemplate, and contrast the prospects of the present, and "years long since passed by." The different modes and fashions of the day call upon the reflective mind, to compare the past with the present advance to perfection; then we read on till stopped by some obsolete word or sentence that requires some pause, to render it intelligible to our modern ears. Perhaps we are led to indulge our fastidious sense in some strange adventure of olden love or gallantry, exciting a hearty laugh at the stiff and formal quaintness, with which they wooed their damsels, and sighed their tender plaints in buckram suits, to the fascinating sound of the viol or the lute. The stream of time has worn away the antiquated forms and manners of our ancestors. Their passions, once excited, rushed into the vortex of popular and frenzied action, with indescribable furor. The Crusades, at one period, led them on to deeds of almost super-human valour. The bigotry and deadly poison of Catholicism inspired them with fiendish spirits, leading them to desolate the face of nature, and imbue whole kingdoms in the blood of victims to misguided zeal, and who fell glorious martyrs to the truth. Numerous are the scenes of infuriated bigotry recorded in this volume; and I herewith subjoin the following extract of the "Siege of Sancerre," well worthy the authors of the cruelty and persecution there recorded. Should it be deemed sufliciently interesting for a niche in your Magazine, it is at your service. Bermondsey-Square, Sep. 1821. W. H. 1006 *MOST part of the yeare 1573 was employed in the Sieges of Sancerre, Roche, and other places, in molesting those of Languedoc, and more and more to trouble the poore countrie of France. In the beginning of the yeare, those of Saint Sancerre beganne their courses, to furnish themselves with corne, but not so well as they should have done, upon the opinion that some of the principall townes-men had, that the catholiques would go to some other place; this vaine imagination procured great miserie to those of Sancerre, who, beside the famine, looked not unto their fortifications as neede required. The ninth of Januarie, there appeared some troupes of horse, to the number of some foure hundreth maisters, and the next day five ensignes of the old bands of the regiment of Goas, with sundrie other troupes gathered thereabout. The same, within fifteen daies after, were refreshed with eight ensignes of the old bands of the regiment of Sarrieu, and five other new companies, some bands of the countrie thereabout, under the leading of certaine gentlemen, enemies to the Sancerreaus ; besides also, divers pesants that gaped after the ruin of that small receptacle of the protestants. There came, also, sixteen ensignes of pioners, so as the whole army amounted to some four or five hundreth horse, and some five thousand foote, besides the pioners and pesants. The Lord of Chastre, generall of the armie, sent a drummer with letters to summon the besiegers to yielde uppon composition, which hee promised should bee reasonable: his drummer they stayed, and made no answere, which afterwards proved very prejudiciall unto them, albeit in the beginning they made many gallant and profitable sallies. In the beginning of Februarie, the besiegers erected a fort, within foure hundreth paces of the towne, towards Fontenay, and bringing their artillirie by boates upon the Loire,namely, twelve cannons, and foure colverins, they made a bulwarke of earth uppon the highway to St. Thibaut, also, a pallisade in Saint Ladras field, and cut off the highwaies and pathes round aboute the towne, planting ten peeces in the *The text is transcribed verbatim from th original. |
