901 Extract from Dr. Chalmers's Sermons. 902 up againe, when Christ on Easter-day | ling upon the serpent's head, kills him. revived. Death I wisse had not been The wild bull of al things cannot abide brought up so daintely before, nor any red colour. Therefore the hunter used to such manner of meate, but al- for the nonce standing before a tree, ways had ravined either with Mithri- puts on a red garment, whom when dates' daughters upon the poyson of the bull sees, he runnes at him as hard sin, or else with Noah's crow upon the as he can drive. But the hunter slipcarrion of corruption. Wherefore now, ping aside, the bull's hornes sticke saith Fulgentius, death did indeed taste fast in the tree; as when David slipof Christ, but could not swallow him ped aside, Saul's speare stuck fast in up, nor disgest him. Contrariwise, the wall. Such a hunter is Christ. Christ, as soon as ever he had but a Christ standing before the tree of his little tasted of death, eftsoones he did crosse, puts on a red garment, dipt devoure death, he did swallow up and died in his owne bloud, as one that death in victory. And so the death commeth with redde garments from of Christ, by reason of his righteous- Bozra. Therefore the divell and his nesse, is the death of Death. angels, like wilde bulls of Bazan, run at him. But he shifting for himself, their hornes stick fast in his crosse ; as Abraham's ram by his hornes stuck fast in the briers. Thus is the divell caught and killed. A dragon indeed kils an elephant; yet so as the elephant falling down kills the dragon with him. And accordingly to this, the divell killing Christ, was killed by Christ. Yea, as an elephant is strong stronger than the elephant; so Christ is stronger than them both. For the elephant doth not live after he hath killed the dragon, neither doth Eleazar live after he hath killed the elephant: but Christ liveth after he hath destroyed the divell. Leaving the di "It is also the death of the divell. As the apostle saith, that by his death he did overcome not only death, but him also which had the power of death, the divell. It is reported that the libard useth a strange kind of policie to kill the ape. He lieth downe upon the ground, as though he were starke dead, which the apes seeing, come altogether, and in despite skip upon him. This the libard beareth patiently, til heer than the dragon, and Eleazar is thinks they have wearied themselves with their sporting, then suddenly he likewise leapes up, and catcheth one in his mouth, and in each foot one, which he immediately killeth and devoureth. This was Christ's policie. He was laid in the dust for dead. The divell then insulted over him, and tram-vell dead, he is now risen himselfe from pled upon him. But hee, like a lively libard, starting up on Easter-day, astonished the souldiers set to keep him, which were the divell's apes, and made them lie like dead men. Even as hee told them before by the prophets, saying, I will be to them as a very lion, and as a libard in the way of Ashur. For as blind Samson by his death killed the Philistines, when they were playing the apes in mocking and mowing at him, so Christ by his death destroyed the divell. Scaliger writeth, that the camelion when he espies a serpent taking shade under a tree, climbes up into that tree, and lets down a threed, at the end whereof there is a little drop as cleere as any pearle, which falling upon the serpent's head, kills him. Christ is this camelion: he climbes up into the tree of his crosse, and lets down a threed of blood issuing out of his side, like Rahab's red threed hanging out of her window, the least drop whereof being so pretious and so peerlesse, fal the dead. Wherefore as a libard killeth the ape, and a camelion the serpent, and a hunter the bull, and an elephant the dragon, and Eleazar the elephant himself; so Christ, the true Eleazar, which signifies the helpe of God, hath by his death killed that mischievous ape the divell, that old serpent the divell, that wilde bull the divell, that great dragon the divell, that raging elephant the divell." (An additional extract would be acceptable.) EXTRACTS FROM DR. CHALMER'S SER- MR. EDITOR. SIR,-Allow me to hand you an extract or two from the sermons of Dr. Chalmers. For simplicity, pathos, and truth of description, they are masterly specimens. And permit me, as a friend to your valuable publication, to suggest, that it will be highly satis 903 Extract, &c.-Advice to Husbands. 904 how its symptoms gathered and grew, and got the acendency over all the ministrations of human care and of human tenderness, when it every day became more visible, that the patient was drawing to his close, and that nothing in the whole compass of art, or any of its resources, could stay the advances of the sure and last malady, have you never thought on seeing the bed of the sufferer surrounded by other comforters than those of the patriarch, (Job) when from morning to night, and from night to morning, the watchful family sat at his couch, and guarded his broken slumbers, and interpreted all his signals, and tried to hide from his observation the tears which attested him to be the kindest of parents, when the sad anticipation spread its gloomy stillness over the household, and even sent forth an air of seriousness and concern upon the men of other families, when you have witnessed the despair of friends, who could only turn to cry at the spectacle of his last agonies, and had seen how little it was that weeping children and inquiring neighbours could do for him, when you have contrasted the unre The following striking passage occurs in the sermon on "the Necessity of the Spirit to give effect to the preaching of the gospel." Speaking of the "natural man" understanding the literal import of the scriptures, he says," By the mere dint of that shrewdness and sagacity with which nature has endowed him, he will perceive a meaning here, which you will readily acknowledge, could not be perceived by a man in a state of idiotism. In the case of the idiot, there is a complete barrier against his ever acquiring that conception of the meaning of this passage, which is quite competent to a man of strong and accomplished understanding. For the sake of illustration, we may conceive this poor outcast from the common light of humanity, in some unaccountable fit of attention, listening to the sound of these words, and making some stre-lenting necessity of the grave, with the nuous but abortive attempts to arrive at the same comprehension of them with a man whose reason is entire. But he cannot shake off the fetters which the hand of nature has laid upon his understanding; and he goes back again to the dimness and delirium of his unhappy situation; and his mind locks itself up in the prison-hold of its confined and darkened faculties; and if, in his mysterious state of existence, he formed any conception whatever of Love so, that you may be feared; rule the words now uttered in your hear- so, that you may be honoured; be not ing, we may rest assured that it stands too diffident, lest you teach her to dedistinguished, by a wide and impassa-ceive you; nor too suspicious, lest you feebleness of every surrounding endea vour to ward it, has the thought never entered within you-How powerless is the desire of man! how sure and how resistless is the decree of God!” A WORD OF ADVICE TO HUSBANDS ble chasm, from the conception of him, teach her to abuse you; if you see a who has all the common powers and fault, let your love hide it; if she conperceptions of the species." tinue in it, let your wisdom reprove The annexed picture of the death-it: Reprove her not openly, lest she house of an expiring mortal, has all grow bold; rebuke her not tauntingly, this popular writer's depth of feeling. lest she grow spiteful: Proclaim not "We may as well think of seeking a her beauty, lest she grow proud; boast refuge in the applause of men, from not of her wisdom, lest you be thought the condemnation of God, as we may foolish: Let her not see your imperthink of seeking a refuge in the power fections, lest she disdain you; profane or the skill of men, from the mandate not her ears with loose communication, of God, that our breath shall depart lest you defile the sanctuary of her from us. And have you never thought, modesty. An understanding husband when called to the chamber of the dy-makes a discreet wife, and she a haping man, when you saw the warning py husband. of death upon his countenance, and Leeds, March 30, 1821. THE JUBILEE OF THE ROYAL ACA DEMY OF ARTS, 1819. Mast respectfully inscribed to the President, Ben- SUCCESSIVE seasons, and revolving suns, the Britannia, hail! we to thy Sov'reign owe The honour'd father of the British school, Taste contemplates the rich assemblage, May the Arts flourish to the end of time, 906 Then Jesus arose, and rebuked the winds And the waves;-giving faith to his followers' minds. His voice was soon heard in the sea's angry deep, Now 'tis smooth-the air's calm-as an infant asleep. Thus the timid disciple who ne'er disbelieves, In the voyage of life every succour receives, That Omnipotence, Wisdom, and Heavenly Love, Provide to ensure his reception above. F. R. S. TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE HENRY KIRK WHITE. PURE Spirit! thou art now from trouble free, The things which clouded thy young hemi sphere, The prospects thou did'st raise, however dear, Have past into one gulph-Eternity. It is it was-it will for ever be; The friendless sorrow, and there falls no tear; More than this earth had ever to impart, EXTRACT, &c. G. M. SIR, Should the following beautiful lines, extracted from Beaumont and Fletcher's Comedy of "Nice Valour," and which are said to be the origin and model of Milton's exquisite Poem, “ Il Penseroso," be consistent with the nature of your entertaining work, their insertion will confer a favour on your's respectfully, Liverpool, May 29, 1821. HENCE, all you vain delights, Wherein you spend your folly! IOTA. But only melancholy; Oh! sweetest melancholy! Welcome, folded arms, and fixed eyes, A sigh that piercing mortifies, A look that's fasten'd to the ground, A tongue chain'd up without a sound! Fountain heads, and pathless groves, Places which pale Passion loves! Moonlight walks, when all the fowls Are warmly hous'd, save bats and owls! A midnight bell, a parting groan! These are the sounds we feed upon; Then stretch our bones in a still gloomy valley: Nothing's so dainty sweet as lovely melancholy. 3 M 907 STANZAS Addressed to a Lady in Distress of Mind. That heart, that soul, that mind is mine, There is a sigh-a rending sigh, Poetry. Which heaves the honest labouring breast,- That sigh, that tear, that gloomy night, Seek thou to him. His powerful voice He is thy God, and He alone, AN IRISHMAN. 908 To the Memory of Anna Margaretta, late Wife of John Brereton, Esq. Bointon, Norfolk, who departed this life March 21st, 1819, aged 62 years. (By the Rev. Samuel Jones.) A solemn knell is heard; the awful sound, To aged and to young, to great and small, Replete with admonition wise is found; Not only to the relatives, but all. The voice says, "Cry."-Then let the fiat pass, And may the call divine be heard with power: What shall I cry? Behold all flesh is grass, And mundane beauty withers like a flower. But stop the sound, too poignant to the breast, The loss of those most near by nature's bond May well too great for language be conceiv'd. Not only to her family endear'd, But all within the circle that she mov'd, Will witness bear how much she was rever'dIn Israel a mother she has prov'd! Let one connected as a friend sincere, A pastor, to a constant hearer pay A tribute due, and, wiping off the tear, Permission take with confidence to sayThe subject of our verse was one who knew, And lov'd, and serv'd sincerely, the most High: Her trust in Christ, to whom for grace she flew, And prov'd that He could all her wants sup- Renouncing proud self-confidence, aware To latest time her memory shall endure, Her acts of charity on ev'ry tongue : Her greatest pleasure here to feed the poor, To clothe the naked to instruct the young. But like the fragrant lily of the vale, As she, while living, humbly sought the I hear her dictate" Stop :" then cast a veil, move The hearts of others, who his goodness hear, Exciting prayer that they his love may prove. To God the praise, not to the creature due, Acknowledge and adore his righteous claim : The dear departed saint this lesson knew, And doubtless still acknowledges the same. Before in bondage known, through fear of death, She like a summer's eve repos'd her head; To God serenely yielding up her breath, By Him supported on her dying bed. Resign'd, although withheld the rays or sun Of those who strong assurance here enjoy; The will of God, she said, in all be done For me be Christ to live, or gain to die. Remov'd the fear of Death's approaching dart, The clouds withdrawn, again to one she said, "To God be praise, who does to me impart The victory through Christ, our living head." Her hope and constant prayer, in heaven to meet The Saviour, and adore his sovʼreign love; *The bell was stopped by order of the afdicted relatives. 910 She now, we doubt not, sings in accents sweet, The churches, where his faithful saints are known, To gather sweetest flow'rs, of grace the heirs, For glory meet, as lilies fully blown. Tho' flow'rs may fade, we thus from scripture know, [die; That Christians, though remov'd, shall never Transplanted only from the church below, As wreaths immortal flourishing on high. VERSION OF OSSIAN'S ADDRESS TO THE SUN. (IN HIS POEM, CARTHON, VOL. I.) OH, Thou that rollest in yon azure fields, But thou unmov'd roli'st on.-Great trav❜ller, say, ? What force can be companion of thy way M. EPITAPH IN CHICHESTER CHURCH-YARD. HERE lies an old Soldier whom all must applaud, Since he suffer'd much hardship at home and abroad; But the hardest engagement he ever was in, Was the battle of SELF in the conquest of SIN. |