gination on the ruins of wisdom. That there is a wisdom, against which poetry wárs,-the wisdom of the sènses, which makes physical comfort and gratification the supréme good, and wealth the chief ínterest of life, we do 5 not deny nor do we deem it the least service which poetry renders to mankind, that it redèems them from the thraldom of this éarthborn prùdence. But, passing over this topic, we would observe, that the complaint against poetry as abounding in illùsion and de10 céption is, in the main, gròundless. In many poems there is more of truth, than in many histories and philosóphic theories. The fictions of génius are often the vehicles of the sublímest vèrities, and its flashes often open nèw regions of thought, and throw new light on the 15 mysteries of our being. In poetry the lètter is falsehood, but the spirit is often profoundest wisdom. And if trùth thus dwells in the boldest fictions of the poet, much more may it be expected in his delinéations of life; for the présent life, which is the first stage of the immortal mind, 20 abounds in the matérials of poetry, and it is the highest office of the bard to detect this divine element, among the grósser pleasures and lábors of our earthly being. The present life is not wholly prosáic, precíse, tàme,* and finite. To the gifted eye it abounds in the poètic. 25 The affections which spread beyond ourselves, and stretch far into futùrity; the workings of mighty pàssions, which seem to arm the soul with an almost superhuman energy; the innocent and irrepressible joy of infancy; the bloom, and buoyancy, and dazzling hópes of youth; the throb. 30 bings of the heart when it first wakes to lòve, and dreams of a happiness too vást for earth; wòman, with her beauty, and grace, and gentleness, and fulness of feeling, and depth of affection, and her blushes of purity, and the tones and looks which only a móther's heart can inspire; 35 these are all poetical. It is not true that the poet paints a life which does not exíst. He only extracts and concentrates, as it were, life's ethereal èssence, arrésts and condènses its volatile fràgrance, brings together its scattered béauties, and pro40 lòngs its more refined but evanescent joys; and in thís he does well; for it is good to feel that life is not wholly * A negative sentence, ending with a rising inflection, has the falling slide on its penultimate word or clause. usurped by cares for subsistence and physical gratificátions, but admits, in measures which may be indèfinitely enlarged, sèntiments and delíghts worthy of a higher being. LESSON XXI.-CAUSES OF WAR.-H. BINNEY. [To be marked for Inflections, by the reader.] What are sufficient causes of war let no man say, let no legislator say, until the question of war is directly and inevitably before him. Jurists may be permitted with comparative safety, to pile tome upon tome of intermina5 ble disquisition upon the motives, reasons, and causes of just and unjust war. Metaphysicians may be suffered with impunity to spin the thread of their speculations until it is attenuated to a cobweb; but for a body created for the government of a great nation, and for the adjustment 10 and protection of its infinitely diversified interests, it is worse than folly to speculate upon the causes of war, until the great question shall be presented for immediate action, -until they shall hold the united question of cause, motive, and present expediency, in the very palm of their 15 hands. War is a tremendous evil. Come when it will, unless it shall come in the necessary defence of our national security, or of that honor under whose protection national security reposes, it will come too soon,-too soon for our national prosperity,-too soon for our individual 20 happiness, too soon for the frugal, industrious, and virtuous habits of our citizens,-too soon, perhaps, for our most precious institutions. The man who, for any cause, save the sacred cause of public security, which makes all wars defensive, the man who, for any cause but this, 25 shall promote or compel this final and terrible resort, assumes a responsibility second to none, nay, transcendantly deeper and higher than any, which man can assume before his fellow-men, or in the presence of God, his Creator. LESSON XXII.—FOUNDATION OF NATIONAL CHARACTER.- [To be marked for Inflections, by the reader.] Mental energy has been equally diffused by sterner levellers than ever marched in the van of a revolution,the nature of man and the providence of God. Native character, strength, and quickness of mind, are not of the number of distinctions and accomplishments, that human institutions can monopolize within a city's walls. In quiet times, they remain and perish in the obscurity, to which a 5 false organization of society consigns them. In dangerous, convulsed, and trying times, they spring up in the fields, in the village hamlets, and on the mountain tops, and teach the surprised favorites of human law, tha; bright eyes, skilful hands, quick perceptions, firm purpose 10 and brave hearts, are not the exclusive appanage of courts. Our popular institutions are favorable to intellectual improvement, because their foundation is in dear nature They do not consign the greater part of the social frame 15 to torpidity and mortification. They send out a vital nerve to every member of the community, by which its talent and power, great or small, are brought into living conjunction and strong sympathy with the kindred intellect of the nation; and every impression on every part 20 vibrates, with electric rapidity, through the whole. They encourage nature to perfect her work; they make education, the soul's nutriment, cheap; they bring up remote and shrinking talent into the cheerful field of competition. in a thousand ways, they provide an audience for lips, 25 which nature has touched with persuasion; they put a lyre into the hands of genius; they bestow on all who deserve it, or seek it, the only patronage worth having, the only patronage that ever struck out a spark of "celestial fire," the patronage of fair opportunity. 30 This is a day of improved education; new systems of teaching are devised; modes of instruction, choice of studies, adaptation of text-books, the whole machinery of means, bave been brought, in our day, under severe revision. But were I to attempt to point out the most effi 35 cacious and comprehensive improvement in education, the engine, by which the greatest portion of mind could be brought and kept under cultivation, the discipline which would reach farthest, sink deepest, and cause the word of instruction not to spread over the surface, like an artificial 40 hue, carefully laid on, but to penetrate to the heart and soul of its objects,-it would be popular institutions. Give the people an object in promoting education, and the best methods will infallibly be suggested by that instinctive ingenuity of our nature, which provides means for great and precious ends. Give the people an object in promoting education, and the worn hand of labor will be opened to the last farthing, that its children may enjoy means denied to itself. LESSON XXIII.-SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL.-WAYLAND. [To be marked for Inflections, by the reader.] The assumption that the cause of Christianity is declining, is utterly gratuitous. We think it not difficult to prove that the distinctive principles we so much venerate, never swayed so powerful an influence over the destinies 5 of the human race, as at this very moment. Point us to those nations of the earth, to which moral and intellectual cultivation, inexhaustible resources, progress in arts, and sagacity in council, have assigned the highest rank in political importance; and you point us to nations, whose re 10 ligious opinions are most closely allied to those we cherish. Besides, when was there a period, since the days of the Apostles, in which so many converts have been made to these principles, as have been made, both from Christian and pagan nations, within the last five and 15 twenty years? Never did the people of the saints of the Most High, look so much like going forth in serious earnest, to take possession of the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, as at this very day. 20 But suppose the cause did seem declining, we should see no reason to relax our exertions, for Jesus Christ has said, Preach the gospel to every creature; and appearances, whether prosperous or adverse, alter not the obligation to obey a positive command of Almighty God. 25 Again, suppose all that is affirmed were true. If it must be, let it be. Let the dark cloud of infidelity overspread Europe, cross the ocean, and cover our beloved land,-let nation after nation swerve from the faith,-let iniquity abound, and the love of many wax cold, even until there 30 is on the face of this earth, but one pure church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,-all we ask is, that we be members of that one church. God grant that we may throw ourselves into this Thermopylae of the moral universe.' 35 may But even then, we should have no fear that the church of God would be exterminated. We would call to re membrance the years of the right hand of the Most High. We would recollect there was once a time, when the whole church of Christ, not only could be, but actually was, gathered with one accord in one place. It was then 5 that that place was shaken, as with a rushing mighty wind, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. That same day, three thousand were added to the Lord. Soon we hear, they have filled Jerusalem with their doctrine. The church has commenced her march :-Samaria 10 has, with one accord, believed the gospel; Antioch has become obedient to the faith; the name of Christ has been proclaimed throughout Asia Minor; the temples of the gods, as though smitten by an invisible hand, are deserted; the citizens of Ephesus cry out in despair, Great is 15 Diana of the Ephesians; licentious Corinth is purified by the preaching of Christ crucified. Persecution puts forth her arm to arrest the spreading superstition; but the progress of the faith cannot be stayed. The church of God advances unhurt amidst racks and dungeons, persecutions 20 and death; she has entered Italy, and appears before the wall of the Eternal City; idolatry falls prostrate at her approach; her ensign floats in triumph over the capitol she has placed upon her brow the diadem of the Cæsars LESSON XXIV.-POWER OF THE SOUL.-R. H. DANA, SEN Life in itself, it life to all things gives: And, grateful to its giver, tenders food 5 For the Soul's health, or, suffering change unblest, Pours poison down to rankle in the breast: As is the màn, e'en so it bears its párt, And answers, thought to thought, and heart to heart Yès, man reduplicates himself. You see, 10 In yonder lake, reflected rock and trèe. Each leaf at rést, or quivering in the air, Above, below, each grain distinct and bright. |