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contemporaries, and cannot but expect that my life is drawing towards a close. I feel a sort of presentiment that I cannot continue much longer; and to die is something like taking a leap in the dark, I do not find much present enjoyment, and I cannot suppress a secret undefinable horror of the future."

Here the autobiographical part of the volume ends, and the editor resumes the narrative. This closing chapter is replete with awful interest. It echoes back, in appalling accents, the motto of the volume, "The end of these things is death."

"I cannot bear,' he exclaimed, to hear of such things; they might have been mine, but they are not. The people you speak of have served God in their health and strength, when I despised and rejected him,-they went to the house in the diligent search and expectation, of which they had patiently lived all their days. I have never entertained God in all my thoughts-I have endeavoured to banish him thence. I cannot meet him as my friend; I have all along been his enemy. I cannot submit to One whom I have so long and so tering frame together for a few months, something heartily opposed. If you can keep my poor totmight be done: I might change my purposes.'

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"Alas!' replied the Physician, these are vain suggestions; a very few days must finish your earthly course; let me prevail upon you to employ them more profitably, than in seeking to avoid what is inevitable. Mercy is yet to be found, if you seek it with all your heart: God is nigh unto those who call upon him faithfully; and though your time is very short, yet enough remains to obtain pardon and peace, if you seek it earnestly; but do not defer it-you cannot live through another week.'

As the subject of the memoir approached the close of life, the gloom of his apprehensions deepened, and at length gathering thick about him, wrapped his soul in the darkness of utter despair. The consolations of the gospel, administered to him by a benevolent and pious medical attendant, were obstinately rejected, and he "died without hope." It is too common to connect these awful death-bed scenes with the particular character of the individual in connexion with whom they appear --usually one of marked and flagrant wickedness. The awful spectacle is considered as affording room for sympathy, but not identity. The present volume is well calculated to remove this common and mischievous error. It will be seen, that the ground of this unhappy man's despair is precisely that which every individual must occupy, who is "living without God in the world." An ordinary mind, feel all the wretchedness that follows from that

in a similar situation, would perhaps have felt differently, though less correctly. His mental faculties weakened by disease, his mind flattered by self-love, and soothed by words of comfort and encouragement, spoken by the pious visitant-words dictated rather by humanity than truth, the dying sinner admits false hope into his bosom, and receives temporary balm for his fears. In this state, we doubt not, thousands enter into the world of spirits. The melancholy individual referred to in this memoir, appeared to possess a strength of mind and a clear perception of truth, which prevented him from falling into this delusion. He retained, with a terrible grasp, the awful truth, and no arguments, however ingenious, or persuasions, however pathetic or urgent, could induce him for a moment to relax his hold.

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"I know of no other balm, (repentance) said the Doctor, that can now yield you comfort or support-there, and there alone, you may derive strong consolation. It often occurs to me in the exercise of my profession, to attend the dying bed

of those who are sinking into the grave, under accumulated loads of misery; yet I have seen these deriving such consolation from the influence of religion, that they have triumphed over all their burden of afflictions, they have scarcely been sensible of their sufferings, so great has been the peace and happiness they have experienced, in the

expectation of exchanging this mortal life for a glo

rious immortality.'

"I cannot seek God,' he replied: I neither love nor desire him: I have lived in hostility to him all my days, and if he is willing to be reconfeelings and propensities so quickly. Lengthen ciled to me, I am not ready; I cannot change my my days,-give me space to conquer my aversion to him, his people, and his ways; these are all alike go over in an instant. disagreeable to me, and I cannot change sides, and O keep me alive a few months, or we shall meet as enemies! Even now I feel his strong hand upon me-O that he would destroy me! His fear terrifies me, and his mighty arm inflicts punishment greater than I can bear. O, misery without end, and suffering inter

minable!'

"I entreat you,' said the Doctor, 'to avert
your attention from that dreadful state, to one
more suited to your wants. God hath declared,
That he willeth not the death of a sinner, but-
"I know it,' he interrupted, I know it, and

terrible declaration. He gave me abundant space
to repent, but I only hardened myself in iniquity.'
I was not left in ignorance. He gave me parents,
use have I made of their instruction?
who taught me what was right and wrong; what
I remember
many of their lessons at this moment with con-

vincing clearness, but I despised them. Why was
I not killed, when I fought that fatal duel with
Darcy? Why was my life spared, when Lord Lys-
tone, a man so much better than I, was taken
away? Why was I carried to the Griffiths, and
shewn how happy religion can make a family? I
have always loved sin, and if God had willed the
death of a sinner, he would have cut me off long
ago. What then? I went on to fill up the mea-
sure of my iniquity, and that being now complete,
I am hastening to receive my full reward. I can
now God hardens my heart against him. I must
not repent; I have hardened myself in sin, and
persevere. I have no desire for repentance.
Heaven would be only a place of torment, for there
I must meet God, whom I have made my foe; there
I must love and serve him, whom I have neither
loved nor served all my life."

Delirium shortly succeeded, and in a paroxysm of despair and terror, "he suddenly raised himself upon his bed, and, uttering a piercing shriek, fell backward and expired."

REVIEW.--The Philosophy of a Future
State. By Thomas Dick.

12mo. pp. 420. Whittaker. London. 1828.

THE title of this book is remarkably attractive, and can hardly fail to excite universal attention. The unsophisticated mind, while

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Review.-Philosophy of a Future State.

ardent in its pursuit of truth, is almost instinctively led to seek its foundation among such luminous principles as bring their evidence to the understanding; and in proportion as these are obtained, its confidence is unshaken and secure. Nor ought it to be forgotten, that even those persons, who in their investigations identify truth with dogma, and remain perfectly satisfied with the permanency of their basis, gladly avail themselves of such principles as obtain a sanction from the common suffrages of mankind.

Availing himself of this universal propensity, Mr. Dick has selected an ample plain for the groundwork of his volume, and in the parts, chapters, and sections, which, in the table of contents, he has arranged before the eye, the reader beholds those sources of information which he rejoices to see explored. Pleased with the foundation which the author has laid, he enters on the perusal of his volume with all the confidence that hope can inspire, and, full of expectation, follows him through all the avenues and labyrinths that await him, in his momentous excursion.

The fundamental principle which Mr. Dick undertakes to establish is, that there is a future state of existence, in which man must live for ever.

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the moral world when contrasted with the material, the unequal distribution of rewards and punishments, the absurdity of supposing that a thinking principle will ever be annihilated, and the gloomy consequences involved in a denial of an hereafter, all furnish the author with distinct sources of argument in favour of his fundamental proposition.

From these intimations of nature, Mr. Dick turns to the authority of revelation, and argues both from the Old Testament and the New, not only that the soul of man shall survive the crisis of death, but that the body also shall experience a resurrection from the grave. In the subsequent parts, he adverts to the connexion of science with a future state, to the aids which the discoveries of science afford, for enabling us to form a conception of the perpetual improvement of the celestial inhabitants in knowledge and felicity, and to the moral qualifications requisite to the enjoyment of the felicity of the future world.

Having thus placed before the reader a general outline of this work, it will be pleasing to call his attention to the superstructure that is raised. The arguments founded on the various topics that have been stated, are always strong, and in general conclusive, and on a perusal of the whole, we are led to infer, that if there be no future state of existence allotted to man, the natural, the intellectual, and the moral world is involved in more than Egyptian darkness, and finally to conclude with him, in reference to God himself, either that no moral governor of the world exists, or that justice and judgment are not the foundation of his throne. But independently of the absurdities which must ensue on a supposition that there is no future state, the reasonings adduced in favour of the positive fact place it on a rock that never can be shaken.

In favour of this important truth, he appeals to the light of nature, and to the dictates of revelation, and successively argues that both concur in establishing the fact. His first appeal is to universal belief, in support of which he adduces the Greeks, the Romans, the Egyptians, and the Scythians among the ancients, and the inhabitants of the Society and Friendly Islands, the New Zealanders, the Samoeidians, the Kalmuc Tartars, the Birmans, the Japanese, the Africans, and the American Indians, among the modern. This belief, he contends, is not the offspring of superstition, like that which leads a barbarous people to cherish fairies, elves, and goblins, for when such nations become enlightened, while the shadows of credulity disappear, the belief in the soul's immortality acquires strength, being confirmed by arguments which nothing but an acquirement of genu-physical discussions, and requires replies to variine knowledge can supply.

The desire of future existence implanted in the human mind, the nature of the intellectual faculties, the perpetual desire of obtaining knowledge, the progress of the mind towards perfection, the unlimited range opened to the human mind in the immensity of space and duration, the moral powers of the soul, the forebodings of conscious guilt, the disordered state of

On the immateriality of the soul, the author, however, founds no argument, and the reasons he assigns are not less remarkable, than the omission is unexpected.

"I have declined entering upon any illustration immateriality involves a variety of abstract metaof this topic, 1st. Because the proof of the soul's

ous objections that have been raised against it, which would only tend to perplex readers endowed with plain common sense. 24. Because the doctrine of the immateriality of the thinking prin

ciple, however clearly it may be proved, can add nothing to the weight of the considerations already brought forward; nor, when considered by itself, can it afford any conclusive argument in favour of the soul's immortality. It simply leads to this conclusion, that since the soul is an uncompounded substance, it cannot perish by the decomposition of its parts; and consequently, may exist, in a separate state, in the full exercise of its powers, after its corporeal tenement is dissolved. But its

Sonnets on the Isle of Wight Scenery. By G. J. Harrison. Newport. W. й. Yelf. 12mo. 1827.

immortality cannot necessarily be inferred from its natural capacity of existing in a state of sepa- REVIEW.-Vectis Poetica. Descriptive ration from the body; for that Being who created it may, if he pleases, reduce it to a state of annihilation. Hence it follows, that it is a matter of trivial importance, when considering the arguments which prove our immortal destiny, whether we view the soul as a material or an immaterial substance."-p. 158.

Against the reasoning advanced in the preceding paragraph, we must beg to enter our protest. That God may annihilate the soul, although we allow it to be an immaterial substance, no one we presume will deny; but if this be assigned as a reason, the objection drawn from thence will apply with equal or superior force against all that the author has advanced. Against the possibility of annihilation by omnipotent power, no valid argument can be urged. The energy which gave it being can retrace its steps, and reduce every thing that was created to its primitive nonentity. But surely we have, on the ground of analogy, more reason to infer the perpetual existence of that which is not naturally capable of dissolution, than of that which is essentially liable to decomposition. Nor can we suppose it "a matter of trivial importance, whether we view the soul as a material or as an immaterial substance." If the soul be material, its essence coineides with, and is essentially the same as that of other matter, how refined and ethereal soever it may be supposed to be. Its essence destroyed, it will be reduced to a result of mere organized matter; and when this organization ceases, all evidence of its distinct existence is done away.

We do not, however, suppose that Mr. Dick conceives the soul to be material. He has only granted the fact hypothetically. But we think the concession uncalled for and ill-timed, and far beyond what either he, or any other Christian author, was called to make. The language is ominous, and, as opening the door to scepticism, it may be attended with fatal consequences, especially to those who behold in the immateriality of the soul, the strongest natural basis of its immortality.-Infidels are always on the alert to take advantage of hypothetical concessions and logical distinctions; which, therefore, ought always to be carefully avoided.

But notwithstanding the preceding remarks, and the occasion of them, this work ranks high in our estimation. In all other respects, the author's arguments are strong, luminous, and convincing; and if none were permitted to deny the soul's immortality, but those who could fairly answer what he has advanced, scepticism would have but few advocates.

116.-VOL. X.

THE Isle of Wight has long been the resort of many wealthy and fashionable person ages of the present day, on account of the salubrity of its air, the beauty of its scenery, and the amusements, of a marine nature, which its situation is so well calculated to afford; and yet we doubt whether, among all the individuals of talent who may have visited it, any have attuned their harps in celebration of a spot which has infused new life and vigour into their drooping frames. At all events, it has not fallen to our lot to meet with any thing before, of the same nature as the work now presented to our notice.

That true merit is ever attended with diffidence and modesty, is an observation, the truth of which has been acknowledged and confirmed by all men in all ages; and the idea was forcibly recalled to our recollection on seeing the title-page of this little volume. Instead of "London," (the great mart for books, as well as other commodities of every description,) striking our eye in large capitals, we see simply, "Newport: W. W. Yelf;" as though, we thought, our author was fearful of its reception with a London public, or as though he dreaded the sharp and strong eye of a London cri. tic; but, if we mistake not, we shall have the pleasure some day of seeing the names of some of our booksellers associated with that of its present respectable and respected publisher, a circumstance which we are persuaded will afford as much gratification to him, as it will to the author and ourselves.

We think (for we do not know it to be absolutely the fact) the author of this book has long been a contributor to the poetical department of our magazine. We have no doubt the pieces bearing the initials G. Y. H. are from his pen, and we are satisfied our readers will agree in thinking the style and sentiments of them will bear us out in the remark.

We extract the two following introductory sonnets: the lines in italics we think par. ticularly beautiful :—

Isle of the sea! thou art supremely fair!
For Nature's glorious gifts to thee belong;
Where dashing elements the ocean tear;
Where all is rich in sentiment and song.
And time hath aptly strewn his pictur'd way.
With monkish ruin, and baronial spoil;
The frail mementos of dominion's day,
Of feudal labour, and monastic toil.
Yet still thy hills the tempest's power defy;
Unmoy'd by storms-they are, and still-shall be;
3 H

859

Review.--Sermons designed to strengthen the Faith, &c.

And crown'd with smiles that light the ethereal sky,

Their rocky feet bathe in the sapphire sea;
Kissed by the weedy wave and snowy spray,
All these are charms to lure the soul away.
Far from the city's heart-consuming heat,
To where the hills o'er flowery valleys rise;
Where tangling copses form the bard's retreat,
And bless the region to his fervent eyes;
Where streamlets murmur melody so sweet,
That to their symphony the breeze replies;
A matchless vision! nor did fancy dream
So bright a spot but in Arcadian deem!
The tranquil river, gem'd with gliding sails;
The bowery cottage bounded by the deep;
The wood-encircled fields and fruitful vales;
The tower-crown'd castle, and the castled steep.
Thou art, meek island, in thy verdant dress,
A flower amidst the watery wilderness.

Our readers may judge from these two sonnets, of what their author is capable; but we turn from them to others, in which, perhaps, they may feel more interestedthose which relate to Legh Richmond's Dairyman's Daughter. The scene of so interesting a narrative, her very birth-place, the cottage in which she dwelt, the chair in which she sat, and the green sod under which she lies, must indeed awaken emotions of no ordinary nature in the breasts

of those whose hearts are alive to the sen

sibilities and sympathies of our nature. The name of the place is Arreton; and under the head "Arreton," there are four sonnets: we have not room for all; we will, however, extract two of them :

I.

It is an earthly paradise of sweets, [commune;
Where moving Wordsworth might with flowers
Where odorous woodbine o'er each cottage meets;
Where waken'd feelings with the scene attune!
And all of rural sound salutes the ear-
The sheep-bell's note-the gurgling waterfall;
Rich buds of spring along the paths appear,
And silvery skies across the valley roll.
The distant view might tempt an angel's stay;
A soften'd painting of a cloudless day-
High shadowing hills o'er ivied cot and spire;
Where youthful bard might dream a weeping song,
His fancy sever'd from th' unfeeling throng,
And snatch from Nature's altar quenchless tire!
III.

Departed saint! around thy late abode,
Perennial beauty blooms as in the past:
Each tree umbrageous throws its boughs around,
As when thy chasten'd eyes beheld them last.
The blossom'd shrubs entwine the window-frame,
And darkly shade the little lattice there;
Which on thy features shed the evening's flame,
As calmly seated in that oaken chair.
The parting glance was on the cottage glades.
And fondly dwelt upon their cherish'd shades,
Then upward look'd unto thy Father's rest:
And now thou art where not the streaming eye,
Nor ought of earth, shall mar thy extasy;
For ever blended with the truly blest.

There are four pretty lines in sonnet II: And he who saw the spotless lily die, [wer, Had nurtur'd with his prayers the beauteous

That oped its leaves on earth one little hour,
To bloom eternal in th' unfuding sky.

These extracts say, for themselves and for the author, more than we can say for them or him. We hail his little work as a preliminary to something more important from his pen; we think he is but a young

860

man; we advise him not to write in haste; and we anticipate the pleasure of seeing him hold as respectable a station among our poets, as this little volume alone entitles him to, and which, if he continue to write as well, he will not, he cannot, fail to obtain.

8vo.

REVIEW.-Sermons principally designed to strengthen the Faith, and increase the Devotedness, of Christians, in the present remarkable Era. By the Rev. James Haldane Stewart, M.A. pp. 471. Seeley. London. 1828. IT is to the honour of our national church, that of late years the number of its pious This is ministers has greatly increased. observable throughout the country, but more particularly so in cities and large towns, where they have found by experience, that "the best bell to toll people to church is a good example." Where this prevails, the truths of the Gospel are in general preached in all their fulness; and the churches of such ministers are uni

formly crowded with large and attentive congregations. This is a homage which, in the order of Providence, sin has been called to pay to godliness, for even those who live in the indulgence of their passions, are not satisfied with the preaching of a minister whose great aim is to flatter their vices, and increase their moral malady by the contagion of a bad example.

In country places, we find here and there a tithe-exacting, profane, fox-hunting, and drunken parson; but compared with what they were about half a century since, their number is happily diminished, and our bishops manifest a solicitude that the evil shall not increase. In the city also, we find a few theatrical, Vauxhallgoing, card-playing, ball-frequenting clergymen, but in general their churches are half deserted, for even those who caressed them as jovial companions, do not altogether admire them as Christian ministers.

The preceding observations have been elicited by the striking and laudable contrast to such characters, which the author of the volume now before us happily displays. Mr. Stewart is the minister of Percy chapel, St. Pancras, and chaplain to the marquis of Bute, and the earl of Breadalbane, and is well known as the author of several valuable publications. The sermons now under our inspection seem to have been written under the influence of that Holy Spirit, for the special outpouring of which, he so earnestly prayed some years since, as being the only agent that could

give efficiency to the Christian ministry, and command success on the benevolent institutions now in operation to benefit mankind.

In these discourses we have neither abstract theories nor philosophical speculations. They are founded on the simple declarations of Jehovah, and enforced with the authority of "Thus saith the Lord." The texts which the author has selected for illustration direct us to the more essential parts of the Gospel, which the pages written on them uniformly tend to develop. Mr. Stewart has given ample proof that he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, well knowing that it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth. Of these Sermons, piety, simplicity, truth, and earnestness, are the distinguishing characteristics; and we have scarcely any doubt that they will be read with a considerable portion of that interest and profit, with which they were originally heard.

It is not among the least recommendations of these discourses, that the author speaks out fully and fearlessly the things he intended to deliver; nor have we discovered in any part a disposition to smother truth, lest it should prove offensive to those who hear and read. In these respects they may be fairly contrasted with many temporizing sermons of the day. They shew us that the author "is serious in a serious cause," and the substance of the whole may be comprised in this solemn declaration of our Lord, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

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THE articles which compose this volume are avowedly selected from various authors, whose names are in general mentioned, so that nothing belongs to Mr. Burns, but the judgment displayed in the selection, and the classification manifested in the arrangement of his materials. The volume is divided into three parts, namely, the essence of theology selected from the works of eminent divines; the power of religion exemplified in the lives and dying testimonies of distinguished characters; and anecdotes, precepts, select poetry, &c.

On the articles in the first part, there can be but one opinion. They carry with them indubitable evidence of their own excellence, independently of the orthodoxy for which the authors' names are pledged

as vouchers. In arranging these materials, the compiler has acted a judicious part, leading us from the advantages of Revelation, to its character and excellence, and through all its fundamental principles, to its leading doctrines, and its happy influence on the lives of those by whom its truths are experimentally and practically embraced.

From life, the compiler proceeds to death, and gives the names of nearly thirty distinguished characters, in whose expiring moments the triumphs of religion shone with most perspicuous lustre. This part might have been easily enlarged, without descending to names which only adorn the humble walks of life.

The anecdotes, maxims, precepts, and poetry, are somewhat of a miscellaneous character, yet in spirit and tendency they all bear the stamp of a family likeness. Many of the anecdotes are amusing as well as instructive, and, committed to memory by young persons, they might be brought forth on various occasions, to illustrate principles, and to enliven conversation.

In

The maxims are but few in number; but several of them, having much point and energy, are valuable in reference both to this life and that which is to come. theory they can do nothing, even though the brilliancy of their truth were to be admired by every reader; but treasured up, and taken with us as companions in our journey through life, they will always teach us either how to avoid, or how to sustain its rigours.

By persons who have not many books to peruse, or much time to devote to readvaluable epitome of important truths and ing, this volume will be found to contain a maxims. To such we beg to recommend it, being satisfied with the intrinsic excellence of the matter which it contains.

REVIEW.-Sermons preached before a Village Congregation. By the Rev. Joseph Jowet, M. A. two vols, 12mo. pp. 378371. Seeley. London. 1828. THESE two volumes contain forty sermons, and both in the selection of subjects, and the simplicity of the language in which they are delivered, the author always keeps his village congregation in view. His mode of illustration is happily adapted to the presumed attainments of his audience, and is scarcely ever rendered unintelligible or obscure, either by allusions to subjects that are unknown, or by the use of metaphors which waste their brilliancy on their own

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