1846.] Merits of the Work. 223 his nature, must of course be true. We believe in its truth, just as we do in the truth of the system of astronomy which explains and harmonizes all the planetary motions. The second conclusion is, that taking into view the connection of the moral precepts of Christianity with the religious truths which enforce them, the character of the system as a whole, the character and claims of Christ, and the circumstances by which he was surrounded, we are compelled to admit that it had the supernatural origin and authority which it claims. We have not attempted to give even an abstract of the argument presented by Dr. Hopkins. Our purpose has been, merely to indicate the general tenor of a portion of it, in the hope thereby of commending the volume to our readers. The concluding Lectures, which treat of the external evidences, contain a clear statement of the points to be proved and of the evidence for them. But on the whole, they strike us as inferior to those on the internal evidence. They add nothing to what might be found in many other volumes. They lead us to think that the lecturer was pressed for time, or did not personally feel any strong interest in this part of his work, but added them for the purpose of making the statement of evidences more complete. His heart is evidently in those Lectures which treat of the adaptation of Christianity to the nature and wants of man. Notwithstanding all that has been written on the subject, no treatise occurs to us which presents this branch of Christian evidences more clearly and forcibly. If there be nothing absolutely novel in the view which is taken, it is presented with so much freshness and vigor and felicity of statement, that it seems to us a real addition to our theological literature. The external evidences require much more space than President Hopkins could give to them, and for this reason as well as the one suggested above, and because in an age of universal publication we want only a man's best thoughts, we think that the volume would be better if all were omitted except what relates to the internal evidences. It would make a complete treatise by itself, and one which we should be glad to place as a first book on Christian Evidences in the hands of any one who was desirous of candidly investigating the grounds of belief. Still we ought to say, that President Hopkins's volume is better suited to animate the faith of a disciple than to convince the skeptic. He takes his position within the Church, and writes for the benefit of those of whose sympathies he is already sure, rather than for the satisfaction of those who stand without the circle of Christian brotherhood. And in regard to the external evidences, we should prefer that the believer, having examined the first part of President Hopkins's labors, should then read some writer who has treated this department of the subject more elaborately. E. P. ART. VII. POETRY. 1. HYMN OF WORSHIP. "The sea is mighty, but a Mightier sways GREAT is the Lord. God of earth's empires, and her nations all! The mountains that rear up their awful heads When He doth speak. The broad, blue arch of heaven Whose millions, clothed with life, dwell on the land, That lights the day, and lovelier moon that shines His presence fills all space:- That rest on Himmaley, list to His footsteps. - The eagle mounting with unfaltering wing And for the hare he bids the clover bloom. The weary ox, panting from recent toil, Drinks from His brooks, and from His bounty feeds. 225 Of loved ones, He perceives, and giveth balmy hope Of immortality. The wild tornado, Wrenching the strongest pines from their firm roots, And hurling them abroad in terrible wrath, The earthquake heaving with its awful strength And granteth strength to her returning wing. From all that on the land hath habitude, R. H. B. II. LINES ON THE DEATHS OF LITTLE CHILDREN. I. I CAME where, in its snow-white shroud, I kissed that cold and stony brow. And pain has fled that placid face!" To feel, thy spirit now is free : To feel that thou art safe and well 1846.] Deaths of Little Children. And yet we do not deem thee far, Though, from yon world of cloudless bliss, To us, frail sojourners in this: For He is present everywhere, Whose arms of love enfold thee round,- 227 II. "T WAS in the time of early spring, In hope that winter's hour is past; "T was then our darling's grave we made, The blighted hope of future years. The blighted hope? Oh, say it not! There came no "voice of words" from Heaven; Though stillness brooded o'er the land, So sadly sweet, so sweetly wild, The fitful, solemn, cheerful note, Above the grave of that dear child, Gushed from the little songster's throat; Methought her own pure spirit might, E'en at that hour, be hovering near, Shelley's Monody on Keats. |