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DOCTRINAL AND PRACTICAL.

BY THE

REV. WILLIAM ARCHER BUTLER, M. A.,

LATE PROFESSOR OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN.

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HODGES AND SMITH, GRAFTON-STREET,

BOOKSELLERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.

MDCCCLII.

100.a.31.

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MEMOIR".

THE

HE historian of the last days of Socrates has exquisitely described that commixture of opposite emotions which are excited by the removal of one distinguished for piety and usefulness: τις ἀήθης κρᾶσις ἀπό τε τῆς ἡδονῆς συγκεκραμένη ὁμοῦ καὶ τῆς λύπης.

The sure and certain hopes which Christian faith substantiates to the mind,-the "life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel," the conviction that our friend is now with Christ, which is for him far better,-such considerations, doubtless, should outweigh all selfish sorrow, and make us ready even to give hearty thanks to God, "for that it hath pleased Him to deliver our brother out of the miseries of this sinful world."

But with this perfect resignation, with joy and thanksgiving for the blissful translation of our friend, deep sorrow is not inconsistent. It is human nature; and, therefore, it is not displeasing in His sight, who was perfect man, nor thought anything human foreign from Him, sin alone excepted. Hope we may have as the "anchor of our soul, both sure and certain." Faith may be to us "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Yet still there is the present bereavement to ourselves; the journey of life to be travelled on alone; sweet counsel interrupted; happy intercourse suspended; the familiar hand and voice and smile;all vanished from before our eyes like a dream of other days. It is lawful, it is right, thus to sorrow, after a godly sort, for a departed friend. But there are occasions when our pri

* Some paragraphs of this Memoir have already appeared in the Irish Ecclesiastical Journal.

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vate grief is heightened by a higher and less selfish sorrow,sorrow for society, and for the Church,-sorrow that a master in Israel is no more,-that a burning and a shining light is extinguished, that a "guide, philosopher, and friend," is taken from us, that the "mouth which brought forth wisdom" is now silent in the grave. We may indeed humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God; we may heartily acknowledge that He doeth all things well; we may deeply feel that the Omnipotent and Allwise is in need of no human instrument; and we may learn from such a visitation this most salutary lesson,-" Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of?" Such reflections will certainly prevent one repining thought, and teach us so to mourn as men not without hope. Yet still, sorrow, chastened, softened, and subdued, must find a place in our hearts. It was not discontent, it was not faithlessness, which compelled the devoted servant of Elijah, even at the moment while he gazed upon his master's glorious translation into heaven, to exclaim, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof."

Such a train of thought is naturally suggested by that mysterious visitation which has removed from amongst us, in the flower of youth and prime of usefulness, a brilliant ornament of our Irish literature, a "vessel chosen unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." That visitation has devolved on me the mournful, yet pleasing task, of giving to the public these remains of a friend, with whom a long-continued intimacy was my high privilege and honour. I commit them with confidence to the judgment of the competent. But I cannot but be sensible, how faint a transcript are these pages of that master-mind, which could charm by the playfulness of its fancy, while it astonished by the vastness of its intellectual resources. Those who knew the author may indeed here retrace his image; but how little, alas! can it convey to others an adequate conception of the bright original. It was in the unreserved intercourse of friendly conversation that the faculties of Professor Butler seemed to find their happiest exercise. His multifarious knowledge was communicated on the most trivial suggestion, yet without effort or display. The profound reflection, the subtle analysis, the most pungent wit, dropped

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