Since God is ever present, ever felt,
In the void waste, and in the city full !
And where He vital breathes there must be joy.
When e'en, at last, the solemn hour shall come,
And wing my mystic flight to future worlds,
I cheerful will obey; there with new powers,
With rising wonders, sing. I cannot go
Where universal love not shines around,
Sustaining all yon orbs, and all their suns,
From seeming evil still educing good,
And better them again, and better still,
In infinite progression. But I lose
Myself in Him, in light ineffable!

Come, then, expressive silence! muse his praise.

Chapter XIII.

HYMNS ABOUT THE BOOK.

"In God will I praise his word; in the Lord will I praise his word."

NGLAND has her classic divinity; a theological creation affording everything to enlighten the minds, regulate the lives, and warm the hearts of the most cultivated Christians, as long as the English language lives. In the midst of this brilliant firmament of religious literature, like a central and imperishable sun, stands our Bible. This is the one book of the Christian; that which affords enough to form his character were all other volumes consumed with the dust of their authors. The great design of this book is to regulate the affections of man, and to perfect his character for an immortal state. But it affords innumerable pleasures to the mind which it sways, and allures the soul toward religious maturity by gratifying its distinctive taste. Do we seek for beauty of composition? In the Bible we find the most natural simplicity and force, the most genuine strength and grandeur. Do we look for poetry? Here we may feast on the amazing sublimi

ties of Isaiah, and read with pleasure the pastorals of Solomon; we are excited to heavenly feeling by the sound of David's lyre, are sometimes melted by the pathetic strains of Jeremiah, and at intervals overwhelmed by the awful grandeurs of the entranced Ezekiel. Does our taste lead us to inquire for the beauties of logic? In the Bible we have the most delicate distinctions, the most acute reasonings, and the most perfect developments of the human mind. Do we wish to gratify our taste for the science of numbers? Questions may be drawn from this Book, the solution of which may deeply engage the most profound calculators. Are we astronomical in our propensity? Then we may follow the inspired penman, and ride upon the wings of the wind, fly above these lower elements, perform the circuit of the earth, consider the influences of the moon, mark the Pleiades, measure the bands of Orion, follow the "going forth" of Mazaroth, or commune with Arcturus and his sons. Are we in pursuit of geographical knowledge? Here are notices interesting, explanatory, and illustrative. Are we students in natural philosophy? Here the wide field of nature is opened to us; and the philosophical writers of this book direct us to particulars and universals. In the Bible the pious politician meets with the great principles of civil and ecclesiastical polity, and here is a system of moral philosophy which far transcends all that has been produced among men. And all these secondary lights are so placed in the sphere of truth, that their beams unite to glorify and render prominent the great Source of all good. Nor can we trace their rays without being led to contemplate the glorious character and righteous will of the Divine Being. The book that thus gratifies our taste,

introduces the mind to God, and assimilates it to his image by calling it to enjoy the writings of the law, the oracles of the prophets, the doctrine of types, the experience of histories, the instruction of proverbs, the beauty of promises, and the music of psalms. There is no book which has such power to transform and perfect the character of the Christian; none which holds in such pleasurable servitude the intellect over which it has the entire sway. While the mind has a strong passion for books, and a relish for great variety prevails, it is difficult for the young Christian to give the Bible its proper place, to afford it its proper share of his time, attention, and heart. But to the selfdenying student, who devotes himself to revealed truth, that book opens its hitherto veiled beauties, and fixes and absorbs the wondering and ravished mind. Dr. Kennicott was occupied for thirty years on his edition of the Hebrew Bible. During that time it was Mrs. Kennicott's office, in their daily airings, to read to him those different portions to which his immediate attention was called. When preparing for their ride the day after his great work was completed, upon her asking him what book she should now take, “Oh,” exclaimed he, "let us begin the Bible again.” So, then, the love of the sacred volume grows as our acquaintance with it deepens; and just as its various riches and powers open our hearts, we shall take up the simple but touching melody of Anne Steele's hymn on "the excellency of the Scriptures," and sing

Father of mercies, in thy word,
What endless glory shines!
For ever be thy name adored
For these celestial lines.

Here mines of heavenly wealth disclose
Their bright, unbounded store;
The glittering gem no longer glows,
And India boasts no more.

Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;

Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;

Sublimer sweets than nature knows,
Invite the longing taste.

Here may the blind and hungry come, And light and food receive;

Here shall the meanest guest have room, And taste, and see, and live.

Amidst these gloomy wilds below,
When dark and sad we stray;
Here beams of heaven relieve our woe,
And guide to endless day.

Here springs of consolation rise,
To cheer the fainting mind;

And thirsty souls receive supplies,

And sweet refreshment find.

When guilt and terror, pain and grief,

United rend the heart,

Here sinners meet divine relief,

And cool the raging smart.

Here the Redeemer's welcome voice

Spreads heavenly peace around;

And life, and everlasting joys,

Attend the blissful sound.