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wherever we approve , though sometimes , we fear , our admiration has been excited when approbation lagged
far behind . But , in the present case , so happy , an union has been effected between beauty and truth , that our feelings may be allowed their full play without any danger of impairing the nicety of our moral discrimination . So much of our time , and so large
a proportion of our pages are appropriated to the direct discussion of par * ticular theological tenets , that we are in perpetual danger of forgetting our great interest int pleading the cause of
a larefc and liberal spirit of devotion : in hording up to view , on every occasion , the advantages of dwelling on what we may presume to call the lighter parts of religion—those beautiful sentiments , which , though
affecting different minds in different ways , do , in some form or other , fix a very peculiar stamp of excellence on every production of a mind strongly imbued with them . It has been charged upon rational Christians , and with too much
truth , that they are apt to neglect the heart while they pay an unremitting attention to the head . This arises so much more , we believe , from argumentative habits * imbibed in early life , than from any convictions of the understanding unfavourable to the cultivation of devotional feeling , that we shall not waste our own time and that
of our readers in discussing the subject : resting satisfied , also , that a volume like that before us will do more towards demonstrating the happy influence of the religion of the heart , than any arguments which we could advance
in the calmness and quietness of prose . At the same time let it be remarked , that the directly devotional pieces of this collection are not numerous , and that we have spoken of it with reference to religion , chiefly because it appears to
us that its author ' s mind has received , and communicated to these productions , a rich infusion of that classically devotional taste which is more precious in the eyes of a Christian than the largest acquaintanceship with the beauties of Heathen lore ; ,
The author is , we understand , one of a highly-rifted family , to whom we are indebted for the veiy pleasing little volume of which we gave an account in our' last Number ( p ^ 4 S $ }« W # hav ^ giseat pleasure « i raakiog
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an extract or two . There is mucfi beauty in the following lines ( p . 21 ) : Smiling serenely , as on earth she smil'd , But those sweet eyes no longer tearbedevv'd , She sat , invested with heav ' fc ' s sanctitude , Amid the blissful bow ' rs , happy and mild And angel-like in gentleness : unehang'd , Save that the grief which weigh'd upon her breast
Had fled , and left her now entirely blest , Earth ' s chain unloos ed , and free where ' er she rang'd . She still retained her spirit ' s playfulness ; With sweet and holy thoughts so calmly blended , As spoke heav e n ' s peace upon her head descended , And her brow wore no shadow of
distress , I saw her thus , —the angels cherishing Their long-belov'd , and welcoming her home , And whispering her of pure joys yet to come , And hopes eternal and unperisking-I saw her smile upon them , and the band
Of fadeless flow ' rs they laid \ ipon her brow ; And heard her sigh ,. O happy , happy now , Th' immortal airs my burning cheek have faim'd , And those I left on earth , and wept to leave , Their ministVing angei I awhile shall be ;
But soon their wearied hearts shall cease to grieve And they will come to rapture and to me . "— Sonnet . ( P . 54 . ) How oft beneath his blest and healing
wings He would hare gather'd me , and I would not ! Like a weak bird , all heedless of my lot ; Perverse and idle in my wanderings . Now my soul would return , and trembling brings Her wearied pinion to its wonted rest :
And faint with its short flights and flutterings Would seek a refuge in its parent breast ! O Father I in thy mercy shelter me , For I am worn with mortal miseries ; My dark and earth-entangled sp irit free , And plume it to ascend its native skies :
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478 Review . —Poems , by one of"A Family Circle . *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1820, page 478, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2491/page/34/
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