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266 On Devotional Peetrp
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understood by all mankind , the glory of their Maker , and now extolling the paternal goodness of the Deity , beautifully represented under the image of a shepherd , gently leading us to * ' fertile vales and dewy nveads , " or smootbening to our feet , and brightening to our eyes , the •* rugged way" of life , and the gloomy vale of death . In these soothing strains of sacred song we seem to hear the sounds of a celestial harp , from whose golden cords the soul of harmony is drawn hy the " heavenly touch" of some blessed spirit , to whose eyes the throne of Godunobscured by the clouds which to mortal vision seem to spread a darkness around it—has been revealed in all its splendour , and whose soul has felt the
cheerful and inspiring influence of " the light of his countenance . " The original hymns of Mrs . Barbaukl and Mrs . Steele deserve to be mentioned here as holding a high rank amongst tbe most elegant and perfect specimens of devotional poetrvr in our language . Both these ladies possessed , in an eminent degree , that deep devotional feeling which alone can inspire sacred song , and which breathes in every line of tjieir devotional compositions . Alike in this respect , they are , however , different in others . There is more sublimity and imagination in the one . more tenderness and feeling in the other .
The former elevates the soul , the latter melts the heart . Of the two , Mrs . Barbauld is the nobler poetess , and the tones of her harp are bolder and more commanding ; but the less elevated strains of Mrs . Steele are nftore affecting and sweet . We regret that we cannot here insert Mrs . Barbauld ' s sublime " ^ Address to the Deity " which is one of the noblest compositions of the kind in the English language : our limits will admit only of two short extracts from Dr . Kippis ' s " Collection of Hymns and Psalms , " in illustration of the above remarks , the first containing a specimen of Mrs . Barbauld ' s , the second of Mrs . Steele ' s , devotional poetry :
This earthly globe , the creature of a day , Tho' built by God ' s right band , must pass away ; And long oblivion creep o ' er mortal things , The fate of empires , and the pride of kings : Eternal night shall veil their proudest story , And drop the curtain o ' er all human glory .
The sun himself , with gathering clouds opprest , Shall in his silent , dark pavilion rest ; His golden urn shall break , aud useless lie , Amidst the common ruins of the sky ; The stars rush headlong in the wild commotion , And bathe their glitt e ring foreheads in the ocean .
But fix'd , O God ! for ever stands thy throne : Jehovah reigns , a universe alone : Th' eternal fire that feeds each vital flame , Collected , or diffus ed , is still the same : He dwells within his own unfathom'd essence , And fills all space with his unbounded presence .
But oh ! our highest notes the theme debase , And silence ia our least injurious praise : Cease , cease your songs , the daring flight control ; Revere him ia the stillness of the soul : With silent duty meekly bend before him , And deep within your inmost hearts adore him .
My God , my hope ! if thou art mine , Why should my soul with sorrow pine ? On thee alone I cast nay care ; O le ^ ve me not in dark despair . Though every comfort should depart , And life forsake each drooping heart ; One smile from thee , one blissful ray , Can chase the shades of death away .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1826, page 256, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2548/page/4/
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