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Art . H . —Element * of Religious Instruction , . designed for the Use of Young' Persons * By a Lady . Hunter . 1831 . This little wort * consists of " Sermonets" addressed to children , and of questions and answers , the ' answers forming the component parts of the preceding discourse . Whether this method
of conveying the elements of religious instruction be interesting , and therefore judicious , experiment must decide ; but , while fully sensible of the goodness of intention of this little book , _ we cannot bat fear that its effect will be impaired for want of greater coherence of ideas
and simplicity of language . The most difficult kind of writing is that which is to nourish little minds ; and much that is true and excellent in itself may lose its value from apparently trifling differences iu the mode of expression , which is , in this case , not always so judicious as might have been wished .
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Art . III . —A Sermon on the Occasion of the Death of Wm . Roscoe , Esq . By Rev . J . H . Thom . Hunter .
1831 . This discourse , on the Christian warfare aud its recompence , must interest , were it only from the venerableness of the name to which it is consecrated . Af- ^ ter having bi'iefly touched upon the various claims to respect and regret which are involved in the name of Roscoe , the preacher continues ,
• ' We dwell not thus on that abiding adherence , to Christianity , which was the deep-rooted principle pf his actions , because we hope that there may result from it some confirmation of Christian truth , but because it was the noblest feature in a noble character . Christianity wants not the proudest or the most gifted to do her homage , but it is
the finishing glory of a mighty and a gifted intellect , when it is contented to turn away from the race of ambitiou , or interest , or worldly praise , and binding its immortal powers to the righteous cause of truth , to toH devotedly for the kingdom of God , for the dignity of man , for the triumphs of virtue . This was
the chief glory of him who is an honoured name in other lands , and for other causes ; it is this which casts a sanctifying halo around all the other brightness which attends him ; it is this which , when earthly glory has passed away , shall still encircle his brow , —his crown of immortality . It was no mean
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distinction that he hud fathomed the heights and depths of philosophy in her boldest flights , that his seeking eye rolled in imagination ' s finest light , that nature had discovered to him her most beautiful and secret processes , and the stores of literature were opened to his gaze ; but it remains to his immortal honour that
above them all he prized the name and the distinction of a devoted labourer in the cause of man and of humanity . If the world has a spectacle truly noble , it is that of a pure and powerful mind devoting itself to high and holy principles ; calmly abiding in them as in eternal truths , and waiting for God ' s own time to give them power and glory ; and
thanks be to God , that his honoured servant waited not in vain , that he lived to witness the recognition in the world of those enlarged and elevating views whidh were so dear to his own generous and expansive mind ; and that not until a day of better promise seems to have dawned upon man , whom he so deeply loved , did he pass to a brighter light than any that gleams upon earthly shores .
" My friends , we feel that we have been intrusted with one of those rare opportunities , in which the character of a Christian may be made subservient to high , and holy , aud lasting purposes . We feel the full advantage of our situation , and would to God that we had the power of successfully using it . We have offered no words of consolation . It
would be a wretched offering to those who have been already upheld by an eternal trust , and traced with the eye of faith the glorious destinies of an immortal soul . The mighty endowments of the gifted mind must survive ; virtue cannot die ; and the soul which has felt on earth the stirrings of a purer joy is now dwelling in the bliss of God . We
have attempted no strain of laboured eulogy . His name uttered in your hearing would convey more than our most studied efforts . We have desired , earnestly desired , to impress the power of his character upon our own souls , to direct our minds to the lofty exhibition of a Christian , in the holiness of his life , iu the strength of his benevolence , in the
nobleness of his aims . It is but seldom , my . friends , that God so richly favours us with an example so perfect ; it is but seldom that he permits us to look upon the living glory of heaven ' s holiest influences ; it is but seldom that , awed and humbled before the singular excellence of a departed Christian , we can say in deepest sincerity to our souls , * go thou and do likewise . * May God , who
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Critical Notices . - —TheologiopL ? &I
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1831, page 783, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2603/page/59/
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