See how she writhes! hark to her screams, In the stern face of one beholder! Nor heave a sigh at her condition! Ye British matrons, husbands, sires, Whence human blood is sadly flowing! From scenes of such abomination. And send, O! send the Gospel forth On heathen lands pour forth thy splendour; Matlock Bath. ELLEN. REVIEW. A Widow's Tale, and other Poems. By of Antigua; by Mrs. Jones, the only BERNARD BARTON. London. Holds- survivor. This mournful event is geneworth. 12mo. Price 5s. 6d. rally known, and has excited the symPIETY and poetry maintain a close alli-pathies of the religious world. Rest, ye ance in the writings of Bernard Barton; honoured servants of the Lord beneath and he is in consequence too well known the wave, with our blessings on you, already, and too highly estimated, to till "the sea shall give up her dead!" need our particular recommendation. Mr. B. is a poet, who can afford to be We hail it as a good symptom of public a little criticised, and we shall not hesifeeling when compositions of this nature tate to exercise this privilege of friendacquire celebrity, and those of a con- ship. The Widow's Tale is a little detrary cast, and of an opposite principle, ficient in spirit- a little approaches to even though imbued with genius, are visited with execration. dulness. One reason of this we apprehend to be the kind of versification, The first and longest of the poems in which, in our opinion, is injudiciously this little volume, entitled "A Widow's chosen. The Spenserian style requires Tale," is founded on the account of the more to redeem it from heaviness than loss of five Wesleyan Missionaries, and is commonly imagined. Even in Spenser others, in the mail-boat, off the island himself, it is a toil to search for his pearls. Mr. B. has repeated in almost "It is not in the summer hours of life, That prayer's true worth is known; 'tis in Of fear and anguish, when we have no On earth, or earthly things; Oh! then we pray, As those who know not sorrow never can: Each false support must first be rent away, All confidence in self, all trust in man, Rear-ward each worldly thought, each heavenly in the van." Generally speaking, we have been highly gratified with the minor pieces. The first entitled "Caractacus," is written with great vigour. "King Canute," the same in kind, is not quite so successful. Some of the rest are exquisite. We must give our readers one specimen. The following is selected, because it suits the season. Invocation to Spring. Haste, O haste! delightful Spring! Haste, O haste! delightful Spring! A Sermon, occasioned by the death of John Mason Good, M.D. F.R.S., &c. Preached at Shepperton, Jan. 14., and at St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, London, Jan. 21, 1827. By CHARLES JERRAM, M. A. Vicar of Chobham. pp.64. London. G. Wilson. WE had not seen this Sermon when the short notice of Dr. Good, contained in our last number, was written. Since then we have had the pleasure of perusing it, and hasten to lay before our readers some particulars respecting the lamented deceased, with which we were then unacquainted. Of the Sermon itself, we can only remark, that it will amply repay a careful perusal. It is, founded on 2 Tim. i. 12, which the preacher considers, as the language, 1. of serious reflection 2. of established faith-3. of assured hope. Without pledging ourselves to the theological accuracy of all Mr. J.'s statements (his observations on faith, for instance, will bear some revision), we can safely recommend the discourse, for its serious, practical, searching tendency. We select the following extracts for the purpose of giving our readers some information respecting Dr. Good. "John Mason Good was born May 25, 1764, at Epping, in Essex. He was descended from an old and respectable family at Romsey, in Hampshire. His father was a dissenting minister of exemplary character, and considerable literary attainments. His mother was a Miss Peyto, the favourite niece of the celebrated John Mason, author of the well known treatise on Self-Know ledge. Under the tuition of parents so admirably qualified, was laid the foundation of his literary and general acquirements. But I believe he commenced his practice as a surgeon at Sudbury, in Suffolk, where he married one of the daughters of the late J. T. Fenn, Esq., a banker of that place. He removed from thence to London, in the year 1793, where he soon became distinguished, both as an author and as a medical practitioner. "Early in life he commenced the study of the Oriental languages, under his father; and, in the year 1803, he gave to the public the first fruits of his acquisitions in this department of literature; a translation of the Canticles, with the title, Song of Songs; or, Sucred Idyls. Translated from the original Hebrew; with Notes, critical and explanatory,' In this version a new arrangement is offered, and two distinct translations given: one accommodated to the metre of the original; the other in spirited English verse. The notes, which are numerous and very entertaining, display much taste, and extensive reading. "For some years after Mr. Good's removal to Loudon, his principal theological associates were gentlemen of the Socinian school, or of kindred sentiments, among the Roman Catholics. Of this class, was an individual of extraordinary talents and erudition, too well known for his bold and fearless innovations as a critic and translator, Dr. Geddes; memoirs of whose life and writings were published by Mr. Good, in the year 1803. express his astonishment, as well at the extent of erudition which they evinced, as at the extreme accuracy of his acquaintance with a great variety of practical subjects, and at the extraordinary facility with which communications, obviously marked by great thought and research, were transmitted to Dr. G., often on the return of the post by which he applied for them. "During the earlier course of this publication, Mr. Good began to evince a change of sentiments on theological topics; and ere long, he broke off the intimacy of his connexion with men of heterodox sentiments. This, the friends who then knew him best, imputed partly to the impression made upon his mind by the circumstance of some Socinians, who continued to circulate erroneous translations from the New Testament, in favour of their sentiments, after they had acknowledged to him that they were inaccurate; -partly by the train of thought suggested by the perusal of the article Couper, in the Pantalogia, that article containing a defence of Cowper's religion from the charge of producing the affecting malady with which he so long struggled:- and partly from the happy result of many confidential conversations with two clerical friends. These, and doubtless numerous other causes, known only to the great Searcher of hearts, produced, during the last sixteen or eighteen years, an obvious growth in religious knowledge and experience; in Christian activity, issuing ultimately by God's grace, in the full enjoyment of Christian consolations at the hour of death. "From 1804 to the year 1813, Mr. Good In the year 1812, notwithstanding the was employed, in conjunction with Dr. multiplicity of Mr. Good's professional and Olinthus Gregory and Mr. Newton Bos- other engagements, he published, in a large worth, upon a new Cyclopædia, entitled, octavo volume, The Book of Job, literally Pantalogia; comprised in twelve large and translated from the original Hebrew; and and closely-printed royal octavo volumes. restored to its natural arrangement; with Dr. Gregory was the general editor of that notes, critical and illustrative; and an inwork, from the preface to which it appears, troductory dissertation on its scene, scope, that Mr. Good composed and prepared the language, author, and object.' Although various articles, disquisitions, and treatises, this translation is sometimes marked by which fall in the several departments of technical peculiarities, yet it is truly spirited, aerology, agriculture, anatomy, botany, and in many respects highly valuable. Mr. brewing, chemistry, with its application to Good's interpretatious are, throughout, the arts and manufactures; distillation, consistent with the orthodox faith; and, dyeing, entomology, games, gardening, geo-if the train of reasoning pursued throughlogy, horsemanship, ichthyology, leather, out his introductory dissertation be correct, life, mastiology, medicine, metallurgy, mid- the book of Job is the most ancient of all wifery, mineralogy, natural history, orni- human records; the only book in existence thology, orychology, physiology, sports, from which we can derive any thing like a surgery, veterinary science, voltaism, zoolo- systematic knowledge of pure patriarchal gy, &c. The public are also indebted to his religion: and hence that very book which pen for some interesting single articles, that gives completion to the bible, by adding the do not fall into any of the general depart- dispensations of the earliest ages to those of ments just mentioned; among these it would the law and of the Gospel, by which it was be unjust not to specify particularly the successively superseded.' curious and valuable article, Vedas.' In reference to Mr. Good's contributions to this work, Dr. Gregory has been often heard to fying. Mr. Jerram remarks — The account of his death is very grati constitution is by nature sanguine in all things, so that I am afraid of trusting myself." He often, however, repeated that text, and dwelt upon it with evident satisfaction, and for ever;' and when the power of distinct articulation was gone, and he was almost in the action of death, and his kind clerical friend said to him, Behold the Lamb of God,' he added, with an effort that surprised those around him, who taketb away the sins of the world.' And these were the last words he intelligibly uttered." "As we have the most undoubted evidence that religion, and the care of the soul were with Dr. Good an affair of deep reflection, so we have equal proof that he had most deliberately placed his whole depend-Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, ence for salvation on Jesus Christ; and this deserves especial remark, as it is precisely on this point that the reality of his change of sentiment and renovation of heart would be put to the test; for no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost;' nor would any one entirely renounce every other dependence in the hour of death, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, unless he believe him to be able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.' In deliberately putting therefore his soul into the hands of the Saviour, and knowing in whom he had believed, he at once acknowledged, and rested his everlasting interests upon the Godhead of the Saviour, and the all-sufficiency of his atoning sacrifice. Now that Dr. Good did this, is most evident from some of his last and most solemn declarations. 'No man living,' said he, a day or two preceding his death, can be more sensible than I am that there is nothing in ourselves in which to trust, and of the absolute necessity of relying on the merits of Jesus Christ.' All the promises, (he again remarked with great emphasis,) are yea and amen, in Christ Jesus.' He more than once repeated parts of that beautiful hymn of Cowper, There is a fountain filled with blood Dr. Good had been engaged, for some time before his death, in preparing a new translation of the Book of Psalms, accompanied by historical, chronological, critical, and theological dissertations. We are glad to learn that this work will be shortly published. 2. 1. Private life of the Persecuted: or, Memoirs of the first years of James Nisbet, one of the Scottish Covenanters. Written by himself. Oliphant. Edinburgh. 18mo. pp. 288. Price 3s. 6d. Life of the Rev. Thomas Boston, late Minister of Ettrick. Oliphant. Edinburgh. 18mo. pp. 288. Price 3s. 6d. WE recommend the "Memoirs of James Nisbet" to all who have read the "Tales of my Landlord," and formed their judgment of the Covenanters from the caricature portrait drawn by the And he dwelt with great feeling on the Author of Waverley. They will find following verse: · E'er since by faith I saw the stream, I dwell the rather on this, because it affords It only remains that I add respecting him, that knowing in whom he had believed, he was persuaded that he was able to keep what he had committed to him against that day.' Or in other words, his faith in Christ yielded him a well-grounded hope of everlasting life. This hope, it is true, did not rise to that degree of assurance, which fills the soul with joy, as well as peace; he said I cannot say that I feel those triumphs which some Christians have experienced; and he seemed rather to check than indulge what might lead to them; for he said, my that these calumniated men were in- Lord and his righteous cause with the least | offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet for his of sinful compliances; neither stain their people, and that they might be ever kept life and conversation with the least of im- under the influences thereof! What holy, moral practices, but lived straightly up to constant, pressings and strivings to be made their light in the Lord. They were solid partakers of his fulness of grace, for grace and serious, and conscientiously deliberated to persevere honestly and stoutly to the end! what to choose and what to refuse, never What shining beauty was in their faces consulting with flesh and blood, but with when thus employed! What melting and God in his word, and the judgment of sound yearning of bowels! What cheerfulness divines, particularly the Westminster Con- and extension of voice, and yet the tears fession of Faith, concerning what was duty running amain down their cheeks! What and what was sin. They were much in the weighty and unforethought sentences and exercise of mortification, and abstemious expressious proceeded out of their mouths, from all inordinate and unnecessary use of as if dictated by the Spirit of God, to the the creature, both in meat, drink, and ap- great amazement of those who were witparel. They were very hospitable and com- nesses? And what earnest pleadings with passionate towards those in want,. having all the Lord, to be ever counselled of him under things, for most part, in common, resembling all emergencies of providence, that he might the primitive Christians; and this liberality see fit to tryst them with? Thus, they they extended often, even to those who were would have been employed several hours, not of their own judgment, yea, even somesometimes whole days, sometimes whole times to avowed enemies. Thus, their light nights, sometimes three days and three of principles, and honesty of practice did so nights, all spent in earnest prayer to the shine before all, as made every thinking un- Lord, and mighty wrestlings with him; only prejudiced person praise God in their behalf; now and then interlaced with reading a porand very often struck even their worst tion of the Scripture and singing psalms, enemies with a strong conviction, which oc- and refreshing their bodies with meat and casioned even the bitterest of them some- drink once in the twenty-four hours; sometimes to commend that people and their way times oftener, and sometimes not so often. which they most persecuted. The way how All which things I was witness of from my they employed and improved their time, birth to my twentieth year of age, to the no except when flying and shifting from place small comfort and edification of my soul; to place, to escape their enemies' fury and and alas! for my folly, that it was not more cruelty, was spent in earnest and fervent so." prayers to the Lord, in bemoaning and bewailing their own sins of heart, nature, life, and conversation, and their sins of place and station, and in sighing and crying for a!! the sins and abominations of all ranks and degrees of persons in the land, deprecating the Lord's wrath, that his anger might be turned away, and that he would pity, spare, and raise up a remnant to be a seed to serve him in these lands, according to his pattern showed them in his word. What watering with tears! What holy and vehement "It would be improper to give an account breathings of soul! What heavy and heart- of his wedding-day in other language than rending groans for a body of sin and death! his own. This day on the afternoon I What mighty wrestlings with the Lord, that withdrew from company, and sought the he might cause his face to shine upon them, Lord in secret; and afterwards, before the and return to these lands in mercy! What minister came, I went to prayer with the self-judgings and self-condemnings of them- family and relations present, particularly for selves! What bitter bewailings of sins the Lord's blessing with respect to the marpersonal, general, and national! What riage and was much helped of the Lord. crying for the spirit of God, in all his saving Mr. Mair having come, went alone into a and quickening operations in them! What room, and staid some time; and I went into crying to the Lord for light and truth, to another alone, and spent the time in prayer, lead them in the paths of righteousness for and there the Lord was kind to my soul: he his own name's sake! What holy and con- drew near to me and said to me, Fear not; stant resolves to be for the Lord and his way, and I came forth in the strength of the and not for another, cost what it would! Lord. The action was gone about most What distinct uptakings of a God in Christ, sweetly by Mr. Mair; the Lord directed the great Mediator, the noble Plant of Re-him to some seasonable and pertinent exnown, of his person, of his two natures, hortations, and they came with power and divine and human, and of his three-fold life. Of a truth God owned it, and it was The life of the Author of " The Fourfold State," and "The Crook in the Lot," is an interesting piece of Biography, and forms a suitable companion to the volume just noticed. Our young friends will thank us for transcribing the following account of his wedding, together with his portraiture of his wife. |