Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses. Par A. DE LAMARTINE, Membre de l'Académie Française. Bruxelles: chez Franck, Libraire: chez H. Tarlier, Editeur, 1830. En deux tomes, 12mo. Reprinted from the Paris Edition.

THE name of Alphonse De Lamartine, the most accomplished poet of the day, in France, must be familiar to many of our readers; and doubtless his productions have obtained for him, on this side of the Channel, that esteem which genius always consecrates and claims, wherever and whenever it may be found. The "Dernier Chant de Childe Harold," the "Chant du Sacre," and a variety of other pieces, have made the author of the pretty volumes before us, in some measure, the redeemer of the character of his associates in Apollo; for assuredly he ranks high enough in the scale of poets, to have disproved that sweeping censure, which has denied to the French the capability of exhibiting a true poetic mind. Our present purpose is not, however, to eulogize M. De Lamartine, but to introduce to our friends his last publication, the title and the style of which bring it within the sphere of our appropriate jurisdiction. And in so doing, we have .peculiar satisfaction; for the senti ments expressed, after all due allowance for the character of the writer's

creed (a creed, by the way, essentially poetical), are such as to allow us to make mention of the work, otherwise than as a literary curiosity; for though in the days when the blasphemous and disgusting Berenger is idolized by his countrymen, it must be pleasing to see the most vigorous intellect amongst that people, whose religious feelings have never stood in the way of their worldly career, and of whom too many are, we fear, sunk in the depths of a most heathen infidelity, dedicating itself to the cause of Christianity, and offering up its noblest efforts as incense on the altar of the cross. As poetry, the contents of these volumes will not be without interest; as Harmonies poétiques et RELIGIEUSES," they cannot but delight. They are comprised in four books, the first and third consisting of eleven Harmonies; the second and fourth, of thirteen each. To enumerate them here may be out of place; we merely mention, that they in great measure unite the wildness and vigour of the author's prototype, Byron, with the softening and devotional calm of MONTGOMERY [not Robert, but JAMES], to whom we would commit them, for the advantage of those readers, who, enamoured of the English bard, know nothing of the French. We shall conclude this brief notice with two or three extracts, which we confidently trust will be satisfactory witnesses

Qu'elle s'élève à toi de désir en désir,
Et que plus elle monte et plus elle mesure
L'abîme qui sépare et l'homme et la nature
De toi, mon Dieu, son seul espoir !

Noyez-vous donc, mes yeux, dans ces flots de tristesse ;

Soulève-toi, mon cœur, sous ce poids qui t'oppresse;

Elance-toi, mon ame, et d'essor en essor Remonte de ce monde aux beautés éternelles,

Et demande à la mort de te prêter ses ailes,

Et, toujours aspirant à des splendeurs nouvelles,

Crie au Seigneur, encore, encore !
Tom. i. pp. 112–116.

We will not injure the effect of these extracts by an attempt at translation; we leave them to the judgment of all true lovers of poetry.

Le Culte Domestique; Sermon sur ces Paroles du Livre de Josué, chap. xxiv. ver. 15, "Pour moi et ma maison, nous servirons l'Eternel." Par J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNÉ, M. D. S. E. Pasteur, Président du Consistoire de l'Eglise Evangélique Protestante Française et Allemande de Bruxelles. Paris: H. Servier. 1827. pp. 31. Price 1s.

WE think we hear some one of our readers exclaiming, "Well, then, affairs on the continent are not so bad as we thought them!" A Sermon on Family Worship, from a pulpit in the Catholic city of Brussels, has certainly some claims to attention. This is the last published discourse but one of its eloquent author, Mr. Merle D'Aubigné, than whom a more liberal, pious, or enlightened preacher does not exist. We have noticed it because of its merit; and because we see how anxious are sincere Protestants abroad to inculcate the exhibition of sound and practical family religion. It was, perhaps, with a view to exciting emulation in this respect, that we placed the present notice in our work; and if it succeed in awakening attention to this necessary duty, we shall be absolved. M. Merle divides his discourse into two heads, the

motives to follow the resolution of Joshua, in the text, and the directions necessary to carry it into effect. To the former of these divisions we give unqualified praise; the latter must have some drawback, on account of the impracticability, in our Church, of some of the author's views with respect to family devotion; but we must remember, that beyond our own island we can have no authority to dictate how Protestants should proceed in the service of God. It is true, that often religious exercises are "formes mortes;" but it is problematical, hów far better than the use of "prières écrites," it is "prier vous-même à haute voix ;" because experience has shown us in England what sad errors men have fallen into who, without discretion, have abandoned themselves to the influence of their zeal. The other directions are incomparable; praying in common, concluded with a hymn, and preceded by the reading of the Scriptures, with a comment attached, at the most convenient hour of the day for that purpose; but the greatest essential, says M. Merle, is " une vie en accord avec la sainteté du culte que vous rendez à Dieu. Que vous ne soyez pas deux hommes différens, devant l'autel de Dieu et dans le monde, mais soyez vraiment un seul homme." The conclusion of the sermon is admirably adapted to direct the attention to the preceding directions.

Scriptures, or upon any system of religion in particular, but an attempt at the subversion of all religion whatso

ever.

All the sceptical inventions of

past and present infidelity are crammed into the mouths of his principal interlocutors; and if the subordinate characters are dressed in a garb of piety, it is but to exhibit some semblance of attention to historical fact. The Deity is represented throughout as a capricious tyrant, while Lucifer is exalted into an angel of benevolence, compassionating the miseries which an unjust providence has entailed upon the race of man. Whatever mischief, however, "Cain" was destined to do, was principally confined to the period at which it first appeared. It is not calculated to induce a lengthened attention; and it was the author, rather than the book itself, which rendered it comparatively dangerous at all. Perhaps, therefore, we should have recommended the author of the well-intentioned volume before us, to have kept his annotations upon the "Mystery" within the compass of his own portfolio; at the same time we are bound to acknowledge, that they contain a lucid and pious refutation of the various arguments, if arguments they can be called, which the noble writer has embodied in his drama. Many of them, indeed, would have been passed unheeded by the

common

reader, and even the most profound would only have caused, perchance, a weak and transitory impression. Still there is now an answer for any of the readers of "Cain" who may be staggered by any of its sophistries; and we heartily hope that they may be induced to have recourse to it.

But

we confess our doubts, whether a bulky commentary, five times as long as the poem itself, will be a very likely attraction to the ordinary readers of Lord Byron.

Six Lectures on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, delivered in the Parish Church of Bradford-Abbas, Dorset, during Lent 1830. By the REV. ROBERT GRANT, B.C.L. Vicar of Bradford-Abbas, &c. &c. &c. Lon

I feel I should be voluntarily defective, were I to omit earnestly inviting my readers (if it please God I have readers) to connect with these Notes, the perusal of a small work, which consists of Six Short Lectures on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, preached, during the last Lent, in the Parish Church of Bradford Abbas, near Yeovil, Somerset, by the Rev. R. Grant, the Vicar. To eulogize these elegant, though plain, spiritual, and faithful discourses of, clearly, a faithful minister of Christ, and of that Gospel and revelation which it has been the sincere, however imperfectly executed aim, even of this book, to advocate, is needless and would be improper. To select any extract from those lectures might not be easy. I only wish the opportunity to be given them of speaking for themselves; being confident, that should any approve of my own homely fare, they will be much pleased with the provision I now propose to their acceptance, not abundant indeed in quantity, but richly so, and most wholesome at the same time, in quality.-P. 432.

In the celebrated list in the "Critic," we do not recollect to have met with the puff fraternal, the puff filial, or the puff paternal; but we shrewdly suspect, that the above may be classed under one or other of these significant appellations. Be this as it may, the encomium is not unmerited, and we are happy to admit the justice of Mr. H. Grant's recommendation of Mr. R. Grant's book.

From the different incidents in the parable of the Prodigal Son, the preacher has pointed out the endearing connexion which exists between the Almighty and his creatures, represented under the image of a Father's affection for his children; the paternal love which he has manifested in the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ, and in the impartial distribution of the means of grace; the danger consequent upon the abuse of these gifts, and the wretched effects of sin; the need and advantages of affliction, in bringing the sinner to a sense of his unhappy condition; and the joy

with which the conversion of every true penitent is witnessed in heaven. The Lectures are a good practical exposition of a very interesting and important passage of Scripture; but they would have been rendered somewhat more complete by an additional Lecture on the character of the elder brother.

Six Lectures on Liberality and Expedience, delivered in Kentish Town Chapel. By the REV. JOHNSON GRANT, M. A. Rector of Binbrook, and Minister of Kentish Town. London: Hatchard. 1830. 12mo. pp. vi. 194. 5s.

GRANT again! Another of the same name, at least, if not of the same family; and not a whit behind his namesakes in his claim to our attention. In these days of mock liberality, when we are called upon to concede the most sacred institutions of our country and religion, to the unhallowed demands of noisy demagogues, and when expedience is a cloak for the grossest violations of public faith, it is time that a line be drawn between the genuine and spurious character of those virtues, of which the names have been of late so much abroad. Our author has taken up the subject upon Scripture principles; and by a reference to the precepts inculcated in the Bible, he has submitted it to the only legitimate test. Liberality, in all its forms and characters, comes under review; its influence upon the moral sentiments is considered and improved; and the nature of true Expedience is then fully investigated and defined. The various distortions under which these qualities continually appear, are pointed out in the fifth Lecture, which is peculiarly deserving of an attentive consideration. Throughout the whole discussion, there is no immediate reference to particular persons; but the whole is conducted on the broad basis of religious duty. There may be some few points on which we should be disposed to differ from Mr. Grant; but they are not so important as to demand especial consideration.