is impossible, after going through these versions, not to think more highly than ever of the compositions of Dr. Watts. The Versions of the Collects form a new and distinct feature of the work. We have often felt surprise that, so far as our recollection serves us, no attempt has been made by any Christian poet to throw some of these admirable and comprehensive ejaculations into a metrical form, so as to adapt them to psalmody* We ventured to insert, in our Number for February last †, a version of the beautiful collect beginning, O God, whose blessed Son was manifested'; and we cannot do better than give Mr. Judkin's more paraphrastic rendering of the same. O God, whose first-born stood reveal'd In heav'nly armour bright, That we the sons of God might be, Vouchsafe, for His prevailing sake, That, while this glorious hope shall take We, long as earthly days endure, So, when with pomp and pow'r again, And down the thronging sky, While millions swell the advent strain, We may like Him, with light divine, 6 * It is especially remarkable, that the Author of "The Christian Year, or, Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holidays throughout the Year", should not have made any use of the Collects for the purpose he has had in view, to which they might have been so successfully adapted. A twelfth edition of this highly lauded volume of sacred poetry lies before us; yet, we must confess, that we are unable to detect, in its poetical merits, the secret of its popularity. Like the world, the Church Political loves its own'; and the idea of the volume was a fortunate one, since it has secured to the Author's compositions the charm of association with holy days and venerated rites. The whole volume breathes of the cathedral, and the poetry bears the true Oxonian stamp, polished, stately, and cold as architecture, the only glow being as artificial as that obtained from stained glass. Less quaint and artificial in expression than Herbert, the modern poet of the Church is more artificial in feeling, and consequently less truly devotional. Between Mr. Keeble and Mr. Montgomery, the contrast is like the difference between a musical instrument and a deep-toned. human voice. + Vol. xi. p. 118. And where, amidst the angel-host, O Father, now with Thee, And now with Thee, O Holy Ghost, He reigns in His own sov'reign right, While we cannot subscribe to the indiscriminate and hyperbolical panegyrics lavished upon the Anglican liturgy, we should feel ashamed of ourselves, if any sectarian prejudices could render us insensible to the true beauty or devotional propriety of many parts of the Church service. One great charm of the Collects lies in their exquisite conciseness. This feature of course disappears in a paraphrase; and it is always a defect in a hymn, when a sentence is continued through more than one stanza. This is the chief fault into which Mr. Judkin has fallen; a fault with difficulty avoided, because each Collect consists of a simple invocation and petition, and to comprise both in a single stanza is often impracticable. It is obvious, however, that a paraphrastic version must be fatal to their genuine character. The Collect for the eleventh Sunday after Trinity is thus rendered by Mr. Judkin. O God, whose pow'r is chiefly shown Yea, when to save from sin was none, Grant that we plead not now in vain, That, while the heav'nward course is plain, And so each holy claim fulfil And now the high and heav'nly goal This is diffuse paraphrase. A second version' contains the same collect, more briefly expressed, in the compass of four verses of the common short measure. The whole thought might, however, have been more closely and emphatically expressed within eight lines; and we shall venture upon the attempt, O God, who dost thy sovereign right And high prerogative Most chiefly shew in thy delight Vouchsafe the aid Thy grace supplies, So in thy ways to run, That we may win the heavenly prize, One of the happiest specimens in this volume is the collect for All Saints', which is itself one of the finest in the Prayerbook. We refrain from criticism, but must strongly object against the concluding couplet of that on the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, which would become the lips of only a Socinian. Mr. Judkin has certainly succeeded best in the original hymns. -Of these pleasing and sometimes striking compositions we have already spoken with approbation, and given two or three specimens. We shall therefore merely give two of the additional ones, first printed in the present edition. HYMN II. "Lord, that I might receive my sight."-Mark x. 51. A beggar at the highway side Rais'd his benighted eye; For mercy, not for alms, he cried As Jesus passed by: And, oh! what joy ineffable Possest the blind man's soul, Lord Jesus! with thy Spirit's light Who still in sin's oppressive night Anew, day after day, unfold The marvels of Thy grace, Till near Thy throne, mine eyes behold 'HYMN LXII. "O forsake me not utterly."-Psalm cxix. Spreads its shadow o'er the soul, Bid the cloud at distance roll. In the hour when boastful pride Let Thy gracious strength abound. On our hearts Thine unction shed. In the hour when hope's bright ray Let thy strength our souls restore.' Mr. Edmeston is well known to the religious public by his numerous contributions to our popular hymnology. These 'fifty original hymns', we feel constrained to say, will not rank among his best. We select the one which has most pleased us. Oh Thou, my risen Lord,' And mind from evil free, More truly would my praise aspire, Art. III.-1. The Evangelical Almanack; or Christian's Annual Instructor, for the Year 1835. 24mo. 1s. 2. The Christian Almanack for the Year 1835. 12mo. Price 8d. 3. The Family Almanack for the Year of our Lord 1835. 4. Daily Manna, a Text of Scripture and Verse of Poetry for every day in the Year. THIS ancient and venerable class of Annuals has of late years been thrown into the shade by the upstart novelties which have usurped that name. An Almanack used to be regarded with a sort of reverential interest as an annual visitor of importance, deeply charged with mystic lore. Its leaves, fraught with hieroglyphic wisdom, were considered sacred to science and big with fate. The preparation of these Almanacks was the peculiar business and prerogative of a worshipful Company, who monopolized the science of the stars. We all know that in China and other eastern countries, the composition of the calendar is an affair of state. The most learned of the magi are in requisition for the production of the work, just as Merlin, Moore, Partridge, and other distinguished magians have been retained by the Worshipful Court and Company of Stationers. Within a year or two only, their prescriptive rights have suffered invasion from a rival Society of high pretensions, trading in all sorts of useful knowledge. Still, the Almanacks of the original Company maintained their ground; and Francis Moore, in spite of the attempts to undermine his authority, continued to be the favourite oracle of the public. This year, however, has witnessed a strange, though not unanticipated result of repealing the stamp duties upon Almanacks. While these existed, the Stationers' Company still enjoyed, with little deduction, their old monopoly, of which the public had, we must admit, no great reason to complain, since the correctness of their publications was unimpeachable. But these duties being removed, the expense of printing and publishing an Almanack is rendered so trifling, especially where accuracy is not much regarded, that there has been no check upon competition; and the literary market has been suddenly glutted with almanacks of all |