Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

POETRY.

t

EVENING SOLILOQUY IN A GARDEN IN JANUARY

"Trs Winter; but the sun's warm beams by day
So cheer the season, and the moon's mild ray
So silvers o'er the night, the air so bland,
One fancies heart-reviving Spring at hand.

Backwards and forwards, as I walk along,
All Nature's still. No Philomela's song
First startles, then enchants. The beetle's hum
Is heard no more, the grasshopper is dumb.

I see my shadow pacing by my side,
As if it meant my footsteps to deride;
Or rather, as a monitor and friend,

Some useful hint, — some precept kind to lend.

What am I then? Turn in, my thoughts, to know
Whence came I here? and, Whither do I go?
What is my character, and what my state, -
My-future prospects, - my eternal fate?

The Hand which hung yon brilliant lamp on high,
With golden studs adorn'd that azure sky,

By pow'r divine and wisdom built my frame,
Inspir'd with Reason's intellectual flame!

From the bright fount that pours the blazing day
Down to the dew-drop glittering in its ray,

All Nature serves its Maker; - so his will

[ocr errors]

Should move my thoughts, my powers, my passions still.

When Adam sinn'd, in the cool garden's side,

He heard the voice of God, and was afraid;"

Why so? Guilt fill'd his trembling soul with shame;
And well may I this evening feel the same.

But swell, my heart, with gratitude and love,

Who made and rules those shining worlds above,
On me look'd down, with gen'rous pitying eye,
Pardon'd and sav'd a rebel doom'd to die l
There's not a berry on this hcdge-row grows,
There's not a snow-drop at this season blows,
But proves his pow'r; but in the plan divine,
Lost man to save, his whole perfections join.
And am I written on the Saviour's heart?
Methinks the Saviour whispers, Yes, thou art.'
O then, what prospect to my soul appears,
Beyond the twinkling stars, the rolling spheres !

I see my Jesus on his throne of love:

I hear the rapt'rous songs of saints above!
And when this dust lies kindred dust among,
My soul shall join the everlasting song.

Long Buckby.

G. AULD, Printer, Greville Street, London.

RUSTIGES

3

[graphic][subsumed][merged small]

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

MARCH, 1811.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE REV. JOHN ISAAC HARRISON, A. M.

OF NAAS, IN THE COUNTY OF KILDARE, IRELAND.

THE righteous shall, doubtless, be held in everlasting remembrance. After death, indeed, their survivors too often forget them; but it is a consoling truth, that they are ever known unto the Lord. Their names are written in the Lamb's book of life; they have a place among the living in Jerusalem, and are numbered among the citizens of Zion. I am firmly persuaded, that the subject of this biographical sketch now stands before the throne, and is mingling his praises with all the ransomed of the Lord, in ascribing' salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb!'

Mr. Harrison had been a clergyman of the Established Church upwards of 20 years, before he became savingly acquainted with the things of God: his former character was judged rather moral, not having degenerated into those habits which have too often rendered the sacred office odious, even in the eyes of wicked men. However, like many other clerical gentlemen of fashion, he by no means thought the cheerful song,' the innocent game of cards,' or the generous glass,' inconsistent with the duties of a minister of Christ; and it is not among the least painful circumstances of our times, that such an accommodation to public taste and dissipation is frequently ranked among the virtues of the parson of the parish, Even in Mr. Harrison's case, the apparent change in his religious conduct, excited among his parishioners both disappointment and disgust. Mr. Harrison possessed considerable taleats; and being highly cultivated, by extensive literary knowledge, he ranked among the most celebrated pulpit advocates of Charity, previous to the days of Dean Kirwan: but God, whose ways are not as our ways, neither his thoughts as our thoughts, was pleased to display the sovereignty and glory of

his grace in a manner that is worthy of being held in remembrance!

About the middle of the year 1807, Mr. Harrison heard one of the preachers of the Methodist Society, in the street of Naas, preach from these words: The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest *.* Conviction accompanied the plain application of these words to his judgment and heart: he saw clearly, that instead of being a faithful labourer, he had been an idler, and an unprofit able servant in the Lord's vineyard. The word of salvation was blessed to his soul, he became a new creature; and, through the divine influence of the Holy Spirit, was brought to rejoice in God his Saviour. Deeply impressed with a sense of his state, he introduced himself, immediately after the service, to the Methodist preachers; and his first salutation was, 'I am a clergyman of the Established Church; but alas! I am one of the idlers which I have heard described in your sermon.' He then kindly invited them to his house; and they accepted his hospitable invitation.

Upon entering the house, they found a numerons party, all busy in playing at cards. Mr. Harrison introduced them with these words, These are Methodist preachers, whom I have been hearing in the street. Instantly they laid down their cards, and a general' silence ensued. Being in a clergyman's house, the preachers judged it necessary to be cautious as to their manner of reproving; and yet their silence led them to think that they expected some observation on their engagement. Upon which, one of the preachers said, Will you allow me, though a stranger, to enter my protest against this ide practice of card-playing? Mrs. Harrison replied, "Sir, what harm is there in card-playing?" He said, Madam, I do not consider it to be a heinous profligacy; but is it not a loss of time, and a forgetfulness of God?' "We have time enough," replied Mrs. Harrison; "for we have no other amusement when we meet together on a winter evening."Pray, Madam,' said he, have you not the Bible to read? Mr. Harrison immediately went to his book-case, brought out a large Bible, and laying it down on the table among the cards, said, "We have Bibles enough in this house; but, God help us, we make a bad use of them." The preacher then added, Madam, when you have understood the Scriptures so well, that you can say there is nothing new in them, then resort to the cards, for the sake of variety; but while there are excellencies unknown, and beauties unseen in the sacred volume, be advised to lay aside the cards, and begin to search diligently after the riches of divine truth.' She instantly called a ser

·

* Matt. ix. 37, 38.

« AnteriorContinuar »