sun- - 'i:?o^ V OF THE OF Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/beautiesofmodernOOmccorich ^o ^ I THE BEAUTIES OP mmW 8ACEED POETRY, SYSTEMATICALLY ARRANGED, WITH PREFACE^ By WILLIAM M'COMBIE, Esq., AUTHOR OF "hours OK THOUGHT," "MEMOIRS OF A. BETHUNE," &C., &C. NEW EDITION IMPROVED. A Deity believed is joy begun ; A Deity adored is joy advanced ; A Deity beloved is joy matured. LONDON : DARTON AND CO., 58, HOLBORN HILL. PREFATORY NOTE TO THE FIRST EDITION. To have the emotional being disciplined to due mea- sure, and trained to appropriate action, may be de- scribed as the last and highest issue of human culture ; while to have our emotional life cover the entire range of our relations, and stimulate in the case of each in proportion to its importance, would be the only state of such culture meriting to be characterised as finished education. In the misdirection or perversion of our emotional being lies the greatest evil of defective and bad education. Our emotional life is open to three main dangers — seduction, perversion, and extinction. A truly healthful excitement of our emotional suscepti- bilities is drawn only from the real relations of life, or from the most veritable transcripts of nature in the por- trayal of these relations ; but it is quite possible to live in an ideal world, where is generated an order of purely factitious emotion. Then, our susceptibilities may be- A IV PREFATORY NOTE. come perverted amid real relatioDS — the love being bestowed on one object, which is due only to another, enjoyment being sought where it ought not, and when it ought not, — hence an order of sinful emotion. And, though our emotional life be neither seduced into an ideal, nor perverted into a sinful course, there is yet another danger to which it is open — that of the deadening of susceptibility in our most intimate re- lations. Few men carry the freshness of youth and youth's affections and emotions through the tear and wear of life's daily toil, harrassment, and care — few have their susceptibilities alive in due measure, and no more, to every appropriate occasion. The variety of nature and the vicissitudes of life are, indeed, standing counteractives to this waning tendency in our suscep- tibilities, but without a sedulous emotional culture, and extraneous emotional stimulus, these are overborne; and, at last, the eye daily familiar with them, comes tx) look without emotion on the noblest scenes of nature, and to behold without commiseration the deepest sufferings of humanity. Hence the value of the poet's function. It is his to present the scenes of nature and life in their pristine freshness— to break up the crust of old familiarity, and introduce us anew as amid the vivid life of nature's primal morn ! To make the common aspects of nature — unimpressive and unexciting to the dull habitual eye — PREFATORY KOTE. V burst out into beauty and vocal life, may be character- ised as the poet's natural and spontaneous function — it is what his genius will, as a matter of course, issue in as its lowest product. To be the successful poet of nature needs but the poetic vision and some creditable culture in the use of human speech ; to be the success- ful poet of life and of the social relations (successful as an inspirer and educator of the feelings that have their range and play), demands, not merely poetical suscep- tibility, but moral culture ; and to be successful as the poet of the religious emotions, demands, not only the possession of the poetic vision and moral culture, but the vital action of religion in the soul. But, if the emotions appropriate to our relations to nature, and these, too, appropriate to our relations to social life, are liable to lose their freshness in the daily wear of the spirit, the emotions appropriate to our spiritual life are open to similar unfavourable influences, and to special moral ones besides. Hence, the value of Sacred Poetry, or that which addresses itself to the quickening and expansion of the religious emotions. As these emotions are the highest and most important vital forces of our nature, a peculiar value attaches to this great instrument of their development and culture. Accordingly, we find a large portion of the Scriptures made up of spiritual poetry. And what a power is here — of emotional expansion, of moral culture, of a2 VI PREFATORY NOTE. spiritual quickening — ever acting in redeeming from earthliness and degradation the inner life of man ! In the combination of these great qualities, the sacred bards must ever stand alone ; but not a feW others — though far behind — have followed in their noble track; and collections and groupings of their productions, such as that here presented to the reader, have a high value both as ministering to spiritual en- joyment, and as influentially entering into that great educational process — that training of the spiritual and moral nature — essential alike to right doing, right being, and to ultimate happiness. Cairnballoch, June 22d^ 1852. CONTENTS. The Grandeur of Deity, I. The Unsearchable Jehovah, II The Greatness and Purity of God, III. Jehovah the Governor of Nations, IV. The Voice of Deity, y God, VI The Omnipresence of Deity, VII The Saviour, I The Saviour, II A Voice from the Desert, III The Saviour's Birth at Bethlehem, IV. The Saviour's Birth at Bethlehem, V. ... The Saviour's Birth at Bethlehem, VI. The Saviour's Birth at Bethlehem, VII. The Saviour's Birth at Bethlehem, VIII. ... The Saviour's Birth at Bethlehem, IX. The Saviour in the Temple, X The Saviour Teaching the People, XI. The Saviour Performing Miracles, XII. The Saviour Blessing Little Children, XIII. The Saviour Walking on the Sea, XIV. ... The Saviour Giving Sight to the Blind, XV. The Dumb Cured, XVI The Saviour Comforting his Disciples, XVII. The Saviour Weeping over Jerusalem, XVIII. Jesus Passing over Kedron, XIX Our Saviour at Calvary, XX.* The Saviour's Request, XXI. Page Ogilvie, 19 Ranson, 22 Pitt, 23 ... Miss Williams, 24 Pitt, 25 Russian Anthology 26 Anon, 27 Kirke White, 29 Searle, 30 Drummond, 30 Anon, 31 Medley, 33 ... Violante do Ceo, 34 Anon, 35 Gobbin, 37 Eeber, 87 Bishop Taylor, 40 Grahame, 40 41 41 , ... „ 42 ... Cumberland, 42 Dale, 43 Marie de Fleury, 44 Cunningham, 44 Anon, 45 CONTENTS. The Suffering Saviour, XXII The Crucifixion of Jesus, XXIII The Saviour in the Tomb, XXIV. The Resurrection of Christ, XXV Christ at Emmaus, XXVI. The Saviour Ascending from Olivet, XXVII. Christ in his Offices— A Prophet, I. A Prophet, II A Priest, I A Priest, II A King, I A King, II. ... Christ in various Relative Aspects— The Head A Brother, II. Forerunner, III. Friend, IV Intercessor, V. Physician, VI Shelter from the Storm, VII Morning Star, VIII. The Sun of Righteousness, IX. All in All, X. Holy Spirit, I. Holy Spirit, II Holy Spirit, III. Holy Spirit, IV The Gospel, I The Gospel, II The Gospel, III Truth of the Gospel, IV Truth of the Gospel, V Truth of the Gospel, VI Belief of the Gospel, VII Belief of the Gospel, VIII Belief of the Gospel, XI The Blessings of the Gospel, X. The Blessings of the Gospel, XI The Blessings of the Gospel, XII The Blessings of the Gospel, XIII. The Blessings of the Gospel, XIV The Blessings of the Gospel, XV The Blessings of the Gospel, XVI. Results of the Gospel, XVII Results of the Gospel, XVIII Results of the Gospel, XIX Results of the Gospel, XX Pitt, 47 Ayion, 49 Cunningham, 51 Orahame, 52 Raffles, 53 Madan, 54 Anon, 55 Watts, 56 Dr. Collyer, 57 Logan, 57 Dr. Doddridge, 58 Anon, 59 of Saints and Angels, : I. Dr. Doddridge, 60 Anon, 61 Miss Taylor, 61 , Watts, 62 Miss Taylor, 63 Scott, 64 (From the German), 65 ... Anon, 65 Mrs Steele, 67 Anon, 68 Watts, 69 Hart, 70 Pres. Davis, 71 C. Wesley, 72 H. Selwyn, 72 Dr. Baffles 73 Anon, 74 Dry den. 74 Watts, 75 Cowpe7\ 76 Young, 77 Kelly, 78 Dr. Collyer, 79 A7ion, 79 „ 80 J, 81 Medley, 82 Mrs. Barbauld, 82 Beddome, 83 Anon, 84 Dr. Doddridge, 85 Anon, 86 Beddome, 88 CONTENTS. Extension of the Gospel, XXI Extensionof the Gospel, XXII Extension of the Gospel, XXIII. The Creation, I. The Creation, II The Creation Finished and Surveyed, III. Adam— The Garden of Eden Enoch, I, Enoch, II Noah.— The Deluge, I The Deluge, II The Deluge, III The Flight of the Dove, IV The Rainhow, V. Abraham— Ahraham, I. The Hospitable Patriarch, II. The Destniction of Sodom and Gomorrah, III. Abraham Surveying Sodom, IV. Hagar in the Wilderness, V. The Paternal Sacrifice, VI. , Jacob— Jacob's Dream, I Jacob Wrestling with an Angel, II. Jacob receiving Tidings of Joseph, III. Jacob and Pharaoh, IV Moses— The Finding of Moses, I Moses in Pharaoh's Court, II. The Midnight Slaughter, III. ... The Last Plague of Egypt, IV The Exodus, V. ... The Egyptians Destroyed, VI The Miraculous Passage of Israel through the Red Sea, and Journey through the Wilderness, VII. . Deathof Moses, VIII. Saul and David, I. Saul, II Song of Saul before his Last Battle, III. David and Goliath, I. The Death of Goliath, II David's Lamentation for Saul and Jonathan, III. The Last Words of David, IV Elijah Fed by Ravens, I Elijah in Horeb, II The Translation of Elijah, III Jerusalem— Address of King Hezekiah, on the Invasion of Judah by Sennacherib, I Ryan, 138 Nehemiah to Artaxerxes, II Knox, 139 Jerusalam in Ruins, III J. Young, 140 Page ... Ano7i^ , 89 „ 90 ... Heher, 90 Knox, , 91 . T. Morrell, , 93 ... Milton, 95 Knox, 96 Anon, 97 Joseph Jones, 97 j^ 98 ... CotUe, 99 . S. Hughes, 102 ... R. Ryan, 103 .. Campbell, 104 ... J. Jones, 106 Draicin, 107 ... T. Wood, 108 Anon, 109 Knox, 110 Anon, 111 R. Ryan, 114 Wesley, 116 Anon, 118 Orahame, 119 „ 119 J. Jones, 120 Anon, 121 „ 122 ,, 123 ^, 126 led Sea, and „ 127 Watts, 127 Grahame, 128 Byron, 128 „ 129 Anon, 130 Vernon, 131 Anon, 132 . Doddridge, 133 Grahame, 1.34 ... Knox, 135 Mrs. Rowe, 136 CONTENTS. Birthdayof Job, I. ... Knox, Ul Job, II J. Jones, 142 "Vision of Eliphaz, III Byron, US The Vision of Eliphaz, IV. Anon, 14:4: The Enquiry—" Where shall Wisdom be Fonnd ?" V. Anon, 145 The Eagle, VI Mrs. Barhauld, 145 The Behemoth, VII Scott, 14Q The Leviathan, VIII „ 147 Solomon — Happiness arising from Wisdom, I. ... Anon, 149 The Instructive Insect, II Dr. Johnson, 150 The Death of the Righteous, III Anon^lbO To-Morrow, IV Knox, 151 Novelty Unknown—-" There is Nothimg New under the Sun," V. Bulmer, 152 The Preacher's Admonition, VI Anon, 153 The Departure of Man, VII „ 154 The Church, VIII „ 154 Babylon— The Jewish Captives, I. T. K. Harvey, 155 The Israelites in Babylon, II Anon, 156 The Beauty of Zion Departed, III Eeher, 15S Israel in Babylon, IV. Byron, 158 Belshazzar's Impious Feast, V. E. Byan, 159 Feast of Belshazzar, VI Knox, im The Vision of Belshazzar, VII Byron, IQl The Fall of Babylon, VIII Anon, 163 Anticipation of Sabbath— Saturday Evening, I. ... Brown, 165 Anticipation of Sabbath — Saturday Evening, II Anon, 165 Anticipation of Sabbath — Saturday Evening, III. ... Anon, 166 Anticipation of Sabbath— Saturday Evening, IV. ... J. W. Green, 166 Anticipation of Sabbath— Saturday Evening, V. ... Newton, 167 Sabbath Morning, I Leyden, 168 Sabbath Morning, II Miss Tuck, 169 Sabbath Morning, III Edmeston, 169 Sabbath Morning, IV Barhauld, 170 Sabbath Morning, V ... Anon, 172 Sabbath Morning, VI Anon, 172 Sabbath Morning, VII Herbert, 173 Sabbath Morning, VIII, S. S. Prust, 173 Sabbath Morning, IX. Cunningham, 174 Sabbath Morning, X Merrick, 175 Sabbath Morning, XI. Bishop Mant, 176 Sabbath Morning, XII. Anon, 178 Duties of the Sabbath— Public Worship, I. Townsend, 179 Public Worship, II. Swaine, 180 Public Worship, III Anon, 181 Public Worship, IV Elvins, 182 Litany, V ... .. Bridges, 183 CONTENTS. Duties of the Sabbath— Praise to the Trinity, VI. ... Barton, 184 The Preacher, VII Brown, IS^ Domestic Instruction, VIII „ 186 Acts of Benevolence, IX John Taylor, 187 Christian Fellowship, X. Kelly, 187 The Lord's Supper, XI Noel, im The Lord's Supper, XII. Conder, 189 The Lord's Supper, XIII Young, 190 The Lord's Supper, XIV Herbert, 191 Sabbath Evening, I. Bowring, 191 Sabbath Evening— The Silent Sabbath, II. ... Dr. Baffles, 193 Sabbath Evening— Family Worship, III. Burns, 196 Sabbath Evening, IV Anon, 197 Millennial Sabbath, Moir, 198 Heavenly Sabbath, I Barton, 200 Heavenly Sabbath, II. Grinfield, 201 Heavenly Sabbath, III Cunningham, 201 Heavenly Sabbath, IV Cowper, 202 Adversity, I Baillie, 203 Adversity, II Webster, 203 Adversity, III C. Bryant, 204 Adversity, IV. Bosegarten, 204 Adversity, V. Mrs. Norton, 204 Adversity, VI. Dr. Brown, 204 Adversity, VII Francis Quarks, 205 Adversity, VIII. Swaine, 205 Adversity, IX Mrs. Norton, 205 Adversity, X Miss Barrett, 205 Adversity, XI Beaumont, 206 Adversity, XII. Francis Quarles, 206 Adversity, XIII Cheever, 206 Adversity, XIV J. L. Chester, 207 Adversity, XV Anon, 207 Adversity, XVI Goldsmith, 207 Adversity, XVII Eliza Cook, 208 Adversity, XVIII George Bally, 208 Adversity, XIX „ 208 Angels, I. ... ... Milton, 209 Angels, II Heber, 209 Angels, III Milton, 209 Angels, IV ' Spenser, 2(yQ Angels, V Thomson, 210 Angels, VI Mant, 210 Angels, VII ... Toung, 211 The Apostles, I Madan, 2\1 The Apostles, II Bolland, 212 The Apostles, III Wesley, 212 CONTENTS. The Apostles, IV. . The Apostles, V The Apostles, VI. The Apostles, VII. The Apostles, VIII. The Apostles, IX. The Pulpit, I. The Pulpit, II, The Pulpit,^ III. ... The Pulpit, IV. The Pulpit, V. ... The Pulpit, VI. The Pulpit, VII. The Pulpit, VIII. The Pulpit, IX. ... The Pulpit, X. The Pulpit, XI. ... The Pulpit, XII The Pulpit XIII. The Pulpit XIV. .. The Pulpit, XV. The Pulpit, XVI. .. Resignation, I. ... Resignation, II. Resignation, III. Resignation, IV. ... Resignation, V. Resignation, VI. Resignation, VII. Resignation, VIII. Resignation, IX. ... Resignation, X. Resignation, XI. Resignation, XII. Resignation, XIII. Resignation, XIV. Resignation, XV. Resignation, XVI. . Resignation, XVII. Resignation, XVIII. Resignation, XIX. Resignation, XX. Resignation, XXI. . Consolation, I. Consolation, II. Consolation, III. Consolation, IV. Page Jenner, 212 Bolland, 213 Cowper, 213 Moscoe, 214 Mant, 214 Lettice, 215 Bogart, 215 Bethune, 216 Mrs. Norton, 216 ... C.H. Johnstone, 216 Jenner, 217 Dryden, 217 Mrs. Little, 217 Mrs. Embury, 218 Dryden, 218 Cowper, 218 Mrs. Sigourney, 219 KeUe, 219 Goldsmith, 219 Herbert, 220 Goldsmith, 220 Gotvper, 220 Brownie, 221 Ward, 223 Burns, 222 Eeble, 222 ... Francis Quarles, 223 Hannah More, 223 Eliza Cook, 223 Jfrs. Sigourney, 223 Goldsmith 224 Barton, 224 Swaine, 225 ... Mrs. Barbauld, 225 John Quarles, 225 ... Francis Quarles, 326 Norris, 226 Allen, 226 , Hayes, 226 Kehlc, 227 Barton, 227 „ 227 KeUe 228 Cowper, 228 Burns, 228 Miss A, D. Woodbridge, 228 Young, 229 CONTENTS. XIU E.E. Weld, 229 Shirley, 229 ... Horace Smith, 230 Thomas Dale, 230 Goldsmith, 230 S. D. Paterson, 231 ... Miss Jewsburp, 231 ... 3fiss Barrett, 232 Mrs Steele, 232 Bp. Doane, 232 Francis Ann Kemhle, 233 ... J.H. Clinch, 233 ^now, 234 Croly, 234 3fr5 Hemans, 235 ^Mow, 236 „ 237 Consolation, V Consolation, VI Consolation, VII. Consolation, VIII. ... Consolation, IX. ... * Consolation, X Consolation, XI. Consolation, XII Consolation, XIII Consolation, XIV. Consolation, XV Consolation, XVI. God Comforting his People, XVII. Home, I Home, II. i. Home, III Marriage, I Marriage — The Missionary's Bride, II „ 238 Marriage, III. Mrs Sigourney, 239 Marriage— Enduring Love, IV. Anon, 240 Infancy— The Young Mother to her First-Bom Child, I. Mrs Richardson, 242 Infancy, II Anon, 242 Infancy, III Ryan 243 Infancy— Oh Seeing a Deceased Infant, IV. Peabody, 244 Family Intercourse, I Anon, 245 Paternal Affection, II. Fitzarthur, 245 My Father's Birthday, III. Anon, 247 The Mother, IV. Campbell, 248 The Mother, V Rutherfoord, 249 Birth-Day Verses— to my Mother, VI Willis, 250 The Mother's Morning Kiss to her Child, Anon, 252 The First Anniversary of a Son's Birth, VIII. ... „ 253 The Mother and Child, IX Mrs. Hemans, 255 Address to Mamma, X. L. Richmond, 256 A Father to his Motherless Children, XI. ... Mrs Sigourney , 257 Filial Gratitude, XII. Clare, 258 My Mother, XIII Anon, 259 To Anne on her Birth-Day XIV „ 261 To an Absent Partner, XV Heher, 262 The Dissipated Husband, XVI Anon, 263 The Mother's Farewell to her Wedded Daughter ... „ 264 The Grandfather, „ 265 The Dying Infant's Request, XIX Cecil, 267 Bereavement, I , Anon, 268 A Father's Death, II ^. 270 A Mother's Death, III 270 XIV CONTENTS. Breavement— The Death of the Motherless, IV. The Dying Child, V The Dying Child, VI The Dying Child, VII Morning— Light, I Morning— Light, II. ... Morning— Light, III. Morning— Light, IV Morning— Light, V. Morning— Light, VI Morning— Light, VII Morning— Light, VIII. Evening— Darkness, I Evening— Darkness, II. Evening— Darkness, III Evening— Darkness, IV. Evening— Darkness, V Evening— Darkness, VI Evening— Darkness, VII Evening — Darkness, VIII Evening— Darkness, IX, Evening — Darkness, X. Evening— Darkness, XI , Evening— Darkness, XII Evening— Darkness, XIII. Evening— Darkness, XIV Evening— Darkness, XV. Evening— Darkness, XVI Evening— Darkness, XVII Human Life, I. Human Life, II Human Life, III Human Life, IV Human Life, V. Human Life, VI Human Life, VII Human Life, VIII. Human Life, XI Human Life, X » Human Life, XI Human Life, XII. Human Life, XIII Human Life, XIV Human Life, XV Music, I Music, II Music, III. Page Mrs Sigoumey, 271 Anon, 272 Cunningham, 274 Anon, 275 Henry Ware, Jr. 276 Parnell 276 Vaughan, 277 KeUe, 277 ... Miss Gray, 277 Gascoigne, 278 Thomson, 278 Anon, 478 Thomson, 278 Henry Ware, Jr, 279 W. D. Gallagher, 279 Wm. G. Bryant, 280 Lucy Hooper, 280 ... Henry B. Hirst, 280 Parnell, 280 Flatman, 281 N orris, 281 ... Mrs Embury, 281 Kemhel, 282 Mrs Fallen, 282 Yalden, 282 Young, 283 „ 283 , „ 283 283 Holmes, 284 Drake, 284 Mrs Norton, 284 Doddridge, 285 . Willis G. Clark, 285 Tasso, 285 Hannah More, 285 ... J. P. Bailey, 286 John Masson, 286 Young, 288 „ 286 Cowper, 287 ,. Francis Quarles, 287 287 Young, 288 ... Kirke White, 288 ... Mc.Kellar, 288 Shakespeare, 289 CONTENTS. XV Music, IV. Music, V Music, VI. Music, VII. Music, VIII. ... Music, IX. Music, X. Music, XI. Music, XIT. ... Music, XIII. Philosophy, I. Philosophy, II. ... Philosophy, III. Philosophy, IV. ... Philosophy, V. Philosophy, VI. ... Philosophy, VII. Philosophy, VII 1. Philosophy, IX. Philosophy, X. ... Philosophy, XI. Philosophy, XII. Philosophy, XIII. The Sea, I. The Sea, II. ... The Sea. III. The Sea, IV. ... The Sea, V. The Sea, VI. ... The Sea, VII, The Sea, VIII. The Sea, IX. The Soul, I. ... The Soul, II. Tho Soul, III. The Soul, IV. ... The Soul, V. The Soul, VI. ... The Soul, VII. The Soul, VIII. The Soul, IX. The Grave, I. ... The Grave, II. The Grave, III, .. The Grave, IV. The Grave, V. ., The Grave, VI. MrsNort