by A. Nichols; some from the German; several by the follow-
ing authors-Sir J. E. Smith, Jane Roscoe, Stirling, Milman,
Heber, Montgomery, Keble, T. Moore, Mrs. Barbauld, the Com-
piler, and his friends; several which are only to be found in the
old Collection of his parish, which is, we believe, in use nowhere
else; and
many which are anonymous. If we are correct in these
references, the "Christian church and home" in this country are
greatly indebted to the compiler of this volume for thus introducing
to their use this new accession of devotional hymns, several of
which, in addition to their freshness on this side of the Atlantic,
possess the higher recommendations of eminent beauty and adapt-
edness to their object. We cannot spare room in our pages for
specimens with which to illustrate this remark at length. We shall
quote only one hymn by Gaskell which we have not met with else-
where, except in the rich Collection of devotional poetry by Rev.
J. Martineau, published in London in 1840, which bears the same
felicitous title with that before us, and which also contains many,
if not most of the hymns here noticed as peculiar (so far as this
country is concerned,) to the Collection of Dr. Flint.* This hymn
embodies, as we think, in simple and beautiful verse the Christian's
great hope in the bereavement of friends. It is entitled, "The
Light of the Gospel on the Tomb."

"Dark, dark indeed the grave would be,
Had we no light, O God, from thee;
If all we saw were all we knew,
Or hope from reason only grew.

But fearless now we rest in faith,
A holy life makes happy death;
'Tis but a change ordained by thee,
To set the imprisoned spirit free.

Sad, sad indeed 't would be to part
From those who long had shared our heart,
If thou hadst left us still to fear

Love's only heritage was here.

But calmly now we see them go

From out this world of pain and woe;

We follow to a home on high,

Where pure affections never die."

*Not only the title of the volume, but the titles of some of the sections, as well as many of the hymns, so manifestly appear to have been taken from Mr. Martineau's book, that we regret Dr. Flint did not make a more distinct acknowledgment of his obligations.-ED. MISC.

We are gratified to notice also in this collection the large portion of hymns which give expression to the various phenomena and eventful vicissitudes of a religious experience. After a devout recognition of the perfections of God, of the character of Christ, and of the relations we bear to both, nothing is more earnestly to be cared for in hymns intended for public and private worship than a devout and fitting expression of those inward struggles, fears, hopes, in a word, those spiritual conflicts, through which, by the chartered help of God's good spirit, and the " grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ," the sin-stricken and self-convicted soul is rescued from the thraldom of its iniquities, and made a partaker of heavenly peace.

And, in conclusion of these remarks, we would refer to the truly Christian character of the compilation before us. The great and distinctive doctrines of our religion, as taught by Jesus Christ, as authenticated by his miraculous works, as sealed by his blood, as confirmed by his resurrection from the grave and by his ascension to heaven, are herein plainly recognized. There is no wary avoidance of these topics; no merging of them in those vague generalities of expression, which may be taken to mean almost any thing or almost nothing; no attempt to shut out of view all those divine credentials that make Christ the Christ of the Gospel, by throwing around him a halo of merely moral excellence. But on the contrary, his heaven-sealed mission; his august offices as Mediator between man and God, and as our Redeemer from sin and its consequences; with the awful sanctions of his laws which are to take place in a future world; all these are distinctly referred to. We state this, not as being by any means peculiar to the compilation before us, since, so far as we know, all in common use are equally explicit on these themes, but as a trait, the want of which would, and ought to be, as we think, fatal to any Collection of hymns intended for Christian worship, however otherwise unexceptionable and excellent.

The importance of impressing upon our Christian lyrics a distinctively Christian character can scarcely be overrated, when we recollect that of all the public and social exercises of our religion, they are earliest learned, and longest remembered. It is an unhappiness attending public worship as usually conducted, that being intended for a miscellaneous audience, much of every service

must be lost upon many. This is particularly the fact in regard to the young and youthful. How have our hearts yearned in pity. towards such, when we have seen them pinned down to their places at church by reverend custom during the livelong hour of public service, with vacant faces and uneasy limbs, famishing for a little "milk" of familiar and loving instruction, while the "strong meat" of solid argument and labored inculcation was dispensed 10 “them of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.", Their natural resource to speed on the lagging moments is to the hymn-book, and it is one both available and attractive. There they can find thoughts and sentiments which they can appreciate, all radiant as light with the graces of poetic diction. Then again, these thoughts and sentiments are borne home to their souls, through the outward ear on strains of sweet and solemn melody. Thus

"Devotion borrows music's tone,
And music takes devotion's wing;
And like the bird that hails the sun,
They soar to heaven, and soaring sing."

This part of our sacred services, moreover, by frequent repetition becomes strictly liturgical in its effects, and thus a permanency is given to it in the youthful mind that lasts on through all the harsh collisions and rough usages of life. And those whose privilege it is to add to their domestic worship the charm of holy song, in which parents and children and friends unite, have no need to be informed why it is that the singing of the high praises of God is made a part of the happiness of accepted ones in heaven. We only add, in a closing sentence, that it should be observed, we do not decide on the merits of the volume before us, in comparison with others of a similar kind. This might be invidious, and is certainly unnecessary. We are well aware that there are several valuable hymn-books already before the public and in use in our churches, and we should lament the utterance of a word that would seem, even by implication, to impair their value. Our only aim has been to make a fair estimate of the compilation before us. This estimate, we are conscious, is a high one, but if we are not biassed by the friendly relations we sustain towards the author, it will be fully confirmed by a careful examination of his book.

J. B.

NOTICE OF THE LATE REV. WILLIAM GRAY SWETT.

Ir has pleased God, in his all-wise Providence, to remove this minister of the Gospel of his Son at a period of life when his best qualities and powers were just reaching their full development. In the exact meridian of life-when the lasting influence for good of which he was capable began to be extensively felt and acknowledged, after many weeks of painful suffering, his ministry and sojourning on earth have been terminated. There is mystery in such dispensations. But let not the mystery increase our sorrow, nor shake our firm and heaven-derived trust. Who shall say that some choice spirits of men in their prime are not early removed simply because they are more needed elsewhere than here? If this thought is deemed extravagant or presumptuous, surely we may be permitted to inquire, whether such removals may not be, because the seal of death is needed to give fixed efficacy, here on earth, to influences which have been exerted, impulses already given. At least we may profitably bear in mind, that the greatest ministry which was ever conducted on earth was short, ending in extreme suffering and apparent ignominy. Yet how permanent and glorious in its subsequent influences! how much more glorious in the expected final issues! Let it not surprise the bereaved flock that the under shepherd is not suffered to remain, when the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls abode so short time with those he had gathered together. Let us not doubt the far-seeing and all-seeing wisdom of the Divine dispensations; let us remember and honor those who have gone from their labor to their recompense; let us make sure of our share of the benefit to be derived from the past; let us hope in God in view of the unexplored and boundless future. Mr. Swett was a native of Salem. He was born July 15, 1808. At the usual age he entered Harvard College, whence he graduated in 1828, and then entered the Divinity School at Cambridge. In consequence of feeble health he did not commence preaching immediately on completing his theological course; but in the summer of 1836 he was ordained over the First Church and Society in Lexington. After a useful ministry of nearly three years he resigned his charge, in consequence of difficulties growing out of

the existence of a ministerial fund. On the 1st of January, 1840, Mr. Swett was installed over the Unitarian congregation in Lynn, where he pursued a most active and acceptable ministry till a few weeks before his death, which took place at Charlestown, February 15, 1843. Funeral solemnities were observed in the church at Lynn on Thursday, February 23, when a sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Lothrop of Boston, which is now in press, and will do more ample justice to the character of our friend than we can pay in this brief notice.

In this particu

In natural endowments of intellect, Mr. Swett was far above mediocrity. His mind was highly imaginative, discursive, suggestive; and he had a most copious flow of language at command, by which express images of his thoughts were presented with remarkable prominence, vividness and originality, like thoroughly wrought, highly colored, newly finished pictures. The peculiarity of his intellect was the rapidity of its operations. lar he was very remarkable, often astonishing even those most familiar with him by his lightning glances into the very heart of a complex subject, and his instantaneous exposure of it to the view of all present and attentive. But only those capable of instant, varied, and concentrated attention could follow him in his most rapid and enchanting flights. Minds moving at the ordinanary celerity, and not accustomed to his manner, were often con. founded, catching only glimpses of his meaning here and there, and misinterpreting him in their endeavors to put the parts together and make out a whole meaning. It was not that he could not be deliberate, definite, literal; but that he did not sufficiently consider the general need of it, and make allowance for the differ. ence between other minds and his own-probably was not fully' aware of the fact.

To this singular rapidity of his intellectual operations, more than to any thing else, we may trace the eccentricity of which complaint was often made by those who knew little of him or were incapable of estimating him. But the goodness of his heart, his consciousness of right intention, his unsuspecting frankness and confidence in others, the vividness of his imagination, and his su perabounding cheerfulness, may all have contributed their share in producing the result.

"He is a natural man," said one of the