of composition has usually been employed for the accomplishment of mischievous and ruinous purposes, yet, nevertheless, it might become productive of most desirable effects. When the object of a writer of romance, or novels, is to depict human life and manners; the erratic wanderings, as well as the perfections of the passions and the mind-if the production be well executed-it may be perused with no less advantage than pleasure. And, in accordance with this sentiment, even wise men, in different countries, have propagated knowledge through the medium of fables and fictitious writings-and Lord Bacon has observed, that the common affairs of life, are insufficient to engage the mind of men of the world;-they must create worlds of their own, and wander into the regions of imagination.

The compiler is, nevertheless, unalterably fixed in the sentiment, that romances and novels, taken in the aggregate, are to be condemned; as they have constitated no inconsiderable part of that complex and fearful machinery of corruption, which, in its merciless and tremendous course, from its commencement with Satan, in the garden of Eden, who successfully addressed the passions of Eve, with a deceptive and damnable tale, has drawn within its vortex, the possessors of beauty, virtue, talents, and integrity; and, after tormenting and grinding them into dust, has driven their infinitely precious souls to the dark and bottomless abyss!

Novels!-Romances !-Reader!" mark them... turn from them, and pass away!"?

L

Nature of Poetry-its origin and

progress.

Of the origin of Poetry, we may observe, it undoubt edly existed prior to what is now called prose. Even the definition which is given of it, would lead to this conclusion.

Poetry is the language of passion, or enlivened imagination; formed most commonly into regular numbers. The object of a poet is to please and to move us, and hence his address is always made to the passions and imagination. Man is, naturally; both a poet and a musician. The same impulse which induces us to use an enthusiastic poetic style, will produce an elevated and harmonious modulation of the voice. Indeed, music and poetry are united in song, and mutually assist and exalt each other. The first poets sung their own productions; and hence the origin of what we call versification, or the arrangement of words to some tune, or harmony. Poems and songs, are among the antiquities of all countries; and the occasions upon which they have been composed, are nearly the same. They comprise the celebration of gods, of heroes, and of victories. They abounded with enthusiastic and fine imagery, and are generally characterized by wildness, irregularity, and splendor. In the progress of society, however, poems assume different forms;-the variety of poetic composition is separated into classes, and the merit and appropriate rules of each, are distinctly assigned. Odes, elegies epic poems, and dramatic and didactic poetry, are all

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subject to particular regulations, and are proper objects for the refined and discerning critic.

We might furnish remarks upon the various kinds of poetry, sufficient to make a volume. Many elegant productions exist, which are more ingenious than useful. Pastoral, lyric, didactic, and descriptive poetry, have severally engaged the attention and efforts of the ingenious and the learned; but the brevity proposed by the compiler, will not admit of his giving them a place in this compilation.

On the Eloquence of the Pulpit.

The importance of pulpit eloquence, is acknowledged by all; and the ungracious and slovenly manner, frequently complained of, in which many preachers treat their auditories, calls imperatively upon students in divinity, to pay more attention to this subject than has heretofore been bestowed. The following sentiments, from Dr. Blair, are highly important, and will doubtless afford both entertainment and a source of real improvement.

This field of public speaking has, evidently, several advantages peculiar to itself. The dignity and importance of its tubjects must be allowed to be superior to any other. They admit of the highest embellishments in description, and the greatest warmth and vehemence of expression. In treating his subject, the preacher has also peculiar advantages. He speaks not to one or a few judges, but to a numerous assembly. He is not afraid of interruption. He chooses his sub

ject at leisure; and has all the assistance which the most accurate premeditation can afford him. The disadvantages, however, which attend the eloquence of the pulpit, are by no means inconsiderable. The preacher, it is true, has no contention with an adversary; but debate awakens genius, and excites attention. His subjects, though noble, are trite and common. They are become so familiar to the public ear, that it requires no ordinary genius in the preacher, to fix the attention of his hearers. Nothing is more difficult, than to bestow on what is common the grace of novelty. Besides, the subject of the preacher usually confines him to abstract qualities, to virtues, and vices; whereas, that of other popular speakers leads them to treat of persons; which is a subject generally more interesting to the hearers, and which occupies more powerfully the imagination. We are taught by the preacher to detest only the crime; by the pleader to detest the criminal. Hence it happens, that though the number of moderately good preachers is great, there are so few who have arrived at eminence. Perfection is very distant, indeed, from modern preaching. The object, however, is truly noble and illustrious; and worthy of being pursued with attention, ardor, and perseverance.

To excel in preaching, it is necessary to have a fixed and habitual view of its end and object. This, undoubtedly, is Every sermon ought,

to persuade men to become good. consequently, to be a persuasive oration. It is not to diseuss some abstruse point, that the preacher ascends the pulpit. It is not to teach his hearers something new, but to make them better: to give them, at the same time, clear views, and persuasive impressions of religious truth.

The principal characteristics of pulpit eloqueuce, as distinguished from the other kinds of public speaking, appear to be these two-gravity and warmth. It is neither easy nor common to unite these characters of eloquence. The grave, when it is too predominant, becomes a dull, uniform solemnity The warm, when appit wants gravity, too near the.roaches

theatrical and light. A proper union of the two, forms that character of preaching which the French call Onction; that affecting, penetrating, and interesting manner, flowing from a strong sense in the preacher, of the importance of those truths which he delivers, and an earnest desire that they may make full impression on the hearts of his hearers.

With regard to the composition of a sermon, a principal circumstance which must be attended to, is its unity. By this we mean, that there should be some main point to which the whole tenor of the sermon shall refer. It must not be a pile of different subjects heaped upon each other, but one object must predominate through the whole. Hence, however, it must not be understood, that there should be no divisions or separate heads in the discourse; or that one single thought only should be exhibited in different points of view. Unity is not confined by such narrow limits; it admits of some variety; it requires only that union and connection be so far preserved, as to make the whole occur in some one impression on the mind. Thus, for instance, a preacher may employ several different arguments to enforce the love of God; he may also inquire into the causes of the decay of this virtue; still one object is presented to the mind: but, if because his text says, "He that loveth God, must love his brother also," he should, therefore, mix in the same discourse arguments for the love of God, and for the love of our neighbour, he would offend very much against unity, and leave a very confused impression on the minds of his hearers.

Sermons are always the more striking, and, generally, the more useful, in proportion as the subject of them is more precise and particular. Unity can never be so complete in a general, as in a particular subject. General subjects, indeed, such as the excellencies or the pleasures of religion, are often chosen by young preachers as the most showy, and the easiest to be handled; and, no doubt, general views of religion, should not be neglected, since, on several occasions,