Christ and to souls for which he bled. Nothing in the space of forty years has induced us to alter this idea, or to render it less distinct and vivid. The Revs. Messrs. Owen and Noyes of Bath, his fellow students, write, "We both remember him at College forty-two years ago, with much pleasure, for his deep humility, fervent piety, and consistent and holy life. This is all that we can say of him, and it is much, and for which we have to praise the Lord for such a brother in Christ Jesus ;that, by the grace of God, he was enabled to maintain this holy and consistent character to the end of his life; so that his bereaved widow could testify: Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.' It is to be regretted that, we can learn so little of his studies at Cheshunt. We fear from the period of his abode there he suffered interruptions and irregularities from change of tutors; yet his improvement was considerable, as he gave proof both by his pen and by conversation,-to say nothing of his pulpit efforts,-that he was well informed on general subjects and, especially, on those connected with good, sound divinity; had the power of judging between things that differ; and possessed some taste for poetic composition. These powers, with an inquisitive disposition and a heart warm with both natural and spiritual affections, always rendered him an agreeable and profitable companion. On leaving the College, according to the wise and healthy custom of that time in the Connexion, he ministered at several of our chapels, chiefly at Dover, Swansea, Gloucester, and Hereford. Here again we have to deplore that our materials furnish scarcely any information about his success in these places. He always however commanded esteem, and we believe he has already met with many in heaven who gratefully remember his ministry on earth. At Dover Mr. Poole married Miss Keys, his first wife. A very estimable lady, remarkably congenial with him in taste and piety, who was indeed a help meet for him, and few perhaps who knew them well, could be unimpressed with the proofs of conjugal affection which their house exhibited. It was quite natural therefore to both parents, that they should look on their only child with excessive fondness, and, no doubt, the Father of mercies saw it good for them as his own children, to remove by death a son whom they were in such danger of raising into an idol-a removal they never ceased to deplore with feelings which struggled to become submissive. When at Hereford, some twenty years since, he took a severe cold in a journey to preach, which eventually deprived him of the power of speaking beyond that of a hoarse and somewhat painful whisper. This was a heavy blow, and it is to be numbered among the mysteries of Infinite wisdom, that so holy and zealous a man, with fair powers, should, in the maturity and fulness of life and experience, be deprived of the physical ability of indulging in the ministerial work in which he so greatly delighted. It was however well that it was in his heart. On his retirement from the regular ministry of the word he resided chiefly at his native city, and contributed, not a little to the peace and edification of the cause of Christ at Birdport chapel, aiding the ministers every way in his power. His highly respected minister and friend the Rev. Thomas Dodd towards the close of his funeral sermon says: "Yet during this protracted time," i. e. 20 years cessation from public duties,— "he availed himself of many opportunities of usefulness: visiting the sick and dying-conversing with the young; and distributing useful and religious tracts, was a favourite method with him of endeavouring to benefit others." Six years before his own decease he had the affliction of losing his beloved wife, of whose happy death he wrote an interesting account, published in the Harbinger, 1850. This stroke he bore with christian submission. After however remaining in lonely widowhood a considerable time, a Providence, which he contemplated as peculiarly gracious, led him to be united with the lady who now has to mourn over his grave—alas! opened so soon after their marriage. She has notwithstanding this, among higher consolations, that of knowing that she has been the means of ministering comfort, in the most trying season, to one of the holiest of mortals. It was in taking a journey for this object, that he might distribute Tracts at Wolverhampton Races, that he met with an apparently slight accident, whilst stepping into a railway carriage, yet which eventually proved fatal to him. This took place about a year and a half before his death, and during the last six months he was chiefly confined to the house. During this period many had an opportunity of seeing and conversing with him, and many can bear witness to the calmness of his mind and the resignation which he displayed. "In fact there appeared with him," says the Rev. George Fowler, "no seasons of darkness or doubt, nor was Satan permitted to tempt and harass him." Some persons, Mr. Poole observed, might think I am not like other men, because, through God's grace, I have been enabled to maintain consistency of conduct, yet I feel the inward corruption of my own heart and know that I require the application of the blood of Jesus to my conscience as much as any one. Faith in Christ, he said, was essential to salvation, and it is indeed the principal thing. Speaking of his affliction, he said, this will probably be the means of opening the door for my entrance into heaven, but I feel quite composed as to the future, whether it should be for life or death. He also made several appropriate remarks on the harmony between the prophecies and the arrangements of Divine Providence. Hence it is recorded, "in the self same day," such events took place : also, "when the fulness of the time was come:" and particularly referred to the text, "This is a faithful saying, &c." saying the latter part was as suitable to him, as it was to the apostle," of whom I am chief." Although a great sufferer in his affliction, yet no word of complaint was heard, but he was sustained and consoled amidst the greatest pains of body. As his frame became weaker, he remarked, all he could do now was simply to trust in Jesus. At this period he referred to the special manifestations which he enjoyed of the presence of God. At times his views of Christ and heaven appeared too much for him to bear, so that, he was afraid to pray for more of the divine presence, as he felt incapable of enjoying more, until this mortal had put on immortality. Being con On a vinced that his end was near, he said, "all the days of my appointed time "Exalted high at God's right hand, They shine in uncreated light." Then referring He frequently spoke of Christ being all in all in the salvation of the soul; and said that he felt the need of coming to him afresh. As though anticipating his speedy entrance into the eternal world, he repeated "Then let me on the mountain top Till faith in sight is swallowed up, Thus he died as he had His last words were, "We are complete in him." lived, in the happy assurance of a glorious immortality beyond the grave. As a christian our departed brother was a man of preeminent piety. Seldom could you be in his company long without hearing some remarks which were useful in their tendency. Most people must have felt that they were conversing with a man of God. I have seldom met with a more spiritually minded or a more happy man like Enoch he seemed to walk with God. Let us, however, remember that by the grace of God he was what he was. He was what grace made him, and the same grace has taken him to where he now is. May we have grace to follow him so far as he followed Christ: and who that reads of that calm and peaceful death which our friend and brother died, is not compelled to say, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." And we may add, who can contemplate a man of ordinary powers, and so long disabled by physcal infirmity for pulpit exertions, yet so successfully abounding in the work of the Lord, and so much blessed by God and beloved by his brethren, without determining, through God's assistance, to employ even his single talent in such a way that the Gracious Proprietor may, in the last day, receive his own with usury? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."—J. K. F. 66 Review of Books. THE RIVULET: A Contribution to Sacred Song, by Thomas T. Lynch. Robert Theobald, Paternoster Row. 66 DID this work rest its claim to attention simply in its literary merit, it might well have been left to an obscurity from which nothing it contains would ever have caused it to emerge, its merits in that respect never rising higher than some pretty little bits of sentimentality, expressed in very diluted poetical phrase; some exceedingly mild specimens of rural poetry very innocent of meaning or application; with a large amount of simple nonsense, bad rhythm, and worse rhyme. But we do not purpose to dwell on these, bad verses are too common, as the mistaking sentimentality for sentiment is too uninteresting a delusion to be worth exposing in this instance. It is not with the frivolous in composition, but with the mischievous in application that we would deal; had Mr. Lynch contented himself with inditing a volume of "Fireside Musings,' Thoughts on Sun and Clouds," or "Lessons from Nature," he might have mused on unmolested by criticism; but these "Hymns for Heart and Voice are suitable for the Chamber or the Church," and we are informed so employed by the Rev. Gentleman's congregation; we are moreover apprized in the preface that the Rivulet is designed to swell the River of the Water of Life. We have read in the sublime language of the Apocalyptic Vision of this River as issuing from the throne of God and the Lamb, but little did we think ever to meet with a divine who would have us understand thereby Christian Poetry, or presume to add to it by the splutterings of a feeble nurse. It is in the ground of the design of this book for purposes of worship then that we would review it, and in doing so, in order that we may not be thought to apply any test of bigotry, or standard of prejudice, let it be distinctly understood, that we fully recognize the varied subjects proper to the christian man, and delight in the idea of laying all nature under tribute for psalmody: but we have no sympathy with that style of religious meditation, which can find God only in Nature, or even, can there find him most and love him best; though we are, alas! prepared to recognize the possibility of some very timid people of highly sensitive organizations, who shun the fullthroated psalmody of our fathers, and our fathers' fathers, as savouring of the bution to sing," (sacred song the title vulgar,-being pleased with a "contrisays,) which draws a veil over man's fallen condition, says little or nothing of his need of a Redeemer, and pushes the story of Redeeming Love out of sight, to sing the marvels of Creation, to tell of striving weather," 'garden walks," "drifting clouds,' ""branchlets of the trees," mornings so sunny and sweet," "blooms profuse," "hearts in flower," the "axle of the earth," chrysalis in crannies,' "brimful rivers," and the "sunshine of the celestial sun." 99.66 66 66 Out of 100 hymns, rather more than 50 are founded on the words, the sky, clouds, and cloudlets, flowers, and birds. All the inspirations of the man come from nature, most of them end there. How different this to that old hymn- Oh for this love let Rocks and Hills The Saviour's praises speak! Here in the spirit of the sweet Psalmist of Israel, our souls call on nature to praise what grace has made clean to our hearts, while throughout Mr. Lynch's volume, this process is inverted, and the inversion is significant enough. The worship of God Most High is a holy, solemn, and devout exercise, and demands the noblest powers of mind and most elevated emotions of the heart; we are to call upon 66 our souls and all that is within us to join in homage, we are to offer it through Jesus only, and are permitted to know that "whoso offereth praise glorifieth God." Such remarks as these may sound trite enough, but with such a book as this before us they are by no means unnecessary. That were strange worship for Christian men and women, which assigned to a subordinate plan, or more frequently omitted altogether, every distinctive feature, every marked allusion, every heartfelt desire, which could separate them from the world around, or which they might not just as well have uttered before their conversion as since. Yet this is the substantial character of this book, one searches in vain through its pages for one honest avowal of the Divinity of the Saviour, for one earnest prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for one cry of penitence for sin, for one such sentiment as Lord, one thing I want, More holiness grant. These are not to be found, there may be allusions, faint, shadowy and uncertain, they may be construed to mean anything, we are equally at liberty to understand them as signifying nothing. Men are not apt to be indistinct about the things uppermost in their minds, and dearest to their souls, any more than the heart throbbing with the impulse of gratitude, or groaning under the consciousness of sin, needs the promptings of flowers to teach it to praise, or the assistance of clouds and streamlets to help it to pray. Our space will not permit of our justifying these remarks by as numerous quotations as we could wish; we can only insert a few. Mr. Lynch's mode of addressing God is often peculiarly objectionable, and the language employed, from its exceedingly common place and meagre character, derogatory and unworthy; as an illustration we subjoin a portion of the 52nd hymn. O Lord, Thou art not fickle; Will ripen yet again. Were men to one another Would honest labour frown; Would tread his neighbour down. Oh is there one in twenty With his own lot content, And see what verdure exquisite We never should have had the sight And such a sight shall not be vain; Written with heavenly art, And read in thee my heart." There are many plagiarisms in the volume, but the most amusing is perhaps in the case of the beautiful sentiment of T. Moore's But the scent of the roses will cling to it still." This Mr. Lynch has inverted and spoilt, set free the odour first, and broken the vase afterwards, couched his appropriated simile in false rhythm, and employed it to our minds most irreverently— "Love would I offer unto Love's great Master, Set free the odour, break the alabaster." Every one remembers the impassioned, rich, and sensuous verse of poor John Keats, and how he sang "Beauty is Truth-Truth Beauty, This is all we know on earth and all we need to [know." And we know how throughout his poetry, as in that of his misguided friend Sheliey, the beauty of nature enjoyed, felt, deified,-was at once the the theme, and the object of praise. Mr. Lynch strongly reminds us of this in many places, but especially in the 87th hymn; -we mean of course as to his sentiments, for we would not be guilty of comparing his verses with Keat's Poetry "Spirit of Beauty! thy presence confessing, Love like its own, but transcendently more. Skies in their curve and the sea in its swell; Streams as they wind, hills and plains in their [blending, All, in our own, of God's happiness tell. Oh be each heart of thy joy a partaker, |