Beware lest any man spoil you through... what? Idolatry, blasphemy, profligacy? No. Christians are in very little danger from great crimes; but beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy. What hath philosophy done, that the apostle should thus guard Christians against it? Did he not know that before his time, while mimics were idly amusing one part of the world, and heroes depopulating another, the peaceable sons of philosophy disturbed nobody, but either improved mankind in their schools, or sat all calm and content in their cells? Did he not observe that in his time Christianity was reputed folly, because it was taught and believed by unlettered people; and that if philosophers could be prevailed on to teach it, it would have instantly acquired a character of wisdom? Whether the common people had understood it or not, they would have reckoned it wise if philosophers had taught it. The apostle knew all this, and, far from courting the aid of learned men to secure eredit to the Gospel, he guards Christians in the text against the future temptation of doing so. Had this caution been given us by any of the other apostles, who had not had the advantage of a learned education, we might have supposed, they censured what they did not understand; but this comes from the disciple of Gamaliel.* 28.] Page 138-143. Devotional Poetry. The following selection of Psalms and Hymns, is designed only as a specimen of the notation, partially applied here, which might be more extensively applied to these compositions, when they unite the spirit of devotion with the elevated spirit of poetry. The confinement of the stansa makes it much more unfavourable than other verse, to freedom and variety in pronunciation. The reader is desired to keep in mind the distinction between intensive and common inflection, and to remember that the former occurs in this kind of poetry only where there is direct question or strong emphasis.--In some cases only part of a Psalm or Hymn is taken. *The selections under this head are extended no farther here, because several of the familiar pieces in the second part of the Exercises are good examples of representation and rhetorical dialogue. 1. PSALM 17. L. M. 1 What sinners válue, I resign; And in my Saviour's image rise.. Note: In some of the cases where the mark of monotone occurs, there is a little inflection, most commonly downwards. 1 The Lord Jehovah reigns, Like billows fierce and loud, The surly nations fight, And dash like waves against the shore. 3 Let floods and nations rage, And all their power engage; The terrors of thy frown Shall beat their madness down ; 3. PSALM 132. C. M. 1 Arise, O King of grace, arise, Lo! thy church waits with longing eyes, 2 Enter with all thy glorious train, 3 Here mighty God, accept our vows; 4 Here let the Son of David rèign, Let God's anointed shine e; Justice and truth his court maintain, 5 Here let him hold a lasting throne, Fresh honours shall adorn his crown, 1 Great is the Lord, and works unknown Are his divine employ ; 2 But still his saints are near his throne, All power that gods or kings have claim'd But heathen gods should ne'er be nam'd 3 Which of the stocks and stones they trust 4 Ye nations, know the living God, 1 My thoughts, before they are my own, prospect lost. 3 Oh may these thoughts possess my breast, 6. PSALM 146. L. P. M. 1 I'll praise my Maker with my breath; And when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of praise shall ne'er be past, While life, and thought, and being last, Or immortality endures. 2 Why should I make a man my trust? Nor can they make their promise good. 3 Happy the man whose hopes rely And earth, and seas, with all their train 7. HYMN 142, Book 1. 1 Like sheep we went astray, 2 How dreadful was the hour, When God our wand'rings laid, 3 How glorious was the grace, When Christ sustain'd the stroke? 8. HYMN 14, BOOK II. 1 Welcome, sweet day of rest, 2 One day amidst the place Where my dear God hath been, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Of pleasurable sin. 3 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this; And sit and sing herself away |