*

THE BOLDEST FORGERY.

* To counterfeit the hand of God, is the boldest of all forgery: And he, without warrant but his own fantastic surmise, takes upon him perpetually to unfold the secret and unsearchable mysteries of high Providence, is likely for the most part to mistake and slander them; and approaches to the madness of those reprobate thoughts that would wrest the sword of justice out of God's hand, and employ it more justly in their own conceit.

Milton.

SONNET TO THE NIGHTINGALE.

Sweet bird, that sing'st away the early hours,
Of winters past or coming, void of care,
Well pleased with delights which present are;
Fair seasons, budding sprays, sweet-smelling flow'rs:
To rocks, to springs, to rills, from leafy bow'rs,
Thou thy Creator's goodness dost declare,
And what dear gifts on thee he did not spare;
A stain to human sense in sin that low'rs.
What soul can be so sick, which by thy songs
(Attir'd in sweetness) sweetly is not driven
Quite to forget earth's turmoils, spites, and wrongs,
And lift a reverent eye and thought to heaven?
Sweet, artless songster, thou my mind dost raise
To airs of spheres, yes, and to angels' lays.

Drummond.

LADIES MADE UP!

I have observed that most ladies who have had what is considered as an education, have no idea of an education progressive through life. Having attained a certain measure of accomplishment, knowledge, manners, &c., they consider themselves as made up, and so take their station; they are pictures which, being quite finished, are now put in a frame—a gilded one, if possible—and hung up in permanence of beauty' permanence, that is to say, till old Time, with his rude and dirty fingers, soil the charming colours.

Foster.

EXCELSIOR.

Mortals, that would follow me,
Love virtue: she alone is free:
She can teach you how to climb
Higher than the sphery clime;
Or if virtue feeble were,

Heaven itself would stoop to her.

Milton.

WHAT IS CHANCE.

Chance is but the pseudonym of God for those particular cases which he does not choose to subscribe openly with his own sign-manual.

Quoted by De Quincey as the saying

of an "eloquent Frenchman."

TRUTH.

A knave without luck is certainly the worst trade in the world; but truth makes the face of that person shine who speaks and owns it; while a lie is like a vizard, that may cover the face indeed, but can never become it; nor yet does it cover it so, but that it leaves it open enough for shame; it brands a man with a lasting indelible character of ignominy and reproach; and that indeed so foul and odious, that those usurping Hectors think the charge of a lie a blot upon them, not to be washed out but by the blood of him who gives it.

South.

REVERENCE IN CHURCH.

When once thy foot enters the church, be barc;
God is more there than thou; for thou art there
Only by his permission. Then beware;

And make thyself all reverence and fear.

Kneeling ne'er spoil'd silk stocking. Quit thy state;

All equal are within the church's gate.

Herbert.

A MONITOR.

'Tis the divinity that stirs within us;

"Tis heaven itself that points out an hereafter,
And intimates eternity to man.

Addison.

IN WHAT MANNER THE SOUL IS UNITED TO THE BODY.

But how shall we this union well express?
Nought ties the soul, her subtlety is such,
She moves the body which she doth possess,
Yet no part toucheth but by virtue's touch.

Then dwells she not therein, as in a tent;
Nor as a pilot in his ship doth sit;
Nor as the spider in his web is pent;
Nor as the wax retains the print on it;

Nor as a vessel water doth contain;
Nor as one liquor in another shed;
Nor as the heat doth in the fire remain;
Nor as the voice throughout the air is spread:

But as the fair and cheerful morning light
Doth here and there her silver beams impart,
And in an instant doth herself unite

To the transparent air, in all and every part.

So doth the pressing soul the body fill,
Being all in all, and all in part diffused;
Indivisible, incorruptible, still

Not forc'd, encounter'd, troubl'd, nor confus'd.

And as the sun above the light doth bring,
Though we behold it in the air below,

So from the eternal light the soul doth spring,
Though in the body she her powers do show.
Sir John Davies.

STANZAS (ENTITLED BY THE AUTHOR "THE PULLEY”).

When God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessings standing by,

"Let us," said he, "pour on him all we can; Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, Contract into a span."

So strength first made away;

Then beauty flow'd; then wisdom, honour, pleasure; When almost all was out, God made a stay;

Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.

"For if I should," said He,

Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in nature, not the God of nature-
So both should losers be.

Yet let him keep the rest-

But keep them, with repining restlessness-
Let him be rich and weary; that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast."

Herbert.

THANKS WE GIve, and adoraTION."
Now God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.

Shakspere.