moderate pretensions in respect of human attainments, may yet be eminently serviceable in their generation in promoting the glory of God, and the salvation of their fellow-creatures. Some writers have perhaps composed better allegories; and many have certainly committed fewer of fences against good taste, and the prescribed rules of literary composition; but the great charm of the Pilgrim's Progress is its faithful exhibition of the grace of God to man considered as a debtor to do the whole law, but who has broken it, and has "nothing to pay;" in addition to which we have an accurate delineation of what our church aptly denominates the " sore lets and hindrances" which incessantly oppose themselves to our progress in the divine life; and a display of the certainty of eventual triumph to the sincere and humble penitent, who renounces alike what Milton calls "his righteous and unrighteous deeds," and unreservedly casts himself for pardon and peace upon the infinite mercy of God through the only Sacrifice once offered for sina state of mind, be it ever remembered, the existence of which will be as distinctly marked, and as certainly known, by a life of holiness as a tree is known by its fruits. All minor differences of opinion seem to be more or less absorbed in the great fundamentals of our common Christianity; and to this consideration, I apprehend, we must principally refer the widely extended usefulness and acceptableness of the work in question among Christians of various ranks, ages, and denominations. There is found in Bunyan's common-sense state ments of the leading essentials of true religion, a certain, harmony with the declarations of Scripture, and with daily experience, which operates as a testimony in every conscience; and hence the commendations which have been lavished upon his labours, from the splendid eulogy of Dr. Johnson, to the simple attestations of the humble village Christian. Truly, learning and wisdom are very distinct things; and without undervaluing the aids of science, it must be admitted that both preachers and writers of very The last particular which occurs to me to notice, is the importance of providing for the more extensive circulation on the continent, particularly in France, of that valuable work, the Pilgrim's Progress." Many of your readers may know that a French translation of this work, which has long been publish ed in France, with the royal imprimatur and commendation prefixed, is readily accessible; but from the inquiries I have instituted, I have reason to believe that, owing to many circumstances not necessary to enumerate, this is among those valuable books which are almost entirely laid aside, and of which the rising generation know little more than the name. The present moment in France is highly impor tant. Various benevolent societies are in action; education is advancing; a spirit of inquiry is on foot. There is "a shaking among the dry bones;" and who can say what beneficial results may follow, even where they were least expected? A more propitious season for religious impressions than the breathing time which has succeeded to protracted and desolating wars, can hardly be imagined; and I would earnestly direct the attention of the friends of France in particular, and of the continent in general, to the above suggestion. French is the living language of whole countries; and it seems therefore highly desirable that the plain and unostentatious, though powerful and practical, illustration of the leading doctrines of the Bible, which Bunyan has provided in his truly interesting volume, and which France has made her own by a judicious translation and an authoritative approval, should be widely circulated in a language which would probably give it access in quarters where theological works of a less amusing kind could not easily penetrate. I am, &c. AN OLD FRIEND WITH fact it has only commenced. Too many persons forget that" its true and legitimate aim is to form the character by the operation of proper A NEW FACE. principles, and to ameliorate the heart by exciting it to virtuous feeling" and therefore rest in the acquisition of mere accomplishments as its principal if not only end. It cannot surely, Mr. Editor, be a task unworthy of your correspondents, to endeavour to serve the rising generation by pointing out to their attention the great object of human life; the principles which should regulate, and the virtues which should adorn, our conduct; and the habits and pursuits which are best calculated to facilitate the acquisition of those principles, and to give stability and permanency to To the Editor of the Christian Observer. FEW papers inserted in your miscellany have been perused with deeper and more general interest, or with more extensive benefit, than those which appeared some years ago on the subject of education, under the signature of B.T., and which have since been given to the public in a detached volume. I have wished and hoped, but in vain, to see the subject resumed by your able correspondent in a similar series of papers addressed to young persons, in that very important era of life, when, emancipated from the restraints necessarily imposed by the regular routine of education, they eagerly assert their right to think and act for themselves. It is when authority ceases to compel, that the influence of principle is most needed to control. This appears to be the grand moral crisis of life. The heart is warm, the passions are ardent, the feelings susceptible, the mind inquiring. On the principles then adopted, and the habits and associations then formed, mainly depends the character of the future life. For the commencement of our education we are indebted to the care of others, but its final result rests with ourselves. However excellent may be the habits and principles inculcated by parents or preceptors, they will produce no permanent effect, if they are not after wards voluntarily embraced. It is therefore a matter, both of surprise and regret, that while so much has been said and written on the subject of education, so little comparatively has been addressed to young persons on the equally important and difficult task of self-cultivation. It is a common error to suppose that education is completed, when in their influence. A second course of papers from the admirable pen of your former correspondent would indeed be truly acceptable to your readers, and to none more so than to A. C. G. To the Editor of the Christian Observer. IN looking over your Number for June, I was much gratified to find that the subject of the lawfulness and expediency of attending musical entertainments has at length occupied your pages, and been so ably considered. It is a subject which has long engaged my thoughts, and I beg leave to send you a few observations on it, which have been chiefly called forth by the letter signed A. C. G. It is much to be lamented, that music has not been more cultivated by religious persons, who have been usually disposed to view its attainment in so questionable a light, as very generally to neglect if not despise it. Thus, instead of being used, as was certainly intended by its Divine Author, for our innocent gratification and his glory, it has too frequently been made an engine of satan for promoting his cause in the world. There are two considerations which have forcibly struck me as placing music in the most elevated rank among her sister sciences. The one is, that it is the only one which is to accompany us to another world, and to be a part of the employment of the blessed above; and the other, that it is the only one which may be directly used in the worship of God, for which it is eminently adapted on account of its power in promoting devotional feelings. If then music is raised so highly above all the other arts and sciences, how does it happen that so few religious persons cultivate the knowledge of it, and that so many view its acquirement as even worse than useless? I believe that the chief reason is, that it is so frequently abused; but it is almost unnecessary to remark, that this is no just cause. What, for example, is so commonly abused as the Divine forbearance? But no person would argue that, because the mercy of God is abused, it is not a blessing. Music there fore being a blessing-and I conclude the faculties for it would not have been given us by our gracious Creator if it were not-it is surely strange that it is so little cultivated by those who would best know how to employ it for its right object. If the science and practice of music were more general amongst religious persons, with how much greater effect than at present might it be used in our public as semblies! How poor is the music in most of our places of worship, compared with what it might be, were any considerable proportion of our congregations capable of singing by note, and of taking a part in those inspiring anthems which, whenever they are now sung, are generally left to the execution of a band of hired singers, while the congregation seem to think that they have nothing to do but to listen in silence, making what should be an act of worship a mere gratification! How very few are able to join even in the simple chaunts of our cathedrals, the service of which in consequence appears to many persons to be an unmeaning mockery. Now, sir, it appears to me, that the letter of A. C. G. is much calculated to perpetuate the evil which I have been endeavouring to expose. For he will not allow the Christian any means of acquiring the knowledge of music. He appears to object to all public performances whatever. I should have coincided with every sentiment contained in the latter part of his letter, had it not been founded on a false position, and one which makes me strongly suspect that he does not come within the class of those who were requested to answer the inquiry of your correspondent: for no one can be a " lover" of that with which he is totally unac. quainted; and how can a person be supposed to have any knowledge of music who says that " every advantage which music has to bestow may be obtained in private ?" As well might he assert that a knowledge of painting or sculpture might be obtained by those who have never had the opportunity of viewing a good picture, or a fine statue. A person who has never heard any other music than what can be attained in most family cir cles, cannot possibly form any idea of the effect of the grand sympho nies of Mozart or Beethoven, or of the devotional feeling produced by the sublime choruses of Handel. The arguments which A. C. G. uses against attending the perfor mance of oratorios might, I think, be used with equal propriety to dissuade persons from attending church, where they have no oppor tunity of obeying the Divine injunetion, of not forsaking the assem bling of themselves together, but under the preaching of a minister whose conduct shews that, in the performance of his sacred offices, he is not actuated by Christian motives. It appears to me, that in these cases our business is with ourselves, and not with others. The object of a minister of this description, as well as of a professional singer, may be "gain," and that of the greater part of his auditory, little better than" amusement ;" but what have I to do with that? My business is to worship God; and if others will abuse sacred things, let me, at least, make a proper use of them. I cannot agree entirely with A. C. G. when he says, speak ing generally of the auditors at an oratorio, that" their object is amusement;" for I believe that most real Christians who attend oratorios and I know several who are in the habit of doing so-endeavour to attend them as an act of Divine worship, and to cultivate those devotional feelings which they are so well calculated to assist. Can any one, who is aspiring after the joys of heaven, hear those sublime choruses, the Hallelujah, or Worthy is the Lamb, without feeling his desires raised more intensely toward that blissful state? Or can any one whose heart is filled with gratitude to the Redeemer, listen to Handel's plaintive adaptation of the words of Isaiah, He was despised, without feeling more strongly the extent of the love of Christ, and the depth of that humiliation which he underwent for our sakes? With respect to miscellaneous concerts, never having been in London, I am unacquainted with those of the Argyle Rooms and Hanover Square; but such as I have heard in the country may, I think, be innocently attended: and I cannot conceive that the circumstance of their being often frequented for the purposes of shew and vanity, can be objected more fairly against them, than against an exhibition of ne pictures; for many persons will attend for the same purposes, who are totally uninterested in the merits of the paintings. I am, however, well aware, that concerts and oratorios may be much abused. Like all other innocent pleasures, they ought to be enjoyed with noderation, remembering they are not the business of life, but recreations allowed us by our gracious Creator, to smooth a rugged path, and to be employed to his glory.--I perfectly agree with A. C. G. that “if they have any tendency to make the every-day duties of life comparatively insipid," or to induce us to "tread on the frontier line which separates lawful enjoyment from unlawful compliance," we ought to take up the cross of self-denial. I also heartily coincide with his concluding remarks, and earnestly do I wish that some musico-poetical friend would rescue from deserved obloquy some of our finest vocal compositions which have been unfortunately doomed to "wed their divine sounds" to poetry which no Christian ought to repeat, by setting such words to them as might at least be sung innocently, if not for higher purposes. most D. W. H. To the Editor of the Christian Observer. IN the circulating libraries of the place of fashionable resort from which I write, and I conclude in other places also, are frequently to be seen, novels covered with spare leaves of the New Testament, to pense of other paper. These nosave, I conclude, the trifling exvels come thus half-bound fro London. I need not say that such of the Scriptures, is, in every rea use even of waste sheets or leaves spect, very profane; and I shall be truly happy, if by drawing public attention to the subject, I shall be the instrument of checking the evil. Would religious persons generally make a practice of seriously remonstrating with the parties concerned in this, and similar improprieties, as often as they happen to offenders would probably be income under their inspection, the duced either from principle or from shame, to discontinue practices which have a tendency to destroy the reverence which ought always to be felt for the word of God. OBSERVATOR. pay their own quota, but to make up the deficiency caused by the dishonesty of their neighbours; that cheating the king, as it is called, is cheating conscience and trifling with God; and lastly, that buying or selling illegal commodities, is not only unlawful in principle but affords a powerful sanction and bounty to the fraud, perjury, and often bloodshed which accompany smuggling, poaching, and similar offences, and renders each individual connected, however remotely, with them, responsible in his degree for the sins committed, the guilt contracted, and the lives lost in such transactions. I confess these arguments have hitherto swayed my own mind: but perhaps this was owing to my deficiency of intellect; and I should therefore be much obliged to some admirer of French gloves or smug. gled cordials, who would rectify my judgment, in order that I may enjoy like my neighbours one great advantage which I am often told belongs to a marine residence. To the Editor of the Christian Observer. is an act of flagrant injustice to our MARINUS. To the Editor of the Christian Observer. I SEND you the following literal translation of a Danish Hymn sung at the cathedral at Copenhagen, at between Denmark and Norway, a solemn anniversary of the union hoping that some one of your correspondents equal to the task may be induced to give it a more poetical form. HYMN. God Jehovah! we praise Thee: O Thou who wast, and art, and shalt be, Choirs of seraphim fall prostrate; No sound to sound breathes forth; O God! Heaven trembles at thy power, All heaven's host praise Thee, And earth and ocean sound thy praise; |