promises in the appointed season, he would continue to do the same according to his immutability-and, that, as "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night," the heavens pass away, the elements melt, and the earth and the works therein be burnt up,-it behooved Christians, yea all men, to regard the present world as a fleeting shadow, about to vanish away; and that it was entirely unworthy the character of a disciple of Christ to be greatly entangled in the affairs of a world so soon to be dissolved.

The sentiment I now consider is this; the present state of the world, and the passing events of the age, are suitable monitors of the final dissolution of the material system, and of our duties as immortal beings.

2

In surveying the nations of the earth during only the last thirty years, the most appalling spectacles of crime have been presented, and the most tremendous visitations of retributive justice have followed in the footsteps of the transgressor. We have seen kings dragged down from their thrones, and brought in judgment before the vilest of their subjects, stripped at once of their crown and their life: while ruffians have mounted the tribunals of justice, and swayed the sceptres of kings. These have sported with human misery. They have waded in the blood of millions, and had no other pleasure so great, as that of turning fruitful vales into fields of slaughter. Proud of their disgraceful elevation, such men have loudly insulted the Most High, reared their brazen front in defiance of their Maker, and, in their infatuation, were ready to shout for the victory. But we have seen them only a little while: the triumphing of the wicked is short. While such haughty tyrants fancied their power established on an adamantine base, at the mandate of the King of kings their monarchies are dissolved, their armies melt away, and the fabric of their power falls to dust.,

Such examples of fallen greatness afford the contemplative Christian a salutary lesson. They conduct him forward in imagination to the final catastrophe, which will finish the action of this world's drama, and subsequently lead to the consideration of himself as an actor in some of the scenes. By such exhibitions of the divine power in the administration of human affairs, he cannot avoid anticipating the day of final account, and is taught to apply to himself the impressive admonition, "What manner of person ought I to be!"

From events, which take place in his own nation, will be drawn a similar conclusion. Here, nearer home, he sees the struggle for power, and the iniquitous acts of legislators to increase the strength of a party, at the expense of an incalculable mass of human suffering. From the decisions of a majority he often learns, how useless are arguments addressed to the understandings of men, or appeals to their justice, when their measures are prompted by supreme selfishness. Reviewing these subjects, the humble disciple will not only mourn over the sad spectacles of wretchedness, but will seek to alleviate suffering by such means as are in his reach. Should his efforts be vain, and, in mitigation of his sorrow, he be obliged to turn away from the miserable prospect, he will seek to fix his eye on the world to come. If no refuge below is accessible to the sufferer, he will call to mind the justice and mercy of God; his character as judge of the nations, and defender

of the oppressed; and will reflect, that He will arise, and His enemies will be scattered. So far, then, should the Christian be removed from despondency, when he beholds the earth filled with violence, that the very evils he deplores should stimulate him to labor after increasing holiness of heart. He might well say, "Since these events are suc cessively occurring in boundless vicissitude, I am every hour approaching nearer to the termination of the great series; the particular event connected with my departure may be near. How is my mind affected at each stage of the progress; and what is likely to be the complexion of my moral being in the ages to come? How earnest should I be in preparing for my exit; how grateful to the God, who preserves me, amidst such a scene of desolation; and how submissive to his government, which will eventually bring good out of evil."

As the present period has thrown to the winds all human calculations, and the most sagacious are involved in misfortunes as deeply as any, the instruction drawn from this state of things properly applied, would break off a wise man from the too strong grasp of sensible objects, and fix his thoughts on a treasure in heaven. Does the property, which seemed almost within a man's reach, and on which he is about to place his hand, suddenly escape him? Let him thence consider the inestimable value of a possession, which thieves cannot steal, the worth of a security which enemies cannot destroy. Do his fondest hopes prove most fallacious? Let him strive to obtain that hope, which maketh not ashamed.

Perhaps few individuals ever had an extensive intercourse with mankind, without many painful anxieties. Events in the daily occupations of life have something to interest us; and, as we pass imperceptibly along the current, objects fitted either to amuse or instruct us present themselves, and are attended with various circumstances which give them a hold on the affections. It is so difficult to pursue any employment, or live in any spot, without acquiring attachments of an earthly nature, that most men are insensibly drawn towards their several objects so forcibly, as to forget the design of this world altogether. Overlooking the institutions of Providence, we change the order established in the universe, and consider that as the end, which was intended only as the means. A natural consequence of such perversity of conduct is, that on the exchange of instruments, which God prepared and placed in our hands, we mourn as if the foundations of our happiness were destroyed. A longing melancholy gaze is directed towards the idol thus removed from our embrace, and the language of complaining unbelief is, "Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I more?” The preservative against such excessive fondness for temporal enjoyments should carefully be sought, and its application become a part of our daily study. It is not easy to conceive of a remedy of superior power, or admitting a broader application than that proposed by the apostle: "Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved; what sort of persons ought ye to be."

Has any one friends, whose interests he seeks to promote? Let him look well to the expedients adopted for this purpose. With the affecting frailty of temporal possessions full in view, let him cautiously examine the case, and decide whether, any such species of ambition as

now prompts him, will sustain his fainting head on the dying pillow? whether the unhallowed passions of "honorable men" will be likely to impart confidence and hope before the last tribunal? Contemplating the grandeur of that scene, the wise man sees the affairs of this world diminished before him, and deserving his earnest attention only so far, as they stand connected with the eternity to which he is hastening.

REVIEWS.

X.

CXXXVI. English Synonymes explained, in Alphabetical Order; with Illustrations and Examples drawn from the best Writers. By GEORGE CRABE, of Magdalen Hall, Oxford. First American, from the second London edition greatly enlarged and corrected. Boston: Charles Ewer, No. 51, Cornhill. 1819. pp. 1006, 8vo.

WE are glad to see any new work, which professes to make us acquainted with our own language; a language, which has many and great excellences, mixed with serious defects, and obvious deformities. It may well be doubted, whether a disciplined mind of the highest order, like that of Bacon, would not be able to communicate its thoughts as happily, and as forcibly, in the English tongue, as in any one of the immensely diversified modes of speech, by which different parts of the human family are separated from each other. That such an opinion is not solely dependent on national prejudice for its support might easily be made apparent, had we leisure to pursue the subject. However this may be, an undisciplined mind is perhaps more apt to blunder in our language, than in almost any other. Its very copiousness and richness, which in the hands of such a master as Burke or Milton, furnish the materials of incomparable beauty and magnificence, serve only to mislead and confound many ordinary writers.

Considering how many intelligent, reflecting, and sagacious men there are in the United States;-how many deep thinkers and wise observers; it is remarkable, that we have so few decent writers, and correct speakers. The great characteristic of many very sensible writers, able preachers, and ingenious pleaders, may, so far as style is concerned, be expressed in one word, carelessness. They often blunder along, without appearing to employ a single thought upon that, which is the grand medium of communicating thoughts among men. We hope, however, that the state of things is improving in this respect; and that, in all our principal seminaries of learning, more attention is paid than formerly to a correct knowledge of our native language.

The design of Mr. Crabb is sufficiently obvious from the title-page. He selects the principal words, which, as used by the best writers, have a meaning nearly alike. He explains the signification of each by a reference to its etymology, and by giving a definition of his own. He then illustrates the difference of the words, as he understands them; and fortifies his own opinion by quotations from standard authors.

It is doubtless true, as Mr. C. suggests, that there is a deficiency in this department of English philology. His design was a good one, and merited patronage. He has accomplished it, in such a manner as not to cause the patronage to be regretted, if he has not, as we think

he has not, fully answered the expectations of the literary public. Some of his illustrations are forcible and clear; but he obviously wrote in too much haste, and is far from possessing eminent powers of discrimination. Among the happiest instances of showing the difference between words, which are often thought to be quite synonymous, we would point the reader to the following: case, cause;-candid, open, sincere;-bent, bias, inclination, prepossession.

The comparison of conviction and persuasion is the worst specimen we have found. It has several faults; but, among others, this remarkable contradiction. "Our conviction respects solely matters of belief or faith; our persuasion respects matters of belief or practice." p. 319. "The practical truths of Christianity demand our deepest conviction; of its speculative truths we ought to have a rational persuasion." p. 320.

Under the article story, tale, Mr. C. says, "the tale is always feigned;" and again, "the tale is always an invention." The author had forgotten the famous line of Shakespeare, "Mark how a plain tale shall put you down," where a simple narration of facts is intended.

In the comparison of writer, and author, there is the following unac countable remark. "Poets and historians are termed authors, but not writers." What means this; "Cedite Romani scriptores, cedite Graii?” where the reference is particularly to poets. What means Mr. Crabb's title-page, where he says his examples are "drawn from the best writers?" these examples being taken in great part from poets and historians, who, it seems, are not writers. There is no ground whatever for this distinction, either in our own language, or any other.

As a short specimen of Mr. C.'s manner, we quote the following:

"To find fault with, blame, object to.

"All these terms denote not simply feeling, but also expressing dissatisfaction with some person or thing.

"To find fault with signifies here to point out a fault, either in some person or thing; to blame is said only of the person; object is applied to the thing only: we find fault with a person for his behavior; we find fault with our seat, our conveyance, and the like: we blame a man for his temerity, or his improvidence: we object to a measure that is proposed. We find fault with, or blame, that which has been done; we object to that which is to be done." p. 522.

On the whole, we recommend the work before us as likely to be useful, not so much by the accuracy of its definitions, or the authority of its decisions, as by its affording the materials of thought, and teaching the student to compare, reflect, and decide for himself.

CXXXVII. Correspondence between the late Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore James Barron, which led to the unfortunate meeting of the 22d of March. Boston: Russell & Gardner. 1820. pp. 22. large 8vo.

OUR readers need not apprehend, that we are about to distress their feelings, by detailing the charges and recriminations of two bloodyminded men, deeply hostile to each other, and totally regardless of law,

• The repetition of the word belief here may be the printer's fault; but our criticism has no reference to this repetition.

human and divine. Such is the universal character of duellists, so far as they encourage private combat, either by their approbation, or their example. They answer to the faithful description of Achilles:

"Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer,

Jura neget sibi nata, nihil non arroget armis."

This correspondence does neither of the parties any credit; but we think it most dishonorable to the unhappy man, whose life fell a sacrifice to the sanguinary code, the decisions of which he felt bound to obey. As a mere duellist, we think he appears far, very far, from advantageously. Though we cannot profess much skill in such matters, we had always supposed the principal glory, at which duellists aim, to consist in a prompt disregard of danger, a perfect readiness to fight, as perfect a readiness to be reconciled after fighting, an abstinence from abusive language, entire secresy till after the battle, the transaction of the whole business in a very gentlemanly manner as to style and temper, and the avoiding of all long acrimonious discussions, which could do no good in any supposable event, but which would seem to stand in the way of a cordial reconciliation, if both parties should happen to survive the conflict. These things we take to be among the chief excellences of duelling; but not one of them is apparent in the case before us. On the contrary, we find a shyness of danger, a backwardness to fight, a quibbling with respect to any advantage, which the challenged might claim, an abundant readiness to enter into a war of words, and a total disregard of each other's feelings, or the feelings of each other's family and friends. Considering the melancholy termination of the controversy, we should not be inclined to speak so freely of the parties, had they not written expressly and avowedly for the public, and were not their offences, on that account particularly, offences against the public of no ordinary magnitude. While they were insulting each other, they were at the same time insulting the public, by intentionally laying their quarrels, their insolent contempt of each other, and their cool vituperations, before the public. The community, therefore, are bound to take notice of this offence with all its aggravations. It appears to us, that duellists of the higher order, both in this country and abroad, will look down upon this correspondence as beneath the dignity of high-minded and honorable men, and as descending into the regions of vulgarity, and personal abuse. But whatever duellists may think or say on the subject, we have more serious allegations to bring, than any which they would entertain. Our observations must be brief, and will be arranged under the following heads.

1. Both these champions have borne their testimony against duelling. Com. Decatur says, "I do not think that fighting duels, under any circumstances, can raise the reputation of any man; and have long since discovered, that it is not even an unerring criterion of personal courage. I should regret the necessity of fighting with any man; but, in my opinion, the man, who makes arms his profession, is not at liberty to decline an invitation from any person, who is not so far degraded, as to be beneath his notice. Having incautiously said I would