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Review of The Bible not a dangerous Book.

Let us glance at the various sects into which Christianity is divided over the face of the earth-let us reflect on the multitude of our fellow-beings who pursue the same journey by different paths, and let us be humble in the reflection; the conflicting opinions of man, like the disturbed clouds of heaven, darken and distract the expanse of intellectual light -his dissentions seldom create conviction-his humility always creates peace. Were any sect, or church, or party, to rest its claim to exclusive Christianity on the purity of its actions, and its perfect accordance with the Divine Lawthere is not one could sustain examination. Return to the history of past ages,-trace the deeds of fanatic religion, which are now, perhaps, denied or forgotten-observe how crime bore the character of justice, and carnage was hallowed in the name of the Peace-Maker. Who will justify the effects of religious zeal through the wars of the Crusades? or the cruelties that, at some periods, disgraced the annals of every christian state in the extermination of such opinions as were displeasing to the powerful party?-these were all accomplished in the name of Religion, and her precepts were perverted to defend them. Then where, amidst this retrospect of guilt-this certainty of error-shall we seek the immutable faith?-One standard alone remains unchanged and unchangeable, uncorrupted and incapable of corruption.— If you would seek the records of the Church of Christ, you will find them in-THE BIBLE-if you would commune with the members of that Church, you will find them in those who follow its rules. This is the shrine at which alone the heart must be purified-this is the test by which alone it must be tried. Man can never be happy or wise if excluded from the benefits of liberal research-his mind cannot understand the blessings the creation lays before him, if shut out from the means of examining them. Let the silent work of knowledge proceed-and, as the authority that controls, and the servitude that obeys, draw their supremacy and their submission from the same source, there is nothing wanted but a general illumination of mind to place all men on a mental equality. The spirit of charity may then pervade all hearts, and the bickerings of party rancour may then be forgotten in the common desire to promote concord. Let the silent work of knowledge proceed-a greater and more important blessing may result.- PUBLIC ABUSES MAY BE REFORMED WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE BLOODSHED AND CRIMINALITY OF PHYSICAL REVOLUTION.

Isabel, a Dramatic Poem.

Poetry.

ISABEL,

A DRAMATIC POEM.

CHARACTERS.

LINDENBERG-LOUIS. AGNES-AGATHA-MARINETTE-ISABEL.

Monks, Peasants, &c.

Scene.-Banks of the River Rhine.

ACT I.

SCENE 1st., The Banks of the Rhine-Mountainous Country beyond. Moonlight. Chorus of Peasants at a distance.

CHORUS.

Under the moonlight-sister and sire,
Under the moonlight-brother and friend,
Sing the sweet greeting of souls forgiven,
Whilst thus our penitent way we wend.
The morning dawned on the tainted flowers,

That the night's cold tears had stained with dew,

But day soon brightened their weeping leaves,
Into one bright and beautiful hue.-

And thus our hearts, with the sins of years

Unpure and dark as the flowers of night,

When bathed and blessed in our mountain stream,

Dissolve to purity's holiest light.

Enter Peasants, Women, and Children, carrying different parts of dress, &c.

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A pause

Isabel, a Dramatic Poem.

Spirit of the waves !-awake!—
Woman 's at thy shrine-

At thy spring our thirst we slake,
For the water 's thine

Of eternal pardon.-Hush!—

That was an unearthly strain,-
Mortals! name your secret wish—
Hush-hush!-again,-again.

-a wild air is heard over the river-the Peasants drop their garments into the stream.

First Pea.

Second Pea.

The Music ceases.

First Peasant.

Now the potent charm is o'er
Away, no more!--no more!

Second Peasant.

In the ocean, in the air.

O'er the hills, and in the vales,
A pale spirit-wild and fair-
In a cloud of vapor sails.
That pale spirit hath the power
Of a wide, pervading being

Regent of the penance-hour,

All things hearing-all things seeing.

Female Peasant.

The glowing stars shine deep
On the bosom of the lake,
Where hanging willows sleep

In the stream they wake.-
Part all-there's ruin in delay-
We may not,-must not stay,
Away!-away!-away!

They separate. First and Second Peasants remain.

Twelve moons have passed since at our holy task
We met together-do you bear in mind
The chances of that night?

I well remember-
How different is the face of nature now,

Sleeping beneath the tranquil noon;-the woods
That muffle up the distant hills-the beams
The mirror of the stream gives back to Heaven,
As they play lightly o'er it's silver tide-
The long irregular winding of the river,
Stealing thro' vallies and deserted places,
Then running out thro' cultivated lands,

First Pea.

Isabel, a Dramatic Poem.

And pastures where the foot of labor treads
From day-break 'till the close of light-all these
Repose so silently, that it would seem

As if the various hues of earth commingled
And melted to one general harmony,
So lovely and so calm, that not a break
Disturbs them as they lie in one long chain
Of sweet and silent solitude.--

But say,

How looked the aspect of that dreadful night
When all was fear and terror on the hills,

And every moment promised brief destruction?
Second Pea. Oh! 'twas a night of horrors-thro' the air

First Pea.

The shrieks of maids and matrons, and the cries
Of scared children echoed piteously;

The pauses of the storm were filled with sounds
Of broken voices that were lifted up
For help-that none on earth could offer-

Then,
When the deep roar of the disturbed Heaven
Had past away, and awful silence hung
Like a black cloud upon the land, smothering
The aspirations of earth's fearful things,

What dreadful sights were there!-the noble temple,
Where holy men were offering up their prayers,
Hurled to the waters from its proud foundation;—
The cottagers that once upon those heights

Smiled in the summer's sun, down the dark tide

Were carried furiously;-trees rooted out

From their rich soil;-and huge rocks-that did seem
So firmly bowelled in the mountains, that
The power of elements was impotent,

In human thought, to shake them-were like leaves
Blown from their place, and scattered to the winds.
O Heaven! the young bride whom a lover's joy
Had promised pomp, and happiness, and shelter,
Left like a withered plant-in desolation-
Drooping, deserted, and no arm was near

Which could protect,-and he who thus had promised,
Struck with a like despair, sank motionless
Beside her. Those whom happy parents loved,
And pointed to with deep-exulting hearts,

And triumphed in, and bless'd some hours before—
Fair, innocent children-oh! it wrung the heart
To watch their strong convulsive terrors, and
To listen to their faint shrieks, as the storm
Increasing seemed to mock their agonies-

Second Pea. Let us not dwell on this

A plaintive strain is heard at a distance.

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