COME, YE DISCONSOLATE. Come, ye disconsolate, where'er you languish, Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish-- Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying, Hope, when all others die, fadeless and pure, Here speaks the Comforter, in God's name saying66 'Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure "" Go, ask the infidel, what boon he brings us, What charm for aching hearts he can reveal, Sweet as that heavenly promise Hope sings us"Earth has no sorrow that God cannot heal?" THE TURF SHALL BE MY FRAGRANT SHRINE. The turf shall be my fragrant shrine; My choir shall be the moonlight waves, I'll seek, by day, some glade unknown, Thy Heaven, on which 'tis bliss to look, I'll read thy anger in the rack That clouds awhile the day-beam's track; Of sunny brightness breaking through! There's nothing bright, above, below, There's nothing dark, below, above, 1 Pii orant tacite. OFT, IN THE STILLY NIGHT. Oft, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Of other days around me; Of boyhood's years, The words of love then spoken; The eyes that shone, Now dimm'd and gone, The cheerful hearts now broken! Thus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Of other days around me. When I remember all The friends, so link'd together, Like leaves in wintry weather; Who treads alone Whose garlands dead, And all but he departed! Thus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Sad Memory brings the light Of other days around me. LIKE MORNING, WHEN HER EARLY BREEZE. Like morning, when her early breeze Thy Grace can send its breathings o'er Till David touch'd his sacred lyre, So sleeps the soul, till Thou, O Lord, THE BIRD LET LOOSE. The bird, let loose in eastern skies,' Ne'er stoops to earth her wing, nor flies But high she shoots through air and light, Where nothing earthly bounds her flight, So grant me, God, from every care THIS WORLD IS ALL A FLEETING SHOW. This world is all a fleeting show, For man's illusion given; The smiles of Joy, the tears of Woe, There's nothing true but Heaven! And false the light on Glory's plume, And Love, and Hope, and Beauty's bloom From wave to wave we're driven; THOU ART, O GOD! Thou art, O God, the life and light Are but reflections caught from thee. When Day, with farewell beam, delays The carrier pigeon, it is well known, flies at an elevated pitch, in order to surmount every obstacle between her and the place to which she is destined. And we can almost think we gaze Through golden vistas into heaven- When youthful Spring around us breathes, THOMAS DICK, 1774. No author of the nineteenth century has a higher claim upon the respect and gratitude of the world than the venerable Christian philosopher, Dr. Thomas Dick. He was born near Dundee on the 24th of November, 1774. His father, a linen manufacturer, was distinguished no less for his intelligence than for his eminent Christian character, and his mother, a woman of exemplary piety, taught him to read the New Testament before he entered any school: thus he had the early advantages of the best of all schools, a truly Christian home. A simple incident early directed the studies of Dr. Dick to astronomy. When only nine years old, while walking in his father's garden about nine o'clock in the evening, his attention was directed by a maid-servant to the north, which was quite suddenly illuminated by the Aurora Borealis. He was struck with amazement as well as terror; and so powerful was the impression made upon his mind that he was very early led to make eager inquiries for such books as would reveal to him some of the mysteries of astronomy and meteorology; and he actually constructed a rude telescope himself, by which he could see the rings of Saturn. His father, seeing the strong bent of his son's mind, had good sense enough not to keep him any longer in his factory, and at the age of sixteen he began to study Latin, with the view of entering the university. In 1794 he became a student of the University of Edinburgh, and in the spring of 1795 was nominated teacher to the Orphans' Hospital in that city. Here he continued two years, and then left to pursue his academical studies. About this time his mind began to be impressed with serious religious views, and the study of the Scriptures and works upon divinity and theological criticism engrossed much of his thought and attention. In 1801, having gone through the regular course of study as a student of divinity in the Secession Church, he obtained his license and began to preach; and for several years officiated in different parts of Scotland. On being warmly invited by the Rev. J. Jamieson and his session, to superintend a school connected with the Secession Church at Methven, he accepted the call. Here he instituted classes for the teaching of the sciences to the people, and projected the plan of those libraries for the working classes which are now so common in England. After ten years of gratifying and successful labor at Methven, he removed to an educational establishment at Perth, and during ten more years he taught, studied, and wrote, and finally built his little cottage on the high grounds of Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, where he retired "to hold communion with the stars," and where he now (1853) resides at the advanced age of seventy-nine, in the full possession of his mental powers, and omitting no opportunity of doing good.2 Dr. Dick has been peculiarly styled the "Christian Philosopher," from his efforts to demonstrate the compatibility and harmony of all true philosophy with the Christian plan of redemption and the truth of the life to come, and from the success with which he has explained the philosophy of religion. The inquiries of this patient and laborious philosopher over the whole fields of physical and moral science, have been so varied and extensive, and so subservient to the cause of sound morality and religion, that he has acquired a celebrity deservedly extensive, and has won for himself a high place in the estimation of good men. His whole life has been spent in instructing mankind with his tongue and pen, and consequently the reward of senates and the applause of courts have not been his. "His worldly position has been an humble one. The teacher pines, while the warrior triumphs. Truly, however, the position of such men as Sir David Brewster and Dr. Dick transcends all other worldly conditions. The honor and glory of the warrior are not such as will pass with him beyond this life, for they are compatible with none of the moral attributes of the Deity; but he who has been devotedly, in all humbleness of heart, a blessing to mankind, will have the reward of the blessed in the fulness of God's presence." "3 In 1837 Dr. Dick visited London, where he published his "Celestial Scenery." About the same time he visited Paris, and embraced the opportunity of visiting the observatory there. Shortly after this the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the Faculty and Trustees of Union College, Schenectady, New York. 2 I may state that at Frankfort on the Maine, in the summer of 1850, at the Peace Congress then and there held. I had the pleasure of an interview with this venerable Christian philosopher. In stature he is rather below the medium height; and though in body he ap peared somewhat enfeebled from his advanced age, he showed a vigor of mind unimpaired, while his countenance was radiant with those benevolent affections and philanthropic feelings which have characterized him from his earliest years. The following is, I believe, a correct list of Dr. Dick's works in the order of publication :— 1. "The Christian Philosopher, or the Connection of Science with Religion," 1823; 2. “The Philosophy of Religion, or an Illustration of the Moral Laws of the Universe," 1825; 3. "The Philosophy of a Future State," 1828; 4. The Improvement of Society by the Diffusion of Knowledge," 1833; 5. "On the Mental Illumination and Moral Improvement of Mankind," 1835; 6. Christian Beneficence contrasted with Covetousness," 1836; 7. “Celestial Scenery," 1838; 8. "The Sidereal Heavens," 1840; 9. "The Practical Astronomer," 1845; 10. "The Sclar System," 1846; 11. "The Atmosphere and Atmospherical Phenomena," 1848; 12. "The Telescope and Microscope," 1851. (The three last have been published by the London Religious Tract Society.) Besides these, Dr. Dick has written a great deal for various periodicals-on "Education," on the "Attributes of the Deity," on the "Influence of Periodical Publications," on "Literary and Philosophical Associations," &c. &c. Several of his volumes have been translated into other languages, and the "Solar System" into the Chinese! An excellent edition of Dr. Dick's works has been published by E. C. & J. Biddle, Philadelphia, 10 vols. 12mo. $1.50. |