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POETRY.

FROM THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

A Hymn for Christmas Day.

Written by the celebrated Chatterton when he was about eleven years of age.

ALMIGHTY framer of the skies!
O, let our pure devotion rise,
Like incense in thy sight!
Wrapt in impenetrable shade
The texture of our souls were made
Till thy command gave light.
The sun of glory gleam'd the ray,
Refin❜d the darkness into day,
And bid the vapours fly :
Impell'd by his eternal love,
He left his palaces above

To cheer our gloomy sky.
How shall we celebrate this day,
When God appear'd in mortal clay,
The mark of wordly scorn;
When the Archangels heavenly lays,
Attempted the Redeemer's praise
And hail'd Salvation's morn!

A humble form the Godhead wore ;
The pains of poverty he bore;
To gaudy pomp unknown:
Tho' in a human walk he trod,
Still was the man Almighty God,
In glory all his own.

Despis'd, oppress'd, the Godhead bears,
The torments of this vale of tears;
Nor bid his vengeance rise;
He saw the creatures he had made
Revile his power, his peace invade :
He saw with mercy's eyes.

How shall we celebrate his name,
Who groan'd beneath a life of shame,
In all afflictions tried;

The soul is raptur'd to conceive
A truth which being must believe*,
The God eternal died.

My soul, exert thy powers, adore,
Upon devotions plumage soar,

To celebrate the day;

The God from whom creation sprung
Shall animate my grateful tongue;

From him I'll catch the lay.

S.

* The transcriber is not responsible for the obscurity of this line: it

belongs to the original.

The Happy Penitent.

GREAT is the luxury of grief,
The offspring of the contrite heart;
Tears yield the burden'd soul relief,
And dew-drops grace and health impart.
Let worldly wisdom form her sons
To sullen joy, and hearts of steel;
Pride mock at penitential groans,

And folly teach 'tis vain to feel.
Be mine the pleasures of the soul,

That glows and burns with gen'rous shame,
That loves o'er each offence to roll,
And mourn a SAVIOUR's injur'd name.
Ah! little know the cold and vain,
A Saviour's worth, a Saviour's love;
The price of pardon, death of sin;
Or weal of wo if He approve.

Know ye, who these keen pangs despise,
That JESUS bears in each a share?
To give them birth He left the skies,
To give them worth, he mediates there.
So just these sorrows GoD approves,
These are the sacrifice He claims,
And what He claims true virtue loves,
And only what HE censures, blames.
The dropping cloud alone receives,

The beauteous tints that grace the bow;
The token of GoD's cov'nant gives,
And seals his truth and mercy too.
Distil my soul and take the sign,
Nor check the penitential tear,
A better covenant's promise thine,
And fairer far the tints you wear.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

SEVERAL Communications have been received which are now under consideration.

Senex is desired to continue his letters of caution.

The second Letter from Matilda is received.

The Letter from Urbanus on Christian politeness is received. So far as manners indicate true benevolence of heart, they are part of the Christian character. We fear that some of the maxims in this communication contradict the Apostolic injunction Be not conformed to this world." It cannot be admitted.

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Memoir of the late Rev. John
Caspar Lavater.

IN

(Continued from p. 86.)

IN the spring of 1763, Mr. Lavater set out on a literary tour to some of the principal plaçes in Germany; from which journey he acknowledges himself to have derived the most extensive benefits: I received advantages," said he, "from my journey, of which I had not the least conception. My mind is continually enlarging, and my heart forcibly drawn after that which is good so greatly I profit by the conversation and example of learned, great, and good men."

:

[No. 4.

The first public office which was entrusted to Mr. Lavater's care, was that of chaplain to the orphan-house in Zurich; upon which he entered in the year. 1769. Here he found a very large sphere of usefulness. His sermons were much admired, and numerously attended; for he displayed in them great force of natural eloquence, accompanied with that divine unction of the Spirit of God which convinces the understanding, and wins the affections of the heart.

He used to write his discourses; and, by constant practice, obtained such a facility of committing them to memory, that he wanted but a few minutes for this purpose: yet he never conIn the year 1766 Mr. Lavater fined himself strictly to his married an excellent and amia- notes; but was very successful ble lady, with whom he lived in making alterations in the pulthirty-four years in the most ex-pit, suitable to time and circumemplary and happy manner; stances. A chief part of his and by whom he had eight chil-attention was devoted to a large dren, three of whom, a son and flock of orphan-children, to two daughters, survive him. whom he shewed the most tenQ

VOL. I. NO. 4.

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der regard and affectionate care. | of my former life be banished

He possessed a talent of conversing with children in an eminent degree, condescending to their very lowest capacities, knowing how to keep alive their attention, to occupy their understanding, and to make a deep impression upon their tender hearts.

from thy presence! Hitherto, thou hast led me with as much wisdom as mercy; and, I trust, thou wilt lead me to-day, to-morrow, and so on, till my dear friends may be enabled to say at my dying bed, 'He has overcome!"

Very few ministers can be found, who more constantly and But still a larger field of use- conscientiously officiated, except ful activity was opened to Mr. a few weeks in summer, when Lavater, when he was chosen, in the delicate state of his health the year 1778, to be deacon, or rendered it necessary for him assistant minister, at the large to take a little excursion into the parish of St. Peter, in Zurich, country. To the instruction of which contained about 5000 peo-young people and the visitation ple. Most deeply impressed of the sick, he devoted a conwith a sense of the infinite im-siderable portion of his time. portance of this charge, and of Under these circumstances, it his own insufficiency for the same, he wrote the following effusions of his heart :

is difficult to conceive how it was possible for him to keep up the most extensive corres"O God, take away the veil pondence, and to compose so from my eyes and from my many literary and religious heart! Darkness is around me. works, by which he obtained Oh may I hear that word: "Let celebrity, even in foreign parts : 'there be light!" Oh thou, who but it must be observed, that his alone knowest me, how shall I time was exceeding precious to know thee? How shall I teach him; so that he was continually others to know thee? Oh thou employed, wishing to redeem 'divine Omnipotence, draw near the very smallest particle, and to help me in my extreme weak-not to lose a single moment.— ness! Oh thou divine Love, un-Even when at table, some books veil thyself to my waiting soul! or papers used to lie near him; I am thine: let me feel it, feel and when taking a walk, which it anew, feel it continually, that was his constant practice every I belong to thee, in a much day, he was always seen reading higher sense than to any one or writing. In his short exelse. I Have not deserved the cursions to the country, and confidence of my congregation even when he went to see some as yet: Oh let me deserve it in friends in town, his pockets were future by godly simplicity, and full of papers; and he used to the most faithful discharge of sit down at the very first table, my duty Let a sense of thy and continue his writing. He presence every where accompa- had, however, the happy talent by me! Be near me when in to suffer himself continually to business or retirement, when at be interrupted, and to keep up 'work or at rest! Hide the days the most cheerful conversation; that are past let the iniquities and yet, at the first leisure mo

ble skill as a physician, he addressed the young couple in the following manner:-" Believe me, children, I speak it de

ment, he could take up his subject, like one who had not experienced the least interruption. In summer, strangers crowded to see him from every quarter.liberately and with full convicThough there was a considera- tion, I have enjoyed many of the ble number whose only object comforts of life, none of which was to gaze at him; yet, on the I wish to esteem lightly: often other hand, many visitors affor- have I been charmed with the ded him no less pleasure than beauties of Nature, and refreshreal instruction. Never there-ed with her bountiful gifts: fore, did he suffer his patience I have spent many an hour in to be exhausted; nor did he ev-sweet meditation, and in reader cease to treat strangers of ev-ing the most valuable producery rank and description in the tions of the wisest men: I most polite and respectful man-have often been delighted with ner. Scarcely any one ever the conversation of ingenious, saw him in an ill humour; even sensible, noble and exalted charwhen he happened to be deeply acters: my eyes have been powdepressed, he had such a com-erfully attracted by the finest mand over himself, that, sup-productions of human art, and pressing his grief, he could most cheerfully receive and usefully entertain visiting friends or foreigners.

my ears by enchanting melodies: I have found pleasure when calling into activity the powers of my own mind; when residing in my own native country, or travelling through for

large and splendid companies, still more, when moving in the small endearing circle of my own family: yet, to speak the truth before God, who is my Judge, I must confess, I know not any joy that is so dear to me, that so fully satisfies the inmost desires of my mind, that so enlivens, refines, and elevates my whole nature, as that which I derive from religion, from faith

At the end of the year, 1786, he was unanimously chosen to the rectory of St. Peter's Par-eign parts; when surrounded by ish, in Zurich. When he preached the first time after his election, he thus addressed his congregation "I will not promise much. A man out of the fulness of his heart, may easily promise too much. Who can be sufficiently cautions and circumspect in his promises, more especially in those of so important and solemn a nature? -Where is the preacher who has not, in his first sermon, pro-in God as one who not only is mised more than he could, in every respect fulfil? Instead, therefore, of promising too much, let us rather encourage, stir up, confirm, and pray for each other."................

At the nuptials of his only son, whom he had the satisfaction to see acquiring considera-!

the Parent of men, but has condescended as a brother, to clothe himself with our nature. Nothing affords me greater delight than a solid hope that I partake of his favours, and may rely on his never-failing support and protection.

"And now, my dear children,

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