Page images
PDF
EPUB

In the Christian Observer of 1811 Heber published the first specimens of his Hymns: prefixing the following modest and excellent account of his views in composing them.

"The following Hymns are part of an intended series, appropriate to the Sundays, and principal holidays of the year; connected in some degree with their particular Collects and Gospels, and designed to be sung between the Nicene Creed and the Sermon. The effect of an arrangement of this kind, though only partially adopted, is very striking in the Romish liturgy; and its place should seem to be imperfectly supplied by a few verses of a Psalm, entirely unconnected with the peculiar devotions of the day, and selected at the discretion of a clerk or organist. On the merits of the present imperfect essays the author is unaffectedly dif fident; and as his labours are intended for the use of his own congregation, he will be thankful for any suggestion which may advance or correct them. In one respect, at least, he hopes the following poems will not be found reprehensible ;-no fulsome or indecorous language has been knowingly adopted: no erotic addresses to Him whom no unclean lip can ap

F

proach, no allegory ill understood, and worse applied. It is not enough, in his opinion, to object to such expressions that they are fanatical; they are positively profane. When our Saviour was on earth, and in great humility conversant with mankind; when he sat at the tables, and washed the feet, and healed the diseases of his creatures; yet did not his disciples give him any more familiar name than Master or Lord. And now at the right hand of his Father's majesty, shall we address him with ditties of embraces and passion, or language which it would be disgraceful in an earthly sovereign to endure? Such expressions, it is said, are taken from Scripture; but even if the original application, which is often doubtful, were clearly and unequivocally ascertained, yet, though the collective Christian church may very properly be personified as the spouse of Christ, an application of such language to individual believers is as dangerous as it is absurd and unauthorized. Nor is it going too far to assert, that the brutalities of a common swearer can hardly bring religion into more sure contempt, or more scandalously profane the Name which is above every name in heaven and earth,

than certain epithets applied to Christ in our popular collections of religious poetry.'

"Heber subsequently arranged these hymns, with some others by various writers, in a regular series adapted to the services of the Church of England throughout the year, and it was his intention to publish them soon after his arrival in India; but the arduous duties of his station left little time, during the short life there allotted to him, for any employment not immediately connected with his diocese. This arrangement of them has been published since his death."

One of the most admired is that for

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

"Who, when sin's tremendous doom,

Gave Creation to the tomb,

Didst not scorn the Virgin's womb,

Jesus! hear and save!

66

Mighty monarch! Saviour mild!
Humbled to a mortal child,
Captive, beaten, bound, revil'd,
Jesus! hear and save!

"Throned above celestial things,
Borne aloft on angels' wings,
Lord of lords, and King of kings!
Jesus! hear and save!

"Who shalt yet return from high,
Robed in might and majesty,

Hear us! help us when we cry!
Jesus! hear and save!"

But perhaps the most exquisite of them all is

the shortest.

VESPERS.

"God that madest Earth and Heaven,

Darkness and light!

Who the day for toil hast given,

For rest the night!

May thine angel guards defend us,
Slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,
This livelong night!"

CHAPTER IV.

Poems published-Canon of St. Asaph-Bampton Lectures— Heber elected Preacher at Lincoln's Inn-Life of Jeremy Taylor.

6

In the year 1812 Mr. Heber republished the Poems already mentioned, together with considerable additions, in a small volume, which soon obtained much popularity. "From the original pieces of that volume," (says a critic already quoted,) "it would be easy to select thoughts of animation and of tenderness; but unless perhaps The Passage of the Red Sea' (which is a noble copy of verses) should be excepted, nothing that, as a whole, comes up to the standard of Palestine. In the translations of Pindar which it contains, it may be doubted whether the deep-mouthed Theban is not made to speak too much after the manner of the great minstrel of Scotland; still they are executed with genuine spirit and elegance, and the rambling movements of an author, who, in his anxiety to escape from an Hiero or an Agesias, is very apt to run riot and lose his way, are connected with no common success."

« PreviousContinue »