which has been said, either of the words, or works, or ways of the Almighty, to study a book of much greater importance, whose pages will always be the delight of the pious, and the consolation of the afflicted; and against which, its own holy pages tell us, the gates of hell cannot prevail; that it will lead him to "search the Scriptures;" that becoming more and more conversant with the book of life, he may be found, when he has finished his journey here, not only to have had "the Bible in his hands, but the God of the Bible in his heart."

Harmondsworth Vicarage,

June 6, 1837.

INTRODUCTION.

DEAR Reader, in thy closet, (1) where no rude

And noisy mirth of mortal can intrude,

Clos'd from the busy world without, apart
From all its pleasures, look into thy heart.

Say then, do faith and penitence dwell there,
While hope of pardon wings the silent pray'r;
Or does its thoughtless supplication lack

The spirit's strength, (2) and so come empty back?
As sound of tinkling brass,(3) or cymbal fly,
Through vacancy of air to sink and die?

(1) "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy father which is in secret."-Matthew vi. 6.

(2) "It is the spirit that quickeneth."--John vi. 63.

(3) See 1 Corinthians xiii. 1.

Cleanse it (4)—and thou shalt find escape from sin,
And though wayfaring, (5) shalt not err therein;
Though call'd a fool, thy humble prayer shall rise
At morn and eve as incense to the skies.

Thou may'st be wise, (6) but with thy wisdom get
One needful thing, or 'twill be folly yet;

For know, that if thou hast not Christian grace,

No philosophic lore can fill its place ;

Man with ingenious mind may seek the cave

Where Mammoth's fossil'd bones have found a grave,

And reasoning on the changes of our earth,

Pronounce when these remains, or those had birth;

Thirst for discovery may bid him raise

The glass to heaven with telescopic gaze,

(*) "Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God."—Joel ii. 13.

(5) "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness: the unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein."-Isaiah xxxv. 8.

(6) "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." -1 Corinthians iii. 19. "Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding."-Proverbs iv. 7.

And in its trackless space his steady eye

Some distant star, some unknown world descry;

But e'en though every art and science bend

In prompt submission to his purpos'd end,

If Jesus Christ's religion does not reign

Within his heart, these things are all in vain.

How can he build for heav'n, how trust, how strive?

With such support "how save his soul alive?" (7)

A Newton's giant mind could restless soar
To truth's philosophy ne'er reach'd before,
With eagle pinion wing its flight abroad
Amid the wonders of Almighty God,

On earth beneath, through heaven's expanse above,
Seeking new proofs of wisdom, power, and love;

Mighty alike to measure stars that shine

Through night's dark hours, or search the secret mine,

In varied colours through the prism convey

With rainbow beauty the refracted ray,

(7) "When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.”—Ezekiel xviii. 27.