" The tones of earthly harp, whose chords are touch'd Upon Religion's shrine, there vibrating Though I can say no more to dissuade from vice or encourage to virtue, than hath already been said in many learned authors, yet I may be an occasion by these endeavours to bring that the oftener into remembrance, which they have more learnedly expressed." George Wither's Emblems, 1634. "If these little sparks of holy fire which I have heaped together do not give life to your prepared and already enkindled spirit, yet they will sometimes help to entertain a thought, to actuate a passion, to employ and hallow a fancy." Jeremy Taylor. "These people consider the pleasures of the world as the supreme good, and cannot bear the idea of renouncing them. I have FRIENDS, whose society is extremely agreeable to me: they are of all ages, and of every country. They have distinguished themselves both in the cabinet and in the field, and obtained high honours for their knowledge of the sciences. It is easy to gain access to them; for they are always at my service, and admit them to my company, and dismiss them from it, whenever I please. They are never troublesome, but immediately answer every question I ask them. Some relate to me the events of past ages, while others reveal to me the secrets of nature. Some teach me how to live, and others how to die. Some, by their vivacity, drive away my cares and exhilarate my spirits, while others give fortitude to my mind, and teach me the important lesson how to restrain my desires, and to depend wholly on myself. They open to me, in short, the various avenues of all the arts and sciences, and upon their information I safely rely, in all emergencies. In return for all these services, they only ask me to accommodate them with a convenient chamber in some corner of my humble habitation, where they may repose in peace: for these friends are more delighted by the tranquillity of retirement, than with the tumults of society." Petrarch. "No man can be so straitened and oppressed with business, and an active course EDINBURGH: JAMES HOGG. MDCCCLVI. PUBLIC NOTE. WITH equal truth and beauty it has been said, that "a good book is the precious life-blood of a Master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose, to a life beyond life." From the "pages" of many good books-the "spirit-urns" of our elder worthies-these leaflets have been gathered. They will afford matter for reflection to thoughtful minds who have learned to deal lovingly and reverently with such relics. The volume is not meant for swift or consecutive reading, but rather for the profitable employment of such seasons as are set forth in the motto on the title-page. Then may we say with good old Bishop Hall, in his meditation on the sight of a large library, "Blessed be God, who hath set up so many clear lamps in his church; none but the wilfully blind can plead darkness. And blessed be the memory of those, his faithful servants, who have left their blood, their spirits, their lives in these precious papers; and have willingly wasted themselves into these enduring monuments to give light to others.” II. B. |