A long-familiar voice I hear- Joy! joy!--Though wildering paths be mine, I tread them not alone: I feel that thou wilt ever be A Guardian Angel unto me! October 15, 1835. W. D. G. ART. XII.-PROOF TEXTS. I John, 5, 7. There are three that bear record in Heaven-The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are One. THE larger Presbyterian Catechism asks, Question 9: How many Persons are there in the Godhead? and the response is, "There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one true and eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory, although distinguished by their personal properties;', and refers to the above text as proof. Let us now compare them. The Text and the Catechism both say, "there are three;" the Catechism adds, "persons in the Godhead;" the Text makes no mention, either of "Persons," or of "Godhead," but simply "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost," and that "these three are one." The Catechism goes on to add "true and eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory, although distinguished by their personal properties.' Neither of these appendages are mentioned in the Text. What then does the text prove? Does it prove that which it is cited to prove? namely, that there are three Persons in the Godhead"-that these "three Persons are one true and eternal God"—and that they are the same in substance, equal in Power and Glory," &c., when it makes no mention of any of these terms? Whatever may be the signification of this Text, it is ob vious that the expressions which constitute what is called the doctrine of the Trinity, as embraced in this creed, are not to be found there. 'Approach and read,'ye who can read,and judge for yourselves. The above exhibition was made on the admission that the verse in question is a genuine part of the Apostle John's Epistle, and its use in the Catechism may well excite our surprise. But by Art. 4, No. 3, of this work, it will be seen that it is doubtless spurious; what name then shall we give those who still build their creed upon it? M. WRITTEN UPON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG CHILD. STAND back; uncovered stand: for, lo! He came, an herald from above; Pure from his God he came to them, But God hath taken whom He gave; But though the tears must flow; the heart Ye did not from your infant part When his clear eye grew meaningless. Upon his Father's errand, he -Your own dear, bright, unearthly boy- And from this fount of bitter grief Will bring a stream of joy. Oh! may this be your faith, and your relief! Then will the world be full of him; the sky, Will tell of him; the wind will breathe his tone; Fall to its earth-and Heavenward, side by side, Ye shall go up, beyond this realm of storms, Ye shall go up, your infant for your guide. Quick, and more quick; till welcomed there above, Lay down these weeds of earth, and wear your native forms. J. H. P. CRITICAL NOTICES. THE ANNUALS FOR 1836.-The Gift: a Christmas and New Year's Present. Edited by Miss LESLIE. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, and Blanchard.-The Token and Atlantic Souvenir. Edited by S. G. GOODRICH. Boston: Charles Bowen. THERE is something wrong here: These rich and beautiful souvenirs, which used to be as infallible heralders of the joyous holidays, as the marten and blue-bird are of the sweet spring, come to us now-a-days with the decay of vegetation and the fall of the leaf; too soon, by months. They are intended as presents for the holidays-as "tokens from me to thee," of love, and friendship, and remembrance; and it used to be a delight, when "merry Christmas" and "happy New-Year" were at hand, to behold the trim young husband, and the dapper beau, and the smiling betrothed one, each with a rich souvenir in his ungloved hand, bearing it, as carefully as if its importance were unequalled by anything else in the world, to the object of his high regards. But now, before the holidays begin to be thought of, these beautiful butterfly-wing presents are forgotten.--We pray the publishers to return to old usages. If competition be the cause of this misdoing, let them have an understanding among themselves, by which it may be remedied; and not be sending us in August or September, what we do not want till November or December. If this were done, we should probably not have so many seven months children, as the family of Annuals has been wont to produce. "The Gift" is a new annual, and the present is its first bow to the public. With a splendid exterior, and beautiful embellishments, it makes an imposing appearance. But its literary character is far from being good, even among souvenirs. There are evidences of much haste in the making up of its contents, and great carelessness on the part of its editor. Miss Leslie is a lady of fine abilities; in her way, indeed, unequalled by any other writer of this country; and we cannot forget, that for several of the best satires our literature can boast, we are indebted to her. Still we cannot help thinking--and we generally say what we think upon such subjects-that she has knowingly lent her name to an imposition upon the public. "Edited by Miss Leslie." Can it be possible that the author of "Mrs. Washington Potts," and "The Miss Van Lears," sanctioned the publication, in an annual that was to be all that is splendid and good, of the whole contents of this volume? Charity would enjoin us to think otherwise. She has contributed but one article herself; and that is the completest dish of water-gruel, or milk-and-water, that we have set eyes upon for many a month: sheer nonsense, every paragraph of it. There are but five or six respectable productions in the volume --one by Miss Sedgwick, one by Mrs. Sigourney, one by Mr. Neville, and two or three by others--and these are very far from having virtue enough in them to leaven the whole lump. The principal part of the verse is contributed by such poets as Charles West Thompson, William B. Tappan, and S. G. Goodrich; and the less said about it, the better for both authors and publishers. "Filial Claims,” and the “Eutaw Maid," are by poets of a higher order -Mrs. Sigourney and Mr. Simms; but they do their authors no credit. A word now of the embellishments. The frontispiece is a head of "Fanny Kemble," painted by Sully and engraved by Cheney. It is said to be a pretty good likeness, but handsomer than Miss Fanny. The engraving is excellent; and indeed Mr. Cheney seldom acquits himself otherwise than well. It forms a beautiful embellishment; but there are half a score of American ladies, equally talented with the author of "A Journal," and vastly more worthy of such a distinction, whose likenesses, it strikes us, would have been more appropriate in this place. In building a bridge over Mrs. Hale, Miss Sedgwick, Miss Davidson, Miss Leslie, Miss Gould, Mrs. Sigourney, and as many more, to reach Mrs. Fanny Kemble Butler, the getters up of the "Gift" took upon themselves a great deal of curious and unnecessary labor. But "De gustibus," &c. The "Smugglers' Repose," painted by Tennant and engraved by Tucker, "Soliciting a Vote," painted by Buss and engraved by Ellis, and the "Death of the Stag," painted by Landseer and engraved by Tucker, are among the best engravings that have at anytime appeared in our annuals. "The Token," for 1836, comes to us enlarged, with a proportionate advance on the former price. The work is splendidly bound, as usual; and the paper and typographical execution, are very superior. The embellishments are only twelve in number, and do not speak very favorably of the advancement of the fine arts in this country. The two which are most to our taste, are, the "Panther Scene," painted by Brown and engraved by Andrews, and the "Emigrants' Adventure," painted by Fisher and engraved by Ellis; though the "Fancy Title page," painted by Alexander and engraved by Cheney, and "Dante's Beatrice," painted by Allston and engraved by Cheney, are without doubt superior engravings. We have not been much fascinated with the poetry of this volume, although Mr. Percival, Mrs. Sigourney, Mr. Thatcher, Mr. Goodrich, Miss Gould, Mr. McLellan, Mrs. Hale and Mr. Mellen, are contributors to this department.We know not exactly why it is, but of late years the verse of our souvenirs has been inferior to what it used to be-vastly inferior to that of some half dozen of our magazines and literary papers. If we had room, we should like to transfer to our pages, several of the best pieces in the "Token for 1836"-Mr. Percival's 'Spring,' for instance, Mrs. Sigourney's 'Bride,' Mr. Goodrich's 'First Frost of Autumn,' Mr. McLellan's 'Spirit of Poesy,' and Miss Gould's 'Wandering Pole,'-that they might be compared with an equal number of pieces, which have been incorporated in our articles on Western Poetry, in the present and two or three preceding numbers of the Messenger. We 'd "shame the dogs!" we would, truly; though they have gray hairs in their heads-(we do not include the ladies, of course,) and our Backwoods bards are yet on the threshhold of life. We have not yet found time to read all the prose of the volume before us. The 'Magic Spinning Wheel,' by J. K. Paulding, is a capital story-one of the best we have read for months--and embodies an excellent moral. We fear, however, that fairies will not be well received in this "asylum for the oppressed of all nations." We are too much a matter of fact people-too much given to looking sharply after bone and sinew-to give up to beings without flesh and blood, even the beautiful little valley which is watered by the classic "Green River" of Bryant's muse. For ourselves, though, we go with Mr. Paulding, in his philanthropic efforts to colonize the persecuted race of elves, heart and hand; and intend soon to send in for a company of the fair beings, to come out and settle upon the shores of our romantic Licking and beautiful Miami. "But I can't believe in the existence of fairies, Sir." Can't believe in the existence of fairies, Miss! Why, we've just as much faith in their existence as we have in Mahomet's Paradise, or the hundred years nap of the veritable Rip Van Winkle. Not believe in fairies, indeed! Of the other stories which we have read, we are much pleased with 'NewYear's Day,' by Miss Sedgwick; the 'Young Phrenologist,' by John Neal; the 'May-pole of Merry Mount,' by the author of the Gentle Boy; and "Constance Allerton,' by Miss Leslie. The "Horrors of a Head-Dress,' by a Nervous Man, is a pleasant sketch, and well written. The first few pages will be relished by everybody who has had to tarry a few days in a strange village. The examinations of the profiles, samplers, &c., are irresistibly amusing. Who has not done the same thing, when traveling by stage-coach, dozens of times? The 'Pilgrimage to the White Mountains,' by Grenville Mellen, is rather tedious. It is, however, written in a strain of pleasantry, and is quite interesting. But why does Mr. Mellen, a gentleman and a scholar, tell us that he "spr-u-ng upon his feet," "s-a-t out" on his expedition, &c. &c.? Oh, that Lindley Murray could come back for a little while, to scourge these gentlemen who scribble for the "Gifts" and "Tokens!" We warrant he would teach them something about the tenses of their verbs; and soon show them, that though they often sat at table when they should have been studying their grammars, they always set out on their predatory expeditions when they went to rob the neighboring orchards. We think "The Token for 1836," as regards its literary contents, better than any preceding volume for several years. Mrs. Hale and Miss Gould, have each furnished an article of which they ought to be ashamed-and we hope they are so; but as the articles were made to suit a couple of pictures, (the "Wreck at Sea," and the "Emigrant's Adventure,") and not the pictures to suit them, as the case ought to be, we shall say no more about them. W. D. G. |