light is once spread abroad, will ever be overcast by the mists of Calvinism. The rising senses of men begin every where to 'chase the ignorant fumes that mantled their clearer reason.' The season of a great moral renovation is at hand. The prejudices of good and wise men are dissipating in every quarter of our country. Hundreds, nay thousands, are with us in their hearts, and from rational conviction, who yet withhold the open expression of their opinions from the love of ease or popularity, or tenderness to the prejudices of their friends and relatives. All men are not called on, nor have the spirit, to be martyrs; but we cannot wholly approve the backwardness of those who know and love the truth, and yet hesitate to avow it. But it is not for us to judge: God will vindicate his own cause, and in his good time all things will conspire together to shew forth his glory. Let us for the present rest satisfied that the bad passions of men cannot counteract his work, and that all the struggles of the powers of darkness will but concur to usher in the bright and perfect day. Let us never forget our great distinction, that we are not sectarians-that to us all are brethren who acknowledge Christ as the Son of God, and profess obedience to his laws. Putting our faith on this primitive and apostolic ground, let us cultivate also the spirit and liberality of our Saviour and his apostles. Let not the violence of infatuated men drive us from our equanimity and Christian temper. Their revilings are of little import; but it is great moment, that, while we boldly avow the truth, we yet possess our spirits in all meekness and humility, and have consciences void of offence towards God and towards man." [pp. 17-20.] That this "loveliness of temper," this" possessing of their spirits in all meekness and humility," this "genuine fruit of Christianity," may not only be professed, but possessed by all who take part in religious controversies, we ardently desire. With the consciences of Unitarians, "void of offence towards God," it is not our province, nor is it our wish, to interfere; but with their conduct, if not their consciences, towards man, we have thus much to do, that we deem it necessary to oppose ourselves with vigour to the active efforts, which have recently been made, and still are making, for the diffusion of tenets, which, if there be any truth in the unmutilated New Testament, are pregnant with greater danger to his immortal interests, than any heresy, which, under the guise of Christianity, still maintains a hold upon the pride and prejudice of a race, whose, in a wide proportion, will be the condemnation prophetically denounced by the divine Founder of our faith, that light is come into the world, but they have preferred darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. But on the Unitarian controversy, as it is termed, we hope soon to enter, in the Review department of our Work ; and therefore we say no more upon the subject here. In our next we hope to give a very different specimen of the theology of New York, together with some most interesting information on the state of the American Penitentiaries, communicated by the Society for the Suppression of Pauperism in that city, POETRY. THE PROPHECY OF TAGUS. BY J. H. WIFFEN, ESQ. 1. As by Tajo's wavy bed King Rodrigo, safe from sight, With the Lady Cava fed On the fruit of loose delight; From the river's placid breast, Slow its ancient Genius broke; 2. "In an evil hour dost thou, Ruthless spoiler, wanton here! Shouts and clangours even now, Shout and sound of clashing shield, All the frenzy of the field! All the anarchy of war!" * Father Luis de Leon, one of the most learned men of his time, was thrown into prison for his translation of some part of the Scriptures, at that time prohibited. Five years after, he was set at liberty: he resumed the Professor's chair; and when his auditors expected to hear him utter complaints, he commenced his discourse as follows:- "Hesterna die dicebam," (As I was saying yesterday,) an exordium that evinced his greatness of soul, which his sufferings had not diminished. It will be seen, that the idea of the above beautiful Ode is taken from Horace's Prophecy of Nereus; but only the idea, for in poetical fire and imagery, the Spanish is much superior to the Latin Ode. 8. "Swift their mighty ships they climb, Round their cleaving keels, and gales, Breath'd by Eolus astern, Fill their deep and daring sails. 9. "Sheer across Alcides' strait He whose voice the floods obey, With the trident of his state, Gives the grand Armada way. In her sweet, seducing arms, Sinner! dost thou slumber still, Dull and deaf to the alarms Of this loud, inrushing ill? 10. "In the hallow'd Gadite bay Mark them, mooring from the main; Rise-take horse-away! away! Scale the mountain, scour the plain! Give not pity to thine hand, Give not pardon to thy spur; Dart abroad thy thund'ring brand, 11. "Agony of toil and sweat The sole recompense must be Sullied in thy silver flow, Stream of proud Sevilla, weep! Many a broken helm shalt thou Hurry to the bord'ring deep. 12. "Many a turban and tiar, Moor and Noble's slaughter'd corse! Whilst the furies of the war, Gore your ranks with equal loss. Five days you dispute the field; When 'tis sun-rise on the plains Oh, lov'd land! thy doom is seal'd; Hermione.-Calm orb, how tranquil is thy path! His cloud-spread visage cleareth at thy beam *Relating to events in the history of a certain noble lord, and found in some papers, deposited amongst the archives of his Barony. |