"The sultry summer-noon is past;
And mellow evening comes at last,
With a low and languid breeze
Fanning the mimosa-trees,
Which cluster o'er the tangled vale,
And oft perfume the panting gale
With fragrance faint-that seems to tell
Of primrose-tufts, in Scottish dell,
Peeping forth in tender spring,
When the blithe lark begins to sing.

"But soon, 'mid Afric's landscape lone,
Such reminiscences are gone :
Soon we raise the eye to range

O'er prospects wild, grotesque, and strange-
Sterile mountains, rough and steep,
That bound abrupt the valley deep.
Heaving to the clear blue sky
Their ribs of granite, bare and dry;
And ridges, by the torrents worn,
Thinly streak'd with scraggy thorn,
Which fringes Nature's savage dress,
Yet scarce relieves her nakedness.
"Yet, where the vale winds deep below,
The landscape wears a warmer glow:
There the speckboom spreads its bowers
Of light green leaves and lilac flowers;
And the bright aloe rears its crest,
Like stately queen for gala drest;
And gorgeous erythrina shakes
Its coral tufts above the brakes,
Brilliant as the glancing plumes
Of sugar-birds, among its blooms,
With the deep-green verdure blending,
In the stream of light descending.
"And now, along the grassy meads,
Where the skipping reebok feeds,
Let me through the mazes rove
Of the light acacia-grove;
Now, while yet the honey-bee
Hums around the blossom'd tree:
And the turtles softly chide,
Wooingly, on every side;
And the clucking pheasant calls
To his mate at intervals;
And the duiker at my tread
Sudden lifts his startled head-
Then dives, affrighted, in the brake,
Like wild-duck in the reedy lake.
"My wonted seat receives me now-
This tall grey cliff, with tufted brow,
Towering high o'er grove and stream,
And gilded by the parting gleam.
With shatter'd rocks loose-sprinkled o'er,
Behind ascends the mountain hoar,
Whose crags o'erhang the Bushman's cave,
(His fortress once, and now his grave,)
Where the grim satyr-fac'd baboon
Sits railing to the rising moon,
Or chiding, with hoarse angry cry,
The herdsman as he wanders by.
"Spread out below, in sun and shade,
The shaggy glen lies full display'd--
Its sheltered nooks and sylvan bowers,
And meadows flush'd with purple flowers:
And through it, like a dragon spread,
I trace the river's tortuous bed.
And there the Chaldee willow weeps,
Drooping o'er the dangerous steeps,
Where the torrent, in his wrath,

Like fissure cleft, by earthquake's sh
Thro' mead and jungle, mound and r
But the swoln water's wasteful sway
Like tyrant's rage, hath pass'd away
Leaving alone, to prove its force,
The ravage of its frantic course.
Now, o'er its shrunk and slimy bed
Rank weeds and whither'd wrack are
With the faint rill just oozing throug
And vanishing again from view;
Except where, here and there, a pool
Spreads 'neath some cliff its mirror c
Girt by the palmite's verdant screen
Or shaded by the rock-ash green,
Whose slender sprays above the flood
Suspend the loxia's callow brood
In cradle-nests, with porch below,
Secure from wing'd or creeping foe,
(Weasel, or hawk, or writhing snake
Wild waving as the breezes wak,
Like ripe fruit, hanging fair to see
Upon the rich pomegranate tree.
"But lo, the sun has stoop'd his head
Beyond yon granite peaks of red;
And now along the dusky vale
The homeward herds and flocks I ha
Returning from their pastures dry
Amid the stony uplands high-
First, the swart Shepherd, with his
Comes winding round my hermit-ro
All unlike, in gait or mien,

Fair Scotland's jocund swains, I wed
For shepherd's crook, the gun he be
For plaid, the sheep-skin mantle wea
Slow sauntering languidly along;
Nor flute has he, nor merry song,
Nor book, nor tale, nor rustic lay,
To cheer him through the listless da
His look is dull, his soul is dark;
He knows not hope's electric spark,
But, born the white man's servile thi
Feels that he cannot farther fall.
"Next, the stout neat-herd passes by
With bolder step and blither eye,
Humming low his tuneless song,
Or whistling to the horned throng.
From the destroying foeman fled,
He serves the Christian for his bread
Yet this poor heathen Bechuan
Bears on his brow the port of man;
Though naked, homeless, friendless,
Is undebased-for he is FREE.
"Now wizard Twilight slowly sails,
With murky wing, adown the vales,
Warning with his mystic rod
The owl and bat to come abroad,
With things that hate the gairish su
To frolic now when day is done.
Now along the meadows damp
Th' enamour'd fire-fly lights his lam
Link-boy fit for Elfin queen
'Mid fair Avon's woodlands green;
Here, I ween, more wont to shine,
To light the thievish porcupine,
Plundering my melon-bed;
Or villain lynx, whose stealthy tread
Rouses not the wakeful hound,
As he creeps the folds around."
"But lo! the night-bird's boding scr

nd warns me it is time to haste
ly homeward walk across the waste,
est my rash tread provoke the wrath
f natchslang coil'd across the path,-
r tempt the leopard in the wood,
rowling round athirst for blood.

So thus I close my rambling strain,

nd seek my wattled cot again." p. 103-111. The volume contains a very pleasing series of onnets, serving as so many poetical memorana of scenes and feelings, which is the proper esign and character of this elegant species of oein. The disproportionate length of our itations will restrict us from taking more than single specimen.

"ON VISITING A MISSIONARY SETTLEMENT. By Heaven directed, by the world revil'd, midst the wilderness they sought a home, Vhere beasts of prey, and men of murder

So, in the guilty heart, when heavenly grace Enters, it ceaseth not till it uproot All evil passions from each hidden cell; Planting again an Eden in their place, Which yields to men and angels pleasant fruit; And God himself delighteth there to dwell."

This sonnet (and we know that the Author vill deem this high praise) would have been vorthy of Wordsworth, who sometimes in his noble sonnets, the finest in the language, rises almost as high in point of sentiment. It is unnecessary to say any thing as to the character of the present volume in this respect. The extracts we have given, will sufficiently evince he spirit of genuine piety and glowing philanthropy by which the Author's poetical talents are consecrated. Mr. Pringle has recently accepted the honourable office of secretary to The Anti-Slavery Society, in which capacity he will find a congenial employment for a mind animated by a detestation of that moral light and curse, of which, in its existing effects, he has been an eye-witness. The notes to the poems supply some very interesting information respecting the Caffer tribes.

From the Christian Observer. EXPOSITION OF PSALM CXIX; as illustrative of the Character of Christian Experience. By the Rev. Charles Bridges,

doubt not like the excellent author of the book itself, aspires not to be "witty, or learned, or eloquent," but "holy," we strongly recommend the present volume. It is not, however, deficient in that best "learning" which has reference to the interpretation of Scripture, and its application to the various exigences of the human soul; or in that true "eloquence" which flows from lips speaking out of the abundance of the heart on subjects the best calculated to warm and elevate the affections, and to make the tongue "the pen of a ready writer." The pious author has truly described the character of his volume when he says:

"It is the object of this work to exhibit an Old-Testament believer in a New-Testament garb, as one walking in the same spirit, and in the same steps' with ourselves; and in bringing his features of character to the Evangelical standard, it is presumed that the correspondence will be found to be complete-Faith which worketh by love,' the fundamental distinction of the Gospel, pervades the whole man, with at least an implied reference to the one way of access to God, and a distinct regard alike to the promises and to the preceptive parts of Divine revelation. Nor are the workings of this principle delineated with less accuracy. In all the detail of spiritual exercises and holy conduct we observe its operations leading the soul into communion with God, and moulding every part into a progressive conformity to his image." pp. ii. iii.

"The several graces of the Christian system, delineated in this Psalm, form an excellent touchstone of the sincerity of our profession, by marking its practical influence in our daily walk and conversation;-a touchstone, which fession; not as warranting our confidence in appears especially needful in this day of prothe Saviour, or as constituting in any measure our ground of acceptance with God, but as exciting us to give diligence to make our calling and election sure,' and tending to quicken our sluggish steps in the path of self-denying obedience." p. v.

"The descriptive character of the book will be found to be interspersed with matter of discussion, personal address, hints for self-inquiry, and occasional supplication, with the earnest endeavour to cast the mind into that meditative, self-scrutinizing, devotional frame, in which the new creature is strengthened, and increases, and goes on to perfection." p. x.

The volume of which this is the plan, is truly scriptural in its character, and embedded in Scripture quotation, the author always referring by chapter and verse in the margin to "the law and to the testimony." He is evidently a sound and conscientious friend of the invaluable church to which he belongs; but we observe nothing of party-spirit in his volume. He is too much absorbed in the great verities of Christian truth, too anxious for the conver

d the edificatio of belieus

We regret that our respected author has occasionally adopted a phraseology, which is neither classical English nor scriptural quotation, but which was chiefly invented by the Puritan writers, and is of no service either for force or perspicuity, while it is offensive to simplicity, and unintelligible to persons not versed in its peculiar idioms. We allude to such expressions as "gracious actings," "gracious souls," a gracious frame;" "experimental comfort," "experimental benefit," "experimental expressions;" wrestling prayer," "a wrestling suppliant;""sanctified improvement;" "a lusting heart;""a leading wanderer;" " poor grace;""dry barren souls;" "walk" for conduct or deportment, as "a considerate walk," "an unsteady walk," "a walk of righteousness," "close-walking Christians;" "the word," for the word of God; "professors," for professors of religion-though even that is not correct English, unless in the meaning of S.T.P.; "the Lord's family," for Christians or believers; "darting up cries into the Lord's ""scatear;" "plying the Throne of Grace," tered crumbs of goodness," &c. &c.

in

lation of their phrases. The hy parrot will grievously wince under bation.

Our truly pious and candid aut we feel assured, be displeased, t taken the liberty, from a few ph book, to append the above gener His own occasional use of such ex evidently arisen unconsciously fr mate acquaintance with the rich divines of the seventeenth century, style was, in many instances, m this fashion. It is the very excel manual that makes us unwilling th er should turn from it, as savourin cular school of divinity, when it i that he acknowledges no school Christ, whom to know and to mal others is the great object of his de May he be blessed in his deed!

It has been said that there is "an unction, a holy freemasonry, so to speak, in such idioms;" but for ourselves we perceive no "unction" in them; and the freemasonry is by no means a recommendation, as, by this freemasonry, poor and illiterate persons sometimes fancy themselves initiated in the knowledge and practice of true religion, or at least pass themselves off as religious with others, because they can string a few phrases, the import of which they neither understand nor feel. But besides puzzling the ignorant, few things repel men of the world more, and this without any necessity, than such ill-chosen phrases. To say, in the language of Scripture, that a Christian "walks with God," is simply and beautifully characteIristic of true piety; nor can any man find it unintelligible, or be justly offended with such an explanation of the phrase, as is given, for example, by Cruden, who says that it means living" in communion with God, having a lively sense of his presence, and endeavouring above all things to please Him, and to be approved and accepted of Him." But speak of a close-walking Christian," and the beauty of the idea is obscured in the displeasing quaintness of the expression. Our language does not admit of such compound theological adjectives; the Puritans tried them and failed: Dr. Hawker, with his "sinner-state" and "saintstate," ," "time-state" and "eternity-state," failed too: why then attempt to turn our vernacular idiom into new moulds, and to make a technical phrase of what had much better be expressed either in the exact words of Scripture, or in plain English phrases, even at the risk of circumlocution; for circumlocution is better than either a want of intelligibility or a want of simplicity. A clergyman will often find it necessary to check among those of the poor of his flock, who are "professors," a certain knowingness of expression, which is by no means indicative of true humility, or any other Christian grace. The best way to unmask these "knowing" ones, and at the same time

66

From the Evangelical Mag

A SCRIPTURAL EXPLANAT EXHIBITION OF THE MII REIGN OF CHRIST.

GREAT and eventful are the tim we live. Great are the doings of of Christ to facilitate the knowl Redeemer throughout the world. religious institutions which are in propagate Divine truth, at home indicate that a great and glorious at hand; certifying that shortly ized the ancient promise which G Abraham, "In thy seed shall all of the earth be blessed." The ex the Church is more than usually a a consideration of those prediction late to the glory of the latter day, shall have "the heathen for his and the uttermost parts of the e possession:"-when with the ful Gentiles, the Jews also shall be g the Gospel church, and there sha fold and one shepherd." And as th event approaches, the means by wh be accomplished are more clearly s derstood. Just before our blessed cension, he delivered his charge t ples, "Go ye into all the world, and Gospel to every creature." send the promise of my Father They were the instruments; the His. They understood their comm went forth planting the Gospel far "the Lord working with them, and the word with signs following." T tion of the Gospel church was laid immoveable basis which neither ear was able to overturn. Still howev ter the primitive age had elapsed, “ tered into the fold, not sparing t Gross apostacy and persecution pre a long night of tribulation afflicted ers of the Lamb. Those times of d distress to the Church were the

An