XVI.-ON BIOGRAPHY.

THE great moral philosopher of the last century, tells us, that Those parallel circumstances and kindred images, to which we readily conform our minds, are, above all other writings, to be found in narratives of the lives of particular persons; and therefore no species of writing seems more worthy of cultivation than biography, since none can be more delightful or more useful, none can more certainly enchain the heart by irresistible interest, or more widely diffuse instruction to every diversity of condition." Rambler, No. 60.

Few minds are insensible to the attractions of biography. The records of the illustrious dead are continually effective means of multiplying their number. Heroes and statesmen, poets and scholars, philosophers and artists, have left their sepulchral lamps to light the torches of their successors. Many an ardent youth, in reading of a patriot's deeds or a poet's powers, has felt the first stirrings of his own master passion, the kin

dred energy of his own mind: like him who contemplating the chef d'œuvre of a great artist's hand, exclaimed with the enthusiastic confidence of genius,' And I too am a painter!'

Biography has a voice of even more thrilling power than that of the living man; there is to kindred spirits a sort of fascination in its influence. Self-love causes man to conceive an affection even for his fancied likeness, and to take an interest in any circumstances bearing a resemblance to his Alexander delighted in studying the actions of Achilles, and Cicero in the orations of Demosthenes.

own.

Sensible of the common prevalence of certain joys and sorrows, and consequently of common sympathies, Dr. Johnson expresses the opinion, "that there has rarely passed a life, of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not be useful."

History may be compared to a large picture composed of many figures. Biography to the portrait of an individual.

Biography comprehends a narration of the events of a person's life, and when those events are many and extraordinary, or connected with some important epoch of history, it possesses the same kind of interest which belongs to oral tradition, or to written romance. Our interest in the circumstances excites our sympathy for the individual.

But it is a vague unsatisfactory thing to be told merely that a person, born of such and such paren

tage, at such and such a time and place, did, or suffered this or that, went hither and thither, was helped or hindered by this man or the other, and died, and was buried, and lamented.

In the life of a rational being the thoughtful reader desires to find the history of the hero's mind, to trace its peculiar characteristics, to mark the developement of its capacities, and the application of its powers, its bearing and influence upon the circles of private acquaintance, and general society.

The Christian knows how to estimate the claims made upon his interest by such personal and mental records, but there is a third object in biography, which claims his chief regard. He loves to watch the budding forth of the germ of immortality, its expansion and growth, the engrafting of the wild olive tree with a new scion, the effects of earth's various soil and temperature, its sunshine and showers, its windy storm and tempest upon the foliage, the blossoms, and the fruits of the tree of righteousness. And angels love to contemplate them too.

What subject can possess more interest for a fellow creature, a fellow man, a fellow Christian than the memoir of one who through similar circumstances, with feelings which his own acknowledge as their kindred, pursues amid the same hopes and fears, the same aids and obstacles, one sacred and immortal object of ambition?

Doubtless all personal history, from that of the mightiest genius of two thousand years, to that of the young cottager of Brading, is replete with instruction, but it is more particularly intended here to consider the advantages attendant upon the study of Christian biography."

"Tout l'éclat des grandeurs n'a point de lustre pour les gens qui sont dans les recherches de l'esprit. La grandeur des gens d'esprit est invisible aux riches, aux rois, aux conquérants, et à tous ces grands de chair. La grandeur de la sagesse, qui vient de Dieu est invisible aux charnels, et aux gens d'esprit. Ce sont trois ordres de différents genres. Les grands génies ont leur empire, leur éclat, leurs victoires, et n'ont nul besoin des grandeurs charnelles, qui n'ont nul rapport avec celles qu'ils cherchent. Ils sont vus des esprits, non des yeux, mais c'est assez. Les saints ont leur empire, leur éclat, leurs grandeurs, leurs victoires, et n'ont nul besoin des grandeurs charnelles ou spirituelles qui ni sont pas de leur ordre, et qui n'ajoutent ni n'ôtent à la grandeur qu'ils désirent. Ils sont vus de Dieu et des anges, et non des corps ni des esprits curieux. Dieu leur suffit.”1

In affording us so many examples of scripture biography, divine wisdom has attested the suitability of such records to our instruction; and in this as in other things, experience does but utter the echoes of revealed truth.

1 Pensées de Pascal, Seconde Partie. Article X.

Biography offers us no theoretic vision of perfection, but the practical example of men of like passions with ourselves, who having been renewed unto holiness, walked with God in faith, and hope, and love, through the temptations and troubles of this mortal life, until being made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, they were admitted to its enjoyment by Him who bought it for them with his own merits and sufferings, and prepared them for it by his Spirit, to the glory of God the Father.

Requiring little mental application, no depth of knowledge, and no superiority of talent, the study of biography is at once amusing and instructive. In this mental association with the wise and good, we share some of the same privileges which result from the edifying example of a personal friend. Judgment sanctions emotions thus awakened, and the whole mind yields itself to the benign influences of the best feelings and brightest thoughts of the excellent of the earth. What heart that ever entertained the divinely-inspired wish to be holy, can read the memoirs of Leighton, or of Martyn, without an increased hunger and thirst after righteousness? Such biography is more impressive than any sermon. also affords a pleasing relaxation from severer studies, possessing all the refreshing properties which any toil-worn mind can attribute to works of fiction, without their injurious effects. It unbends the bow, without damaging the weapon.

It