Persons who lead a retired life, even though they be truly pious, are liable in minor matters, and in things indifferent, to confine their views and notions within the narrow bounds of the Herculean pillars of prejudice. This study counteracts the tendency. It introduces us to various persons, and their different habits and opinions; it shews us by the contrast, our own fanciful peculiarities, it enlarges our views, and excites candour and true liberality of sentiment.

Much of the usefulness of biography must, however necessarily depend upon its writer. We can express no notion, relate no circumstance, without tingeing it with the colour of our own opinions. Without a kindred cast of mind to the one which he attempts to delineate, no biographer can do justice to his subject. There are many delicately fine indications of character, which, like the transparent veinings on the petals of a tiny flower, escape the observation of grosser visions: but with a pleasure far superior to that of the botanist, can the biographer display those beautiful lines which he knows and loves so well. A man of refined taste and elegant fancy, would make an unsuitable chronicler for one of strong understanding and dull imagination, and such a one in a similar office would be apt to undervalue those mental gifts or acquirements, of which he possessed no adequate powers of perception. But if it be requisite for a writer to possess some

degree of similarity to his hero in natural feeling and talent, it is yet more so for him to have a deep and experimental knowledge of the complicated moral mechanism of the human mind, that he may be able, not only to enter into the peculiarities of temperament, to trace the developement of intellect, and to estimate its productions, but also to mark the process of moral discipline in perfecting the immortal being for an everlasting state of blessedness or woe. Hayley, with kindred amiability of disposition, and kindred elegance of mind, understood Cowper's religious principles, no better than a savage does a watch.

But while the apparent beauties of one character depend so much on the powers of perception and appreciation possessed by another, while persons trained under like discipline, and knit together in the bonds of affection, display such different casts of thought and feeling, as scarcely to comprehend each other's peculiar pleasures and pains; sympathizing rather with the general sense than with the particular feelings of each mind, who may hope to find a suitable biographer?

It might at first sight appear desirable that each person should be his own. But self-love cleaves too closely to every man's heart, to allow any one to write his own impartial history. Besides, there is something in egotism which naturally inspires disgust, and who, even though possessed of a little cotemporary notoriety, would

venture to draw his own likeness for posterity to despise ?

Mason's happy notion of blending the correspondence of Gray, with the narrative of his life, has been the means of introducing a new method of writing biography, and of imparting to it an indescribable charm. Each reader may thus acquire for himself an insight into a character artlessly laid open in the confidence of friendship, not dressed and painted before the mirror of public opinion.

An able writer, like an able artist, can produce a clear and perfect resemblance with a few strokes; and working upon the plan of Mason and Boswell, modern biographers have, with an apparent diminution of effort, increased the effect of this species of writing.

To ministers, to missionaries, to soldiers and civilians, Christian biography holds forth her bright examples, and cheers them onward in the path to heaven with the records of her Cecils and Venns, her Swartzes and Elliotts, her Melvills and her Burns, her Howards and her Wilberforces.

"The memory of the just is blessed," for it is made the means of propagating blessings. Thus Brainerd, being dead, still had a voice to cherish the piety of Martyn, and Oberlin excited Neff to run a like career; and thousands of militant saints are now deriving encouragement from the exam

ple of those who are at rest in the Saviour's

presence.

From the earliest ages to the present day, the highway of time is also thickly set with memorials of female piety, all bearing the same inscription as the recent records of the energetic Graham, and the admirable More," Be ye not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

XVII.-ON HISTORY.

To one who is accustomed to reflect upon himself, and upon the mysterious and innumerable ties by which he is connected with the world around him, and with times past, present, and future; the history of mankind in ages gone, must necessarily be an object of great interest. All that concerns the human race, has an irresistible claim upon man. There is in every one a natural curiosity to know what was before him on the earth. An inquiring mind, repulsed by the impenetrable obscurity of the future, falls back upon the past, thence to collect images to help its surmisings. Thus the feelings, the intellects, the whole man is interested in history. This crowded bustling world, which seems to scare us when contemplated in the mass, regarded as an assemblage of men of like passions with ourselves, can find in all our wants and wishes, in all our pains and pleasures, so many advocates for fellow-feeling.

History offers to our consideration two principal subjects, God's providential dealings with

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