Now where his Spirit is, there Christ resides,

And where Christ dwells, true faith (though weak) abides."

One of her spiritual songs is written in this very novel and pleasing lyric strain.

"Having restrained discontent,
The only foe to health and wit;
I sought by all means to prevent
The causes, which did nourish it:
Knowing, that they who are judicious,
Have always held it most pernicious.

Looking to outward things, I found
Not that which sorrow might abate;
But rather cause them to abound,
Than any grief to mitigate :

Which made me seek, by supplication,

Internal peace and consolation.

Calling to mind their wretchedness

That seem to be in happy case,

Having external happiness,

But therewithal no inward grace:

Nor are their minds with knowledge polish'd,

In such all virtues are abolish'd.

For where the mind's obscure and dark,

There is no virtue resident;

Of goodness there remains no spark;
Distrustfulness doth there frequent:
For ignorance, the cause of error,
May also be the cause of terror.

As do the sun-beams beautify

The sky, which else doth dim appear;

So knowledge doth exquisitely
The mind adorn, delight, and clear;
Which otherwise is most obscure,
Full of enormities impure.

So that their souls polluted are,
Who live in blockish ignorance;
Which doth their miseries declare,
And argues plainly, that their wants
More hurtful are than outward crosses,
Infirmities, reproach, or losses,

Where saving knowledge doth abide,
There peace of conscience also dwells,
And many virtues more beside,
Which all absurdities expels ;

And fills the soul with joy celestial,
That she regards not things terrestrial.

The following instance occurs of a metre so singular, that it has the semblance of being composed to some known tune. It is taken from a song, "shewing the mercies of God to his people, by interlacing cordial comforts with fatherly chastisements."

"As in the time of winter

The earth doth fruitless and barren lie,
Till the sun his course doth run

Through Aries, Taurus, Gemini:

Then he repairs what cold did decay,
Drawing superfluous moistures away;

And by his lustre, together with showers,

The earth becomes fruitful, and pleasant with flowers,
That what in winter seemed dead,

There by the sun is life discovered.

So though that in the winter.

Of sharpe afflictions, fruits seem to die ;
And for that space, the life of grace
Remaineth in the root only:

Yet when the Sun of Righteousness clear

Shall make summer with us, our spirits to cheer,
Warming our hearts with the sense of his favour,
Then must our flowers of piety savour:
And then the fruits of righteousness
We to the glory of God must express."'

I close my extracts from this extremely rare volume with a stanza, which affords an edifying declaration, that a Christian can find true love only where true. grace is.

"No knot of friendship long can hold,

Save that which grace hath tied;
For other causes prove but cold,

When their effects are tried.

For God, who loveth unity,

Doth cause the only union
Which makes them of one family,

Of one mind and communion."

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Poetical Fragments: Heart-Imployment with God and Itself: the concordant Discord of a broken-healed Heart; sorroreing-rejoicing, fearing-hoping, dyingliving. Written partly for Himself, and partly for near Friends, in Sickness and other deep Affliction. By Richard Baxter.

Ephes. v. 19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the

Lord.

2 Corinth. v. 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened.

Læta ferè lætus cecini: cano tristia tristis.

Published for the use of the Afflicted.

London, printed by T. Snowden for B. Simmons, at the three golden cocks at the west end of St. Paul's, 1681.

THE much distinguished author of this pious production (whom Wood, in despite of his intolerant prejudices, styles "a most learned and eminent nonconformist,") thus introduces it in an epistle to the reader:

"These poetical fragments (except three heretofore printed) were so far from being intended for the press, that they were not allowed the sight of many private friends, nor thought worthy of it. Only had I had time and heart to have finished 2 B

VOL. III.

the first; which itself, according to the matter and designed method, would have made a volume far bigger than all this; (being intended as a thankful, historical commemoration of all the notable passages of my life,) I should have published it as the most self-pleasing part of my writings. But as they were mostly written in various passions, so passion hath now thrust them out into the world. God having taken away the dear Companion of the last nineteen years of my life; as her sorrows and sufferings long ago gave being to some of these poems, for reasons which the world is not concerned to know; so my grief for her removal, and the revived sense of former things, have prevailed with me to be passionate in the open sight of all."

After two paragraphs on the utility of awakening the sleepiness of Reason by the exciting impulse of Passion, he thus proceeds to state his own modest pretensions to poetical reputation.

"I will do my wise friends (whose counsel I have much followed) that right, as to acquit them from all the guilt of the publication of these Fragments. Some of them say-that such work is below me: and those that I think speak wiselier, sayI am below such work. These I unfeignedly believe. I have long thought that a painter, a musician, and a poet, are contemptible, if they be not excellent: and that I am not excellent, I am satisfied. But I am more patient of contempt than many are. Common painters serve for poor men's work: and a fidler may serve at a country-wedding. Such cannot aspire to the attainments of the higher sort; and the vulgar are the greater number."

The following extract from this prefatory address comprises an interesting notice of several contemporary writers.