They view me like the last of things; 66 Why then thy flowing sable stoles, "Nor can the parted body know, A HYMN TO CONTENTMENT. "LOVELY, lasting peace of mind! Sweet delight of human kind! Heavenly born, and bred on high, "Ambition searches all its sphere And seeks (as I have vainly done) Amusing thought; but learns to know That Solitude's the nurse of wo. No real happiness is found In trailing purple o'er the ground: To range the circuit of the sky, 'Twas thus, as under shade I stood, I sung my wishes to the wood, And, lost in thought, no more perceiv'd In my hours of sweet retreat, All of these, and all I see, Should be sung, and sung by me : Go search among your idle dreams, EDWARD YOUNG. BORN 1681-died 1765. EDWARD YOUNG, an eminent sacred poet, was born at Upham, in Hampshire, of which place his father was rector. He was educated at Winchester school, from whence he went to New College, Oxford. In 1708 Young obtained a fellowship at All Souls; but it was not till he was nearly fifty years of age, and had long been known as an author, and, as is alleged, as a place and patron hunter, that he took orders, and obtained the living of Welwyn, in Hertfordshire. About this time he married Lady Elizabeth Lee, whose daughter, by a former marriage, is supposed to be the Narcissa of the " Night Thoughts." This noble poem was composed by Young shortly after the death of his wife, and when his age exceeded sixty years. Among his other serious poems are the "Last Day," "A Paraphrase on Part of the Book of Job," and the "Force of Religion," a poem, founded on the history of Lady Jane Grey. These were all written in early life. His latest production, written when he had reached the age of eighty, was "Resignation," a poem, composed on the solicitation of Mrs Montague, to console her friend, Mrs Boscawen, on the death of Admiral Boscawen. The writings of Young must ever retain a favourite place in a Christian's library, and above all of them the NIGHT THOUGHTS. In this powerful production, notwithstanding its exaggerations, conceits, and turgid affectations of thought and style, the truths of religion appear invested with all the dignity of their immutable and divine nature, amplified and enforced with an energy which few sacred poets have attained. Whatever may be the faults of the poet, the moralist, the preacher of righteousness, and of the judgment to come, fastens his solemn apophthegms on the mind with vigour and authority. The Night Thoughts are fully more popular in Germany and France than at home, where the evangelical simplicity and unquestionable sincerity of Cowper, whose character adorned his poetry, are working a revolution not favourable to the "Midnight Mourner." Those poets who adopt the trick of interesting the public in their private feelings, had need that their loves and sorrows be above all suspicion. But Young was a man of powerful and original mind, a Christian, and a poet. His writings have communicated consolation to thousands, who never dreamed of either questioning the sincerity of his wo or of analyzing his verse. If he stooped below the dignity of his high profession in courting worldly favour and applause, no one has more convincingly shown how utterly worthless was the object of this inconsistent ambition. DESCRIPTION OF THE MAN WHOSE THOUGHTS ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD. SOME angel guide my pencil, while I draw, What nothing less than angel can exceed, A man on earth devoted to the skies; Like ships in seas, while in, above the world. With aspect mild, and elevated eye, Behold him seated on a mount serene, |