The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-21 00:00:00

LITEI TURE.

The Christ Church pulpit, New-road, Brighton.
n Fleet-street, ; Observer Office,
Containing Sermons delivered by the Rev.
Robert Ainslie. William Free
The
AinslieCirc
tuihorßooKing-street, Brighton.
thek Book. Compiled
th eCboyngt
Congregation,
Rev.
gatio R
n ,cohbrehrtt
Church, New-road, Brighton ; Observer Office,
King-street, Brighton.
. Perhaps there are no more effective
and imme-
diate means of extending and t hi' h.
es a le nig the in-
fluence of real religion, than by the regular.
preaching of intelligent and tolerant sermons. we
may respect the learning of the scholar in divinity
who can challenge the Old Fathers, and go back to
the speculations of heathen philosophy and apostoli-
cal dignitaries with profound analysis. We may
listen with attention to the man who can expound
ecclesiastical ordinances, and pronounce on the
obscure texts of Hebrew prophets with glib
dogmatism. We may lend our Sunday ears to
the loud voiced orators who mingle rhapsodical
enthusiasm with colloquial coarseness, and cle-
verly, but irreverently, interpolate the leaves of
Holy Writ with storif s from Joe Miller's endless
pages. But these are not the sermons which make
men and women feel and think as Christian men
and women ought to feel and think. These are
not the sermons that make " those who came to
scoff remain to pray." These are not the sermons
that bring the human heart to the feet of its
Creator in humble trust and broadening love. No !
—it is the plain, unpretentious discourse that advo•
cates daily Christian duty in conjunction with pro-
fessing Christian faith ; that tells us no ceremonial
of creed, no mere form of doctrine, can elevate our
spirits into communion with God unless the
practical conduct is in unison with God's
universal laws of benevolence and truth. Give
us the honest warning and kindly expostu-
lation that bring our errors and wilfulness
under the stern rebuke of our own consciences.
Give us the warm appeal and rational exhortation
which strengthens our desire to be wiser and better
than we are. Let us have the light of religion
placed before us in its glowing, simple beauty, to
attract, inspire, and fortify; not in the mystic blaze
of selfish ignus fatuus vapour, that either supinely
fascinates or dangerously bewilders. Give us plain
sermons that we can hold fast by in thought and
deed, and that will help us to walk through life
with endurance, hope, and sterling piety, piety that
in its every day development, embodies the words
" Lord, thou knowest I love thee."
It is seldom we hear or meet with such sermons,
and, therefore, we greet with a welcome those now
being issued in " The Christ Church Pulpit," each
monthly number giving two discourses. Those
before us contain, amongst others, two Funeral
Sermons on the deaths of the Duchess of Kent and
the Prince Consort, and both of them are admirable
specimens of this order of composition. They suc-
cinctly and freely set forth the characteristics of the
Royal dead, without indulging in any of the usual
inflated eulogy which, to a thinking hearer is offen-
sive and wearisome. They are just, sensible, and
apposite to the purpose, and present a wholesome
contrast to the outpourings of sickly adulation
which have marked so many of our pulpit addresses
on the melancholy subjects.
A Discourse on "The Hidden Life" contains much
simple and beautiful truth; well • calculated to
arouse the sluggard and quicken the worker.
It blends earnest teaching with forcible and im-
pressive diction, and gives assurance that " The
Christ Church Pulpit.' will contain matter of
consolation and instruction, alike gratifying
to the enlightened student and untaught disciple.
We are induced to give the following extract from
the discourse on " The Hidden Life" :
" There is, and there can be, a hidden life in man known
chiefly to God, and to himself. It may be a wicked life,
concealed. Society may know nothing of it. There may
be the guilt of murder on a man's soul ; or he may have
defiled himself with perjury. He may be in the habit of
unfair dealing ; of oppressing the poor—he may be inhe.
rattly covetous; or known to himself as a hypocrite.
There is no access to his innermost thoughts and feel-
ings ; and no knowledge can be acquired of hispri-
vate habits, and the workings of his soul. On the other
hand, the hidden life may be marked by humility, love,
to
integrity, devoutness, an intense desire be con-
formed to the likeness of Jesus, and the cultivation of
all that is truly great and grand in human character.
The nobility of title may not be possessed, but the nobleness
of a large, over active, Christian heart is cultivated and
enjoyed. . . . It is this hidden life, sincerely devout
within a man, and benevolent, just, loving and merciful in
conduct, that is preferable to any other, and is indispensable
to happiness, and consistent with usefulness. It embraces
both worlds. It is for this life, to make its possessor a
kinder, more moral, and more holy man before God. To
make him a loveable, and loved man in his family. To
make him a generous, charitable, humane man in society,
truthful, just, upright, Lonourable and honoured, conside-
rate as to every other human being, and compassionate over
all the sorrows, woes, and sufferings of our afflicted race."
" The Church Service " is, in our opinion, a most
excellent and valuable work, and evidently been
the subject of great care and labour. We believe
the most prejudiced, Evangelical followers will con-
fess that there is much in our "Prayer Book"
which is useless and obsolete ; much that is totally
ignored in our usual ritual; and much, even of
what is employed, consisting of mere tautological
platitude.
Mr. AINSLIE has judiciously extirpated all the
superfluous matter, and compiled a powerful and
available compendium of "Prayers, Thanksgivings,
and Ceremonials," from strictly, scriptural resource,
and has given eight distinct forms of services ; four
for the morning, and four for the evening; which
excludes that monotony and rote utterance which
many join in rather from habit than feeling. The
whole book is so wisely abridged, arranged, and
revised, that the thanks of all sensible Christians
are due to Mr. AINSLIE for the much needed volume
which he has produced. Some of the Prayers,
which he has gathered from ancient and
legitimate ecclesiastical text, are exceedingly
touching and impressive; exciting a serious atten-
tion and devout sympathy, which at once testify to
their worth.
A collection of hymns, anthems, and chaunts is ap-
pended, exhibiting good taste and judgment in the
selector. The quaint old style of " Sternhold and
Hopkins" is not repudiated where popular association
is in favour of its retention, but we find the names of
Milton, Montgomery, Barbould, Remus, Milman,
and numerous others in the list, whose piety of
thought is exquisitely united with poetic writing.
The Rev. ROBERT AINSLIE appears to be a hard
toiler in a sound cause, and merits the warm
thanks of all who would like to see true Christianity
advanced by plain Christian doctrine.

History of the Opera, from its Origin in Italy to
the present time, with Anecdotes. By Sutherland_e
Edwards, author of " Russians at Home, &
eome/
2 vols. Allen and Co., Waterloo-la
of the
outline of the rise end progress
give us an
These very animated and entertaining volumes
opera
tic consitution, tracing its different develop.
ment in the several European nations • comparing
the merits of antagonistic schools and rival com-
posers, and interspersing the whole with anecdote,
epigram, and incident connected with the lumina-
ries of the musical world. Italy was, as is well
known, the first country in which opera was
brought to any degree of perfection, and all other
countries readily followed the lead of a nation
more gifted than themselves, with the exception of
France, whose obstinate opposition to the Italian
school long impeded her artistic advance. The
earliest musical drama with choruses, recitatives,
airs, and instrumental preludes was, we learn from
these pages, performed for the first time at the
Corsi Palace, at Florence, in 1597. It was
entitled "Dante," and was composed by Peri and
Caccini, two of the principal musicians of
the day, under the auspices of two Florentine noble-
men, one of whom was Giacomo Corsi. The libretto
was by Rinuccini, an Italian poet. The opera was not
then looked upon with the same severity with which
some conscientious persons now regard it, for Popes
and Cardinals took it under their special
protec-
tion,
and it was introduced into France by
Cardinalas
not
Mazarin. In England the Italian opera
established until the early years of theof Handel
eighteenth
century. It was under the management
excellence.'
that it soon reached a high degree
een of
in
existence
English opera had, however, been
Puritans that Sir
curious that it was
many years previously, and it
during the stern reign of theermission from the
William Davenant obtainedroo
mPfer the performance
Protector to open a lrgierns
elf had a great love of
of operas. Cromwell fl
Arthur."
composed his celebrated music for
1690-91, Purcell
h
the divine art, and often rewarded musicians. In
the '''Tempest," the 'tons inlatter, "Come
The war song of the
isifin. finest work's. King
excitesr the th •en ustasm of concert
if you dare," still
s.
Tempest," and
ms Reeves. when sung by Mr.. i ln the middle
rooms sv 'ties by no means
ages kings and celebrities by
shared the
old Roman idea of the degradation. of appearing on
the stage. We have many instances of members
of the royal family joining in the Court per-
formances. The Grand Monarque himself was
great actor day, and f
a in his frequently sung
and danced in the Court ballets. The heartless-
ness of his successor, Louis XV., was forcibly
shown in his own theatre in the Letivm, when
en ensign in the palace guard fell from a box
and was transfixed through the neck. The theatre
was stained with blood,and the
unfortunate officer
was removed a corpse. Just
then the King made
his appearance and gave the sign to commence as