The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-04-20

singly executed Yankee trick.
THE SCRIPTURES AS A SPECIMEN OF
LITERATURE.
ny z. C.. COGswELL.
In simplicity snd purity Of style, and in
originality IL sentiment, the Bible stands
unrivalled. lts purity and eloquenco are
unsurpassed BY any productions ancient Of
modern. Ito material fur tho exercise Of
deep thought, for cultivating tho taste, Tor
invigorating the Imagination, and for elicit.
ing the hest feelings Of the soul, 10 rich and
exhaustless. lts wcighty doctrines, the
hopes il cnkindles, tho fears il arrays, alike
provo its divine original.
No hsmas composition 10 SO exquisite a.
alrays TO please. lts stores If wisdom are
quickly exhausted; the eye SOM Pcrceives
tho end Of created perfection; but tho
beauties Of the Bible are none the less love-
y, though the charm Of novelty may have
passed away.
Ho who can road tho inrpircd osrration
Of Moses wish diminished interest can have
no beauty in his own soul. Cold must be
that heart which docs mon kindlc 1t his o.
oqucncc, and melt u HE pashos.
Moses account Of the creation 10 unique.
Il 10 abrupt, simple, sublime. The volume
Of destiny 10 suddeoly thrown open; time is
proclaimed; creation arises; and . new
race Of intelligcnces appear on the scene.
The Almighty voice 10 addressed to Chaos.
"Confusion hears il, and tho wild uprosr
stands ruled" The waters sul,side; the
vcrdunt landscape 10 seen; songs burst
from every grove, and stars, bright rolling,
silent bcaming, arc hurled forth from the
Almighty's hand.
Tho story Of Jacobs darling boy, drcs.
ned out in his coat Of many colors,
cold into Egypt by jealous brothers, rising
to DO second in power in that mighty nation
saving by his foresight furnishing world,
especially the chosen people It God, and dy-
ing the most beloved Of princes far surpasscs
tho sublimest conceptions Vi poets or nov
clists.
The style Of Moses as a Historian, il tho
hest model. both 10 tho vigorous and sub
lime, the pleasing and the tender. His
history is clothed with the grace Of cIoquonco
the charms u pootry, aud tho fascina.ions
oG fiction.
Poetry is the breathing out of that prin.
ciple which il deepest and sublimcst in hu.
man nature; the expression Of that aspira-
ton Cur something moro powerful and moro
thrilling than ordinary life afIords.
The Biblo 10 replssc with poetry. Tho
Hebrew poets rouse. warm, and transport
the mind 10 strains tho sweetest and bold
est that bard over sung; in numbers, the
Iofiicst that Imagination ever Dictated
No poetsy cxtant equals that which comes
to u from the sape patriarch Of ldumes,
and tho Inspired prophets Of Salem; from
tho schonls Of Bethel and Jericho. The
Bible i tho prototype; the unrivaled mod
81 end inspircr Of I'll that 10 elevated 10 po-
esry. Il he's been lountsin from which
later poets have drawn their richest thoughts
their boldcss figures, their grandest image
~.
The Psalms of David aro an elegant
specimen Of poetic literature. Tho char
acter Of their diction aud expression y vivid,
the thoughts animated, passionate. They
communicate truths which philosophy could
never investigate, in . style which unin
spired poetry can never equal. The He-
brew literature itself contains nolhing more
lovely.
Among tho prophetic writer's, Isaiah
stands unrivaled. Ills language possesses
surprising beauties. Ills triumphsl song
upon tho fall a tho Bsbylooish monsrch i
replese with imagery, diversifed and sub
lime. The conception 10 bold, tho charsc-
ters are introduced with wonderful art
Nothing i wanting to defend it, claims 70
perfect beauty. Ia every excellence u
composition, il 10 uncquslled BY any spoc.
imon Of Greek or Roman poetry.
The strains Of Ezekiel break forth like
tho gushing Of . mighty fountain. lie i
deep, vehement, tragical. He rouscs eve.
~ energy of tho soul; overwhelms the
mind by bis bold figures, abrupt transitions,
fervid expressions. But he who aslonishes
10 by bic graphic images, possesses, ut the
same tims, the lossliness a the sweetest
past. Fog invieosating the imagination, tos
giving energy Of thought and boldosss q
expression, tho writings Of Ezekiel are un-
equalsd.
The Biblc has stood the test d sges.-
No closensss of Inspection, kosaaess q IN
vsstisation, Or structures q criticism, have
been sbls 10 delest il claims 10 The highest
excsllsncs AZ language. usse the mss d
taste may find every variety Of material 4
discipline the mind, enrich the imagination
end polish tho taste.