The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-10


results than its secret sources and subtle rela-
tons Historical groupings in his pages naturally
illustrate great principles, and his pictures from
private life are usually copied from its common
and obvious appearances. Nature, too, in its
grander outlines, and its broad spaces of light
and shadow, is the object of his love and reverent
sympathy In all these discourses we have the
outward procession of life rather than the inward
analysis.
There are few Of those sentences which so
often in Martineau fash a strong light into the
deepest abysses of our souls. Yet, the author has
lived deeply, as we discover from his siode-ef cen
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the advantages of his method, to complain that he
attempts not the more doubtful and difficult task
of showing US ourselves
The manner in which principles are appre-
hended depends upon the combination of intellect,
imagination, and passion, in the nature. The in
tellect of Mr.. Giles is broad, healthy, and gene
rousy appropriative rather than critical or meta
physical Facts and opinions do net lie in such
relations in his mind that we read every page as
step in the calculation of system neither are
we always satisfied by his attempts at metaphys.
cal analysis in truth, those pages seem to Us the
least valuable in the book. Neither do we look
for delicate appreciation of the shades of personal
character, any very critical estimate of motives
or actions. He deals with principles in their out
lines; walks over long tracts of thought with free
step and joyous mien, and is ever ready to well
come new idea, without fear of disarrangement
to his own mental furniture. We receive from
his intellect refreshing feeling of manliness and
alssr common sspse, in a greater degree than.from
that of any writer of sermons We know.
But the highest thing done by our author is
,tz1--syc thsSS * ~, ( sz:sSSR3 Ssaercd s,&
pathies His heart is as wide as the race of man,
and one throb of it will often bring him along
side of great masses to whose hearts he dscourses
with power. He bears us along upon the swift
torrent of his passion with no fear Of wreck for
emotion so healthy and comprehensive as his can
always be trusted.
1t is no small praise to say, that in book
Astounding in passages of pathetic and exultant
feeling, we cannot point to a line of unhealthy
religious sentimentalsm. His heart is as true as
it is deep and tender. His power of intuition
united with an imagination which wildly realizes
and pictures what is suggested by every other
faculty, often conducts him to heights which men
Of far stronger and subter intellects in vain at
tempt to scale. While he rarely reposes in those
elevations of serene contemplation, where truth is
seen in white light, he is often poised a moment
above the clouds, and gives report of strange and
beautiful things there seen. A better combination
of faculties could hardly be desired for great
popular preacher than this an intellect generous
and robust, as well as sensitive to delicate impress
sions; heart on fire with passion for the great,
and good, and beautiful; and an Imagination pic
torial and kinding at the sight Of new truth.
While these are not, perhaps, the qualities of a
great creative mind they constitute nature ly-
ing open on one side to the reception of all that
is highest and best and full of attractive power
on the other to draw men up to their worthy ap-
probation.
We have no space for extracts-in truth, We
prefer that our readers should buy the book and
make their own. We, however have read with
peculiar pleasure the discourses on the Guilt Of
Contempt" "David," "The Spirit of Christian
Forgiveness" and those pages of calm and swee,
reflection in Evangelical Goodness" and "Tht
| WEAKNESS of Life" which seem to us in the au
thor's best manner of thought and expression
But every sermon contains stirring and eloquent
passages; and we leave the book, heartily thank.
| ing the writer for having given us new rever-
ence for Christianity, more strength for action
and endurance, and frmer faith in His goodness
to whose glory powers so rare and commanding
are here worthily consecrated. A. ID. M.