The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1854-02-02
A Great Man Como.

Rev. William Jay, Of Buth, England, is dcud
in the s5th year of his age. Tho christian world
will read tho announcement of tho death Of this
distinguished divine with profound regret; thou
sands Of individual christians Of every denomina-
tion, both in Europe and America, will pause
nnd drop tear to his nlemory-to the memory
ofthe pious amiuble author of "Aiorning aud
Evening Exercises" We,know little OF Mr.
jay personally, not even the sect to which he
belonged, and there seems to be few out of Eng
land who do; his iabors oflove, continued through
long lifetime. confined him 10 narrow spot:
he had no tine aud less inclination to travel and
seek lyonization abroad; this honor he left to
such men as Dickens. Thackery aud Tupper.-
But nc that humbleth himself shall be exalted;
Thrt which he sought not has falIen spontane.
ously upon him i'm his noble efforts TO honor
his divine Master, lie forgot himself, and thnt
Master, true to his promise, has not forgotten to
honor him. The unpretcndng, though deeply
sagncious and pious literary productions Of Will
liam Jay. have become the familiar household
essentials Of christendom there is scarcely fire.
side in Americn. whose socinl and christian rrnccs
have not been frightened by tho experimental
wisdom OF fJay-whosc sorrows and misfortunca
have not been nlcviatcd through his fathcrly
counsels. His style is simple and scntcntous
YET always clear and dignifed-admrahy suited
tothc great object in view, the instructions of his
readers; while brilliant illustration, drawn from
nature, nrt and life, strike them on almost
every page Of the Exercise. This work, in the
department Of christian dcvotions, in the spirit.
un' workings of the affections, can Justly be COM
pared to Shakespeare in the more circumscrib.d
DOMAIN oi human nature. Jay was thorough
master oft heart; he seems to have made il
one Of the chief studies of his life hence the
wonderful simplicity und power Of his Writings
they speak directly to the hidden feelings of men.
Are they IN sorrow he seems to have discovered
the very spring of:hc;. Sympathetic emotions
and they yield themselves readily to the guild.
ance OF one so masterly in judgment. Are they
eInted with decting joys or spoiled with the pride
oflifef his subtle wand instantly discloses to them
the fearful breakers that threaten every moment
to dash them to pieces, and points them with the
authority of wisdom, to the lasting and nobler
Joys above 1t is such writings as these, and
only such, whether devotional 6r secular. that
are truly immortal-that give motion to chords
whose IIceep vibrations ring upon the inner life
We would rati,lar have been the humble author
Of Pilgrims Progress or Morning aud Evening En-
ercses, iiian TO possess the throne OF 5c.Yonias
Autocrat 1t is true you seldom hear their
names pronounced by those who eeem to sit in
Judgment on the destiny Of literature, the mere
fashionable world, who give the power to re .gn
for an hour to the butterflies Of authorship and
it is well, for their praise would damn theme
but 60 to the fircside of H. -.i1i:il IN whose
breas'::i tde aud true sentiment still liye-to the
'ncorrnp.ed homes of the country, aud there, ut
he nuIne Of Bunyon and jay, read in swelling
'oson's, critique on their works more touching
md truthful than any Jeff-rs or Macaulay ever
wrote. great man is dead, and We should
Gel recrennt to our feelings and lasting oblica.
ions, it. while the world is lauding it's favorites.
We did not speak thus and drop tear in men,
Try of William jay.