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it is treated in the present day, and more especially in the volumes before us, is not offensive. They see no harm in calling in its aid to heighten the zest of "a good thing," to increase the quaintness of humorous description, or to give verisimilitude to ridiculous characters. This, with them, is among the popular uses of the bible; and to this purpose

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may be legitimately applied. But there are also those (and we trust no small number) who regard "the word of God" in a far different light; and to whom such freedoms with it give the severest pain. They view it as the best blessing and most holy possession which man enjoys; his comfort and support; his guide in faith, and rule of conduct; his lamp on earth, and his passport to heaven. They consider its riches, like the treasury of the temple, as set apart from all profane uses, and dedicated exclusively to sacred ones; and regard the sacred volume as the "ark of the "covenant," not to be touched by unsanctified hands.

It will be said, perhaps, that by thus proibiting the adoption of scriptural phraseology

in humorous composition, or on ludicrous occasions, we denounce a considerable portion of our earlier and later lighter literature; and that, had the Author of Waverley written under such a restriction, the pervading spirit of his works, the soul of his narratives, and the very life-blood of his characters, would have been wanting. Doubtless this must have been the consequence; but we have no hesitation in saying, that we are prepared to make such a sacrifice on such an altar: and when we take into account what is lost to the heart, in the gratification of the fancy, among individuals; and how much the authority of, and the veneration for, the holy scriptures, is weakened with the public at large, from this licentious use of biblical passages by popular writers; we are not afraid to add, that we could wish such productions of mere human genius had never existed, rather than that effects so fatal. to private and public good feeling should have. been produced. We would relinquish much, rather than be despoiled of our all; nor can we consider THE BIBLE as less than our all, when we look to it (for so it ought to be

viewed) as the only basis on which stands the CHRISTIAN RELIGION, "that pillar of society, "that safeguard of nations, that parent of "social order, which alone has power to curb "the fury of the passions, and to secure to

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every one his rights; to the laborious, the "reward of their industry; to the rich, the 66 enjoyment of their wealth; to nobles, the preservation of their honours; and to 'princes, the stability of their thrones."Robert Hall.

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Elustrations, &c.

Ivanhoe.

THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER in which we propose to illustrate the Novels by the Author of Waverley, requires that we should commence with IVANHOE; which, though it be far down in the list of those works, in point of publication, is still, with respect to epoch, the first upon the roll. The reason which the author alleges, (in his dedicatory epistle to this novel) for carrying his readers six hundred years back, into the obscure ages of romance and chivalry, is, "that he may obtain an "interest for the traditions and manners of Old England, similar to that which has been "excited in behalf of our poorer and less

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"celebrated neighbours." But, he has failed in his intention; and from causes sufficiently obvious. The long period of time which has elapsed since the date of the story, and the great change which has taken place in the customs and habits of the country during the interval, prevent the reader from identifying himself with the characters and incidents placed before him. He feels nothing within, and sees nothing without, that is in common. with either. He finds himself a mere spectator of the play, and not an actor in it: and, however his imagination may have been excited, while he kept his eye upon the stage, the impression vanishes with the falling of the curtain; and no recollections remain upon his mind, but indistinct images of portraits, whose originals have disappeared for ages; and of forms of life whose vestiges are now no where to be traced. He finds nothing in the narrative which comes home to his own business "and bosom," nothing to call forth that sympathy, which can be awakened, only, by beings influenced by the same motives, and occupied in the same pursuits with himself, and

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