heaven; every tear which they shed, is preserved in the bottle of God. Why, then, should not their memories be dear to us, for whom they bled and for whom they died? But it is not only that we may pay them our debt of gratitude, that we ought to acquaint ourselves with their lives, it is that we may gather humility from their lowliness; faith from their trust in God; courage from their heavensustained fortitude; warmth from the flame of their devotion, and hope from their glorious success." 66 Mr. POLLOK conceived the project of another work, which he had intended to compose and publish, and which, it is to be regretted, he did not live to write. It was “A Review of Literature in all ages, designed to show that Literature must stand or fall in proportion as it harmonizes with Scripture Revelation." This was a work which required of its author, in an eminent degree, genius, talent, learning, and religious knowledge; and in which much time, untiring patience, deep research, and unwavering faithfulness, would have been necessarily exercised. Yet his lofty mind had conceived the grand idea of executing such a work, which fact alone reflects great honor on his talents as a scholar and his enthusiasm as a Christian. We cannot conclude this brief sketch of the life, talents, character, and productions of Mr. POLLOK better than by copying the language of one who wrote his Memoir, from which several extracts have been taken, and who in life loved him with a brother's love. In alluding to his death, he says: "He has gone the way of all the earth; and his spirit, we fondly hope, is among the 'spirits of the just made perfect, who, by faith and patience, are now inheriting the promises.' But he lives in the hearts of his friends, who think of him with fond regret; he lives in the hearts of his countrymen; and his praise is not only in the church of which he was a licentiate, but in all the churches." THE COURSE OF TIME. BOOK I. ANALYSIS. The author invokes the Eternal Spirit to inspire his song, that he may sing "The Course of Time;" "The second birth and final doom of man;" "The essential truth: Time gone, the righteous saved, the wicked damned, and Providence approved.” Long after time had ceased, and eternity had rolled on its periods, numbered only by God alone, a stranger spirit arrives "high on the hills of immortality," and is there met by two other spirits, youthful sons of Paradise, who greet him with "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" and invite him to ascend to the throne of God. The stranger informs them that, when he left his native world, on his way towards heaven, he came to a realm of darkness, where he saw beings of "all shapes, all forms, all modes of wretchedness,” in a place of torment, burning continually, and dying perpetually; and heard curses and blasphemies; the meaning of which he requests them to unfold to him: but they, being unable, introduce him to an ancient bard of the earth, and all three request him to explain to them the wonders of the place of torments and prison of the damned. The bard informs them that the place the stranger saw was hell; the givans he heard, the wailings of the damned; that he will have his asking, and that "wondering doubt shall learn to answer," while he gives them, in brief, the history of Man. INVOCATION. ETERNAL Spirit! God of truth! to whom All things seem as they are; thou who of old The prophet's eye unscaled, that nightly saw. While heavy sleep fell down on other men, In holy vision tranced, the future pass B Before him, and to Judah's harp attuned The muse, that soft and sickly wooes the ear Me thought, and phrase, severely sifting out The essential truth: Time gone, the righteous saved, The wicked damned, and Providence approved. That fools may hear and tremble, and the wise TIME AND ETERNITY. Long was the day, so long expected, past Of the eternal doom, that gave to each Of all the human race his due reward. The sun-earth's sun, and moon, and stars-had ceased |