once expressed to Doctor Fairbairn his conviction that notwithstanding the false theological principles and exaggerated ecclesiastical claims of the Tractarians," in the devotion of these men a new endowment of the Holy Spirit came into the life of England," and we believe we may truly add, "and of the world." A recent writer of the Roman Catholic communion says: For one whom our books of controversy have brought round, twenty at least have yielded to the power of our devotions." In the excellence of this devotional spirit we thankfully rejoice with the will to profit and the mind to appreciate. (2) Religious biography. "The lives of learned and holy men are the most profitable of all books to a minister." 1 a. The lives of men who have been eminent for holiness: "The Life of Dr. William Marsh," by his daughter; A. A. Bonar's "Memoir of R. M. McCheyne," called by Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler a "perpetual tonic"; "The Life of Cæsar Malan"; "An Account of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller." That preacher to preachers, F. W. Robertson, chose "when he could as his books of devotion the lives of eminently holy persons whose tone was not merely uprightness of character and highmindedness; but communion with God besides." 2 Well too, may we come to such men for inspiration and 1 Rev. W. Bull, "Life," p. 339. "Life and Letters of F. W. Robertson," Vol. I., p. 2. light, "for man is the image of God, and all that is most gracious in man reveals God." 1 b. The lives of men eminent for usefulness: "Life of John Angell James," by Dale; "Life of Doctor Chalmers," by Hanna; "Life of John Newton," by Bull; "Life of Kingman Nott," by Nott; "Life of Doctor Todd," by Todd; "Life of Doctor Beecher," by Beecher; "The Autobiography of Finney"; and a book perhaps less known, but equally well worth reading, "The Life of Dr. Constans L. Goodell." The lives of missionaries are filled with this spirit of devotion. Our space permits us to mention only the lives of Henry Martyn and David Brainerd, and the journals of Wesley and Whitefield. c. Men eminent for beauty of character: "Life of James Hamilton," by Arnot; "Life of John Duncan," by Brown; "Life of Francis Wayland," by Wayland; "The Letters of the Baroness Bunsen,' and "Memorials of a Quiet Life," by Hare; and especially the "Life of Doctor Arnold," by Stanley, and the "Life of Charles Kingsley," by his wife. The lists here given cannot in any sense be taken as complete. The list of one man will never be that of another, and each of us will make such a collection of books for himself. Have in your library one shelf for your own favorites, to be turned to at those seasons set apart for devotion.2 1 A. W. W. Dale, "Life of R. W. Dale," p. 521. 2 Such a shelf was in Professor Pattison's own library, and "The Saturday Night Shelf" was ever held sacred by his children when searching for books, H. P. In the reading of biography the caution is in place that we do not seek slavishly to imitate those whose lives we read. These men were all very different one from the other, and in being themselves lay their strength. We cannot feel as Brainerd, McCheyne, or Henry Martyn felt, but by their examples we can be stimulated to self-consecration. (3) Devotional poetry. Among poetry suitable for devotional purposes a list of volumes and separate poems could be mentioned which would form a book in itself. Not to lengthen out such a collection indefinitely, we content ourselves with noting only the following: "Lyra Germanica "; Herbert's Poems; Schaff's "Library of Sacred Poetry"; Keble's "Christian Year "; " Hymns of the Ages"; "In Memoriam "; and W. T. Stead's "Hymns that Have Helped." We conclude this chapter on Hours of Devotion, having attempted to define their meaning, to give reason for their need, and to indicate how they may be spent, with the following counsels of Alexander McLaren, who is in every way so well qualified to give them: "Dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Remember the saying of the great Reformer, 'The heart makes the divine,' and that other word of the great church father, that three things go to furnish the great theologian: prayer, meditative contemplation of the truth already won, and the experience and conquest of temptation.' We must be first and foremost good men if we are to be good students or good ministers... The first, second and third requisite for our work is personal godliness; without that, though I have the tongues of men and angels, I am harsh and discordant as sounding brass, monotonous and unmusical as a tinkling cymbal. Only the love of God in the heart will fill all the stops of life with tuneful breath' and evoking all the harmonies of the soul, make of our words and works a perpetual anthem, sweet in the ear of God, and revealing him to the hearing of men. Like our Lord we must go to the mount of Olives, when the people go every man to his own house. Then shall we be able, at early morning, and noontide, and evening, to come down to the temple and teach. Then, and only then, will the common people hear us gladly, and men be constrained to say, 'It is not ye that speak; but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.'” 1 1" Counsels," pp. 23, 24. |