Wrapt in this cloud of light, we seem to be
The thing we fain would grow - eternally."

"No!" saith the Lord, "the hour is past; we

go:

Our home, our life, our duties lie below.

While here we kneel upon the mount of

prayer,

The plough lies waiting in the furrow there :
Here we sought God that we might know His

will:

There we must do it-serve Him seek Him still."

From The Spectator.

A STAR IN FLAMES. AGAIN we have news from the Southern skies, and again the scene of interest lies in that marvellous region of the heavens Argo. In this glorious region of the skies which forms the extremity of the keel of stars are spread with a profusion which surpasses anything seen from our northerly stand-point. From Sirius southwards towards Canopus the density of stellar aggregation steadily increases. Thence along the keel of the great ship stars of all magIf man aspires to reach the throne of God, nitudes are spread in greater and greater O'er the dull plains of earth must lie the road. profusion, so that, as Humboldt tells us, He who best does his lowly duty here, the sky here sheds a radiance resembling Shall mount the highest in a nobler sphere: that of the young moon, and by the mere At God's own feet our spirits seek their rest, increase of light one can tell without turnAnd he is nearest Him who serves Him best.*ing towards Argo when her resplendent keel There is yet one other Hymn of earlier is rising above the horizon. days-which has its basis in the Transfig- where the Milky Way narrows down towards uration, but which is in fact only another the great nebula in Argo that the climax of It is not easy," form of the "Elegy in a Country Church- splendour is reached. Lines written" by Her- writes Sir John Herschel," for language to bert Knowles in Richmond Churchyard, convey a full impression of the beauty and Yorkshire; "the beautiful cemetery which sublimity of the spectacle which this nebula hangs on the slope of the hill under the offers, as it enters the field of view of the parish church, overlooking the Swale. I telescope, ushered in as it is by so glorious give the first and last stanzas. and innumerable a procession of stars."

vard." It is the

Methinks it is good to be here;

If Thou wilt, let us build - but for whom?
Nor Elias nor Moses appear,

But the shadows of eve that encompass the gloom,
The abode of the dead, and the place of the

tomb.

The first Tabernacle to Hope we will build And look for the sleepers around us to rise;

But it is

When Sir John Herschel wrote thus, there lay in the very heart of that amazing nebula a fixed star which shone as brightly as Aldebaran or Antares. Eta Argûs, for the star has received no special title, and is spoken of only by its Greek letter, had been described by Halley as a star of the fourth magnitude. Later the French astronomer Lacaille saw it of the second mag

The second to Faith which ensures it ful-nitude. While Sir John Herschel was pur

filled,

And the third to the Lamb of the great sacrifice, Who bequeathed us them both when He rose from the skies.

suing his wonderful series of observations on the Southern heavens, this star shone as a moderate first-magnitude star, and in his noble picture of the great nebula (which lies before us as we write), the star is There are five Latin Hymns on the Trans-placed in the very densest part of the nebufiguration, given in Daniel's "Thesaurus lous matter, and close by the borders of Hymnologicus," vol. v. pp. 288-290, Nos. the mysterious vacuity which marks the 566-570. Of these Nos. 566 and 570 have central region of the nebula. some merit. In the Breviary for the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 14) is a short Hymn, Amor Jesu dulcissime." There is also a Hymn of S. Cosmas, translated by Dr. Neale, given in "Hymns used in the Parish Church of Bethnal Green," No. 351. It brings out forcibly one idea of the scene; but is too much mixed up with the legendary doctrine of the Uncreated Light of Mount Tabor to be suitable for general use.

194.

Since 1837, however, the star has exhibited new and even more surprising changes. It increased in splendour in a strangely fluctuating manner, occasionally losing brilliance for awhile, to renew its glories presently, until at length, in 1843, surpassed Canopus in brightness and rivalled even the blazing Sirius. Then began a long process of decadence, the star falling gradually away from magnitude to magnitude until it almost passed the limits of naked-eye vision, and came to be described as a low sixth“Scenes from the Life of Jesus," by S. Greg, P. around it waxed in splendour. When Hermagnitude star. Meantime, the nebula

schel had been at the south cape the nebula | that the dark lines which cross it are somecould barely be seen with the naked eye on what less distinctly marked. There, howthe darkest and clearest nights; but lately ever, are the bright lines which indicate the it had reached so high a degree of brilliancy existence of glowing gas around that disthat it was visible even when the moon was tant orb, and the position of those lines shining brightly enough to obliterate all but serves to show in the clearest manner that the leading stars. the star, like the orb in Corona, is covered with hydrogen flames. Lines, as yet not measured, seem to correspond with a wellknown bright line in the spectrum of the solar prominences, and with a line of nitrogen.

Then, as we lately recorded, news came from the Melbourne Observatory, where Grubb's splendid reflector is at work in the able hands of Le Sueur, that the nebula had changed in form since Herschel had depicted it. In particular it was remarked that all round the star Eta there was either no nebula or but little, whereas during Herschel's observations, as we have mentioned, the nebula was brighter round this star than elsewhere.

And thus it happened that whereas Sir John Herschel had conceived the nebula to lie far out in space beyond the stars with which it seemed to be associated, Le Sueur argued, from the remarkable changes to which the nebula has been subjected, that it cannot be so enormously extended as Herschel's views would imply, and in all probability lies nearer to us than the fixed stars in the same direction. Before this, the present writer had urged that the nebula is, really and not merely in appearance, associated in the most intimate manner with those fixed stars.

And now we have intelligence respecting the star which throws a new and unexpected light on the whole subject.

It will be remembered that in May, 1866, a star suddenly blazed out in the constellation Corona (close by the uplifted right arm of Bootes). Studied with the spectroscope by the eminent physicist Huggins, this new object was found to be in a strange condition.

But the spectroscope has also given very striking evidence respecting the association between the nebula and the star. All round the star M. Le Sueur sought for the characteristic spectrum of the nebula. He could not obtain that spectrum from any part of the space which immediately surrounds the star, a fact which shows most conclusively that the absence of nebulous light here is not apparent (or due, as might have been suspected, to the fact that the star's light simply overpowers that of the nebula), but real. The nebula which Sir J. Herschel, when the star was bright, saw all round Eta Argûs has really retreated from that blazing sun.

M. Le Sueur has been led by this circumstance to suggest a view which involves the theory of the present writer that star and nebula are associated. He asks, “Is not the presence of nitrogen and hydrogen in the star Eta a significant fact in connection with the changes of the nebula, changes which appear to be nothing less than a destruction of nebula in the neighbourhood of the star ?" He points also to the fact that the star is increasing in brightness, and asks whether the bright-line character of the spectrum may not be due to a commencement of increase in the star.

Its rainbow-tinted spectrum, crossed by a multitude of dark lines, showed that it But supposing the bright-line spectrum was, at least for the time, a sun like our to indicate a destruction of the nebula all own, an incandescent body shining through round the star, how can the star ever be absorbent vapour. But besides the dark restored- - as astronomers are pretty conlines, there were seen several bright lines, fident it will be—to its former splendour? and these lines interpreted according to the Very little doubt can exist that Eta Argus, usual principles of spectroscopic analysis like the famous Mira of the Whale, is a taught us that the star was surrounded by variable of long period. If, even now, glowing hydrogen. The new orb was, in when it seems to have consumed the nebula fact, a sun in flames. Gradually those in its neighbourhood, it shines but faintly, flames died out, and now that orb has seem- how is it to grow brighter and brighter until ingly returned to the condition it was in it surpasses the splendour it had when Sir before the outburst, and can still be seen | John Herschel saw it involved in nebulous by the telescopist, shining with the faint ra- matter? Is it not far more probable that diance of a tenth-magnitude star amid the the existence of nebulous matter around the depths of space. star is a necessary condition of the star's And now it appears that the wonderful brightness? that the star will recover its variable in Argo is also a star in flames. brilliancy when the nebulous matter comes Its spectrum exhibits the same characteris-back to it ? and that the periodicity of this tics as that of the star in Corona, except star (as probably of other variables) is due

to the periodic character of the motions which take place in the nebula?

est veneration. Such men as Maurice, Jowett, Stanley, and many others thought But our sun is himself a periodic variable. themselves only too highly favoured when Has he, then, nebulous food brought to permitted to sit at the feet of the venerable him in greater or less quantities at regular old man and listen to his large-minded periodic intervals? The flames which sur-views on theological questions. Mr. Maurround him exhibit the very same bright lines ice, many years ago, in a dedication of one as the flames around the star in Argo. of the volumes of his Sermons" to him, They only need to bear a greater propor- spoke with characteristic warmth of his tion to the sun's extent to show their bright great obligations to him. "Have we a lines upon the solar spectrum precisely as Gospel," he said, "for men, for all men? the bright lines appear in the spectrum of Is it a Gospel that God's will is a will to all Eta Argus, only incomparably more re- Good, a will to deliver them from all evil? splendent. But where is the solar nebula Is it a Gospel that he has reconciled the which is required to make the analogy com- world unto Himself? Is it this absolutely, plete? Surely we see it in the crown of or this with a multitude of reservations, exglory which shines around the sun during planations, contradictions?" "It is more total eclipses. Those strangely figured ra- than twenty years ago," he adds (writing in diations, the peculiar contorted structure 1852) "since a book of yours brought home of portions of the corona (compared by to my mind the conviction that no Gospel Arago to hanks of thread in disorder), and but this can be of any use to the world, and the variable brilliancy and extent of the the Gospel of Jesus Christ is such a one. object during different eclipses, seem very From that time I ceased to wish for refined plainly to point to the conclusion that our explanations of the Catholic creeds. I sun has, like Eta Argûs, its nebulous sur- ceased also to desire refined explanations of rounding. Like Eta Argus, too, our sun the Four Gospels and the Epistles. The is a star in flames, and it only needs that the first, taken as they stand, declare, it seems nebulous matter round the sun should re- to me, the existence of a Kingdom of semble the Argo nebula in relative extent, Heaven which is near to us all. The last in order that the solar flames should shine show how that Kingdom of Heaven establike those round Eta Argus, with a splen-lished itself on this earth of ours, — churches dour overmastering that of the orb they belong to.

From The Spectator. THOMAS ERSKINE OF LINLATHEN.*

of Jews and Gentiles being called out as witnesses of it, and the Jewish nation perishing that it might be revealed in its fullness and unity as the ground of modern society."

One of Mr. Erskine's most remarkable characteristics was a sort of quickness of intellectual sympathy, which enabled him at A REMARKABLE man has just passed away once to take up a new point of view on any from among us. Mr. Thomas Erskine of religious question, and to enter fully into Linlathen died at Edinburgh on the night of any fresh speculations which were brought Sunday week, and the announcement of his before him." We do not mean that he was death will awaken a deep feeling of sorrow ready to alter his own convictions, but that in some of the best minds, both in England being strongly possessed with the feeling and on the Continent. It is a curious il- that Christianity is many-sided, he was ever lustration of the state of religious feeling prepared to have it presented to his mind and of theological thought in Scotland, that under fresh aspects, and under new condiwhile among his own countrymen Mr. Ers- tions and relations. He never thought of it kine had ceased to be much known or re- as something to be comprehended and fully garded, most of the Biblical scholars and explained by the way of strict logical theory thinkers of England of highest name were or system. It was always to him a sort of accustomed to look up to him with the deep-living reality, and he thought of the world

* [We suppose this to be the author of several books, which we read forty years ago with great interest, and we hope some profit: "The Internal Evidence of Christianity "Faith"-"The Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel." In answer to a letter of thanks he sent us sometime after (1831) a new book of his: "The Brazen Serpent." From the title, in connexion with his previous writings, we expected great things of this, but were much disappointed. It is odd that the Spectator gives no list of his works. — LIVING AGE.]

of spiritual things as an actual entity, the laws of which are, quite as much as those of physical nature, the proper subjects of endless observation and inquiry. In this spirit he entered with the greatest possible interest into the study of Renan's "Life of Jesus" when it first appeared, not at once rejecting it or condemning it as a matter of course, but slowly, carefully, and thought

his sleep-as he had the habit of doing his utterances indicated some rapt contemplation of spiritual things.

fully examining all its chief positions, and then only putting them aside when he had deliberately established in his own mind that they were untenable. He followed, It is a matter of regret that Mr. Erskine's we believe, very much the same course with maturest thoughts on religious and theologthe "Ecce Homo," only not in the end ical subjects have never been given to the finding himself so entirely out of harmony world. During the last thirty years he has with its author. He had, in short, that kind published almost nothing, and it is generalof rare candour and freeness in theology ly understood that the earlier productions which was capable of treating almost every- of his pen inadequately represent his later thing as an open question, and was ever phases of opinion. For some years past he fully prepared and inclined to go over had been most anxious to supply this defect, again by any new path and re-test once and over and over again he strove to give a more the grounds of his old convictions. full exposition of his views; but partly perNothing was more alien to him than that haps from his mind being, as we have alsort of stolid fixity which never alters a ready intimated, overcharged with thought train of thought, or looks at a great truth on the subjects which he wished to discuss, from more than one point of view. We are partly from some growing subtlety and renot prepared to say, indeed, that he did not finement in his speculations to which exoccasionally carry this tendency of his mind pression did not readily lend itself, but most somewhat to excess. He was a little apt so of all, in all probability, in consequence of to overload a subject with his thought, that the great decay in his physical vigour, he its outline became confused and indetermi- never could satisfy himself with anything nate, at least to others, and perhaps to him- which he was able to produce. One short self also, for expression seemed sometimes fragment, indeed, of great value, on what to fail him when he was most anxious to he called "The Spiritual Order," and anbring out his meaning. This was; no other on "The Divine Sonship," were put doubt, the natural result, not of originally in type shortly before his death. But with deficient mental power, but a singularly strong, active, and curiously versatile mind becoming over-informed with its own thought. His life had heen given almost exclusively to meditation, and it had been too little exposed to the wholesome, modifying, and corrective influences of an acquaintance with affairs which would have given a practical direction to its powers. Even with these drawbacks, however, one was able to see how noble and salutary had been the effect of that style of religious thought to which he gave himself up. All this mental activity in theology, all this keenness and unrestingness of speculative faculty, never seemed in any degree to end (as with so many men it does end) merely in the intellect, but told with immediate and pervading effect upon his character. The result was a combination with his great mental power of a sort of saintly purity and beauty of religious feeling which we should imagine almost unexampled. More than any one else whom we ever met with, he fulfilled the idea of what Novalis called "a God-intoxicated man. God's love to men seemed to be constantly in his thoughts, and it was difficult for him to open his lips or put his pen to paper without some outpouring of an ever-present consciousness on this congenial theme. Even in dreams his mind appeared always to run upon the same topic, and during the last weeks of his life, we have heard that whenever he spoke through

these exceptions, we suspect that the accumulated results of long years of brooding meditation must have perished with him. The only hope is that as he was in the constant habit of imparting his ideas to his friends in conversation, some of these may yet be able to reproduce his reasonings and conclusions in a more or less perfect shape.

The essential character of Mr. Erskine's mind was that of a thinker. He was not in any proper sense of the word a learned or even a very widely read man. No one, however, could fail to recognize in him a man of true and fine culture. He was, we believe, an excellent Greek scholar, and he had all that most valuable cultivation which results from mingling in the best society. In early life he had studied for the Scottish Bar, and he passed advocate so far back as 1810. Jeffrey, Cockburn, Rutherfurd (who was almost contemporary with him), and others of the same coterie were among his earliest associates. At a later period he was on terms of great intimacy with Thomas Carlyle, Edward Irving, John McLeod Campbell, Dr. Ewing the spiritualminded and liberal Bishop of Argyle and the Isles, and his near relative, the late accomplished Lord Manor. At Paris and Geneva, too, he had a circle of highly cultivated friends. And to the last, some of the best minds both of England and of his own country used to find their way to Linlathen and to his lodging in Edinburgh. In

early life, we have heard that his unaffected culminated in the raising up in the Church cleverness and gentle playfulness of fancy of a few great thinkers and men of genius, gave an irresistible charm to his society, one or two great orators, and one or two and even in his later years he had always great saints, its worser influences culmian abundant flow of conversation on sub-nated in bigotry, fanaticism (heat without jects quite apart from theology. Most of light), conventionalism, mediocrity. What his fine companionable qualities, indeed, he with the poor culture offered by the Scotretained to the end of his life, and along tish Universities, and what with the national with them all the simplicity, humility, and tendency to fervour and to bare logic endaffectionateness of a child. Though a great ing ever in extremes, it could scarcely, perconverser, he was never engrossing in con- haps, have been otherwise. The result, versation. Though a great theologian, he however, was that within the Evangelical never knew what arrogance or dogmatism movement two antagonistic forces were was, nor did his mind ever seem to contract found to have sprung up. These could not, any tinge of narrowness from being much of course, long dwell together; and so, by concentrated on one subject. proceedings almost worthy of the old Star Chamber, such men as Edward Irving, Scott of Manchester, and McLeod Campbell of Row, were driven forth from the Church. Even Chalmers, who remained to the last, found at length how uncongenial were the elements with which he had to contend, and died, there is some reason to believe, of a broken heart. It is scarcely necessary to add that after the disgraceful proceedings towards his friends Irving and Campbell, Mr. Erskine's connection with the Church of Scotland may be said to have terminated. In the later years of his life he might frequently, indeed, be seen worshipping in a Presbyterian Church, but for a long period before his death he had been in communion with the Church of England.

Before concluding, we may just allude to the relation in which Mr. Erskine stood to the Church of his own country. The subject is curious and rather instructive. It is well known that about the beginning of the century a strong reaction had begun to take place against the selfish, worldly policy and utter want of earnestness in religion of the old Moderate party of the Church of Scotland.

Since printing the above we have received an estimate of Mr. Erskine from one who

This movement was at first led by Dr. John Erskine, a son of Erskine of Carnock, the great Scottish lawyer and author of the "Institutes," and a man of great ability both as a man of business and as a writer on theology. (He was nearly related, by the way, to the family of Mr. Thomas Erskine.) On his death, about 1803, his place was taken by the late Sir Harry Moncrieff, a clergyman of great practical energy and the most remarkable sagacity, a man, too, of old family knew him intimately, and who is in the and possessed of immense influence, both by character and position, throughout Scot-highest degree qualified to delineate his land. Chiefly by the efforts of this remarka- character, which we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of giving to our readers: ble man, the Evangelical party gradually became dominant in the Church of Scotland. In endeavouring to express in a few Though called by this name, the Evangeli- words the impression made by an intercourse cals in Scotland represented a somewhat of some years with Mr. Erskine, the most different class of minds, and a different appropriate seem those of Marcus Aurelius, style of thought to the English Evangelical-Life is a journey in a strange land." He ism of the present day. The leading men seemed always a foreigner in this world, among them had thoroughly enlarged views, speaking its language as an unfamiliar good sound culture, and very liberal ten- idiom, and never wholly at home in any of dencies, so much so that all the best minds its customs. Eighty years had not naturalin Scotland, in particular every one con- ized him here, nor delivered him from the nected with the rising Whig party, com- home-sickness with which he yearned after pletely sympathized, if they did not abso- a fuller vision of things divine than that lutely identify themselves, with the movement. After a long struggle of more than thirty years, Evangelicism attained a majority in the General Assembly. Its success, however, may be said to have been its ruin. In proportion as it became numerically strong, it tended ever more and more to intellectual weakness, and just as the more generous influences of the movement

allotted, except in rare moments, to this stage of our being. One never could with him wholly escape the feeling that he belonged to a different spiritual climate. To some, perhaps, this aloofness from ordinary life was seen only in the result of intensifying a very peculiar individuality, and sheltering it from all those influences which make men common-place. All those doors