No fragment of the glorious temples at Jerusalem has survived the lapse of time; but the imperishable hymns of the Jewish worship rule the hearts of men with more than their pristine power, and still continue to inspire and elevate the conduct and devotions of successive generations of mankind. Fathers of the early Church, like Origin, Athanasius and Jerome, Basil, Ambrose and Augustine apostles of British Christianity, such as Columba, Cuthbert, Wilfrid, Dunstan and Bede medieval saints, like Bernard, Francis of Assisi, or Thomas of Villanova-statesmen, like Ximines, Burghley and Gladstone have testified to the universal truth and beauty of the Psalms. With a psalm upon their lips died Wyclif, Hus, and Jerome of Prague, Luther and Melanchthon. Philosophers, such as Bacon and Locke and Hamilton; men of science, like Humboldt and Romanes; among missionaries, Xavier, Martyn, Duff, Livingstone, Mackay and Hannington; explorers, like Columbus; scholars, like Casaubon and Salmasius; earthly potentates, Charlemagne, Vladimir Monomachus, Hildebrand, Louis IX, Henry V, Catherine de Medicis, Charles V, Henry of Navarre, and Mary Queen of Scots have found in the Psalms their inspiration in life, their strength in peril, or their support in death. ROWLAND E. PROTHERO. |