Should any uninstructed person who might chance upon Basil Valentine's ''Triumphal Chariot of Antimony " undertake to read that work, he would probably be mystified by much of its contents, by its references to the Spagyric art, to the grand Magisterium, the true and universal Medicine, the Tinctures which transmute metals, with other unknown quantities and other deep mysteries which make part of the Sacramentum Regis. But if he were asked what he thought of Basil Valentine in his historical and personal character, it is unlikely that he would suppose for a moment the existence of any romantic mystery encompassing the mere life of the man. He would regard him as a pious Benedictine monk, uncommonly well versed for his period in certain departments of experimental and medical chemistry, and, perhaps, as a bizarre speculator in the cloudy borderlands of physical science ; but such biographical data as can be gathered concerning him from his writings, he would naturally accept without question, because there would be no ground for assuming any reason to doubt them. Yet even as such a person would be mistaken in his estimate of Valentine the alchemist, as distinguished from Valentine the investigator of antimonial therapeutics, so it is just possible that he would be astray in his estimate of the man, being misled by a veil of simplicity which skilfully conceals the adept under the unpretending mask of a monastic canon.
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There is a halo over both places, and a sadness too, particularly with all relating to Lord Byron; although the latter days of Scott were overcast by pecuniary misfortunes, there was something so noble, so benevolent, so exalted in his career, that he is remembered with the triumphant expression of "See what genius can achieve!" The records of Byron and his ancient house are gloomy and magnificent, and the kindly and gentle pen of Washington Irving becomes paralyzed, in a degree, when writing the records of Newstead. But at Abbotsford it flows gaily and cheerfully on, and indeed we know of no two men in the world who could have better assimilated together than Scott and Irving. We do not enter into any comparison of their genius; it would be unseemly; we speak merely of their habits and feelings. Irving understood Scott perfectly, and appreciated him as well. He is one whose bosom overflows with kindly feelings, and whose senses answer the desire of his heart—a heart which teaches him to enjoy and sympathize with whatever is excellent upon earth! We shall look for the next volume which is to appear with increased pleasure. When a writer is an accurate observer of human nature, and possesses also a benevolent mind, he cannot fail to improve and interest his readers. How much, then, do we not already owe to the author of the " Sketch-Book!''
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There is, perhaps, no phase of the Christian church more peculiar to it, nor one that more triumphantly demonstrates its perfect adaptation to human needs, than its possession of what are known as " spiritual gifts." The presence of these gifts in the church of apostolic times is universally conceded. They were not only recognized when they appeared, but they were expected. The leaders both instructed the churches as to the reception of these tokens of the divine presence and guidance, and gave needed advice as to the order and decorum that were to govern their manifestation. The exercise of the miraculous gifts was not intended in any way to supplant or even supersede the regular church officers. On the contrary, the gifts were designed to strengthen the hands of such officers, and to quicken the spiritual life of the church as a whole. They were gracious manifestations of the divine care, evidences that the Spirit was doing His office work in the church, and in times of doubt and uncertainty, or of impending crisis, a means for the direct communication of the divine will to the church...
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"Nicholas Nickleby" combined the comic and the sensational elements for the first time, and is still the type of Dickens's longer books, in which the strain of violent pathos or sinister mystery is incessantly relieved by farce, either of incident or description. In this novel, too, the easy-going, old-fashioned air of "Pickwick" is abandoned in favour of a humanitarian attitude more in keeping with the access of Puritanism which the new reign had brought with it, and from this time forth a certain squeemishness in dealing with moral problems and a certain "gush" of unreal sentiment obscured the finer qualities of the novelist's genius.
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This is a series of six small books written for younger children and published under the pseudonym Laura Bancroft. The stories are: Mr. Woodchuck Bandit Jim Crow Prarie-Dog Town Prince Mud-Turtle Twinkle's Enchantment Sugar-Loaf Mountain
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Dickens's tenth novel, was published in 1861, nine years before his death. As in "David Copperfield," the hero tells his own story from boyhood. Yet in several essential points "Great Expectations" is markedly different from "David Copperfield," and from Dickens's other novels. Owing to the simplicity of the plot, and to the small number of characters, it possesses greater unity of design. These characters, each drawn with marvelous distinctness of outline, are subordinated throughout to the central personage "Pip," whose great expectations form the pivot of the narrative. But the element that most clearly distinguishes this novel from the others is the subtle study of the development of character through the influence of environment and circumstance. In the career of Pip, a more careful and natural presentation of personality is made than is usual with Dickens. He is a village boy who longs to be a "gentleman." His dreams of wealth and opportunity suddenly come true. He is supplied with money, and sent to London to be educated and to prepare for his new station in life. Later he discovers that his unknown benefactor is a convict to whom he had once rendered a service. The convict, returning against the law to England, is recaptured and dies in prison, his fortune being forfeited to the Crown. Pip's great expectations vanish into thin air. "Great Expectations" is a delightful novel, rich in humor and free from false pathos. The character of Joe Gargery, simple, tender, quaintly humorous, would alone give imperishable value to the book.
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The Story Of Jesus is Ellen Gould White's adaptation of her own work Christ Our Saviour for a children's audience. This beautiful narrative of Jesus' life on earth was prepared by the author's son while he was working with mostly illiterate slaves in the South of the United States. It is wonderful to read and tell, even for persons with a limited vocabulary. Some of the chapters are: Chapter 1 - The Birth of Jesus Chapter 2 - Jesus Presented in the Temple Chapter 3 - The Visit of the Wise Men Chapter 4 - The Flight Into Egypt Chapter 5 - Child Life of Jesus Chapter 6 - Days of Conflict Chapter 7 - The Baptism Chapter 8 - The Temptation Chapter 9 - Early Ministry Chapter 10 - Teachings of Christ Chapter 11 - Sabbathkeeping Chapter 12 - The Good Shepherd Chapter 13 - Riding Into Jerusalem Chapter 14 - "Take These Things Hence" Chapter 15 - At the Passover Supper ... and much more ...
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This volume contains a complete English translation of the famous Ethiopian work, The "Kebra Nagast", i.e. the "Glory of the Kings [of Ethiopia]". This work has been held in peculiar honour in Abyssinia for several centuries, and throughout that country it has been, and still is, venerated by the people as containing the final proof of their descent from the Hebrew Patriarchs, and of the kinship of their kings of the Solomonic line with Christ, the Son of God. The Kebra Nagast is a great storehouse of legends and traditions, some historical and some of a purely folk-lore character, derived from the Old Testament and the later Rabbinic writings, and from Egyptian (both pagan and Christian), Arabian, and Ethiopian sources.
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