The  Bishop  also  refers  to  hymns  besides  those  opezily  unproteetant
upon  their  face,  which  are  in  such  subtle  proximity  to  error  as  by  their
educating  tendency  will  act  as  prepsurations  for  the  inner  spirit  and
genius  of  the  Romish  system.  It  is  that  cast  of  the  book  which  consti-
tutes its  chief  title  to  distinction.  It  is  said,  truly  enough,  to  have  good
hymns ;  and  what  book  of  modern  compilation  has  not  ?  But  if  its
doctrine  is  so  unsound,  the  literary  character  of  a  book  containing  the
following  stanza — not  a  violent  specimen — is  quite  open  to  criticiflm  :

"Ab  the  tree  falls  so  must  it  lie,
As  the  man  lives  so  must  he  die;
As  the  man  dies  snch  most  he  be
Through  all  the  days  of  eternity."


1874.]  OF  THB  BIOCBSB  OF  VIRGINIA.  65

Report  on  Hymnal.
