"SHAKSPERE'S CONSECRATED GENIUS."

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 93, 23 April 1891, Page 9

"SHAKSPERE'S CONSECRATED GENIUS."

This was the title of an interesting lecture delivered by the Rev, F. Larking at Mount Alberb last night. * Shakspore's Genius," said the lecturer, " is the glory of English literature. It was consecrated by the spirit of Christianity which Shakspere introduced into his works ; a Christianity whoso tone, creed, and principles he evidently knew and appreciated. The stage was consecrated by plays vvhich had in them that element of Christianity so prominent in the New Testament, to promote all that is honest, nure, lovely, and of good report. Shaksp'ere'e plays were good sermons in a half-taught and non-. preaching age. Hβ had written much bo render virtue lovely, and vice hateful. Modern unbelief would have astonished Shakspcre, for his teaching is soundly Scriptural." As an illustration, the address of Portia to Shy lock in "The Merchant of Venice " was quoted, beginning : " The quality of mercy is nob strained," and Henry Vll.'s address to God, the night b&lore the Battle of Boeworth Field :—

•' Oh Thou. Whose Captain I account myself Look on my forces with a gracious eye, . . To Thee I do commend my watchful sou]. Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes. Sleeping and waking, O defend me still."

Mr Larkina remarked that one of the./ objects he had in giving this lecture waa the hope of inspiring in youthful breasts an interest in the glorioua traditions and progress of England. To us colonists "iier history i» our own ; such works' as Shakspere's prove how God . has been with Great Britain for more than a thousand years, "and her foes hare, been scattered like the leaves of a forest before an autumnal gale." Shakapere's patriotism speaks thus: "This England never has beon nor ever will lie at the proud foottif a conqueror." Shakspere knew and ap preciate-d Christ's atoning work and death. "Now by the death of Him who dieii ior all," and again, "The world's ransom, Jjlessed Mary's son." Shakupore saw that there w-ap, ( an( j i«) no incoherency between the h if .-hest forms of human thought, poetic or.- philosophic, and the strongest faith or the <\ e epest piety. Hie remarks go hand-in-h f ) D( j with the Bible. "The words men /j pea k, and the books they write, like the deeds they do, live after them." Scripture says, "Their works do follow? them." Space forbids further quota* f rom this excellent lecture, which, dealt with the numerous quotatior J9 f rom Shakspere, which areas commo n ■• as household words" amongst us, bub f .ew of us know whence they are derived.. The lecture concluded with the wordfj of V\ olsey, "Had I but served my Gad wi th half the zeal thab I have served my kir.g, He would not in mine age have left rjie »,aked to mine enemies."