Lines to a Socinian Friend: OR, THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ALSO, The Sacred History of Ruth, IN SPENSERIAN STANZAS. BY THE REV. W. KYNASTON GROVES, A.M. Formerly Senior Scholar, &c. Christ's College, Cambridge; HATCHARD AND CO. 187 PICCADILLY, W. Booksellers to H.R.H. the Princess of Wales. 1866. 280.K.226. To the Memory OF A MORE THAN NONAGENARIAN MOTHER, ONE AMONG THE BEST OF MOTHERS, AS OF WOMEN, AND FROM WHOM HE FEELS TO HAVE IMBIBED THE LOVE OF POETRY, These two humble Attempts TO HONOUR GOD IN HIS BOOK, THE SAVIOUR IN HIS "EVERLASTING SON"- SHIP, 66 AND THE HOLY GHOST, AS THE LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE," ARE, WITH HALLOWED AND UNDYING REMEMBRANCE, Reberentially Dedicated BY HER LOVING SON, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. It would seem that a book must have a preface. This shall be brief. If the Author know himself, the main motives which have induced the publishing of these two Poems are truly set forth in the Dedicationpage. Still, it is here frankly avowed that this production is of a tentative character; by which it is meant to signify, that should it happily meet with even a slender amount of approval, there will follow it another volume of minor compositions, partly religious and moral, partly of a lighter description ; while, should this again prove tolerably successful, in that case the Author proposes to himself to publish, as, in all probability, a final appeal for the kindness and indulgence of readers, his rendering, explanatory and episodical, and in Spenserian stanzas, of the APOCALYPSE, or, Revelation of ST. JOHN the Divine.' It now only remains devoutly to pray for God's blessing, through Christ, and by the Holy Spirit's teaching, upon the present work to all who may peruse it. Nov. 15th, 1865. |