The National Register. — London, England, 1813-10-31 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REG 700 ebe pulpit. Nn. 11. Ray your, g Religion wears a gloomy grace ; huieen in her eyes, or langnor in her force ?' Behold tire man v. ho travels in her ways, And gives to Gott the portton of his days Titron'tf on his brow sweet cheerfidness is seen, Warm is his bosom, tind his soul serene !—HoLLowAy. 4 0 NdiNaP. RF.I 7 . JAMES GIBSON, M. A. CHAPLAIN TO THE LOCK HOSPITAL. " We labour," remarks the late William Huntington, in one of his published Letters; ti but the time will come When others will enter into our labours, and reap what we have done." This remark is not inapplicable at the present time. Where a Malian, a Decoetlogon, and a Scott have laboured, scripturally as successfully, other's have entered into their labours, and reaped the harvest which they had Sown. Let us enquire, .however, what are the pretensions of that clergyman who is now raised to an eminence on which the greatest preachers of the last age were contem plated with admiring awe? The 'Rev. J A M Es GI BRON, M. A, is from Wadham College, O x f o rd, and of which he was elected a Fellow in July 1812. His first appearance in the metropolis was as Curate to the Rev. Basil Woodd. lie obtained his present situation (Chap lido of the lock Hospital) towards the close of the year 1 SI I. potwithstanding some competition,' on the resignation, and w!th the recommendation, of the Rev. Mr. Fry; who has been preparing himself for the pulpit of the Episcopal Cha pel, now building at Bethnal Green, on account of the Lon don Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews.f Every thing has here its fashion. It is partly owing to this circumstance, undoubtedly, that the Lock Chapel, to gether with its Hospital, has been for some 3aars in a de clining state ; but it must be admitted, at the same time, that such declension may have been accelerated by another cause, which, although not so obvious, demands the atten tion of those who al es empowered to controul the concerns of this charity. Fashion is not alike fatal to all societies. The supporters of this hospital, therefore, no less than the frequenters of its chapel, might act wisely in putting the following question to theii unbiassed minds.—What sort of preaches have latterly occupied the pulpit of the Lock? Chapel char:ties will be advantaged or deteriorated by their stated preachers. Not only must the talents of the preacher have an effect upon their sabbath gains, either by attracting or repelling of hearers, but his influence extends far beyond this. Occasions there are, on which he is ex pected to plead for the interests of the institution thus com mitted to his care ; and who is not apprised of the essential difference there is between having an able or an indifferent advocate,—between the efficacious or ineloquent asserter of our tights or onr'pretensions ? Be who attracts hearers to the chapel, moreover, may acquire subscibers to the charity ; for men naturally identify the one with the other, and are not parsimonins of their purses where they feel themselves • Rev. Mr. llowels; now Citrate of St. Ann's ltlnekfriars. Upon the ele4 of the Ballot for this Chapl,•:iucy .the nntn►aere were—for Mr.-Gibson 63, i'►'l ti►r Mr. Hovels 13. • t The foimdaticit stone Of tho.'iewiNik Eri;copal Chapel was laid by the Duke of Rent, Apri► the ISi2 ; and it is expected to be *Ito! earl) in the approaching Spring. Pcrliaps it may not be tmayersalli known, especiaily amongst our ge►:eral readers, drat his k Patron of the London Society, and has (Aran- Vuted to its ptcutiiaryaicl, • STEIL OCT: 31. • • . • •• most disposed to' give their presence . Our enquiry is, there fore, an important one. Pati . ons should oftener take the trouble to attend to the interests of the charities which they Support, particularly when connected with preaching, by personally ascertaining the qualifications of such ecclesiasti. cal candidates as, time after time, solicit their votes ; seeing . that it may be of moment what kind of preacher they elect, even though they should never intend to sit under his mi nistry. Such persons should not endure to have tnetr (rages bespoke, in the first instance ; nor yet weakly disp.,se of them, at last, in compliance with musty precedent or with modish example. Importunity should be silenced, partiality dismissed, and conscience alone consulted. Where, indeed, Madan and Decoetlogon, both luminas les of the first magnitude in the religious world, once filled the pulpit, and where Cecil and Foster, though only lesser lights, were content to move in the circle of the readin desk, There clerical declension must, whatever may' be its occasion, he palpably seen, and seriously felt. Amiable in temper, gentle in manners, and sincere of soul, the Rev. Mr. Gibson seems happily qualified for discharging what may not improperly be called the domestic or ordinary duties- of his situation. Ile wit not quench the smokitg flax ; be will not break the bruised reed ! Called two!) to impart consolation to the desponding, and evince sympathy for the afflicted,—called upon to relieve and console that sex whose sufferings stil awaken and must always claim our Most tender regard,—this duty he appeals calculated to fut.. fill with' honour to his own humanity. advantage •to the afflicted. and credit to the philanthropy of the institution to which he at present belongs. These excellent dispositions are even of c.msequence to his Impression while moving in- another appEopriate sphere. Gentleness and tenderness and sincerity, and accompanied ai they are in him with an of voice, really prove most interesting qualifications for the reading-desk. It is during this portion of divine service, accordingly, that the unaffect ed devotion of the present rearkr is communicated to all around him, and subdues and delights those who with pure hearts and humble voices accompany him to the throne of almighty grace! Here, indeed, his piety and ability are eminently seen. Preaching is that, however, in whidt the Rev. Mr. Canon is not eminent. Here be tai's to charm. Deficient he not, as to certain personal requisites,—being tall, not un gracefully built, and possessing an agreeable countenance ; yet is tie inefficient, comparatively estimated, as a preacher. lie betrays no originality of conception, nothing striking as to subject matter; and, while his thoughts are common place. -his language is equally so. ills delivery, at the same time, is. languidly tame. Con4idered with reference to the pulpit, though he can excel in the desk. he is . neither in-, forming nor interesting. There is a species of negative perfection, of something that is commonly good only because it is not positively bad; which baiiies all attempts to define its genus or repress its growth. This weed is radical to the vineyard of our day. Our spiritual labourers cultivate, rather than extirpate, this weed ju:t as if ;hey expected, contrary to scripture and regat'dle:s of expe,tieuce, that meu could gather gram s , from thorns. Let 1.1, then, fervently implore the -Lord of - the vintage, that he would send forth other labourers into his vineyard;—men specially qualified for their great woi k, and whose exertions may yield us some foretaste of that whw which shall. be drank at the marriage-supper ctf the ON EliIMUi.