The National Register. — London, England, 1813-10-17 00:00:00

OCT. 111._. Cie pulpit. - No 10. With evangelic eloquence be %raring, With reason %%on ns, and with meekness charmg. LANUI4ORNE. I?Er. BENJAMIN VALE", CURATE OF ST. CLEMENT DANES; Axl) NIORNI.NG PRFAUIIEft AT TILE FREE CHAPEL, WEST STRi7.ET, ST. GILES'S. Except in the article of reading prayers, there seem few churches that ate better served than St. Clement's. It is too evident, however, that the best of readers are not com monly to he met with in this church, whether as to conduct Or talents, but that its desk appears to be sometimes supplied, with undiscriminating haste, from that celebrated emporium where " men of cloth who want promotion, %Vitli those who wisii assistance in devotion, Pin up thcir • wants and W•anted' to the wall, The Lowe by some yelep'd the parsons' house of Charity is said to cover a multitude of sins; and, there- I fore, as we must suppose that chariti,ble considerations I could alone induce the clerical purveyors of this popular parish so frequently to employ incompetent leaders, by en listing the halt, maimed, and blind, in the service of the reading-desk, it would, perhaps, be considered as ungene rous to animadvert on so amiable a trait in their character. This is a circumstance, nevertheless, which, as noticed by every one, it became impossible fur the pulpit critic to pass any longer in silence. It is happy for the parishioners of St. Clement's, consider ing the state of their reading-desk, t h at their pulpit is in better hands. They have the consolation of possessing an able rector for their morning preacher, a popular clergy man for their afternoon lecturer, and, when they want him, a promising youog divine, called now their curate, who is eminently qualified to fill up any chasms which circumstances may occasion in the hortatory department of the church. Respecting the Rev BENJAMIN VALE, thus introduced to the reader of these critiques, custom here requires it to be premised that he is from Christ's College, in the Univer sity of Cambridge; whence he came to the metropolis, as successor to the Rev John Sheppard, who has been for same months the Minister of Dartmouth Chapel, Black heath. Nature has not imparted to the present preacher these per sonal requisites which distinguish ti . .e true orat:x. Ile is even below the middle stature, predisposed to corprder re, with but a weak voice, and a countenance, although pleasing, not marked or expressive. Shortness is alone much to the ens advantage of a pterlic speaker, particularly in preaching; since his person must of necessity he elevated so as to en danger his standing, or, pulpits not being constructrd with due regard to title preachers, the cushion will effec'ually prevent both the proper display of person and the corres ponding eloquence of action. Intellectual superiority ever delights in triumphing over personal impeditnents. ith all his disadvatvagei, there fore. the present preacher is likely to become an orna ment to his profession, and an instfunieut of righteousrws , in the church. Ills manner b.s.peaks him t.ineere; his enun ciation, though somewhat slow. is tus , ive as well as ,dis tinct ; his action, notwithstanding its iestricted.i!'ss, is at once graceful and dignified; and 11.6 •courses ale i.lterest ing, informing, and evangelical. The Rev. Mr. Vale, commonly with yo9ng preachers, seems must at home on the evidences of religion, though in TIM NATIONAL REC . . .''' . .1 • • la a 0 . . . . . • 0 I EPIO R.l M. connection with its doetrities ; and discovers a peculiar ap titude for this branch of theological instruction. still so much needed even in our day of christian splendour, and al ways so important to inexperienced minds. While hirn , elf is but growing in gtace, thi4 is, perhais, bit Safest pails. Let him not discover too much anxiety, nevertheless; in combatting objections, while he is proceeding in by conjuring up the phantoms of scepticism, and the maws of criticism, for the sake of acquiring the reputation of having once more dispatched them to rest ! The generality of hearers are, happily for their comfort, still unacquainted with the cavils of philusophists and the quibbles of school men : they want not to be furnished with the subtleties of disputation ; and they are content, re;pecting plrilosophista. to know, and know no more, tbrit Bible true, A truth the bri:liant sceptic never kuctv!" Observing its breaks, one is inclined to irCer that this preacher's voice is yet on the change, that it has not attained to its full strength, and requires him, of course, whenever he may preach in large churches, to to circumspect as tl its application. He will do well to bear this in mind, Al though his voice is evidently far from strong, Mr. Vgle, out g sing its powers, may, by his perorations at least, so weaken its stamina as materially to affect his health and his halms- mon. The reverend Mr. Vale betrays not, at present, any symp• toms of that professional puppyism which seems too prevalent amongst the rising divine.; of our day. Let him religiously watch against this sin. He is now a very promising preach er; and, with but few faults, he may hereafter become art eminent one. Hiving, in the outset of this paper, noticed the manner is which the prayers of the establishment are sometimes slurred over at. St. Clement Danes, it now remains fur me, iu conclu— sion, to reprobate the total disregard of the pew-openers; both towards the poor who statedly attend this church, and to the occasional accommodation of strangers. St. Clement's is one of our most centrical churches; and, considering that it is not overcrowded, but that, although respectably filled. there is room enough and to spare, it would be as creditable as beneficial to direct that all possible politeness, touching the matter of seating, should, from time to time, be uni formly evinced on the part of those to whom the business of pew-opening is here entrusted. Our hewers of wood and drawers of water should be taught to know their stations in the sanctuary; nor should the door-keepers, in the House of the Lord, be either too proud or too remiss for the execution of their duty. ONESIMUS. C IRISTIAN MEA LNIENT. WhO, NN•lan his son but asks for bread, %%limid give him stone?' the Sallow-said: Scripture one Menhurn Who, ask'd for bread, provide us stone 3! , MUM. T E PnR A ill LIT NTL R ! N A P US'e. Of riCtOry to botiSt, But now he tells a ditr'rent story ; Content to lTlitlch amity his host " Coved with Mud." itilteud of If Glory!" It is understood, that shortly atter the meeting of Parliament, s message will be sent down by (Le Princt. Regent, rec.,tilineteling a provi.ou for au ottended Charlotte in take effect iron, the 7th of oess koing attained the ake other competent Antlioritie , , ;o altinnie and maintain an inci tesputithiig 541111 b u r ekvati:4 - J abikhintlit for the Pi charlotte, r January neat, when 114.1 1:1)) . 41 1104- fixed by her ltuy;il Veil hu.r, asid the fo r lII'S' 11latiffity, SIIO7II be enabled .1 clypemlelit hoom•boltl, on a stale cop . rol,k iu the State. ~ • • ■