The National Register. — London, England, 1811-04-21 00:00:00

'P r . IE - I elle 'pulpit, No. XL. Every pne sees the impression made by preaching In the cow:- .try. One sort of preaching ,tias effectually charvd the charac ters of myriads, and will go on t o change the character of 'the world. Another Fort does not remit its energies; a certain der gree of popularity follows it; but its votaries remain undistin guished froth the world.—See the production eutiticd Onesimus Arlaillned; page 64 REV. THOMAS RAFFLES, OF TOE CONGREQATIONAL CHURCH AT (RESUMED CRITICISM FROM THE LAST NATAQNAL REGISTER.) The late Reverend William Humphreyes, whose character we Lave already seen, departed this life on September the 2Sth, 3806; and 011 June 22, 1809, the present preacher was publicly ordained his successor over the Congregational Church meeting in White Horse-yard, Broadway, Hammersmith. The Rev. THOMAS RAFFLES is reputetilb be the son of very respectable parents, from whose tenderness he experienced the advantage; of liberal instruction; being, after preparatory schooling, placed, with higher views, in the Old College Homer- ton, of which the Rev. Dr. John Pye Smith is the Divinity • Tutor s and the Rev. Mr. J - 1 ill the ReildeLt Tutor. This college, commonly known as the liornerton (Independent) Academy, is emphatically distingu . o.hed, by the It v. Dr. Robert Winter, as the " ancient seat of learning and religion," referring espe cially to Protestant Dissenters ; and it has, during various pc . riods, produced some pf the abject divines of the protestant dis senting church. Concerning his ministering prospects, Mr. B.afßes has given us ample information. From the Confession of Faith, expected by dissenters at ordi. rnore or less, it appears that Mr. Raffles, like some of the test - characters who have preceded him in the same course, tins "the first isopressionshe remembers to have received were of a selious kind." None but the infidel or blasphemer will doubt this. Religion still makes the most affecting and indeli bisimpressions on the hearts and minds of the t oung; and happy ik-it for early piety, when, as in the instance now in view, such impressions are fostered ard promoted, inste..d of b' ing, . which not unfri. , quently they are, discouraged and suppres:;ed ! Render but its dues to the pulpit. Force no soul into it, nor any soul from it. ..Paul was not apo.;tolised till as it ♦tiwcre the ele venth hour; yet Samuel drew the first breath of inspiration. while a - About the tenth year of his age, Mr. Raffles states that his first religious impresiions•were eminently strengthened by hear. ing " a sermon preached by a but pious man ; the mention of whose name (declares Mr. Raffles) always awakens within me emotions of the highest veneration and estet.m. Subsequently to this, Mr. Raffles joined the :vlethodist (WeLleyan) Society ; but, within three years after, upon a removal to Peckham, be coming acquainted with the Rev. Dr. (then Mr.) Collyer, and beimg introduced to his ministry and friendship, his mind, it should now seem,4" became more and more enlightened," ow bag to the " private couverEe and public in.;tructions" of I . r. Collyer,—likewise his " acquakataye with the doctrines of Re velation more extensive, accurate, and correct,"—and also his " views, habits, and charreter mare (Lcided and confirmed."— Perbsps Mr. Raffles is•quitc unconscious of the fact, that he has not only imbibed the religious sentiments of Dr. Wiper, but that be palpably imitates that reverend gentleman's style and n.anner of preaching. But t.l& r...tnark dot:3 not affect his lath. He ha , . made, int he words of the Minister who asked him those questions which clicitvd his Colif , ssion of Faith,'" an excellent professlon, let ns hope, which no yf t unapprehentied con idura. tion:i will shake, kir that the creed of Li; wlll, shtiuld ez • NATIONAL REGIs'T EP.. ••. • • - .ilii4iie ii., Trlsiongtvi to 17': j and the Ralf of his declinini pro we the life declining ace. Let him still renumber, with all this, that lie has pronounced himself ",13 tliaseater, from con.. viction and principle ;—not because I will be," added Mr. R.,:fles, " but because, to ikreserve a clear eonseience, and yield obedience to the laws and authority of Christ, must." Notoriety . should be sacredly avoided by young ministers._.. Tice once young minister of the day, fl arprove I fie manister.pr the day. Whether in or out of an ecolesiastical estaklipluurt, the Embassadors of Christianity may Sid at least one brilhant example in point ;—the conduct of a Feneton, who, haying shone in the pulpit;withdrew to privacy and reflection, in ruder to mature those talents which were afterwards to blaze forth with augmented lustre. Instead of its being disadvantageous to them, it is not desirable that youthful preachers should be sta tioned at the post of popular observations, though they may happen to appear there for a time; but that, having thus made trial of their talents, they should submit to comparative retire ment, for the purposes of examining themselves, and of, benefit. ing mankind.• Now it is to the advantage of Mr. Raffles that such is his lot. May he duly learn the value of it. Let him shun the town, and keep at his post. Players may look for gra-, tification in watching the transient effects of their personal "animation, energy, and interest," and seeing these qualitica diffuse themselves in every direction—kindling in every eye, and reflected from countenance to countenance A but preachers, • withontthe least -" death in the pulpit," must feel ambition, if an ambition it be, of another nature. They must aspire to save, not to delight the world... Preachers of the truth must have their lips touched with the live coal from off the altar. Preach ', ers of this stamp must glow in spirit ! . Fancy is too predomiuunt la the discourses of Mr. Raffles— " Where there is a living imagination," afßrins Dr. Collyel-," in younger life there will always be a redundancy of imagery ;" eautionlng the present preacher, however, to " let its flight be directed by judgment, and corrected by the awful magnitude of his.re4ponsibility." Mr. Rallies still nevds the prudent hint.— Fancy is far 'short of feeling. Action is not wanting in this preaciter, but his action has much of violence. The perpetual shaking, or nodding of time head, communicates rather an irkscanke sensation to those who contemplate him. His appearance is respectable, and his voice good. H.e speaks even zealously, but rather inclines to ra.nt. Charit% would in duce the hcQe that approbation has not yet rendered himpuffed up. Popularity is dangerous to inexperience. Following the preatlAng of Dr. Collyer, the sermons of Mr. Raffles are stroliijy involved by divisions. Time will correct his faults, nevertheless, if he petccives them faults. °NISI= s. _ _ _ TCtolooiCal.pissqutftfon ! ON GOOD WOW. /lfara/ity is the science of Good Wicks, min other words the practical part of religion, and etrallyeasential to the hope of Heaven with faith ; it 7 proof of ialtioh assertion, and to Con vince Enthusiasts thatinoraiity apd faith must be united, stands as incontrovertible auchorPy the words of our Saviour--" / was :as hmegered mid ;le fed me sot, lc." and in this sentence Pith is not mentioned, though doubtlessly implied. Alen who have not studied the scheme of Christian Duty •express 'v der that those who exercise themselves. hi moral duties coutitioally, cannot on that account claim the rewards of heaven without having resorce to faith as an adiunat ; and there certainly are in the world many characters, whose morality excites our respect, who ap pear to have no other sense of religion ; and this seems to me to arise from several sources; • viz, want of early instruction, ex travagancics of zealots, insipidity of the superstitious, levity of the ink c-trarm , and itlitrtStefi matuaava4 the dasiguiug, better ..amg•