The National Register. — London, England, 1808-09-19 00:00:00

SEPTEMBER 19. . but is now a widower. Having no children, he, like the present Bishop of London ., seems to place a ll his ho p es in the abilities of one of his nephews. Genius however, though sometimes hereditary, is not _transferable. When ascends ' the mantle will not devolve to Elisha 1 So early as the age of twenty-two, if I rightly remember, Mr. Worthington was ordained Minister of the Congrega tion meeting at Salters' Hall. This is one of the principal Diiienting Meetings :in London; and his being chosen, by the members of that place, at so young a period of life s elliriently evidences the estimation in which his talents and c:,.!rarter were then held. duties of the Dissenting Clergyman are comprehen s.. Tyill arduous. He generally combines the• offices of :!ntl.. preacher; his prayers are entirely extempora i, originate purely in himself; and he has to read ai::' i!Ni . ,ound, as well as to teach. He commonly discharges ai v:ice, and without intermission or relief, the services of altar and the desk and the pulpit. He ought therefore to possess qualifications of no ordinary description. If he world competently acquit himself, if he is tk workman 'who need not to be ashamed." he must be able, conscien tioni, intelligent, fervent, indefatigabl e; fearing God," seriously and deeply solicitous for the success of his instruc tions, " hating covetousness, and eschewing evil." His individ , ial welfare depends on the integrity of his conduct, and the energy of his exertions. It k in Prayer, in his nobly affecting and awfully ani mated addresses to the Deity, that MR. W ORTHINGTON emi nently surpasses his contemporaries in divinity. Whether I consider - the suitable solemnity of his manner, his sera pulous selection' of words, always appropriate, and simple but full of energy; whether I consider the devotional lung nificence of his ideas, or the unaffected, and. almost un bounded, liberality of his sentiments, I feel perplexed be tween ray admiration of the man and my profound venera tion for the character that he susiains. This praise may sound loftily, but it is not the language of exaggeration. He is not less happy in his Scriptural Elucidations. It is his custom, during the earlier part of Divine Service, to read the chapter from which his text is to be named, com menting, as he goes along, on doubtful or difficult pas sages. The practice is most laudable, and is productive of incalculable benefits. Those whose attention would hardly be attracted by merely hearing a portion of the Bible corn nsonly recd to them, and who, unhappily, form no incon siderable number among professors of religion, find their r.ilrlositv excited by the comments of the reader, and their minds become gradually .rivetted to his wishes. His audi tors are, it one may here be permitted the expression, al lured seriousness. I am now to speak of Mr. Worthington with reference to his Preaching. Ills maniier of preaching is such as I could wish to see generally pu rsue d. It i s no t p ecu li ar t o M r . Worthington, but it is a style in which he peculiarly excels. Partly pre pared, and partly spontaneous, his i)isconrses have all the regularity of studied compositions, with all the fluency of extemporary eloquence. Why shonld a preacher habitually disdain the admonitory reminiscence of notes; or, why should he, on the other hand, be doomed never to raise his eyes from the cushion on which his manuscript reposes ? If our clergy must read their sermons, why, at least, do they not read them more becomingly 2-1 A them avow th‘.ur impotency, if indeed they arc unable to remedy it ; take up their sermons boldly in their hands, and read them distinctly and openly. Now painful is it to see a public speaker, in one of the most august situations he can oC !upy, nearly as motionless as a statue, and almost mutter ing, instead of inculcating, the most important precepts ever delivered to mankind ! Such is not Worthinzton. Tie reasons, illustrates, ex horts, console s , an i ma t es . Whil e h e i n f orms th e minds and convinces the Understandings, he subdues the hearts of his hearers ; while he elevates and sublimes their coneep • tious, he conciliates their affections, and commands their THE NATIONAL REGISTER. esteem. What is affirmed of a celebrated orator, may be said, in his felicitous mcrments, of this preacher : his Intel. iect is all feeling—his feeling is all intellect. They are not among the circumstances which least enhance the effect of his discourses, the primitive simplicity of his personal ap pearance and the manly intelligence of his countenance. Plainness, indeed, forms his most becoming ornament ; it is, if 1 may so define it, a dissenting attribute ; and it adds to the energy, by contributing to the dignity, of his man ner. What ought particularl y . to be noticed, in the cha ratter of Mr. NVorthington, is the temper of his piety. Had the 4 Spectator ' lived in our age, he would have dis tinguished bim from the " saints with sorrowful counte " nances ;" from .the multitude of those whose " super " stitious fears and groundless scruples cut them off from " all the pleasures of conversation, and all social enter " tainments b as if mirth was made for reprobates, and " chearfulness of heart denied those who are the Only per " sons that have a proper title to it." His is - the 'religion of gratitude; of thanksgiving, as well as supplication. Never does he omit, in the emphatic words of inspiration, to ‘. thank God for all his benefits I" Chcarfulness is not levity ; and it certainly appears more desirable to render religion inviting, than intimidating. Mr. Worthington has, notwithstanding, been censured on this very account. Much depends, in disquisitions of this kind, on individual opinion, or, more truly, on physical feelings; but, were it my province to enter the lists on this occasion, perhaps the dogmas of the melancholics might he successfully com batted. Mr. Worthington, however, has his faults. As a preacher, his emphases are sometimes overstrained, his pauses, though generally judicious, are frequently too pro tracted, and he is apt to sink, now and then, the conclud ing words of his sentences. He is also a Dissenter. I do not mention this as any thing criminal in him ; since he dissents from principle, and since he is bound to maintain, to the atmost of his ability, dissenting principles. Ills general liberality of thinking has already excited my poor encomium, and his political loyalty I think unimpeachable; but I have wished, th:i.t he could be inure tolerant towards the hierarchy of Olio§ country : • Enquiries into the heart, it has been well observed, arcs not for man. Mr. Worthington is broadly nccilud of heterodoxy. Whether he be or Arian, or Unita rian—he is not strictly Trinitarian—l shall not presume to determine. I have already remarked, that he is a. thorough-bred Dissenter from oar Established Church; but he is an honourable adversary, and one whom I should exult to number among its most illustrious suppo:le. Other objections might be slatted. These, however, attach rather to the body of which he is a member, that to any individual member of that body. ONASIMUS. Chapler Coffer-house, Paler- N ust:•e-row: ' l ** A m Icu s has come to ; and hi , favours will not be neglected. Thon,-,h the FOU ND LI Nt; CIL\ PEL is post poned, till a more " convenient Se:VIIII," MigterS will un dergo no trivial scrutiny.—W. F.. ; L. of R. has aL , o been re tched. Of the communication of the latter Correspondent, ON Est mrs has reason to he rather proud. lie will certainly attend to the very sensible and pertinent remarks conveyed in it; and has only to add, that, while he sedulously labours to " disrobe ignorant pretenders and ne,..dri ,Pools," his unxiety to deserve " the approbation of every friend of the British Nation and the British Throne," will, at the same time, compel him not to wink at the errors. or countenance the abuses, even of the. Established Church of England! I.rt this hint suffice. 111 7",- rir 11"." 1)1E1). On Wednesday morning last, at his seat, at Llnglev, near Bir mingham, aged eighty-four years, William Henry Lyttleton, Lord L)ttleton, Baron Frankley in Woreeut,.r-lhire. On Sunday morning last, at her sent, at Lewisham, in Kent, Gertrude Brand, Harmless Dacre, rclict of 'Thomas Brand, Esq. of the 'too, in Ifertforcishire. John Home, Esq. atahor of the tragefly of Douglat, tic. at Merchestou Bank, on the 4th inst. in the 86th year of his age. , 1 '~ . 1 , - . .ryt haakt.•&... ~.~. •