The National Register. — London, England, 1809-01-08 00:00:00

JAN. S. subject by the apostle Paul, in his first Epistle to the Church at Corinth.—" My speech," writes this Apostle, " and my preaching, was not with enticing words-ot man's' wisdom; but in demonstration of the spirit, and in pv,v.er." Valle it must be a !flatted that Mr. Hodgson's lrAgtrage is hig!iiy correct, slit one must regret to find his sentences often studiou,4 conceited and pompously ornamental. He affects me, inJeed, as if he even concerted the delivery of his sermon before he preached it. There is really too much both of the lamp and the theatre about him. La hits be more natural, and he will be more effectual. Mr. liodgson very frequently apologises for the freedom be is required to use in his addresses from the pulpit. must be permitted to enter my serious protest against this conde:icension on his part, however it may consist with the clerical decorum expected in the vicinity of Hanover square; where, perhaps, the preacher is principally ac ceptable 46 Who never mentions Hell to ears Polite." Can it be, as observation inclines to suspect, that Mr. Rota !on betrays unbecoming submissiveness to those whom he contemplates as his superiors in society ; that his busi ness is bowing to grandeur ?—Scripture admonishes him, most certainly, not to despise human dignities ; but no where does it instruct him to worship them. This demea nor is wholly incompatible with the dignity of his sacred office. It carries with it, indeed, too much of the falling down before the images of worldly idolatry ! Rome, in her illustrious times, furnishes to us an example not unworthy the imitation of our clerical characters. Her sons even disdained the salutation of bending to each other; con ceiving it improper to adopt that form of deference towards men, which they were accustomed to render to their divinities. . Let Mr. Hodgson, however he may happen to differ from me in some particulars, attend to the laudable suggestions of .ambition. Shall a nephew of the present Bishop of London, treading otherwise in the step, of his really eminent relative, act in any degree inconsistently with the high vocation unto which he is called ?—ls it for him, ecclesiastically elevated as he already is, and who,hurnanly speaking, has no peers, Is it for him even to seem to suc cumb to sublunary distinctions; and prostrate himself, as it were, to those fleeting forms, which exact the profane homage of the mob of mankind ? 46 TRH GREATEST PREFERMENT TINDER HEAVEN," writes the memorable George Whitfield, in one of his Letters to the late Rev. Cornelius Winter, dated in London, on the 29th of January, 1767, 44 Is TO BE AN ABLE, FAITHFUL, SUCCESSFUL, SUFFERING MINISTBR OR THE NEW TESTA MENT !"-Will Mr. Hodgson dispute this ? I think not. Remembering whose servants they are, and that the humblest situation in the sanctuary is infinitely more exalted than the most elevated station of human greatness, —let the Ministers of Religion, awfully conscious of the importance of their commission, imifor:r.:y assert the dignity with which they are e-verlastingly invested ! Let them talk less, but feel more, of their truely illustrious destination. It is not for. them to beseech, in the discharge of their divine duties, the patience and forbearance of those to whom they are seat ; or to apologise, fashionably apologise, for honestly declaring to them " the whole counsel of God 1" Very. different is the errand of him, by whom " Tizc.violated Law speaks out " Its thuuders !" Certified of his credentials, well remembering whose authority he beareth and to wlioui alone he stands respon sible, he will not, even when " In strains as sweet " As Angell nse, the Ciospel whispers peace." he will not, even then, descend to the littleness of suppli cation., This " legate,oc the skies" must better know both the import and infallibility of his commission. I have to uotic; Mr. tlodgson's manner, or action, in the pulpit ; and I s:tail pas:: some general strictures on the ten . dency of his preaching. Action, like oratory, is best when it is least artificial. Mr. Hodgson's action seems too careful to be sufficiently usual. It is not altogether uninteresting, it is sometimes emphatic ; yet he has the awkwardness of mostly holding his sermon-case with both his hands, and continually bob bing it up and down, from oft and on his cushion. 1k also extends his left, too much in preference of his right, hand. When most animated, he has, owing to the suddenness of his transitions from one side of the plipit to the other, the appearance of bustling. Notwithstanding the measured, and not undignified solemnity, of his enunciation, there is • something hurried throughout his delivery. Either his Sermons are frequently too long, or he is uni formly too slow in preaching them. His illustrations might be rendered more pertinent and conclusive. He does not satisfactorily explain the purport of his positions, nor does he properly avail himself of the divinity by which they are sanctioned. Aware as he mnst'be of the fanatical application of religious doctrines, I was rather surpris4d to hear Mr. Hodgson exhorting the poor to look up to God only for the supply of their most urgent Wants, without duly cautioning them, at the same time, against . suWering themselves to repose in an improvident dependence on the Divine Providence ; to which they so often too 6talfy, though devoutly, abandon themselves. Hanover-Square, it might have been supposed, was far enough from the neighborhood of the Bank of Faith. Mr. Hodgson is, after all, an esteemed preacher ; and many of the defects which he betrays partly originate, 1 am persuaded, in his over-anxious endeavours to be greatly eminent. His public labours arc not only acceptable to his parishioners, but continue to attract the attendance of strangers also. Since, however, he does not regularly occupy his own pulpit, it behoves him seriously to attend to the business of ecclesiastical substitutiou t Those who are most entitled to his presence ought not to be the greatest sufferers by his absence. • Whenever,. therefore,. he is prevented from personally discharging his.frigH duty as a parish priest, let him sedulously dele,, ,, atz, like a popular preacher in his stead. He do, , s-, not fee!, trust, the paltry ambition of shining by etnitrahl. 110 worldly consideration, neither policy, nor t, or eveia friendship; nothing short of indisposition, or incapacity, should induce one minister of religion, vilere his in structions are really desired by his people, often to entrust to another minister the cure of the souls committed to his sacred charge. I cannot now enlarge on this last topic ; but it is full of the deepest interest, of the most awful importance. Janutny 7, 1809. ONESIMCS. + +4. Asticus's favour, dated the 27th ult. vsns regularly received. Dr. D. to whom his communication refers, has not been unnoticed; but, on the contrary, his clerical character will - soon be estimated. Any further hints concerning him will, if just, he faithfully considered,—provided, and " be it always provided," such information or advice be forwarded in titne. It cannot come, however, either too eapficilly, too amply, or too veedily. The subject of it is, at this moment,both interesting and Zonsequential. THE THEATRES. -r- DRURY LANE. 1. 9 On Thursday night a Comedy in five acts, entitled " Man and IVfe, or Wore Secrets than One," was fur the first time acted at Drury Lane. It met with a more favourable re ception than it has been our business to record. for months,. we would almost say years. Deafened by the peals of applause, and the repeated shouts of " Bravo 1" the au thor will, perhaps, wonder at our lake-warmness, when we frankly declare that his piece, though descyving of success, might have possessed more claims to the uobouaded appro bation which it :i!itained. He will probably rank us among the critics whose " hem he does not like," v: ho assumed Discontent as their Inot,lo, and are- - I I= I U . . JAN. S. . THE NATIONAL itVGISTff ....._.. , Y 9 , ~. __ _ _ IC _ - - . --• • - - • - ___. ---- ... .......... - ess: .... subject by the apostle Paul, in his first Epistle to the Pulpit : and 1 snail pas.; some general strictures on the ten - Church at Corinth.—" My speech," writes this Apostle, deucy of his preaching. ' " and my preaching, was not with enticing words.ot man's ' Action, like oratory, is bet when it is least artificial. wisdom ; but in demonstration of the spirit, and in pee er." i Mr. Hodgson's action seems too careful to be sufficiently VSTI-.lle it must be a !tnitted that Mr. Hodgson's l-sguage is ,:isual. it is eot altogether iminteresting, it is sometimes hig!ley , correct, slat one must regret to find his sentences emphatic; yet he has the awkwardness of mostly holding- I,'i often studiousiy conceited and pompously ornamental. He his sermon-case with both his bands, and continually bob- i . affects me, indeed, as if he even concerted the delivery o f hing it up and dovvu, from offend on his cushion. Ile also his sermon before he preached it. There is really too extends his left, too much in preference of his right, hand. much both of the lamp and the theatre about him. Let When most animated, he has, owing to the suddenness of him be more natural, and he will be more effectual. his traiisitions from one side of the p iipit to the other, the l i Mr. Hodgson very frequently apologises for the freedom appearance of bustling. No twithstaaJiu g the measured, be is required to use in his addresses from the pulpit. I and not und i gn ifie d sotemuity, of his enunciation, there is • 4 must be permitted to enter my serious protest against this something hurried thr ou g hout his deliver y . conde:icension on his part, however it may consist with the Either his Sermons are frequently too long, or he is uni- clerical decorum expected in the vicinity of Hanover- formly too slow in preaching them. His illustrations square; where, perhaps, the preacher is principally ac- might be rendered more pertinent and conclesive. He ceptable does not satisfactorily explain the purport of his positiogs, nor does he properly avail himself of the divinity by whirls 46 Who never mentions Hell to ears Polite." they are sanctioned. Aware as he trust be of the fanatical Can it be, as observation inclines to suspect, that Mr. application of religious doctrines, I was rather surpris4d Rods !on betrays unbecoming submissiveness to those whom to hear Mr. Hodgson exhorting the poor to look up to God he contemplates as his superiors in society ; that his busi- only for the supply of their most urgent wants, without ness is bowing to grandeur ?—Scripture admonishes him, duly cautioning them, at the same time, against. suffering iki most certainly, not to despise human dignities; but no- themselves to repose in an improvident dependence on the where does it instruct him to worship them. This demea- Divine Providence ; to which they so often too 6talfy, nor is wholly incompatible with the dignity of his sacred though devoutly, abandon themselves. Hanover-Square, office. It carries with it, indeed, too much of the falling it might have been supposed, was far enceigh from the down before the images of worldly idolatry ! Rome, in her neighborhood of the Bank of Faith. illustrious times, furnishes to us an example not unworthy Mr. Hodgson is, after all, an esteemed preacher ; and the imitation of our clerical characters. Her sons even many of the defects which he betrays partly originate, 1 disdained the salutation of bending to each other; con- am persuaded, in his over-anxious endeavours to be greatly ceiving it improper to adopt that form of deference towards eminent. His public labours arc not only acceptable to I men, which they were accustomed to render to their his parishioners, but continue to attract the attendance divinities. of strangers also. Since, however, he does not regularly . Le! Mr. Hodgson, however he may happen to differ from occupy his own pulpit, it behoves hiin seriously to attend me in souse particulars, attend to the laudable suggestions to the business of ecclesiastical substitution 1 Those who , of .ambition. Shall a nephew of the present Bishop of are most entitled to his presence ought not to be the London, treading otherwise in the steps of his really ' greatest sufferers by his absence. ' Whenever,. therefore,. eminent relative, act in any degree inconsistently with the he is prevented from personally discharging his-high dtit'v high vocation unto which he is called ?—ls it for him, as a parish priest, let him sedulously delegate: %owe! tiie,..e . ecclesiastically elevated as he already is, and wholhumanly like a popular preacher in his stead. He do, , s-, not fee!, I speaking, has no peers, Is it for him even to seem to suc- trust, the paltry ambition of shining by contrast. .1%o• cumb to sublunary distinctions; and prostrate himself, as worldly consideration, neither policy, nor itate;tist, or even it were, to those fleeting forms, which exact the profane friendship; nothing short of indisposition, or incapacity, . homage of the mob of mankind ? should induce one minister of religion, vilere his in- , " TEE GREATEST PREFERMENT TINDER HEAVEN, " writes structions are really desired by his people, often to entrust the memorable George Whitfield, is one•of his Letters to to another minister the cure of the souls committed to his - the late Rev. Cornelius Winter, dated in London, on the sacred charge. I cannot now enlarge on this last topic ; 29th of January, 1767, "is TO BE AN ABLE, FAITHFUL, but it is full of the deepest interest, of the most awful SUCCESSFUL, SUFFERING MINISTER OW THE NEW TESTA- importance. MINT !"—Will Mr. Hodgson dispute this ? I think not. January 7, 1809. ONESIMCS. Remembering whose servants they are, and that the +t+ Asticus's favour, dated the 27th ult. ryas regularly humblest situation in the sanctuary is infinitely more received. Dr. D. to whom his commuiii i (: i i s ti ( o l i er i refers, li rs : h a r l t . s ac i t i e o r t exalted than. the most elevated station of human greatness , been unnoticed; but, on the contrary, —let the Ministers of Religion, awfully conscious of the will 'soon be . estimated. .Any further hints coucerring hint will, if, just, he faithfully considered,—provided, and 'be it always importance of their commission, imior,r.:y assert the g :. vided " such information or advice be forwarded in time. dignity with which they are everlastii . tgly invested ! Let l p it cannot ' come, however, either too elpficilii, too amply, or them talk less, but feel more, of their true!y illustrious too eeility. The subject fit is, at this timinctii,both iuteresting i destination. It is not for. them to beseech, in the discharge and c onsequential. • of their divine duties, the patience and forbearance of those ,VINIMIII to whom they are. seat; or to apologise, fashionably THE THEATRES. apologise, for honestly declaring to them " the whole --sos— counsel of God 1" Very. different is the errand of him, by DRURY LANE. whom On Thursday night a Comedy in five acts, entitled " Man • " The .violated Law speaks out and Wife, or iWorc Secrets than One," was for the first time " Its thunders !" ' , acted at Drury Lane. It met with a more favourable re- Certified of his credentials, well remembering whose ception than it has been our business to record. for months, . authority he beareth and to whom alone he stanus respon- we would almost say years. Deafened by the peals of - Bible, he will. not, even when . 1 applause, and the repeated shouts of " Bravo 1" the au- " In traiiis as sweet I thor will, perhaps, wonder at our Luke-warmness, when we 66 As Angels use, the 6 ospel whispers peace." ; I frankly , declare that his piece, though deserving of success, he will not, even then, descend to the l ittleness of su pp li- . I mtght have possessed more claims to the uliboileded appro. cation., This " legate,oC the skies" must better know both, ! bation which it .i!itained. He will probably rank us an:ong . , Ilie import and infallibility of his commission. i the . critical. whose; Item he does not like," 1.' , h0 1t3...ii . , . ' I have to notice Mr. Hodgson's manner, Or action, in the ,; assumed - Discontent a s their InottO, and are- so iiii - I THE NATiOkii_. itWiSTVf._