The National Register. — London, England, 1813-09-05 00:00:00

. . Together with a physiognomy that indicated the indePen dence of his character and the energies o s i nis mind, Mr. Worthington's primitiv e a pp earance gave a gular impres *ion to his discourses. These was an approximation to apos tolic simplicity, as far as the difference of times admitted of it, in his deportment as in his preaching. Ile was in heighth above the Iniedlt stature, rather thin ; and, when iu health, of a fresh complexion. His eyes were lull of intelligence, penetration, and fire. His voice was powerful and sonorous; wanly, yet touching, and even tremulous. Had it not been publicly intimated, even from his own pulpit, and also by one .of his oldest ft iends, that the late Rev. Ilogh Worthinp,ton did not possess a genios of the fir st st order; and that, sad to te ll , there was a familiarity, bord Fig on irreverence, in his prayers,—had not lie been so de p:eciated and inculpated, and by a friend,* however unin tentionally, the very mention of such defects, after this brief summary of his talents, might well require some apologyred to the Congregation among NS' born Mr. 'Worthington labou so long, and by whom he was beloved so well ! Persons may differ as to their estimate of the genius or talents of an emi nent preacher, though even upon this subject there appears to exist an opinion almost universally favourable to the preacher now in review ; but as to the complexion of his prayers, so publicly offered up, for neatly forty years, every attendant on the Ministry of the late Mr. Worthington, who survives him, is competent to decide, whether rich or poor, whether wale or female. What do these think of him? Without the least exception, all of them, old . or voting. ' high or low, have expressed their surprise, with one mind, that an imputation of irreverent familiarity was attempted to be attached to the pastoral intercessions of their late shep beid. They who knew him long, and knew him best, were, although they admit-cd his preaching, still more edified, consoled, and elevated by the devotional excellence with which he invariably interceded for them at the throne of grace! There is no necessity for the present writer to repeat his opinion on this head, since it has been upwards of four years recorded in the public' eye; yet is lie pleased to add, that it is an opinion in whi , h he is not only supported by the general hearers of the !ate Rev. Hugh Worthington, one anti all, but in which he has been confirmed, if that confil matron NW ere wanting, by the decisions of those who appear to be more specifically nualified to sati,fy all appvehension as to this holm' ttt tit point Having thus cleated the rrayers of Mr. Worthington from the unexpected disparagement of being irreverently prraed, it renotios to give the reader some idea of the doctrine lie preached. Ot the four Sermons to which the Decease of thisl'slinister has gis en rise, it is rather remart able that two should have taken 110 t u ,tice of his theological persuasion ; while the writet of the thitd contented himself w i th stating him to have believed tatote than some men, and less than others — an odd definition of a preacher's creed ! The Rev Mr. Yvans • REv: DR. JAMES LINDSEY, in his Funeral Strnion, preached at SaAces Halt Meeting, on Sul:day afternoon, Aurnst the Bth. 18 Li, by special desire of Mr. Worthington's Congregation, %%Ito were certainly unprepared for many things which they found them selves then doomed to hear' t W. B (7ollycr, D. D. and the Rev. J. Evans, A. M. It is were justice to I.lr. Coker, to say that he hole most honourable testi inoLy to the high qualities whirls were conspicuous in Mr. Worthing ton's prayers. Mr. Evans nuked, that our preacher did cc with humble confidence, and a sari ed fiecdom," addicss Gun 66 under the endearing appellation of his Hy 4VENLY F,vrotor —a merciful and btoevolent Deity;" yet, surely, there was nothing either familiar m irrivcrent in this mode of i.ppro:iching his God ! Have we tot been exhorted to ceniv boldly to a throne of grace? SF, deals more fairly with .us here. " Mr. Worthington," he assures us, " contended for the pre-existent dignity of the Messiah, and the universality of divine love, in the Redemp. tion of the World by his only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Tie death and sufferings of the Saviour had, in his opini o n, a certain connection with the forgiveness of sin, not pro ducing any change in an infinitely good and unchangeable Deity, but as the appointed and specific medium through which the Supreme De;ng was pleased to convey his mercy to mankind On this subject, his favomite passage was— Con was in Christ, reconciling the w,rld unto hinge f, not imputing their trespasses unto thrm." Liberality was with him unlimited. Ile prayed not only for the conversion of the Heathen, but 'entreated of the Di. vine Being to commiserate their superstitions; and to ac cept of their sincere homage, though ignorantly offered up. Christians were in his eyes as one brotherhood. Mr. Worthington has not published much. Only three of his Sermons have appeared in print :—the first, preached soon after his Coming to Salter's Hall; the second, directed Against Popery ; and the third, delivered on the Death of his predecessor, the Rev. Mr. Spiisbury. lle was also the author of an ingenious Essay on the Resolution of Plain Triangles. S(piember 3, 1 8 13. DR AM A TIC REGISTER. • ONESIMUS. ENGLISH OPERA. Mr. COOKS, vim has been re-engaged for three nights. (we wish we migbi bay for more) at this Theatre, appeared for the third time as tN geraskier, in the Siege of Belgrade, on Tuesday last, and haviN displayed his usual excellence, obtained his usual :need of i!orlause. The tranquillity of the evening was however distuii.,.-fid by a burst of disappro bation, arising from various parts of I.IF audience, when Mr. RAYMOND entered the scene. This uri'tspected attack was instantly encounter cd by a peal of applauss 4l, far more tee nerd than the hissing had been. for several minutes to rage with unabated violencl6!, and to This w avfiCe continued render Mr. RAY moso's attempts to addre-s the Bouse abortive. The cries of .4 Hear him !" at last procur,Nl a m( mentary armistice, and Mr. RAYMOND stated, that i ; t. was now fourteen years since be had had the honour of pre senting himself before the Public—Here the audience anti cipated his meaning, and by simultaneous and loud plaudits showed him the grateful sense they entertained of his ser vices amd his merits. Isar from being discouraged, how ever, his opponents, skilfully s attcrcd throughout the house, so as to-appear more numerous and unconnected with each other, chose this very moment for renewing the charge, and - the storm of contention which ensued was still fiercer than the first, and for a considerable time suppressed all at tempts at explanation. Calin . at last revived; and Mr. RA Y• MO ND'S voice was heard asking, " Ladies and Gentlemen, have I done any thing this evening to offend you ?" A general exclamation of " No !" was the reply ; he bowed and resumed his pat t, and the piny was continued. nom that period the spirit of eisapprobation was cowed, and only dared to re veal itself by occasional attempts at laughter, and partial hissings, which Et last sunk into complete silence, and Mr. RAYMOND'S appearance was greeted by unmixed applause alone. The cause of this disturbance was reveaied by its perpe trators themselves, who, in the midst of the uproar, ex claimed " Pantheon" too often and too loud, to be misun derstood. The Manager of this later establishment (Mr. HILL) Las satisfactorily cleared hituself•from the' impu tatiel an odd definition of a preacher's creed ! The Rev Air. Evans ,-.,-,,-- . •-••- — ---___ r ,. have I done any thing this evening to offend you ?" A general • REV: DR. .1 A !v1 Es LINDSEY, in his Funeral Straion, preached exclamation of "No !" was the reply ;he bowed and resumed at SaAces Hall Meeting, on Sm:day ofturnnon, Aurust the Bth, his pact, and the pliy was continued. nom that period the 18 Li, by special desire of Mr. It Congregotion, %% ho spirit of disapprobation was cowed, and only dared to re- vere certainly unprepared for many things which they found them- m :wives then doomed to hear ! veal itself by oeional a!tempts at laughter, and p a rt ial tW. B Codyer, D. D. and the Rev. J. Evans, A. M. It is were hissings • which Et last sunk into complete silence, and Mr. juqiee to Pr. Coker, to say that he hole most honourable ICS Ii- R A YMOND'S appearance was greeted by unmixed appl ause 3noLy to the high qualities whir wls were conspicuous in Mr. Woithing. alone. • ton's prayers. Mr. Evans allows, hulked, that our preacher did cc with humble confidence, and a sari ed fiectlom," addicss Gun The cause of this disturbance was revea i ed b y its p er p e- " under the endearing appellation of his HyaVENLY FATHER —a . trators themselves, who, in the midst of the uproar, ex- merciful and b4 - nernlent Deity;' yet, surely, there was 111)thilig Cksillled " Pantheon" too often and too loud, to be misun- either familiar m irrt vereut in t)iis mode of i.ppro:lebin. , ids God ! derstood. The Manager of this later establishment (Mr. Have we not been Wanted to count boldly to a throve o f grace i 'Hi L t.) Las satisfactorily cleared himself from the imputatiel , . • - ,