The National Register. — London, England, 1814-05-22 00:00:00

TI4E NATIONAL REGISTER . NTAY 29. ebe pulpit. No. 1 E. Far inoi,t in man, And most tif all in him that tahli.ter• Anti serves the altar, tr• in rue sold I Innth A!I afTvitatic , n. 'Tis my perfect -corn ; Object of ruy noplacuble di.gust! REV. JAMES RUDGE, M. A. Cowrzu. N iNisTrn .114ZD LECIUR:II. OF Wl'. ANNE'S, LINEIIOCSE. Charity sermons are regular confluits for pulpit folly. It is rea'ly surPt icing, and, were pulpits less portentous things, it might tat n m:t amusing enough at the same time, to witness some of the numerous pet formances of this sot t, which, year by year, give occasion for so many of otherwise "grave clerks" to expose their own weakness, and lower the sacred dignity of that holy calling which they are never theless aiming to raise. Preachers thus become classed with players. Hence the christian spectator feels " induced to describe a preacher with as much minuteness as be w-uld an actor,—to consider the pulpit as a stage, on which he exhibits himself; and " even " the temple of Clod as a theatre, where the exhibition takes place." Finding the tem ple so diverted from its legitimate use, its frequenters are next induced to . forget its design. The Rev.. James nudge, M. A. is not altogether uncon cerned in the observations thus introductorily thrown out, seeing that he has derived . some distinction from being ranked among the leading charity preachers of the times. Mr. Rudge becamo in the first instance curate, afterwards lecturer, and is now Minister of St. Anne's, Lithehotise. He still sustains the afternoon le:turesbip of that church ; and has inoreover the honour of being a chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke (,f Kent.. Upwaids of four years have elapsed since “an old school feLow" of the Minister of Limehouse expressed a wish that the present writer would undct take some " clerical strictures" on his preaching, which was " much followed." The attention of the pulpit critic has been accordingly directed to the " par ticular 'neat her" thus obligingly recommended to his notice, but whose popularity should otherwise have pointed him out as an individual of some importance in the present state of the clerical world. Whether the correspondent who for merly described himself as "an old schoolfellow" of the Rey. Mr. nudge's, concerning whose preaching he wished to obtain some decision, will be satisfied on thii point, 'the pulpit Critic' mar reasonably doubt; even though "an old school-fellow" then professed tb " place much reliance on these clerical criticisms," and approved of the writer's " ge neral sentiments." ..... Much commendable pains have been latterly bestowed by Christian ministers, whether in praying or preaching, an the inechanis . m of delivery, which appeals to he better under stood, and more successfully acted upon, than at any former period of the church. 'Clerical elocution is univet sally cut. tivated. While flits attention is paid to delivery, however, perhaps it may be estimated too much. Hence the accom plished preacher, with all his skill, is continually in danger fif sacrificing sense to sound, and the awful lustre of truth, to the tinsel spendour of grace ; of. becoiping, in fine, as the tinkling. cymbal, or the sounding brass, to perishing souls ! Stature is in favour of Mr. Rudge. He is tall, good looking, and in other points i)crsonable';•yet there is nothing pf expression in his features 7 His denleatiOur is sufficiently circumspect ; his carriage is stately ; while in his delivery 3.13 he sedulously endeavours to suit the ac ion to the word. and the word to the action. *So few preachers ate accustomed to overprav our Saviour's prescribed prayer, even in the church, that it might appear to some critics not expedient to object to this supererogatory excellence on the part of Mr. Rudge. But extremes arc always wrong This form of Prayer has not the same etTect from the lips of the reader, as from *hose of the preacher; it is not the same in the pulpit, as in the desk. Though in the desk it may be most eligible that this prayer " should be pronounced with a loud and audible voice." the case is very different in the pulpit, whereiu it would seem as it ksotne tc) hear it enuncia . ed thron., , :ltout "in a grave, uniform, and regular tone," as it would be absurd to find "pauses made for the use of the congregatiou," knowing this to be the period of worship in which the latter can take no overt part in the petitions offered up. Nor is strength of voice by any means necessary to the excelling of him wh: , here offiziall‘ . prefers this intercessory form of words, which more frequently tequires the tremulousness of imploration ; and which the sincerest christian will never choose to ir utter without feeling of the deepest awe, as implying his iguorance in asking even for those things which most we need. Misplaced emphasis, and an injudicious intonation are not the least pardonable offences in some accomplished ministers. Mr. Rudge's sermons, for instance, are sometimes not merely -undivided but unarranged ; and, finally, u ['applied. Ills exordiums are, however, judicious; and. evince an acquaint ance with his general subjects, that would induce the belief of Ws being qualified to discuss them with more solidity and efficacy. lie undervalues, apparently, ratiocinative weight. He exercises not, therefore, the higher powers of reasoning, but rather grasps at an accumulation of metaphor, that imparts to his langnage the character of tawdriness, whit lt,while ix offends the well-regulated mind, can serve only to bewilder the ult. informed. His pauses arecarefully measured ; his transitions, thinigh seemingly abrupt, ale artificially made ; and the de livery of his sermons too palpably approaches to that species of rhetorical execution which owes its hri!liance to the cir cumstance of being preconcerted at the glass. Such at least it seems. Swelling with their own sufficiency, while fotgetful of their legitimate aim, how small appears to be the number of those preachers who indeed strive for the prize of their high calling! They are not simply in the world, sheep among wolves, but they are really of the world. They can contOrm to the custom of the world, respect its vain opin.ons, and be gratified with the portion of honour it may he pleased to confer on them. What can they promise to themselves in the end ? Adthira. tioo, applause, are not really objects for the christian Mi nistry. Mr. nudge has published five single Sermons, in which ho evinces hi.nself orthodox in his faith; and he Is preparing for publication a Course of Lectures qn the Creed, preached in the parish church of SLA tine, Litnehouse, in the year 1809. ON ESINUS. It is confidently reported that a difficulty has occurred its the progress of a certain union, ira which the public are deeply interested, the illustrious intended Brhlc requir ing her residence in England. as a sine qua non of her as The presence of an IlluStrions Female Relative at the tial ceremony, as also understood be regarded as an sential part of the arrangeMent.—ft is also reported, tha, gentleman of high distinction, who came to Englnd, a weeks since ; inces-nito, has quitted it iu the same mantle! cs-• hats L fetes :r