The National Register. — London, England, 1811-04-14 00:00:00

;4 4 .,e deliverc.d at the Ordination the Rev. I Th*Otriassit . tif!tcs; over the congregational Church at Hammer smith," &c &c.; tr . m tltc Cc , nfcsshin• of Faith contairtedhr votich portyttlet, spoken' by this preacher, the atmve extract is iniltle. There will oz-ceoiott to refer much to thin pamphlet. Orange-street Chaptl, near in which a• ant! a ( 0e": 41. • etergriten, sneeesstvely lnd where the (hints of dile antral of Irneattucitlil ken t up. Before we go more minutely expansively lido the main subject of this paper, justice seems to suggest some notice of the pasto ral predecessor of Mr.Raflles. The late Rev. WM. Hy weft Ertl' had been " by his friends designed for the Established Church), but he became, on full conviction, a decided, though a liberal Protestant Dissenter, from the perusal of the Reverend Samuel Pa - litter's ' Protestant Ditsenter's Catechism ; a little publica tion, which, in a narrow compass," obsezVes the aiverenci Dr. Winter, "contains a full and satisfactory account of the true grounds on Which a Separation from the establishment of the Church of England, may be vindicated." Legitimately dissent • ing, the pulpit conduct of Mr. Humphreyes was also uniformly consistent with the principles and deportment of , the Protestant dissenter. He affected not the canonicals of the established church. The writer of these papers often heard him, and te members some of his discourses to the present hour. Mr. Hum phreyes was unquestionably a judicious and impressive preacher; one who, as such, was " uniformly humble and persevering ;" and who properly " hesitated in admitting conclusions, of which he had not diligently and impartially examined the premises :" so that, continues Dr. Winter, " a manly decision of character, mingled with the most unassuming modesty and the most generou s kindness, marked all that he did." Together with much of whai is termed general knowledge, " his theological knowledge and acquaintance with the Scriptures were pre-eminent." Nor was this all. Mr. Humphreyes " was well acquainted with the world and with the human heart,"—acquainted with the consti tution of man, and the constitution of society,--•which excel !enly qualified hint for his ministerial work. His religious prin ciples were those which are denominated calvinistic, principles embraced " after minute and impartial enquiry ;". and, nnlike many modern preachers, who profess without preaching them * these reiigous principles were conscientiously avowed and openly asserted by him. "It was not in a sphere of very large extent," hiiviever, that this able, faithful, and useful preacher was "adapt. ed to shine." Yet he was well and much known. He sought not the world, but the world sought him. IThe uncommon length of obsrvation into which this article naturally branches, induces me to postpone the conclusion of it' till next week ; when there will be ample matter, as connected With the Successor of the late Rev. Mr. Humphreycs.l .April 13, 181 i. CINESIMUS. THE ART& GUILDPIALL. The Committee appointed to carry into execution the resolu tion of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, of the City of London, for erecting a Statue of MS . IVtilesty (in marble) in the Council Chamber at Guildhall, met on Tuesday last, for the purpose of opening the letters of the Candidates, in order to ascertain the name of the Artist whose model had been chosen, and to carry into effect the directions of the Court there on. It avpeared that Mr. Chantrey was the' sudcessflal date, and it must have been very gratifying to his feeling, as an artist, to have been appointed, at a, very early period of his life r to execute this highly honourable and important W OTC The figure represents his Majesty standing' in hlw robes, in the act of replying. to an Address of the Qity of Lon don, which Address he holds in hi 3 left hand, in the form of a scroll, marked with the City Arms :—ln the back ground is a . pediment, on which are described the emblems of Commerce, Agri...ulture, the Arts, and Manufactures:--and the pediment: supports the Globe (on which are delineated the tracts observed, , • by the principal Cireuninavigators of the present reigi), encir cled by the British 1:1-.T. This emblem if characteristic of the triumphant command the British Flag possesses in evigy quarter of the World—the natural and necessary consequence 01 the ivlendOtir of our Naval Superiority. The' figure of his Majesty is' graceful and well proportioned. Mi. Chantrcy haa'also been particularly happy in the- choice of' his emblems, and pays a well-merited compliment our • loved Sovereign, for that liberal protection whi c h his Majesty halal Ways extended to the Fine Arts. We do not remember to • hive sett' the Globe into enlisted in this manner hefisre, the idu' is grand and - comprehensive, and the ditto:4 the sVitbltiaptcate‘ Lady striking and impressive. I • ebe No. XXXIX. It is not de4rable that . you sbOttld relect ornaments of style, but let them be unsought : it is proper to accept the aids of imagination, but let its flight be directed by judgment, and cor rected by the awful magnitude of your responsibility, We are not conunissioned to amuse the villa and the fastidious; but to pluck the brand from the burning, by preaching Christ crucified! Guard against the fr xt r ones of slovenly neglect in your compo sitions ; and the polish which betrays a labour to exalt the man, rather than his master. In this, we shall do well to imitate the Apostle ; wlto never sought to decorate their subjects with the trappings of a meretricious eloquence ; but the thoughts in spired, throw a splendour over the language emplqyed, initni table by art, and inextingui,hable by tiine.—Vidt the Rev. Dr. Col .yer a Charge at the ordinatioi of the Rev. Mr. Rallies. __.,.. REV. THOMAS RAFFLES, OT THE CONTGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT HAMMERSMITH. The intelligent gifts and attainments of most of the Dissenting Ministers of this age, evangelical or inthpendent, have not to apprehend dispara.;etnent froM those of the Clergymen of the Established Clnireh. Nor does the parrallel terminate at this ',Ant. Dissenting Ministers now seem, whilst they fast abate in dislike to the 'church, to affect those distinctions hitherto cha racterising the pastors of the church of this nation,—to desire the style and guise of Established Clergymen ! Protestant dis senters are emulating distinctions inseparable from established opiscopalians. Lest, however, the proceeding observations should by some persons be supposed unwarranted, itmay be expedients to refer to the Rt. v. Dr. Co'dyer's assertion as to the epithet of clergymen being rightfully applicable to all descriptions of the Ministers of Christianity ; and which asstnion proves, amongst many otor vouchers, how much modern Dissenting Clergymen are ambitious of taking to tilLniselves those distinctions . which were formerly supposed peculiar to the Ministers of the Es tablished Church. "Bigotry- alone can confine a term (specify iut the term Clergyman,) of such general application," contendi . Dr. Collyer, "to itself ;. to any one class of ministers. I catntoe relinquish the term, as one equally appropriate to dissenting ministers, with their brethren in any establishment ; while I believe in the validity of their serrara ion for the work of the mi nistry, and hold," adds Dr. C.," that they are duly ordained."— The present dissenting- miniver (Mr. Raffles) does not. Wee the iatn.t dissenting dc).:y»iaii, for such Dr. Collyer desires to be thought, carry Dis sympathy towards the establishment so tar as to pray fur its clerical superiors; yet the Rev. Mr. Raffles, all though he has solemnly objected to the pomp and spl,-ndour the temples" of the Church of England—toter 44 habits, andt modes; of worship—the superstitious nature of • her numerous forms, ceremonies, and rites—as far, very far, from. that plairr nesi and siniphcitywhieh is the glory Of the gospel church,ancl ought to be the peculiar feature of ,her worship ~" yet,, not- Withstanding-thcse sad imperfections in tlie establishinent, the present preacher can occasionally reconcile himself to ascend a pulpit wherb " the forms, ceremonies, and' ilfefOrthe Church . otrngland - are still observed, and White even " the pomp and splendour of her temple," is kelrsuficiently—strikes the eye t. Pc:reliance the preachir will review and - revise his reasons fur dissent. This gtieesis, howeia, a mire vie*. I