The National Register. — London, England, 1813-08-15 00:00:00

THE N TTONAL lUSTROSPECT OF THE egocopal ebaratter OF THE LATE RIGHT REV. JOHN RANDOLPH, .at• 4111.,./Ift Concluded from our last. D. D. .0 0 Throughout his Charges to the Clenzy, whether of Bangor or London, BISHOP RANDOLPH repeatedly touched on those doctrinal conceptions wherein he differed from his oppo nents. Evangelical ministers have, he thought, "assumed this name most arrogantly a: to themselves, and uncharitably as to others: for every grad Minister will in , ist most on that part of 11e'velation ,which he thinks most edifying to his audience ; and if he teaches, on the whole, the whole of Christianity, no man has a ri4ht to say that his preaching is'not evangelical." Accordingly, during his first Charge to the ( leggy of London, his Lordship contends that " the notions of sudden conversion, absolute election, and the utter insufficiency of our own righteousness, are not the means of producing christian innocence and simplicity of life ;" to which notions, in his Charge to the Clergy of B:Ing r, he opposes "tit:: eomta t duty, the lablrious ex ercise of repentance,—as a proud distinction between the genuine dtctiine of his Church, and sudden and special conver ions. Firmly as I Lelie‘e myself," the Bishop adds, "in the doctrine, propel ly unfit rstlod, that it is filth alone that ju , tifieth, and that nothing 'e s than the blood of Christ can provoie remission of sins, yet I believe that the thing most generally useful to the bulk of Christians is to incul cate the necessity' of an holy and good life, on christian principles." Differing thus from the evarg , ..lical ministers even as to the tenets they held, and unieservedly disapproving of the practices to which tht it abettors so frequently resorted, with the view t.f strengthening and extending their cause; was it not naturally to have been expec cd of the present prelate,when translated to the metropolitan see, that he would omit no methods which might tend,. conformably with tis k:dgment, to check at least the further increase of the sectarists? Whatever difference of opinion has obtained as to the propriety or expediency of the measures by which he eniearouied to counteract them, especially the evan gelicists, his Lordship certainly is entitled to the merit of conscieto ions consistency. Evangelic:sin had called for counteraction. Divested .of par•y spleen, there is not an equi•ahle individual who can defend the conduct of the new sectaries as it regards the establi bluetit. Methodism is by them said to be rampant. Glorying in this avowal, "it is possible," they hint, " that • the Dignitaries of the Church may be at a loss to decide whether the services of the eoangetical class shall be accepted pr rejected; but, we are persuaded, the people will feel no difficulty in determiniil whether to continue their attendance at the plac es from whence they are banished. Should the secession from the Established Church," they add, become so general as tha' its services are no longer the objects of popular suffrage, it will be deprived of its firmest support !" Such is language of the rising opponents of the church; laAguage sufficiently alarming at any time, but which, courted with events, must awaken more than ordinary soliciticde in the breasts of those to whom the conservation of the national religion is peculiarly entrusted. Bishop Randolph was equally explici' on what is perversely called the Catholic Quevion. Conceiving that the Catholics possessed of all commop civil rights," Eras Tm. and that they are also indulged in " the full and free eojay. ment of their religious worship, at which point toleration ends," his Lordship objects to giving them an equal share of power, because, amongst other reasons, " it invades a fund. amental principle 'of the Constitution,—even that, by which the civil power incorporates with itself that church of which it most approyes; so as to maintain religion and good order, amongst its.. subjects, hy. the instrumeotality of the same, inviting and encouraging them to uniformity with it. It is a consequence of such incorporation, that it gives not only establishment, but also superiority and ascendancy to it, so as to maintain its authority. and secure it un the utacks of those who, by acquiring power, might take advantage of any sudden opportunity, or fluctuation of opinion, - to weaken or overthrow it. In this view it is," observes his Lordship, 46 that I think we are all, clergy and laity. concerned in this question ; as we value our happy constitution, and seek to preserve it in the entire. unimpaired." Towards the close of August 18 10, Bishop Randolph held his primary Oidin ,, tion, at Fulham Chinch, when about thirty candidates for the ministry were invested with holy orders. An approptiate sermon was addressed to them ; and the Service itself—.certainly the most interesting one that man has compiled or could compose !--was administered with due solemuity, and with some impression. Actuated by the sentiments which his charges had developed to the world, his Lordship was persisting in the line of duty he had marked out, and, unmoved by opposition, super intending the affairs of his diocese with a vigorous hand, when his course was suddenly arrested, and finally tenni 'rated by ah attack with whose very nature he was unae 7 quainted, and of which he was not apprehensive. Although he was subject to rather severe fits of the gout, he did not remit his usual duties, mid had actually confirmed many persons at Ware, in Hertfordshire, the day preceding his last, when, as he was takh;g'his usual ride, while on a visit to one of his sons, at the Rectory of Much-fiadham, he gave a loud shriek, and fell from his horse to the ground, being struck with apoplexy, of which no previous symptotns had appeared. Other attacks came in fatal succession, from four till neatly seven o'clock; yet in the interval between the first and second attack, from the hour of two o'clock to that of four, 44 he was indulged by a merciful Providence with such a return of his rational powers as enabled him to signify he was not unwilling to die ; and, although he manifestly felt for his afflicted family, who were a sembled round him, his mind was composed, tranquil, and happy." His Lordship expired at a quarter before seven o'clock, in the evening of Wednesday, July the 28th, 1815, in his 64th year. Thursday, August the sth, the mortal remains of Bishop Randolph, having been conveyed from Iladham, were inter red at Fulham, amongst many of his greatest predecessors, and deposited by the side of Bishop Gibson. The funeral service was performed by the Rev. m. Wood, (formetly his Lordship's chaphin), Vicar of Fulham, in a most solemn and impressive manner, his own feelings being evidently much affected. It would be unpardonable to question the integrity of his Lordship's ends, or the devotion of his mind. 'Devout as Randolph; indeed, was the epithet applied to him by no mean judge of his species, and who appears to have written with no intention to flatter the mitre. Viewed as a preacher, Bishop Randolph ministerially inculcated the sentiments he maintained in his charges, Ilis style was plain. Energy he had, %%hen the occasion demanded it ; brit he was quite removed (tom any approxi mation to eloquence. Ills best sermons were rather levelle d at the head, tha n addressed to the heart. Learning had of li elaud "are already A I,T(MST l5.