The National Register. — London, England, 1814-02-06 00:00:00

rEq. CR pulpit. No. 11. Here hurst, Ineffably benign, Redemption's ray.:, Whilst, in a mute amaze, ardiangels hail infinitude of mediatorial love! Here should thy glowing oratory charm, With an tinwont«l histie; as it meets The meekness of the Chri‘tian, his calm eye Wet %‘ WI the tear of gratitude. POLWII E Lk. REV. J. W. CUNNINGHAM, A.M. VICAR OF HARROW-ON-THE-HILL. " IF the history of the opinions and the modes of preaching in this country be examined," remarks Dr. Valpy; 4. all unduLoion will he observed—sometimes rising to the giddy flights of enthusiasm, and sometimes sinking to the mere enforcement of moral obligations. At some periods, the Son of God was the only object of faith and adoration ; in the sermons of . other tittles, the name of Jesus is scarcely mentioned. It seems that, at present, we are rising fiorn the latter extreme: many of the Clergy, rarticularly of the younger part, have adopted a more scriptural illustration of the subjects of their discourses, and a nearer approximation to the unsophisticated doctrine of Salvation by Faith." Christians indeed, it might have been concluded, whe ther as preachers or hearers, could have entertained but one persuasion with regard to the vitally-important doctrine. of salvati;)n by faith ; and yet, as this divine tells us, there has been au undulation, upon this great point, in which the priest hood have sometimes been found fearfully sinking into the mere enforcement of moral obligations. Where are we at this time? Pc►sons who shall accurately examine the present sta.e of rel►gious opinions and modes of preaching, will, perhap , , feel inclined to suspect the reality of thr faith of too many who now confidently profess their acceptance of the gospel. There seems great cry, with but little wool. Volumes arc written in support of what are termed the doctrines of grace, and ,pulpits resound with the inculca tion of faith : but the be!iever who should really contend for the unsophisticated principle of f►itl►,--Iscrting, while ire reproves those of little faith, the posstbiiity of personally apprbmiating the faith that could remove mountains,— such a believer as this, it is pretty plain, would either be decried for his temerity, or pitied for his insanity ! Faith is not the alpha and omega of our good nee►►. Rejoicing in faith, hay log no confidence in the flesh, living as strangers and pil ... ims here below, hoping against hope, seeking a better country, and fighting the tight of faith, are charactetistics which by no means distinguish the religionists of this ge nerwion, The Rev. Jo N ILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, A. M. is, how ever, to be yanked with t hose of the national clergy who " have adopt. 'd a more scriptural illustration of the subjects of their cliscouu-es, 4,,!1d a nearer approximation to the onsophOi fated doctrine of Salvation by Faith." ills ft lends do not claim tor him an higher meed.-- , " Is it fair," demands the Chtis Obwiver,•frankly enumerating its worthies, " tq make such men as Mr. Scott, or Mr. Basil Woodd, or Mr. Cunningham, or Mr. CoopQr, responsible fur all that Dr Crisp, or Mr. Whitfield, or Mr. Wesley, or Dr. Hawker, may have said or wt itten ?" Now, although it is somewhat protKrbie, to say the least, that " 611C11 (Melt" as Crisp and THE NATIONAL R- LISTER. 91 Whitfield and Hawker, however estimated amongst man kind, be found in " the goodly fellowship of the Apos- tles," still the present writer is not so perverse as to insist on. placing the subject of this sketch in association with th s. rejected divines of latter times. Let each man he persuaded in his own mind. The onus lies clearly ‘rith the friends of the Rev.Mr Cunningham, therefore, should lie happen to think his divinity thus rated, as it were, below its proper worth. Notwithstanding this line of separation, tlais middle wall of partition,' betwixt ancient and modern divines, it must not be lamed, concerning the Rev. Mr. Cunning ham, that he himself does in fact halt between two opi nions;' since he seems, although somewhat moderated, to be attached to those sentiments which aie commonly under stood to harmonise with the articles of the establishment. His sermons arc, On the whole, composed with reference -to the pith of those articles; though not without such cautions and limitations, in the application of them, as ma secure the preacher from the imputation of having promulged any thing unadvisedly or in hate. Preaching of this statnp may be consistoot in its diameter, and equally safe for the reputation of those who practice it ; •but it cannot be expected to ope rate ou the s!uggisli conscience, to the awakening of them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death ; and it will be found wholly unsuited to the irrepressible cravingS of those who are ' hungering; and thirsting af er righteousness; —whose appetites are keen, yet whose taste is uncorrupted. Those who imagine to theMseives the effect of the Rey. Mr. Cenningham's pulpit labours, from the perusal of his publl,bed works, are not likely to form the most correct estimate of his ministerial work. The style of his sermons is, indeed, both correct and polished, • but they are not ad vantaged by the graces of delivery, or the charms of voice. He has no inflexion of times; scarcely any emphasis ; and his action is decent—but not not striking, becoming—but not impressive. Being tall of stature, he, nevertheless. cairies with hint an air of authority; while his sedateness of counteneuce, uniformly accompanied - by a corresponding deportment, will always nspire serious hearers with feelings of true respect, tut heneldom rises on the seraph-wing of animation, though aiiinettion, in the pulpit„ is every thing. Respectable as the general . features of Mr. Cunningliarnts general clerical character still unquestionably are, it is the more mital kable to perceive him at all negligent of what are considered the minutix of eloquence. We hear him perpetually sayin " however, instead of vas nog ; and in the Lord's Prayer, which otherwise he delivers with tolerable grace, he protrounces vhich art in Ileav'n," and on which peculiar. emphasis shou!d be laid, as thotigh it were to be sounded whwhott, and as if it were, in shoa t a • mere parenthesis in that devotional formula of sound words. Having seen them pointed out, there can be no doubt but that the present preacher wiil speedily endeavour to remedy such deficiencies. Mr. Cunningham is from St. John's College, 'Oxford; and has been for some time Vicar of liarrow-on-the-Hill, where his professional influence seems already to have reformed the sabbali conduct of the :schoiars in that village. who at fit st formed the least hopeful class of his Hock. lie is the author of an interesting little work, entitled, " Wo;ld without Souls :" also of 44 Observations designed as a Peply to t . Thoughts of DE, Maltby, on the Dangers of Cliculatjng Whole of the,;Scriptures among the Lower Oiders.," .and publiblied a Sermon before the Homily !'•ociety. ONESI:AUS. :he ;lAhe