The National Register.
London, England, 1808-11-06 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REpISTEIL

POPULAR PREACHERS.
No. XIII.

Turn'd the outside of his eyes W white,
As men of inw•atit light are sioLt
To turn their optics in upon'i.—D erten.

The sacred Function, hi your hands, k made
—Sad sacrilege !nu function, but—:a Trade !

ORANGE-STREET CIIAPF.L,

AND 1T

MINISTER 3.

CONNECTED as it is with the nameof Augustus Toplady
—a preacher whose ahlity and energy are out jet lorgut•
ten--I never enter Orange-street Chapel without (01,4,11:-
gig the past with the present, N% ithOUt those recollections of
departed exceileuce which are not always favourable to
succeeding taLynts. lam not now discussing the doctrines
formerly promulgated in this place, by the eminent divine
whose name I have just introduced ; hut, while 1 refrsiit
from diverging into such an inquiry, it may nevertheless
he permitted to me to give to his eloquence the encomium
it deserved,--to commend his siucer►ty, and admire his
zeal.

His successors have been abundantly successful, With.
out pretending to his purity of design; and without his
command of intellect, this chapel, under. twit management 4
lOs been very considerably enlarged, the number of its
frequenters has increased and seems increasing, aid its re.
veaue, as may naturally be supposed, is in the most flou-
rishing condition. Many causes have concurred to produce
Viese effects. Being a trading concern—for such this. Place
of Worship literally is—it was the interest of pinux indivi-
duals, as will always be the case in similar circionstaaeos,
lo consult, in every practicable way, the gratification of
the religious community. Henee their chapel is splendidly
fitted up ; hence, 'yodelled on the system cat Rowland }lib,
their singing is uncommonly ineiodions and surprisingly
magnificent; and hence pastors of every description, of all
s:iris and from all quart,:rs, arc sedulously collected for the
e itertainment of their hearers. From a Cartwright to
Durant, from a Townsend to a Lindell, they, have sums:
si rib rum, the changes of popular preacAin• As, there-.
fore, its Managers pay (and, I believe. pay well) for every
things—forholds, tor melody, and even -for miniatersr-Ais
e.
the tact. is so, Orange-street. Chapel seems fairly entitled to
its present prosperity, and the proprietors of it to th;ir
present. profits. It is as elegant, and (may I add Jan ex,
hdirating sabbath lomw,e, where numbers of hoili .!•x..*
doubtless enjoy, week after week, the most agee;aile re,
ligious relaxation !
Mr. TOWNSEND, whose seniority in this chapel entitles
him to precedence, is certainly one of its most respectable
preachers. His vine°, however, is extremely inonotimous
and his delivery is frequently rendered disagreeable by
hem, which appears in him to be constitutional. lie is
among those self-taught divinm which the cha peters FA'
nerally admire. His prominent deficiency is want of ani-
mation. If be is rather interesting, he cannot be consider-
, ed as at nil energetic.

Mr.. LINDELL does not preach here so frequently as
Townsend ; best criticism must contmplate him ss tiemsntl,
ins' to he distinguis!!ed. Ti:is gentleman•is unquestonsh.ly
one of the mot vrir iu i vo::chers now in existence. Ilia
tones, his cuiphas;s, his manner, his action, his langnage„
are .alike his own. Of him, indeed, it is emincutl} tme,
that

" done hut lkiavelf can he hiF parallel !"
EVCII 11;i learll7ll`,:, for lesraell he really

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