The National Register.
London, England, 1808-12-11 00:00:00

man who was invited to otliciatc in it. About the same
t:m-, he was chosen Evening preacher at the Asylum, and
Lecturer of St. Magnus at London-Bridge. He continued
nearly eleven years with the congregation at South-Lam-
beth, whose number increased rapidly under his ministry
and of whose attachment he experienced the most decided
proof, when, having exchanged his fellowship for matri-
mony, they voluntarily augmented his income, in order to
atone, to him, fur the forfeited produce of his coke pro-
motion.
Mr. Gardner, hitherto Mr. Panting, was however, in
190:1, called upon to resign his early professional engage-
ments ; to settle on the estate now bequeathed to him, and
discharge the duties of his liking, as Rector of the Seeped
Portion of Westbury, 'n Salop. Cireumstances have, not-
wi:listanding, since induced him to alter the resolution that
he took as lo residing wholly in the country. He now
purposes, it seems, to divide his year between Shropshire
and London. lie has, then fare, accept: d the aepoint-
'mils of alternate Morning Preachct at the Asylum, and
at I"itiroy Chapel ; and he is also ilerk in Orders at St.
George's, near IlatioYer-square.
Fortunately enabled to act independently of pecuniary
considerations, and personally attached to the cause of the
ASYULM, Mr. GARDNER, it' my information be correct,
declines receiving any compensation froin the funds of that
institution.
This geutleman, considered with reference to his sacred
calling, must be accounted in d of the most distinguished
ornaments of our ecclesiastical establishment. His sermons
are not the ostentatious vapcurings of meagre morality ,
but edifying, and almost es:ma:cheat, discourses. They
exhibit very considerable information on the sublime sub •
jests they are expected to illustrate, and arc delivereol
with feelings suitable to the duties they are designed ter
enforce, Their author, never ordinary, is always in,trat-
tive, -often animating, and Sometimes powerful, as a
reacher. Conceded, however, as are the discrimination of
his mind; and the solidity of his judgment, he has been•
censured for delighting in the subtiltics and refinements of
theology s but, for one, I do not feel disposed to comdemn
him upon this accusatioel. There seems no danger to be
apprehended from too rapid an increase of the number of
our profonnd polemics,
While the pulpit confers dignity on the person of this
preacher, person gives additional dignity to the eolpit.
Tall and erect in his figure, and of an interesting comae-
mince, his appearance is becomingly preposseeiing ; his ac-
tom is generally impressive, without diverging into impro-
priety ; and he lIUS the talent of uniformly attaching, and
of occasionally commanding, the attention of his hearers
lle preszits. in evocv respect, a fine contrast to
"The things that mou9t the rostrum a ith a skip,
" And then skip titian a;t4in ; pronounce a text,
'' Cry—' hem !' and readiug n hat they ntaer wrote,
" .11t,t fifteen tnituitei, huddle up their work ;
" Awl, with a veil-hreit whisper, clue the scene!"
Few of these, whom the poet so contetnptuonsly cans
l 0 things,- let it he hoped, are node found within the circle
of the church. The period of pulpit frivolity seems to have
passed away. It occurs to me, indeed, that our present
concern is vigilantly to guard against the prevalence of
pulpit parade. Either of these abuses afilse demand our
resistance.
With all the merits which I find in the public character
of Mt. Gardner, 1 discover in him, at times, somethitig
that is o'4iectionsble. He now and then strikes me tor being
too studied; too anxious accurately to accomplish his pro-
fessional duty. There is sometimes niana,rement about his
manner. If he. were less solicitous; perhaps he svethi be
still more satisfactory. There is the possibility
_of betas
over-excellent, as well as the penance of bei,v, over-
righteous. I wish this consideration may attract h;s no-
tice. Many preachers arc sparing enough of t'N''Ht•'
but I ain much mistaken if, especially as affeefine.
sical strength, this preacher is net too prodigal f,r
pit powers.