The National Register.
London, England, 1813-08-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

MINISTERIAL CHARACTER

OF THE LITE
REV. WILLIAM HUNTINGTON, S. S.

lIF

NEW PROVIDENCE CHAPEL, GRAY'S-INN-LANE.

Continued fron our lust.

J 1.1. '

R: veal—the man is (lead !—to worylcrinz eyes
%voyie awn monster, in his proper guisc.• • • • COW PER.

Then' is something accompanying death that at all times irresis-
tibly solemnly's the mind. Perhaps there is not more of candour
than justness in the adage, often quoted, that counsels us to speak
nothing except in favour of those who are deceased. It is not
without unusual awe that we tread on the scarce extinguished ashes
of the dead! While, therefore, the writer of these payee aims to
enter fairly into the Character of the late Mr. Huntington,
personally and professionally, it will, he mists. be his desire to per-
form this task with becoming deference to those teclings which
eircomstanees unavoidably call forth, and which reflect same credit
on the human heart.

Anxious to please his heavenly " Master," rather than his earthly
‘• mistress," Mr. Huntington " endeavoured as much as possible to
get his dame to live by faith ",—a lesson which few of the sex have
hinnifity enough to learn, an!l which still fewer find patience
enough to practice. If, however, he was not over-indulgent as art
husband, but made an helpmate of her who was the partner of his
life, this conduct might be owing less to his disposition 111:111 to his
situation, which, particularly in the earlier stages of his existence,
was melt as to preclude him from extending to his wife the comforts
and pleasnres she would otherwise have enjoyed. He was an affec-
tionate father, who at one period struggled hard to rear, with scanty
weans, a progeny not only numerous but unhealthy; and who
!coked upon the unnatm.l avoidance of such a charge, though com-
mon in modern tittles, as both dishonourab!e and detestable in the
sight of God. He viewed it as °nankin of the basest kind.
Charity was, strange though it may seem, his failing, " For three
years together," declares Mr. Huntington, when narrating the con-
dition of his finances on his settlement in London, " I lost ground ;
for Satan waylaid me in a path which I knew to be charity." When
he quitted the trade of shoe-making, and, without any present re-
source, began to depend wholly on preaching, he gave his " kit of
tocls" to a poor cobler who lived near him ! Become more master
of the purse, subsequently to his establishment in the metropolis,
he was sometimes stripped of forty, and even of one 111111(11ed pounds,
according to the state of his pocket, time after time, whenever his
aid was solicited by any person whom he believed deserving of
kindness. It forms the trait most excellent in his character, and
ought to be proclaimed on the house tops, whatever were his oft.'ences,
that the exptrience of necessity, instead of steeling, had softened
his heart, whigt was ever alive to the distresses of those around him;
and which, more especially to those whom lie supposed to be of the
household of Midi, prompted him to be benevolent even to an ex-
cess. While thought rich, therefore, he died poor.

His politics were adopted for conscience sake.' Rebellion' was, he
knew, as the sin of witchcraft.' He accordingly opposed himself
to such as were ' given to change,' amongst his own tollowers, with
au intrepidity and disinterestedneis that did honour to his fortitude
and his patriotism ; and afterwards stimulated them to contribute
handsomely to the relief of those who suffered by resistance to ty-
ranny in other lands*. He was most loyal to the state.

• When I saw what a hand the Devil made, and the advantage he
gaine-d by trading with Tom Paine, my soul was grieved and my zeal
inflamed against this motiopoiy of Satan ; and God tilled me with power
and might, by tits Spirit, to -oppose it, &c. Never did I see so evil a
*pith so rapidly. spread befure, and I hope I never shall again ! Many

With all his charitableness, however, he was in some things ava.
ricions ; and though attached to the state, he was disaffected-to the
chinch.

He has described 'dwelt- as being " abhorred of men." Hit
temper was naturally imperious; his behaviour, even to some of his
friends, often capricious; and he wus at no pains to conceal either
what lie thought or felt. His polemical asperity had likewise
• excited foes.

It yet remains to investizate his religious rank, and suggest some
observations in reference to this.

Huntington owed much to the original obscurity from which he
had emerged. The rise of some men is their fall ; since, while they
strive to be more than they are, they end less than they were. The
man who is born a king, must look to die but a king. Retrogradation
was in Huntington's case impossible. Every step he took right, or
left, led him onward ; and had the worse come to the worst with
him, he then was but where he first was. He could not be worse.
His belief was not proof against doubt. Though he could esteem
Cod as his master, friend, and banker, and had frequently called
him such, still, he tells us, whenever ,4 answers to his prayers
seemed to be ss holly denied, his faith in God's providence began to
fiiil." What an humiliating confession is this ! He even acknow•
ledges that he sometimes left off praying, when his requests had not
been promptly granted by God. Such were some of his faults, not
to say his sins ton.
But his merits were clearly not few. Unlike the pulpit parro
of later times, the tip top ministers." as he style► them, of our
day, William Huntington did not pop at once into notice, and
wear the crown bi tore he had borne the cross, but was obliged to
buckle on his armour, and skew himself valiant in the promulgation
of that faith fur uhinh he twofessed to contend. He was conlis►a-
ally durided, abused, resisted, .pelted while travelling, burned in
effigy, and his lite not seldo►n endangered, till he might be said to
staid in jeopardy every hour.' Madero methodism did not as yet
strut in her golden slippers. Enduring all things, he had to sari.
mount the opposition of decided enemies, on the one hand ; while
by his successful persevering he silenced the cavillings of those who
would have dissuaded him, because ." they knew not the impulse he
was unier." We find him ultimately compassing both these points.
He whistled friends; be silenced files.

Amidst an age inclining to latilndinarianism in matters of faith,
even his adversaries have him some credit for asserting the
distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel. Thome who could nut brine
themselves to approve of his controversial acrimony, have never.
limiest; admired his theological fidelity, and given due honour to the
zeal %vitt' which he so assiduously maintained the religion first du_
livi,red to the saints. Justice prompts one to remark, on this head,
that he chiefly desired to have a chapel °fins own, after lie quitted
the country, in order that he might be enabled more effectually to
resist and confine the heresies at that time promulgated in London_

He was not indolent at his post. He studied for the duties of tLe
pulpit, in which he was ' i;l.43iit iu seastm and opt of season,' and,
if success be any criterion of ability, not less eminently great,
Preaching, however, %VOA With him mere. talking,---his discourses
were as story-telling. There was no labour in his art. Action he
had none ; except it were the habit of shifting his hmulkerchicf
from hand to hand, anti thus drawing it across his mouth, and ilk,
hugging the cushion as though it were his pillow. But his was the

of the poorer suit neglected all business, and all care for their fatuities,
till they brought death into the p

• Wherever this spirit cam e, it 'preyed upon the very vitals if god-
liness

Much displen7mre did I incur at work. • Some, like the Gala.
dans, who would formerly have pawed with their own eyes for me, now
viewed me as their greatest enemy ti►r entorcing the clearest truth; not
a few hissed like n vtpe•r in the gallery, "-
ence to him that bruised the serpent's he;
Mr. Huntington collected a munificent
of the Russian Poor.

itorcing rite clearest truth; not
while I was insisting on obedi-
contribution towards the Relict

402

pleasant style of preaching; for in his preaching, as in his writing,
Le often Pcomes.l to lainull in his beat t.

Huntington vas reprobated for styling himself S. S. (Sinner
Surest) bring the degree which be judged it proper to assume in
the University of Christianity. ' Sinner S tvcd,' however, merely
implied, according to Mr. Huntington, the knowledge of salvation by
the forgiveness qf " and this," he adds, " is true wisdom."
66 Whether be will Iw," observed one of this preacher's antago.
nists.l commenting on the same sublect, " what he arrogantly pro-
claims himself himself to he., S. S. or Saved Sinner, remains to be
proved." There are eurpfiries which do not appertain to man.
Mans. years since, Mr. Huntington declared, with reference to this
important point, that be " had no doubt of his own interest in the
Covenant if Grace ;"-- a declarettion, however variously estimated,
that affirms nearly, as nmeh as the singular epitaph by which he has
efe,:erilted himself to posterity. Whether lie was thus individually and
en.pintticalty " be owed of his God," though as " abhorred of men,"
is not ascertainab!e by time utmost stretch of finite penetration ;
hot most he left to the adjudication of that great Omniscient, who,
at the " Grand Assize," will, as the searcher of hearts, determine
the stiite of the departed ! Tois topic should be considered, in the
nican time, even by the enemies of the preacher, as one !noel' too
momentous for the slightest levity on their part; and ;,s infinitely
too aural, at any rate, to become the bandied jest of tho'c who
imagine themselves to he evangt!eal ministers. The night of time
is at hand--eternise Iztivanecs--let the dead rest in his hope.

t Monthti w, 10, November, thin.

Tt is intended to preseni the readurN of the Pidpit with some ac-
coma of the deceased BISHOP of LON1)ON, next weck.—The
ceintpletion vt the /result article, containing a IZeview of the Pub-
lic:itirnis of :qr. Huntington, will, nevestlickss, be given in due
time ; as also observations on the existing dilemma of Providence
Cluipe.l.-altd the rnmonred project uf Wing up a substitioe fur its
late Minister! ONESIMUS.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

AUGUST I.

DRAMATIC REGISTER.

ENGLISH OPERA.

This Theatre continues to deserve the appellation of
dramatic nursery." It has, this week, produced three
vocal performers, two of whcm, Mrs. Cod Kt. and Mrs.
CHILDE, were not total strangers to the London hoards.
The third, Mr. CooKE, brought with him from Dublin, an
exuberant fame, which bids fair to flourish with equal
vigour in the metropolis of England. It was on Tuesday
last, that Mr. and Mrs. COOKE made their first a"pearance,
as the Scraskier and Lila in The Siegx of Belgrade.
To a pleasing countenance, and a figure not unlike that
of Mrs. DicKoNs, though not so corpulent, Mrs. COOKE
joina an harmonious voice, which she manages with cgmsider-
able skill and judgment. Rich in its low tones, it is delicate
in its high ones, without weakness. Her enunciation is not,
however, sufficiently clear ; but her taste seems pure, and
her execution is elegant ; her shakes are peculiarly happy.
In an echo song, composed by Sir JOHN STEVENSON, and
which she introduced into the piece, she displayed a de-
gree of science, which, from her previous exertions, in
which she appeared more indebted to nature than to alt.
we should have scarcely thought she possessed Her recep-
tion tvas most flattering ; she formerly sung at Covent Gar-
den. as Miss Howl'', r.s.
Mr. Coo Kr. is more than an ordinary performer. His fi-
gure is good ; rather higher than the generality of our
singers, and his countenance agreeable. Ills voice, which is
a fine tenor, is powerful and harmonious. His bass is beau-
tiful, and his high notes clear without shrillness. He fre-
quently displays a rich depth of tone, and an extent of
voice, which can meet with no object of comparison, save in
BRA Ham's notes. Ilis manner is entirely unaffected. Me-
lody seems to flow from his lips, without any of those painful
exertions so often visible in other singers. Ile does not
only fill the ear, but he speaks to the heart. He has taste and
splendour of voice sufficient to produce the most brilliant
sounds; he possesses feeling enough to arm them with all the
magic of expression. His science and execution arc equal to
the most difficult passages, and with the power of being
highly ornamental, he has the rare merit of being simple,
when simplicity is required. His shakes are extremely .bent-
tiful, and the most rapturous plaudits and encores attended
him through almost every song. He introduced a serenade
of his own composition in the second act, " Ulla come down
to me," the music of which is elegant, light, and playful,
and which he sang with corresponding vivacity and taste.
But the song in which he displayed very superior abilities,
that which closes his part, and in which a variety of passions
are expressed, Here he was alternately grand and tender,
spirited and pathetic, and while he strongly reminded us of
BRA HAM, he almost compelled us to think that this hitherto
unequalled singer might one day have to fear a rival. Mr.
COOKE'S reception was most enthusiastic.
On .Friday Mr. and Mrs. CooKE appeared again in the
flaunted Tower as Lord William and Le* Ellena, and dis-
played fresh titles to the popularity which they have already
acquired. His address to the " Spirit of his Sainted Sire,"
was full of feeling, as well as of chaste taste and splendid
harmony.
Mrs. CHILDE, who came out on Wednesday as Rosetta in
Lore in a Vilaze, is already too advangeously known on
the London boards to require a minute description of her
talents. She sang with much taste and pleasing effect, but
the character was not exactly one that suited her powers..

In our next we shall give a detailed account of the merit%
of the performers and performances at the Palithcon, •