The National Register.
London, England, 1814-03-27 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REOISTIM.

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dolt that bespeaks his tLorough knowledge of the inspired
text, and his perfect reliance on that promiQed assistance:
which is imparted to those ministers who aim faithfully to
expound it. He has likewise mastered the great art of re-
taining " the thread' of a discourse, without the ungracious
toil of mechanically enumerating the heads. •

Amongst the defects of this preacher, may be mentioned
the practice of sounding " we have," 8:c. as though it were
proper to express the words as "we hay e"-ur ; laying the
stress, also, on the final syllable iu such words as received;
turning too much round in the pulpit, and elevating his
tones to something very like shouting.
Mr. Allen is not, however, one of the still-voiced minis-
ters of the day, accustomed to the " well-bred whisper," and
cautious of speaking out. Ile is not a charming, but a
rousing preacber, Conscious of the awfulness of his charge,'
and the responsibility attaching to him, he feels it imposible
to trifle with the souls of others, as he would shudder at the
dreadful result to himself. Ile is, accordingly, in earnest ;
searching and impressive ; careless of miner effects ; and
" mainly anxious" to acquit himself in the eye of the great
shepherd and bishop of souls
Whoever has endeavoured to comprehend the just im-
portance of the ministerial %yolk, ‘vill not think lightly of
such a preacher, whatever may be his blemisheQ, while bene
ficialitv is acknowledged to be the test of excellence, even
in human concerns, and while, alas ! there is no superabund-
ance of those scriptural workmen who need not be ashamed'
Multitudes still want such ministers.

ONESIMUS.

TO THE EIIiTOR OF 'I/1E NATIONAL rzEt-nsTErt.

Sts,—The prosecutions now carrying on against the
Clergy, having led to discussion on the disc/id/ire of oAr
Chmelt at the present :era, 1 hope I may be a;lowed, as a
member, to feel an interest in it, and to express those fek
ings publicly, without offending my brethren. As a clervty
man and natural friend to the Protestant Church, I lament
tic.. many causes which conspire together to wound and crip-
ple the venerable structure, and shlke the fabric to its very
base: but I feel with equal regret that a spirit of opposition
to the laws should direct the councils of these of cur or./r,
who, by negligence, have rendered themsel' es amenable.
not heeding the admonition of the apostle Paul —" Let et:Li%l
soul be subject to the higher pi;wers,"—“ ror rulers ore no! a
terror to good 7:-orks but to the evil." (a) had every one been
constant and faithful in the exercise of his parochial dut;.:„
this disgrace conl4 not have fallen upon us : the misconduct
of aftio brings the body into disrepute, and gives a
colour of truth to the general charge of sectaris,s, that the
love of pleasui'c and attention to our secular affairs, superscdes
our diligence in spiritual concet n, ; " far where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also." (b)
There are many exemplary Christians among the Clergy
of the present day, " labourers in thevineyard," who feel
alike for the honour and true interests of the Church, Ole
zeal and godliness of its ministers, and the prosperity of
establishment; yet are we compelled to /tcknowledge that
some idle and unworthy members have been admitted t(i the
ministry, whose unworthiness brings into question the sanc-
titv of others. "A little leaven learenet/i the whole ian;p" (c)
I would have those examples of supineness and profligacy
held up to the indignation of all good men, arid the just
punishment of the laws. Suffer them not, my breams, to
choke their iniquities by consorting with those whose lives
are irreproachable.—" Be not deceived : etil communications
corrnpt good mannePs. Aiwake to riehteo,l7ness oral sin rot ;