The National Register.
London, England, 1809-01-08 00:00:00

JAN. S.

subject by the apostle Paul, in his first Epistle to the
Church at Corinth.—" My speech," writes this Apostle,
" and my preaching, was not with enticing words-ot man's'
wisdom; but in demonstration of the spirit, and in pv,v.er."
Valle it must be a !flatted that Mr. Hodgson's lrAgtrage is
hig!iiy correct, slit one must regret to find his sentences
often studiou,4 conceited and pompously ornamental. He
affects me, inJeed, as if he even concerted the delivery of
his sermon before he preached it. There is really too
much both of the lamp and the theatre about him. La
hits be more natural, and he will be more effectual.

Mr. liodgson very frequently apologises for the freedom
be is required to use in his addresses from the pulpit.
must be permitted to enter my serious protest against this
conde:icension on his part, however it may consist with the
clerical decorum expected in the vicinity of Hanover-
square; where, perhaps, the preacher is principally ac-
ceptable

46 Who never mentions Hell to ears Polite."

Can it be, as observation inclines to suspect, that Mr.
Rota !on betrays unbecoming submissiveness to those whom
he contemplates as his superiors in society ; that his busi-
ness is bowing to grandeur ?—Scripture admonishes him,
most certainly, not to despise human dignities ; but no-
where does it instruct him to worship them. This demea-
nor is wholly incompatible with the dignity of his sacred
office. It carries with it, indeed, too much of the falling
down before the images of worldly idolatry ! Rome, in her
illustrious times, furnishes to us an example not unworthy
the imitation of our clerical characters. Her sons even
disdained the salutation of bending to each other; con-
ceiving it improper to adopt that form of deference towards
men, which they were accustomed to render to their
divinities.

. Let Mr. Hodgson, however he may happen to differ from
me in some particulars, attend to the laudable suggestions
of .ambition. Shall a nephew of the present Bishop of
London, treading otherwise in the step, of his really
eminent relative, act in any degree inconsistently with the
high vocation unto which he is called ?—ls it for him,
ecclesiastically elevated as he already is, and who,hurnanly
speaking, has no peers, Is it for him even to seem to suc-
cumb to sublunary distinctions; and prostrate himself, as
it were, to those fleeting forms, which exact the profane
homage of the mob of mankind ?
46 TRH GREATEST PREFERMENT TINDER HEAVEN," writes
the memorable George Whitfield, in one of his Letters to
the late Rev. Cornelius Winter, dated in London, on the
29th of January, 1767, 44 Is TO BE AN ABLE, FAITHFUL,
SUCCESSFUL, SUFFERING MINISTBR OR THE NEW TESTA-
MENT !"-Will Mr. Hodgson dispute this ? I think not.
Remembering whose servants they are, and that the
humblest situation in the sanctuary is infinitely more
exalted than the most elevated station of human greatness,
—let the Ministers of Religion, awfully conscious of the
importance of their commission, imifor:r.:y assert the
dignity with which they are e-verlastingly invested ! Let
them talk less, but feel more, of their truely illustrious
destination. It is not for. them to beseech, in the discharge
of their divine duties, the patience and forbearance of those
to whom they are seat ; or to apologise, fashionably
apologise, for honestly declaring to them " the whole
counsel of God 1" Very. different is the errand of him, by
whom

" Tizc.violated Law speaks out
" Its thuuders !"
Certified of his credentials, well remembering whose
authority he beareth and to wlioui alone he stands respon-
sible, he will not, even when

" In strains as sweet
" As Angell nse, the Ciospel whispers peace."
he will not, even then, descend to the littleness of suppli-
cation., This " legate,oc the skies" must better know both
the import and infallibility of his commission.
I have to uotic; Mr. tlodgson's manner, or action, in the

pulpit ; and I s:tail pas:: some general strictures on the ten-
.
dency of his preaching.
Action, like oratory, is best when it is least artificial.
Mr. Hodgson's action seems too careful to be sufficiently
usual. It is not altogether uninteresting, it is sometimes
emphatic ; yet he has the awkwardness of mostly holding
his sermon-case with both his hands, and continually bob-
bing it up and down, from oft and on his cushion. 1k also
extends his left, too much in preference of his right, hand.
When most animated, he has, owing to the suddenness of
his transitions from one side of the plipit to the other, the
appearance of bustling. Notwithstanding the measured,
and not undignified solemnity, of his enunciation, there is
• something hurried throughout his delivery.
Either his Sermons are frequently too long, or he is uni-
formly too slow in preaching them. His illustrations
might be rendered more pertinent and conclusive. He
does not satisfactorily explain the purport of his positions,
nor does he properly avail himself of the divinity by which
they are sanctioned. Aware as he mnst'be of the fanatical
application of religious doctrines, I was rather surpris4d
to hear Mr. Hodgson exhorting the poor to look up to God
only for the supply of their most urgent Wants, without
duly cautioning them, at the same time, against. suWering
themselves to repose in an improvident dependence on the
Divine Providence ; to which they so often too 6talfy,
though devoutly, abandon themselves. Hanover-Square,
it might have been supposed, was far enough from the
neighborhood of the Bank of Faith.
Mr. Hodgson is, after all, an esteemed preacher ; and
many of the defects which he betrays partly originate, 1
am persuaded, in his over-anxious endeavours to be greatly
eminent. His public labours arc not only acceptable to
his parishioners, but continue to attract the attendance
of strangers also. Since, however, he does not regularly
occupy his own pulpit, it behoves him seriously to attend
to the business of ecclesiastical substitutiou t Those who
are most entitled to his presence ought not to be the
greatest sufferers by his absence. • Whenever,. therefore,.
he is prevented from personally discharging his.frigH duty
as a parish priest, let him sedulously dele,,,,atz,
like a popular preacher in his stead. He do,,s-, not fee!,
trust, the paltry ambition of shining by etnitrahl. 110
worldly consideration, neither policy, nor t, or eveia
friendship; nothing short of indisposition, or incapacity,
should induce one minister of religion, vilere his in-
structions are really desired by his people, often to entrust
to another minister the cure of the souls committed to his
sacred charge. I cannot now enlarge on this last topic ;
but it is full of the deepest interest, of the most awful
importance.
Janutny 7, 1809. ONESIMCS.
+ +4. Asticus's favour, dated the 27th ult. vsns regularly
received. Dr. D. to whom his communication refers, has not
been unnoticed; but, on the contrary, his clerical character
will-soon be estimated. Any further hints concerning him will,
if just, he faithfully considered,—provided, and " be it always
provided," such information or advice be forwarded in titne.
It cannot come, however, either too eapficilly, too amply, or
too veedily. The subject of it is, at this moment,both interesting
and Zonsequential.

THE THEATRES.

-r-
DRURY LANE.

1.
9

On Thursday night a Comedy in five acts, entitled " Man
and IVfe, or Wore Secrets than One," was fur the first time
acted at Drury Lane. It met with a more favourable re-
ception than it has been our business to record. for months,.
we would almost say years. Deafened by the peals of
applause, and the repeated shouts of " Bravo 1" the au-
thor will, perhaps, wonder at our lake-warmness, when we
frankly declare that his piece, though descyving of success,
might have possessed more claims to the uobouaded appro-
bation which it :i!itained. He will probably rank us among
the critics whose " hem he does not like," v: ho
assumed Discontent as their Inot,lo, and are- -

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JAN. S. . THE NATIONAL itVGISTff ....._.. ,
Y 9 , ~.
__ _ _ IC
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--• • - - • - ___. ---- ... ..........-ess:
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subject by the apostle Paul, in his first Epistle to the Pulpit : and 1 snail pas.; some general strictures on the ten-
Church at Corinth.—" My speech," writes this Apostle, deucy of his preaching. '
" and my preaching, was not with enticing words.ot man's ' Action, like oratory, is bet when it is least artificial.
wisdom ; but in demonstration of the spirit, and in pee er." i Mr. Hodgson's action seems too careful to be sufficiently
VSTI-.lle it must be a !tnitted that Mr. Hodgson's l-sguage is ,:isual. it is eot altogether iminteresting, it is sometimes
hig!ley, correct, slat one must regret to find his sentences emphatic; yet he has the awkwardness of mostly holding- I,'i
often studiousiy conceited and pompously ornamental. He his sermon-case with both his bands, and continually bob-
i.
affects me, indeed, as if he even concerted the delivery of hing it up and dovvu, from offend on his cushion. Ile also
his sermon before he preached it. There is really too extends his left, too much in preference of his right, hand.
much both of the lamp and the theatre about him. Let When most animated, he has, owing to the suddenness of
him be more natural, and he will be more effectual. his traiisitions from one side of the p iipit to the other, the li
Mr. Hodgson very frequently apologises for the freedom appearance of bustling. NotwithstaaJiug the measured,
be is required to use in his addresses from the pulpit. I and not undignified sotemuity, of his enunciation, there is • 4
must be permitted to enter my serious protest against this something hurried throughout his delivery.
conde:icension on his part, however it may consist with the Either his Sermons are frequently too long, or he is uni-
clerical decorum expected in the vicinity of Hanover- formly too slow in preaching them. His illustrations
square; where, perhaps, the preacher is principally ac- might be rendered more pertinent and conclesive. He
ceptable does not satisfactorily explain the purport of his positiogs,
nor does he properly avail himself of the divinity by whirls
46 Who never mentions Hell to ears Polite." they are sanctioned. Aware as he trust be of the fanatical
Can it be, as observation inclines to suspect, that Mr. application of religious doctrines, I was rather surpris4d
Rods !on betrays unbecoming submissiveness to those whom to hear Mr. Hodgson exhorting the poor to look up to God
he contemplates as his superiors in society ; that his busi- only for the supply of their most urgent wants, without
ness is bowing to grandeur ?—Scripture admonishes him, duly cautioning them, at the same time, against. suffering iki
most certainly, not to despise human dignities; but no- themselves to repose in an improvident dependence on the
where does it instruct him to worship them. This demea- Divine Providence ; to which they so often too 6talfy,
nor is wholly incompatible with the dignity of his sacred though devoutly, abandon themselves. Hanover-Square,
office. It carries with it, indeed, too much of the falling it might have been supposed, was far enceigh from the
down before the images of worldly idolatry ! Rome, in her neighborhood of the Bank of Faith.
illustrious times, furnishes to us an example not unworthy Mr. Hodgson is, after all, an esteemed preacher ; and
the imitation of our clerical characters. Her sons even many of the defects which he betrays partly originate, 1
disdained the salutation of bending to each other; con- am persuaded, in his over-anxious endeavours to be greatly
ceiving it improper to adopt that form of deference towards eminent. His public labours arc not only acceptable to I
men, which they were accustomed to render to their his parishioners, but continue to attract the attendance
divinities. of strangers also. Since, however, he does not regularly .
Le! Mr. Hodgson, however he may happen to differ from occupy his own pulpit, it behoves hiin seriously to attend
me in souse particulars, attend to the laudable suggestions to the business of ecclesiastical substitution 1 Those who ,
of .ambition. Shall a nephew of the present Bishop of are most entitled to his presence ought not to be the
London, treading otherwise in the steps of his really ' greatest sufferers by his absence. ' Whenever,. therefore,.
eminent relative, act in any degree inconsistently with the he is prevented from personally discharging his-high dtit'v
high vocation unto which he is called ?—ls it for him, as a parish priest, let him sedulously delegate: %owe! tiie,..e.
ecclesiastically elevated as he already is, and wholhumanly like a popular preacher in his stead. He do,,s-, not fee!, I
speaking, has no peers, Is it for him even to seem to suc- trust, the paltry ambition of shining by contrast. .1%o•
cumb to sublunary distinctions; and prostrate himself, as worldly consideration, neither policy, nor itate;tist, or even
it were, to those fleeting forms, which exact the profane friendship; nothing short of indisposition, or incapacity, .
homage of the mob of mankind ? should induce one minister of religion, vilere his in- ,
" TEE GREATEST PREFERMENT TINDER HEAVEN," writes structions are really desired by his people, often to entrust
the memorable George Whitfield, is one•of his Letters to to another minister the cure of the souls committed to his -
the late Rev. Cornelius Winter, dated in London, on the sacred charge. I cannot now enlarge on this last topic ;
29th of January, 1767, "is TO BE AN ABLE, FAITHFUL, but it is full of the deepest interest, of the most awful
SUCCESSFUL, SUFFERING MINISTER OW THE NEW TESTA- importance.
MINT !"—Will Mr. Hodgson dispute this ? I think not. January 7, 1809. ONESIMCS.
Remembering whose servants they are, and that the +t+ Asticus's favour, dated the 27th ult. ryas regularly
humblest situation in the sanctuary is infinitely more received. Dr. D. to whom his commuiiii(:iisti(olier i refers,
li
rs:harlt.sacitieort
exalted than. the most elevated station of human greatness, been unnoticed; but, on the contrary,
—let the Ministers of Religion, awfully conscious of the
will 'soon be
.estimated.
.Any further hints coucerring hint will,
if, just, he faithfully considered,—provided, and 'be it always
importance of their commission, imior,r.:y assert the g:.
vided " such information or advice be forwarded in time.
dignity with which they are everlastii.tgly invested ! Letl
pit cannot' come, however, either too elpficilii, too amply, or
them talk less, but feel more, of their true!y illustrious too eeility. The subject fit is, at this timinctii,both iuteresting i
destination. It is not for. them to beseech, in the discharge and consequential.
• of their divine duties, the patience and forbearance of those ,VINIMIII
to whom they are. seat; or to apologise, fashionably THE THEATRES.
apologise, for honestly declaring to them " the whole --sos—
counsel of God 1" Very. different is the errand of him, by DRURY LANE.
whom On Thursday night a Comedy in five acts, entitled " Man
• " The .violated Law speaks out and Wife, or iWorc Secrets than One," was for the first time
" Its thunders !" ' , acted at Drury Lane. It met with a more favourable re-
Certified of his credentials, well remembering whose ception than it has been our business to record. for months, .
authority he beareth and to whom alone he stanus respon- we would almost say years. Deafened by the peals of
- Bible, he will. not, even when . 1 applause, and the repeated shouts of " Bravo 1" the au-
" In traiiis as sweet I thor will, perhaps, wonder at our Luke-warmness, when we
66 As Angels use, the 6 ospel whispers peace." ; I frankly, declare that his piece, though deserving of success,
he will not, even then, descend to the littleness of suppli-
.
I mtght have possessed more claims to the uliboileded appro.
cation., This " legate,oC the skies" must better know both, ! bation which it .i!itained. He will probably rank us an:ong
. ,
Ilie import and infallibility of his commission. i the . critical. whose; Item he does not like," 1.',h0 1t3...ii
. ,
. ' I have to notice Mr. Hodgson's manner, Or action, in the ,; assumed -Discontent as their InottO, and are- so iiii -

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