The National Register.
London, England, 1811-09-15 00:00:00

TIONAL

The late Rev. T. SPENCER,. of LIVERPOOL.

LETTER 111.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

sia—With much diffidence, I resume my pen, to com-
ylate the task which an unfeizned friendship for the de-
ceased, and an admiration of his extraordinary gifts and talents
as a preacher, have assigned me. Other, and far abler minds,
learn, are employed in doing justice to his excellent worth :

should, therefore, my humble tribute be esteemed but as a wild

ower, thrown on the turf which now covers his " narrow
house," my
.wishes will be amply realized.
A mind that is formed to be truly great, displays in the ear-
liest expansion and exercise of its powers (ndependently of all
methodical tuition), an analogy between its own conceptions of

• what is sublime and chaste, judicious and excellent, and those

principles which have been stamped such by the authority of
'ages. Such a mind was SPENCER'S; and its powers being so
early sanctified and fixed for the service of the REDEEMER, it
4
• could not he otherwise than that in due time, he should fulfil the

sanguine expectation of his friends ; and in the display of his
rich v.triety and excellence orpulpit-talent, command, as he did,
the attention and admiration of thousands: and leave on their
now sorrowful hearts, -the association of the name of Spencer
with all that is good and great !
In so wide a field as the prosecution of this subject, if indulged
in, would open, it is necessary to set limits to our thoughts. I

therefore submit the following hints, as exhibiting (though in a
very imperfect degree), those characteristics which appeared to

me to distinguish the pulpit discourses of our departed friend.
, Purity of doctrine,' and a clear corniirchedsive view of Scripture,
are the invaluable attainments of those who study in the acaderny
where Mr. Spencer was trained ; nor can it he otherwise, so long
as tutors so judicious and good have the sup;:lintendance of their
studies.

In his choice of tarts—be was superior to those little whims,
that lead some to select but one or two words; or a text that is
quaint. He preferred those passages which convey a complete
some, and exhibit the glorious truths of the Gospel ; judiciously
esteeming such to he the most likely subjects to be honoured
with the Divine blessing.
In the discu!sion of his text—his exordium, or introduction,
• was unifoimly appropriate ; because it either shed light on the
connection which the text formed with the passage of Scripture
from whence it was taken; or, in a more ger.eral way, it was
introductory to the leading point to be inskted on in the discourse.
There are some little minds who cannot discoeer the matchless
dignity of simplicity, and who appear to have scraped together,
on their own principles of the sublime and beautiful, a series of
half a dozen melting and terrific exordiums, highly worked up,
which they flourish off in the course of the year, as symphonies
to twenty different sermons ! Such Institut exordiums (Erl,c:ri—
erttia
docet,) are the sure prelude to a dying Inn.
In the division of his sulilict—ht- was an avowed enemy to a
Multiplicity of heads and sub-divisions. Such sermons he used
*9 call " all bones!" 44 I like," said he, " to give the people a
Jew good bones, and well covered with the provision of lite." His
divisions, therefore, were few, but perspicuous and impressive ;
and the terms expressive of them were easily retained, because
they were delivered in all the majesty of simplicity. His divi-
sions formed, in the whole. a striking gradation, and sweet har-
..
Mony of component parts: One step leading necessarily and un-
affectedly to the next ; until the whole presented the structure
of a wise master-builder—simply grand !
His conelsoions were tender and elevated.
In the general arrangement of his discoursese-Tdignified sim-
plicity and gravity, winged with more than a Seraph's fire, beani.
ed front the putipitt where Spencer stood. Aware that one of tile
chief designs of preaching, is to inform the understanding, he


aimed at this by affecting the heart. The subjects he unitormly
chose were in themselves so solid, evangelical and edifying, that
these points were mutually advanced. Conviction ensued on. the
u►ederstentdiug, by the impressions he made on the heart ; fur in
his doctrinal instructions, he was pleasing and affecting; in his
pleasing parts, he was instructive.
Extraneous matter he carefully avoided ; such as deep, criti-
cal, and grammatical observations, wily fit for the closet of the
student and scholar. When such impertinenries are much dealt
in, they generally indicate a conceited mind, and always a
miserably crude: taste.
His powers were uniformly excellent. No sudden blaze of
genius in some, discovered the poverty of other sermons ; for,
though Spencer. lake all great minds, had his seasons of pecsdiar
energy, yet his discourses in general were distinguished for ani-
mation and talent. He opened not his mouth even in addresses
to children and young persons, but the simplest truths glowed
with sublimity under his touch.
With such attractive powers, it may naturally be inferred,
that it would often be his lot to preach collection-sermons.
let it be recorded to his honour, that on such occasions, he di'i
not trim his discourses to work on the ft:dings, but, if possiblc,
he laboured more intensely to inculcate the glorious doctrines LI
the Gospel of his salvation, on the hearts and conscience's of thz•
hearers; and then, at the close, with a neatness peculiar to him-
elf, lie would introduce as a natural inference for the due-
'trines proposed, the duty and privilege of Christians, to he aiding
in such collection as that of the occa.inn. There is a fashion in
one day, with many Ministers, of preaching such sermons, as
though their on!), aim was to melt the animal spirits, and thus
render the 'weaker part of the congregation more susceptible. of
being is het into acts—can I say—of Chriatian beneficence
Surely not ! A mind such as Spencer's, must hold such ow*.
nmuurcs in sovereign. contempt; and experience has decidedly
oved, to the honour of Christianity, that such artifices aro not
necessary—for his collections were uniformly excellent—lre.

quently splenk . r. ,
There is yet a duster of excellences. to be noted re—Excellences
that gave life and vigour to all the rest. Whatever the subject
might be, the SAvro eta was un?lormly and pre emincney exalted.
Every lesser thought (like the sun-flower,) turned Its bosom to
HI m, and from Hts presence derived its light and heat. The se.
cond,tar in this cluatee was that, with Spencer, Scripture (pore
and nroophisticateci) was the iuterpreter of ScriptUre ! " cpm.•
paring spiritual things with spiritual."' A memory, lively and
retentive, enabled him, most seasonably and impressively', to
draw out from the rich stores of the BIBLE at pleasure; and in
his hand, all its doctrines and its promises swertly harmonited.
Again—lie displayed in all his discourses a 'narked decision of
character. There are'some preachers who would fain pass for
Orthodox, whose discourses exhibit every feature but deciiion.
Their sermons possess something like glimmerings of the truth
of the Gospel ; a kind of worm-light brightness—much shade and
no heat. Not such were Spencer's. With all the manly elo-
quence and fidelity of a Paul, he was ever ready to proclaim—
" I am not ashamed of the Gc,spel of Christ : wherefore 1 take
you to record this day, that 1 am pure f um the blood of all. Men.
For 1 have not shunned to declare unto yru all the counsel' of
God !" He spoke of the value of the Saviour, and of the blessings
of salvation, from his own crperknee of their worth ; and it was
this depth of rich experience, in one so young, that imparted an
unction to his discourses that must he felt to be' known.
To these excellences of mind, add corporeal endowments in
every way calculated to make, if possible, TRUTH more lovely—.

idiO!

•' What Mr. Spencer gloried in proclaiming as the coun#l
God, is most ably set forth and unanswerably defended, by
renowned Herman Witsius, in his " Economy of the Covenants.
A work that should accompany the Bible in every '
library —Yea, with the Bible, it is 4 Christip's

see

ain pass for
ut decision.
,f the truth
h shade and
manly elo-
proclaim—
efore 1 take
of all men.
counsel* of
he blessings
; and it was
imparted an
wn.
lowments in
pion lovely—
le counsel of
ided, by the
Covenants."
y Christian's
's library of