The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-14 00:00:00

ebe
No. XXXIX.

It is not de4rable that.you sbOttld relect ornaments of style,
but let them be unsought : it is proper to accept the aids of
imagination, but let its flight be directed by judgment, and cor-
rected by the awful magnitude of your responsibility, We are
not conunissioned to amuse the villa and the fastidious; but to
pluck the brand from the burning, by preaching Christ crucified!
Guard against the fr xt r ones of slovenly neglect in your compo-
sitions ; and the polish which betrays a labour to exalt the man,
rather than his master. In this, we shall do well to imitate the
Apostle ; wlto never sought to decorate their subjects with the
trappings of a meretricious eloquence ; but the thoughts in-
spired, throw a splendour over the language emplqyed, initni-
table by art, and inextingui,hable by tiine.—Vidt the Rev. Dr.
Col
.yer a Charge at the ordinatioi of the Rev. Mr. Rallies.

__.,..
REV. THOMAS RAFFLES,

OT THE

CONTGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT HAMMERSMITH.

The intelligent gifts and attainments of most of the Dissenting
Ministers of this age, evangelical or inthpendent, have not to
apprehend dispara.;etnent froM those of the Clergymen of the
Established Clnireh. Nor does the parrallel terminate at this
',Ant. Dissenting Ministers now seem, whilst they fast abate in
dislike to the 'church, to affect those distinctions hitherto cha-
racterising the pastors of the church of this nation,—to desire
the style and guise of Established Clergymen ! Protestant dis-
senters are emulating distinctions inseparable from established
opiscopalians.

Lest, however, the proceeding observations should by some
persons be supposed unwarranted, itmay be expedients to refer
to the Rt. v. Dr. Co'dyer's assertion as to the epithet of clergymen
being rightfully applicable to all descriptions of the Ministers of
Christianity ; and which asstnion proves, amongst many
otor vouchers, how much modern Dissenting Clergymen
are ambitious of taking to tilLniselves those distinctions. which
were formerly supposed peculiar to the Ministers of the Es-
tablished Church. "Bigotry- alone can confine a term (specify-
iut the term Clergyman,) of such general application," contendi.
Dr. Collyer, "to itself ;. to any one class of ministers. I catntoe
relinquish the term, as one equally appropriate to dissenting
ministers, with their brethren in any establishment ; while I
believe in the validity of their serrara ion for the work of the mi-
nistry, and hold," adds Dr. C.," that they are duly ordained."—
The present dissenting- miniver (Mr. Raffles) does not. Wee the
iatn.t dissenting dc).:y»iaii, for such Dr. Collyer desires to be
thought, carry Dis sympathy towards the establishment so tar as
to pray fur its clerical superiors; yet the Rev. Mr. Raffles, all
though he has solemnly objected to the pomp and spl,-ndour
the temples" of the Church of England—toter 44 habits, andt
modes; of worship—the superstitious nature of • her numerous
forms, ceremonies, and rites—as far, very far, from. that plairr-
nesi and siniphcitywhieh is the glory Of the gospel church,ancl
ought to be the peculiar feature of
,her worship ~" yet,, not-
Withstanding-thcse sad imperfections in tlie establishinent, the
present preacher can occasionally reconcile himself to ascend a
pulpit wherb " the forms, ceremonies, and' ilfefOrthe Church.
otrngland-are still observed, and White even " the pomp and
splendour of her temple," is kelrsuficiently—strikes the eye t.
Pc:reliance the preachir will review and- revise his reasons fur
dissent. This gtieesis, howeia, a mire vie*.