The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

MARCH 5.

POPULAR PREACHERS.

Nu.

Con hath now sent his Living Oracle
Into the world, to teach his final fill ;
And sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to du ell
In pious hearts, an inward oracle
'!'u all truth requisite for men to knou.—MlLTu

REV. JOIIN WILCOX, A. M.
F

ELI-C 11.111121. EOLIMI:V.

THOSE to whom the recollection of the Itcv. Elislta Faulke-
ner must readily recur (and who is there, of any- standing in the
religious world, that does not remember him ), will fuel solici-
tous to know something of the character of his present •uccessor
ip the pulpit of Ely-Chapel. Mr. Faulkener, wa, Minister of
Ely-Chapel, and Afternoon Lecturer at St. (iiles's in the Fields :
41r. Wilcox is also Minister of Ely-Chapel, and Lecturer ot St.
Cieorge the Martyr ia Southwark. Mr. I'aulkencr was numer-
ously followed, and is still held 41 remembrance, by the chart:hrs.
IVilcox is now highly esteemed; and is likely to gain, as
well as continue, in general estimation as a chnstian preacher.
Let me be indulged to pause, for some short moments, on the
clerical character of Mr. Faulkener; who is thus recalled to my
observation, and of whom I scent to retain theanost lively recol-
lection.

Elisha Faulkener lived but for the pulpit. His professional
feeling was in him paramount to all other feelings ; and, what is
not always the case, his ability WaS not inferior to his inclina-
tion. His sermons, which, two or three head-ootes excepted,
were generally extemporaiwOus, were intrinsically interesting,
and were always delivered with an euergy and dignity truly im-
pressive. No preacher bett:l- knew the authority attached to
t',e sacerdotal cuaracter, or more eilicaciously availed him:elf of
its commanding. influence. Ins ardour invested hint with that
dignity to w bleb his person was not fully intaled. 11 is looks,
his speech, his action, all bespoke him conscious of his sub-
lime function. It VI 71S iMpOSsi hie tint to listen to hint, and
equally impossible to hear him indifferently. lie affected others
as himself appeared to he affected. llis was the eloquence of
the heart, rather than of the tongue ; for his language was sim-
ple, his illustrations todabouredb and his sentenee,softeo neAligent-
ly constructed. lle spoke, however, as one having authurn, and
not as the scribes. His error consisted in carrying this superi-
ority to an extent that sometimes bordered on pomposity. It
%Vas indeed amazing; short as he was in stature, to contemplate
him walking down the aisle of the church, aud then ascetalmg
the pulpit. The pulpit was his throne upon earth ; though it
formed only the steps of that throne, to w hich, let us believe,
he has now ascende tin heaven! Ile must be considered as one
of the last of the old-school of preachers iu this couotrv. lie is,
therefore, to be classed with the Madans, and Patiicks, and
Colons, and Decoetlogons, of I he pul
. 1 feel pleasure in saying, el.en while now entering upon this
clerical criticism, that the V. J %% LCO promises
to supply one of the malty vacancies which the decease of vari-
ous eminent clerg) men, together with the augmenting intirioi-
ties of others, have occasioned in the christian church. Hal, log
generally premised this opinion of his preaching, I shall, front
anxiety for his improving and maturing those ministerial qualifi-
cations v. ith which he is happily ;..,.ifted, candidly state the par-
ticulars in which he strikes the as being still defective.
The person of the present Preacher gives him many advantages
ns an orator. IL is rather tall ; his form is manly, deport-
ment dignified, and his countenance prepossessing. Is he nut too
seen-ible of these personal qualifications ? I would not he severe
concerning Mr. Wilcox; but I could not amid ste:pccting, oiwe
or t w ice during his Sermon for the Benefit of the I.uodon Female
Yetiitentiary, that, conscious of his pulpit powers, he rather
cit.:minded admiration. Ido not mean to question 1113 sincerity,
of which his unfeigned earnestness was the best evidence.
Certainly, however, there seemed too touch of uratorieal
preparation about his professional deportment ; and too much
anticipation of the success of his preaching. Let him, if possible,
discard the precision of taking off his spectacles, after he enters
the pulpit, and at the exact. instant when, having closed this
portion of devotional melody, he is proceeding to pray, befora
sermon, for himself and his 'hearers. lie makes little use of his
glasses afterwards; aunt he might, at any rite, defer putting totem
On till he was about to read and announce his text. The pulpit
ra.lejs of Mr. Vi ilcux are; as well as hi) diacourio, extetu-

15f)

porary. lie Lou much hurries o'er our In-kris Prayor sti It,
it:stead of iti being the an it forinkal only tied
supplement to his own intercessions.
Ii is voice, w hich is lit)! II intit):l.lollS and powerrul, ensiblro
Mr. IVilcox to deliver his pennon, and ellitaiclousl).
Ile betrays, however, many of the errors incident to tile emelt,•
poraneous eloquence. Evidently solicitous as to acctirstey and
elegance of language, he too frequently attempts to korrect, by
recallin;f, his expressions; and one of the too:4 unfortunate coo-
, neetives of public speaking .--" 1 say," '' I say," 6 pjLy 4
continually employed by hint, either to rv•uate Ina thread of
hie di-course, or to enforce swat, particular point *sr opinion.
l'ossessiog, as this preacher does pis-t S , st ineonsitlp:rahln
euce of phiraws, let the orator, 'a how% cr L the spitto.,4 of hi,,
popular ext rtions, divest of evt ry anxiet, rv,.liecting•
petty defects. If the heart be but in flow, words; Will !~itiu illy,
Ind therefore forcibly, suggest diet is Lties-;y' c,
for inaccuraQ ; or, rather, the rapidity tiie speaker, UUrpf ,
lug along tt lilt Itiin the s:,;tipatily ErnoW
Ibeta lei4ttre to discover incidental and trivial deviations feolti
customary propriety, it is alike bungling and iinpotitiet us it
respects extemporary oratory, for the spett4er, by his hr {tlttiuh'
correctio:s, point out inaccuracies which went
imperceptible. This defect is easily reatediablt:littid is these.
fore deserving of little toleration. .

Mr. IN ilcosi does not, 1 think, trust wholly to tho
lle appears to premeditate much of lus language ; ;11111 lti bvim,
to assist his memory ith the divisions, pernups leading ttotii-
inenis, of his sermon. 'fliese pardonable, if not indisliglittibiet.
a..sistances seem contained within the leaves of his poi,Act bibles
Ili, language, truth require, sue to observe, partaloi vitt fief or
the modern evangel:cal somin:try. Ile is, Ito wtler, 610111101 y
mose cla,,iral and polished thao the chapel preactivr4 of the
evaii4eliral connection..

Without mentioning it lig-alit-4 him as a fault, I nufsl friAilrt
as a detect, though it is one by no means ltecOlial: lo
preacher, that is nut more deeply acquaititild
the motives of human actin's. Molt of this deticienvy this fli;.4
c,.rnible in his Sermon f the L udoa female Veniteetthfy,
Zealous as were his appeals to t aneetions of his podilit; raid
satisfactory as might also he his represeteations of On hittufe
and conduct of this Evangelical Alagdaleu, there rocs
strike and move—little of the origioality of humanity titios!l
powerful ehtllliiiitts, combined of mind and heart, WOO! r”it;
the most oegligeot, and affect the most canons, of heili4.:7:‘ I
remarked other seeinitig iiicongruities. Whet( lie was so jat.toilt,
admonishing the juvenile pitting of his congregation ago iost Jig
vaiiitv ut gay dresses; did it never occur to hint, that ;lot
preacher was himself handsomely attired, and graceln!ly
gam? Remarking this trilling intanipatinilit), was; 'how,
ever, really surprised, whew Air. AV oleos, appealing fit the
feelings of the females arrow' him, on heitall of the &if,
ones whose relief he Was isteaidinz, described one of frtti feimitie
penitents, to them, as " a Wiwi:Aiding sister !" Ido hot sup,
pose him to have been ;twat*. of 'this curious epithet, its I ittt
convinced lie did not persakve Ate strange effect of its joithedifilp
application. Let Mc-W*44. beware of OPP PY44l4ifill tie;
cent rick ies. '
Of the charitable 10144111tiun denominated the London lielhule
Penitentiary, so hurntruely advocated by Air. Wiletql
pleased to find, that, while " a part of the house is 41101:1)101.:
ated to Irvine. Sc rs ice,in which suitable discourses aro defi ed;
every Lord's Day; by approved Aliuisters of the tiosto:li
ce,tivelv anpoint‘A to that duty," yet it has not
expedient that tho 'Worship sliould be open to the Poblif,'? the
Ma?;dalen-t hapelisk .1 think, quite enough.
A writer, , of /shrewd sense and sound thought, Mr; fhltki
contests thcnpritnettble :of the Loudon Female Peottention
tether. Itir prolitphlet on the subject, it should he 4.1:16,4kmi
contains tuote•of stsegious argument than of solid 1111111iiiii;k ;
whatever are ft's authors claims to the suffrages of the
nut expect to-obtain the oblations of the besot. 4 iontigh
e are forbid to do evil in order that good may come, ittoto fit
nu injunction which forbids us to do good lest evil 51m41.4
Let this FAnale Penitentiary be 4hlised ; and lei, the ol,suoti
it take the credit ut abusing it to themselves. llovoieyef 1 mil-
respect Mr. Hale's powers of ratiocination; 1 haft!, tilefehovi
to deprecate his want of comoriserati,m, Wickeslnos§ WWI
often quite as titifortunate as it is criminal; is mostly emitted. fig
OUT CULTIIIaSiOn. s

Mr. V.Vilc.)x confesicd, from his own pulpit, that fig ti&
on,. lione prejudiced against the Lo9duti Veniale
but declined, at the saute time, with a candour lionotiibles ttr Teti
cl.tatater, Lis vulu.itary renunciatiou, fruz