The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-02 00:00:00

Itlt i

No. 434.—V0t. IX.

kiinbap Antit4rmcntl.

ANCIENT PULPIT ELOQUENCE.

No. I.

REIGN OF EDWARD 111.

IT is an inquiry of nu common interest to ascertain
the several gradations by which English Literature has
attained its present cultivated state: and, in particular,
to observe the progressive amelioration and settlement
of our language, from the rude stile of the middle ages,
w the relincuent Ond perfection which are now so much
a•lmiro3 in the best English Orators. Our ancestors
were not devoid of learning ; and many of the British
divines, even at a very early period, had much native
eloquence. This first began to be conspicuous during
the fourteenth century, and more especially towards the

cu•utnencement of those furious contentions which ter-
minated in the expulsion of Popery and the establish-
ment of the Protestant worship in these realms. About
this period, and particularly during the reigns of Mary
and Elizabeth, the discourses from the pulpit began to
display many brilliant scintillations of genius, great dis-
crimination of character, and much acuteness of reason-
ing ; and their language, though now antiquated, is
often interesting, sometimes sublime. To mention
the names of Cranmer, Latimer, Hooper, and Rid-
ley, with those of others, who sealed by their blood their
sincerity for the Protestant Faith, is to demand applause
for an union of ardour and of natural talent which have
seldom been surpassed.

Almost the earliest specimens of British eloquence
that we arc acquainted with are found in a manwcript
written on vellum, and in the old English character in
use about the reign of Edward the Third. It is en-
titled, " THE MIRROUR OF SERMONS FOR TIIE WHOLE
vEsH,i' and is contained amongst the I-larleian MSS. in
the British Museum. These sermons commence with

the first Sunday in Advent, are adapted in explanation
of the Epistle or Gospel of every successive Sunday
out. the year. • The language, when divested of
the peculiar orthography of the day, for in oral delivery
this peculiarity could not be observable, is much more
pure and easy of comprehension than that of most wri-
tings of the same period. The stile is indeed unequal,
and in several of the sermons are inserted the most in-

credible legends and stories ; but when due allowance is
made for the unenlightened age in which they were
written, they must, in many particulars, be allowed to
posssess no inconsiderubk share of merit.
The following are extracts merely corrected in ortho-
graphy, and without any alteration of the peculiar words
that are used. The first passage is inserted for the pur-
pose of shew•ing the stile of translation of the Scriptures
at that period.

ON THE HEALING OF Tlll LEPER, AND THE CEN.
TURION's SERVANT.

Matt. viii. r. 1-13.

ORIGTIZAL. TXPLANATION.
" And when he had de.cended " And when he had dmeended
of the mountain. many companies from the mountain, many cum.
followed him. And see a mesel panies followed him. And behold
came and adored him and said. a leper came and adored hint, arid
Lord if thou wilt thou may make said. Lord if thou wilt thou
ewe wkcic. And Jesus spread out niayest make me whole. And
his hand and touched Mineral said, Jason spread out his hand and
1 will, be thou whole. And anon timehed him and 'del, I will, be
his mesdrie is made whole. And thou whole. And immediately
Jesus said to him kook that thou his leprosy is made whole. And
may this thing to no nm. Ae Jesus said to him. see that thou
shew thee to the ;,riest aral tell this thing to no man. Hat
o:tv the gift that !khans command- go. chew thyself to the priest, and
ed, in witness to them. And when oder the gilt that Moses coin:rand-
hij i.ed entered to Capentauns, a ed, in witness to them. And when
Centurion appniched to him, they haul entered into Capernaum,
praiand him and said : Lord, my a Centurion approached hin,, nmy-
child lieth in the house paralytic ing him and saying I Lord, my
and evil tormented. And .I.:sas child Beth in the house par:4i :tic
mid to him. I Audi aline and I and evil tormented. And Jegits
shall heal him. And Centurion said to him, I will come and will
answered him mid said. Lord I heal him. And the Centurion
ant nought worthy that thou enter answered him and said, lont,
under mine house. Ac say only am not worthy that thou enter
in word, and my child shalt lien under mine house. Rut say only
tautly. For ich am a mat under in word, and my child shall be
post that have knights smiler nay : whole. For I am a man under
and I say to this go, and he goeth, authority. that have servants =-
and to another time. Rad he coin- der me : and I say to this go. and
eth : and to my arrant do this. he goeth. and to another come.
and he it ,:ooh. And Jea:s. when and he cometh and to my
heirs! edit, was awimelnal, and rant da this, and he diwth it. And
add to them that followed For Jesus. when he heard this, was
pooth I say to you, I :se found astonished, and said to Clem that
nought wi tnichel faith in Israel. follow : Forvonth. I say to on I
And I say to you, that many shall hie: not found so mush faith in
come frien the east and from the Israel. And 1 say you. that many
west, and shall 1. gen with Aim- shall come from the east and teen
Lain. Isaac. anti Jacob, in the the wise, and shall lie down with
Linginm of heavens: and the Abraham, Isaac, and in
sons of the kinAorn shall be the Idrodom of heaven: and the
cast la the ferzeat darkness, there suns of the kaoliata shall be cast