The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-05 00:00:00

10

No. I.M.

Ifow oft, when Pan! Ii t, sal-I•'d Ha with a text,
Have Epictetni, Tully, preacbeil
Men that, if now aline, \oulit sit content
And humble learners at' S avtuan's worth,
Preach it who tnight.—COWPEß.

REVEREND .10IIN BOND, M. A.
CHAPL NI TO TILE DUKE OF C AMBRIDGE.

« We fear that the preaching which k strictly moral will be unpalat-
able," observes the Monthly Redew, Nov. 1810, in an account of the
first volume of The Pulpit; " but it is no part of genuine orthodoxy
to decry it." Onesimus is also represented as " a critic who compares
morality to the husks n/ swine," who stigmatises " instructions merely
ethical as meagre vapourings ; and by whom " the soliloquies of Solo-
mon may," therefore, 66 be deemed improper subjects for pulpit elo-
quence; but," continues the reviewer, 6' as pure morality is an essential
part of the divine law, we can never admit the propriety of any attempt
to degrade it in the estimation of mankind, who are too prone to vio-
late its duties, and whe require to have its sanctions strenBthened
in-
stead of being relaxed." This statement is unfairly put• Norwithstand-
ing considerable candour, manifested by the Monthly Review in some
particulars, It has in this instance committed what might not unaptly
be styled misre:resented representation. Certainly one would imagine,
from such a statement, that 66 the clerical critic," as the Monthly Re-
view calls him, was inimical to true morality. But this is not the state
of the case.

Preachers of religion are tnutually in extremes. Morality is with
one portion the order of the day, Whilst with the other the ton clistone
still lies in believing. Since we cannot separate the two, however, why
not reconcile ourselves to both? These twain are still one. Faith pro-
duces works; works evidence faith. _ _

What is morn/ preaching at last ? 'Tis telling men they ought to become
righteous, without telling them which way to become so. Clergymen of
this description are like fingerposts with no direction. They stand plump
In the cross-roads of hie, and point to some way, with no inscription to
say which is which. They ciat tell the lame to take up his bed, and
walk, but not where to get strength for the task ! They can tell the
blind to see, but they help him not to sight. They, arc blind leaders of
the blind. Into onel ditch, sacred Scripture declares, they both stumble,
This lot may seem hard towards him who could not see; but, is it not
most just towards him who would not see ?
Of the reverend JOIIN BONI), M. ...keit is not intended to give the
per,:on::l history in this place. He has been for sometime a Chaplain to
the Duke of Cambridge, 64 certainly the best of our princes ;" and has
been " engaged very actively it: the education of a small number of no.
Nemen's and gentlemen's sons,"—a task congenial and creditable to hi
professional rank in life. The writer of this paper does not know wile
tiler the present preacher has yet any " regular duty," as the phrase is
but is informed that " he never preaches for pay," though the work-
man is not unworthy of hire, " ler to oblige a friend, or be of service
to a charity." Mr. Bond, nevertheless," has attracted much notice by
his preaching at several chapels at the West end of the Town." Such
is the account I once reeeivA of Mr. Bond.

Trie reverend Mr. Bond i.; not unacquainted with those pulpits,
where, in the line of Pope,—

To rest the cushion and soft Dean invite;
Who never mentions Hell to ears polite !

Ile must know the West end of the Town. Nevertheless the hope
may be indulged, that he will net eventually rank himself amongst those
who, in the language of a more modern bard,—

Smooth down the stubborn text to ears polite ;
And snugly keep damnation out of sight !

Fashion Is contagious. This expectation respecting Mr. Bond is not,
therefore, lightly meant; since the " clerical critic" would be grieved
to see any promising young clergyman, however he may " have deli-
vered such lessons as are much wanted in our vicious metropolis," ac-
cording to the critical opinion of some reviewers, content himself with
the mere milk of the Inspired word. The food of babes ought not to
be the food of men.

J.