The National Register.
London, England, 1808-11-13 00:00:00

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rarelOetrlllteth' Whilttlyos ikddiess4
bitnself tb his 'a
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puce,. such 41! ,Ou.umation of. his s and e
sacsef his delnteity {..ind, owing to the. impressiostw,ki
Areal eloquence always retslane4wthe Memory, his faults are
hardly disceniible.iscen in the cillstmess of solitary retro-
spection. He has, nevertheless, his defeets. I find him
sometimes so raid, as to be hurried in his delivery • abd.
his oratory can degenerate into tolloquiality. Such ex-
pressions as—" Put it down as unquestionable true," or
" Set it down for., an unquestionably fact ;" " Mr," repea-
tedly, instead of: Sirs; " My poor Brother 1" singling,. as
it were, one of theeongre&ation ; It is lovely to remark,"
or 44 It is beautiful to ogerve," tiLe. &c. ; these expressions
are evidently the effects of negligence, however habit may
have familiarised them to the minds of public speakers, or
tolerated them among general .hearers. The attraction of
hilt: sermons is also not }infrequently diminished by injudi-
cious elongation. Nor do his apologies atone for this error-
" Allow me one more observation 1" or, 4, One remark
more 1" or, 46 I must add another observation t" or, "
Ano-
remark just strikes me." All these are awkwatd ex-
cuses, lame connectives ; and are not required b)i the
preacher lam here describing. I trust he will not Mistake
me, when 1 add, to these cursory strictures on his preaching,
that his discourses appear too spiritualised for the mixed
congregations of this metropolis ; where many, who pro-
fess our most holy faith, and regularly attend the ordi-
nances of devotion, are, notwithstandin, almost ignorant
of the very elements of religion. His Language is of the
same description as his sentiments. It is true, indeed, that
he is the ambassador of a " kingdom not of this world
yet, though this divine commission ultimately refers to
the church triumphant, I wish he wonld oftener remem-
ber that he is ,still offering his credentials in .the church
which is militant,
What, however, are the high qualifications of this emi-
neat Ikli;lister of the Gospel ?—let it nut be asked ?oho has
believed his report, but.whut his labours are calculated to
accovlish, .:-•
Accounting' all things, however otherwise estimable
among men, but nothingness, when compared with the -
kelleney of Christianit%, he has, in the spirit of•one of its
, most illustrious defenders, determined to knots oaly ‘. Je-
sus Christ, and him crucified 1" Bence his reasonings, his
illustrations, his exhortations, as in his published Sermons
on the Divinity of Christ, all bear upon this chief corner-
stone," and unite to rear the only solid superstructure
of religion. His -manner is impregnated with his sub-
. iect. Mark his whole deportment in the pulpit I—The aw-
*ful humility, with which he presents himself at the foot-
stool of Heaven s the ardour with which be enters into the
singing Of the congregation I his intArcessinnal devot ion of
soul ; the impressive distinctness with:which fie announces
the subject of his . discOUrse; the divine fervour, the ani-
mated dignity, with which he asserts the character of his
Redeemer and his God ; His very looks .have Language s
and the primitive simplicity of his appearance gives to his
person an indescribable seriousness.
When citing Scriptural Authorities for the opinions ad-
vanced by him, which he continually does, his emphases
are absolutely elucidations of the passages he instance. Ills
appeals to the heart are irresistible.
His gestures are not oratorical—they arc natural. Dic-
tated by his feelings, they are becoming as well as energetic.
I have candidly specified the defects of Dr. Hawker;
and I have also endeavoured faithfully to represent his
merits. Something there is, in the- apparent state of his
health, which does not authorise the hope, however desir-
able, that he will long be cOntinued to benefit the religious
public. His ministerial exertions, were he to reside in tho
metropolis, would.rapidly destroy his physical constitution.
He burns with . the. zeal of better tunes. He is not a
preacher; but an-epostle. _
November 12, 1808. ONESIMITS•
4** L. L. T,. was duly received.' Tie may depend on the
confidence he desires; he is requested to ac:rpt tha:lc c, %/.