The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-29 00:00:00

di-. - THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
miIidoMIPME

MAY 29.

But this great contest did not terminate at this point.
Urged by his supporters to resist the decision, the unstrccess-
ful candidate. the Rev. Richard Leodon, M. A. entered a
caveat iw tilc Bishop's Court ; litigation was the consequence
of thii pr;:ceeding, and parochial charges were accitmulated,
so as finally tp furnishlzgnments to the adversaries of popu-
lar elections for the pl ies:hood. Yet, may not arguments
of this deseripti,m prove too much ? _Elected by Vs p.is ishion-
cu, Mr. Foster, for instance, found no reason to complain of
Inv defalcation on their part; -whilst the dim- nished adher-
en:s of Mr. Lendon, wins till of late years continued to preach
close t( him, seemed to indicate what might have proved the
otherwi.7e flourishing F tat€ of his chnrch, had his competitor
succeeded to it, in the cow se of his ministry. There is,
however, too much ground for believing that both parties
extended the opposition of opinions to acts of personal hos-
tility; and that christian clvirity was too often lost sight. or,
fow,o7,st the chief partizans of, both -candidates, in the con-
flict for clerical aseend.lrn.v ; since it is notorious, that
Foster; at hast, was afterwards the object of unforgiving ani-
mosity, so that, fGr some time, be could riot perambrat the
streets of big patibh, day after day, without meeting witty in-
sults almost too galling to hear. Rancour was thus et. Pied t
its extremes. One of his gseat opponents, it k- perfemls
known, used to boast of spitting in his face whenever fie bap-
pencil to meet with him !
" London," it has been remarked by the Rey. Mr. Cecil,
"is very peculiar as a mini,tcrial walk. Almost all a.:ninister
can do (he adds) is by the pulpit and the pen. His hearers
are so occupied in the w',rld, that, if he visits them, ',every
minute. perhaps, hi inks in some interroption."
then, the importance of Ole ministerial work, it is gratifying to
review the career of such clerical characters as the sub-:
jcct of this sketcl, who, since they are placed in situa.:
tions where alniost all that can be done is by the .pulpit
or the pen, are intent to render the pulpit most effectual to
the high purposes for which it was de'signed. Hence it
Might hive been said, concerning the Rector of ClerLetiwell,
be retained the capability of addressing his chary, "''"
6 Ler modest roster, if he will, excel
•
Ten tuctrrapolians in preaching well:—PorE.

For, perhar, there did not exist the dk;ine, to whom.
cotbidering his wei7ht and celebrity, theepithet of modest,"
more truly applied than to, 'this preacher. Diffidence was,
itt the saute tine, in him, united to diAnity , Nrilije energy
endeared by placability. It was thus that• he could're,-
itukeand condemn stn, and yet encourage the penitent sin-
»er fo cultivate the contrition that needed not to be.reftnted
of. Still t het e was kindness in his voice, and there was
m;hlness in his lookq. Never was there the christian tnitii;ttet'
Nv!:, more thoroughly understodd, more deeply felt, or more
impressed :Ton those
,who•Leard him; the ever-
lajing importance of tins great trtit,,•retiealed as with a
tin.hciri, in the scriptures, that ' Jeini fCbriqt cat»e into
the world to ,stve sinners ;' and that there is no other name
given .under leaven,' by which the race f transgressing
moi tali can hope to obtain their redemption from peidition.
This wits his pettifirion through life; and this was his comb-
la:iou in death. Doctrindlly, in the speculative sense, he
was moticrate as to points, therefore, but most practical ac t'i
the conseTrences that should be deduce-. 1 L-om sound doc.
trines.