The National Register.
London, England, 1812-02-16 00:00:00

TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

ebe ui it.

No. XLI.

FEB. 16

Remote from towng he ran Ma godly race,
Nor o'er had cleaned, nor wtsh'd to change, his place GOLDS amt.

--.....p.--.
REV. J. SPOONER, M. A.
TAVIISTOCK CHAPEL, 'mom) COURT, NEAR DRURY-LANE.
' -
Parochial retirement is sometimes ill exchanged for clerical notoriety.
Many clergymen, whose labours are eminently useful in the more re-
tired departments of the spiritual vineyard, and who stand high as coun-
try preachers, would find they acted far from wisely in quitting those
situations to which they have been originally called, and ascending the
metropolitan pulpit. That wise and goad old adage, same to ipsum, ap.
plies both to things and men. Even since the days of 'Whitfield and
Wesley, however, it cannot be concealed that there has existed, on the
part of preachers, a strong liking for what is distinguished as popularity,
and, accordingly, an impatience of that comparative obscurity which so
properly and' honourably- characterises the station of the parish priest.
Whitfield was continually urging one of the most eminent men in the
church, Toptady, to " come out," though the latter never could con-
ceive himself duly called upon to comply with the solicitations of
his friend ; and it will be seen, from the sentiments delivered in A
Sh.,rt Accanntaf the Life and Death of the Rea. John Fletcher, that Wee-
ley thought in the same way respecting this retired and amieble minister.
" He," declares the Rev. John Wesley, speaking as to Mr. Fletcher,
"was full as much called to sound an alarm through all the nation, as
Mr. Widificld himself. Nay, abundantly mere so : seeing he was far
better qualified for that important work_ He had a more striking per-
son, equal good breeding, an equally winning address : together with a
richer flow of fancy, and a strouger unOerstanding : a far greater trea-
sure of learning, both in languages, philosophy, philology, and divinity :
t and, above all, (which I can speak with fuller assurance, because I had a
thorough knowledge both of one and the other,) a more deep and con-
stant communion with the Father, and with the son Jesus Christ ! And
yet," observes Mr. We,ley," let not any one Imagine that I depreciate
t Mr. Whitfield, or undervalue the grace of God, or the extraordinary
gifts which his great maker vouchsafed unto him. I believe, that he
was highly favoined of God; yea, that he was one of the most eminent
ministers that has appeared in England, or, perhaps, in the world, during
t the present century,' &c. &c. Without now offering any animadver-
tsion on these contrasted characters of Whitfield and Fletcher,—exeept-
ing that, in the words of a well-known proverb, it seems like robbing
i IPeter to pay Paul, with a vengeance !-1 merely request the reader to.
; bear in mind the present purpose for which the whole quotation is ire-
traduced; eet.l to observe the practice, still prevalent here, of inviting
ministers to overstep those boundaries by which ordinarily their exer•
tions arc fenced.
11 Imperious as have been esteemed the circumstances which first °ca-
t., stoned the itinerating of evangelical ministers, it will scarcely be con-
Itended that there continues the same necessity for thus propagating the
i seeds of religion. Necessity must justify that which necessity had dic-
litated. There exists not, nevertheless, any necessity for putting, at this
time, the whole " company of our preachers in motion," in order to
furnish the people with their spiritual food. Gospel preachers arc at
; i length stationed in every part of the United Kingdom.
1 The Rev. Mr. SPOONER, coming from the country, has recently
I I entered upon the solemn office of Minister of Tavistock Chapel, Broad-
-11 court, Dritry-Lane. This chapel had long been falling off, both as to
• ; pastor and people, althoti,sll heenerly it was popularly atteieled ; so that
to enter upon its duties now, with the laudable view of recalling its still.
scattered flock, was an arduous attempt, and one which evidently re-
;
quircd no common portion of ministerial ability, personal property, per.
severance, and zeal.
1 Respecting one of those qualifications which must he pronounced in-
; dispensable towards carrying on divine worship at this chapel, personal
1 t; property, the jilt :sent preacher is not deficient, but, according to my in-
i ; formation, is happily prepared to meet its expenditure. Actuated by
1 higher and better motives than commonly decide the conduct of those
who take to themselves the fame of supporting places of this kind, Mr.
Spooner has volunteered both his purse and his mind, report affirms, in
the hope of re-establishing religion in the chapel which be has engaged