The National Register.
London, England, 1811-10-20 00:00:00

ely Pulpit.

No. XLIX.
imruil•

• Wbatioever ardonrs of Divine -Love have been kindled in a soul united
to dash and b'ood, may also be kindled, lay.tbe same influences of Grace,
its other Spirits labouring under the nine clogs and impediments !
DR. WATTS.

Task not privileges above the capacity of my nature. nor aspire to the
perfection of angels; I only ask that may reach those heights of holiness.
and Divine love, which souls invested with a mortal body like mine, and
It:cumbered with the same human passions, have attained.
MRS. ROWS.

Rev. JAMES RODEN, of SHEFFIELD.

Religious enthusiasm as men still call it—energy it might with
trutli Ire called—is not so bad as religious formalism. There
should be no neutralization as to this point. The faithful must
babe the faith at heart; but those who preach to them, above
all. Christian pastors should stand pre-eminently distinguished
for their zealous impulses. Not only must they' be shining, but
burning lights. They rust give heat, not less than light.
14 What mis-suggestions have I waived !" says our good Bishop
Hall, speaking of the evangelical clergymen of his time. •' What
blows (observes this prelate) have I borne off, in behalf of some
V' them, from some gainsayers! How have I often and publicly
professed,—that as well might we complain of too many stars in
the sky, as of too many orthodox preachers in the church !"
Thus deilared that good and wise and learned man. May
there be yet found prelates who shall think as he thought ! Such
lights alone aern our church.--She towers then upon her hill ;
and her glory shines before men ! There is now no night.
• Darkness and danger both withdraw. She disperses both. Seen
afar off, her splendour guides. Sought afar off, her shelter saves.
Now faced is this Hill of Zion found to yield a thousand
sweets.

" a thousand sacred sweets,
"Before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden
streets!"

Imputations of formality, respecting religious profession, are
not, however, by any fairness to be deemed exchisivey ap •
plicable to s3ch individuals as may communicate with establish-
ment. Dissenters are as liable to coldness as their opponents.
Formal though without all forms,—nor one jot less so than
if they had such forms,—they are lukewarm like others. Justice
extorts this passing remark. Men can still worship in spirit, by
forms; and be willout it, although free from forms. Those
-whom this most a6cts, perhaps will own its truth.

The Rev. JAMES BODEN, who has been for some years Mi-
nister of a respectable Dissenting Congregation at Sheffield,
would, probably, be heard with at least decent patience, by those
160 otherwise reprehend and jeer at the best Preachers of this
day. He is decorous, intelligent, evangelical. He offends none,
but pleases all.
Action is sparing in him. He is in this respect pleasing, but
not striking. What Johnson writes of Dr. Watts, will be applied
to him,-.-that " he did not endeavour to assist his eloquence by
any gesticulation; for, as no corporeal actions have any corres-
pondencp with theological truth, he cid not see how they could
enforce it."
There is another trait in which he much resembles Dr. Watts.
" Such was hits flow of thought," biography will say, in the
style of Johnsor4 " and such his promptitude of language, that
he did not precantpose his cursory sermons; but having adjusted
the heads, and sketched out some particulars, he trusted, for
success, to his extemporary powers:' Here Mr. Boden is
great.
Assured that all Sacred Scripture was given for our instruc-
tion, individually and universally, criticism will not be disposed
enddenlyto hid fault with what are termed spiritual'applitations