Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

for which he is by no means to be blamed, as his professional avocations can leave him but little time for speculative theology. But it is much to be desired that he were rather less dogmatical. This, however, is a failing to which those who are always insisting upon one question, without sufficiently diversifying it with others, are very prone and it reminds me of a saying, which I have often heard from my late friend Dr. Kippis-Deliver me from the man who only reads one book.

Your correspondent, in contradis tinction to some who, as he seems to think, are inclined to derogate from the honour due to Christ, expresses himself in very glowing terms upon this subject and I cordially concur with him when he says, "If we contemplate him on earth, performing the arduous duties of his mission without fear and without reproach, how much beneath him do other mortals appear, whose deeds are emblazoned in the pages of history!" Jesus Christ is the greatest of all the prophets of God. He is the way, the truth and the life: his mission was sealed by his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into heaven, and the gift of the holy spirit. He ever lives to make intercession for us; or, in other words, in some unknown way to act in behalf and for the benefit of his church. His powers are, probably, continually increasing, and his glory is unspeakable and incomprehensible, But for that very reason we have and can have no concern with it. And the more we attempt to comprehend and explain it, the more shall we puzzle

confound ourselves and others,

and the more shall we darken counsel by words without knowledge. We can know nothing of Christ but what we learn from his gospel: in that sacred volume we are taught what to believe concerning him, and what duties he requires of his disciples. We learn to revere him as the great prophet of God, the founder of the new and final dispensation to mankind; and thus instructed, we receive him as our Teacher, we obey him as our Master, we love him as our great moral bene factor, we imitate him as our pattern, we triumph in him as our hope. Him, though unseen, we love; in him,

VOL. XX.

[ocr errors]

though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

All this I can understand and assent to. But when, in addition to this, I am told, "We cannot exalt the Saviour too highly: all our words fall short of the ideas entertained by a true Christian towards him." This, I say, is incorrect. For words may,

and have, and do often express ideas more exalted than a well-informed Christian entertains towards his Master. Words will express that Jesus Christ was the great pre-existent Logos, by whose instrumentality the supreme God made and governs this world, or this system, or all worlds and systems, and many a true Christian has believed the doctrine, but no well-informed Christian will receive it as true. Again, words will express what the Socinians taught, namely, "that Jesus Christ who, in his first state of existence was a man like ourselves," was after his resurrection exalted to the supreme dominion over the whole created universe; but it would be difficult to find any Christian, of any description, in the present day, who would avow so extravagant an opinion. Upon the whole, it is our wisest part to be content with the plain doctrine of the plain Scripture, and not to puzzle ourselves or our readers with speculations upon subjects which, being beyond our comprehension, can be of no use to direct our practice.

3 H

SIR,

T. BELSHAM.

LLOW a looker-on to say one

Aword on the value of what are called "Ordination Services," which appears to me to consist not so much in the advice given on these occasions to young ministers, as in the favourable opportunity which they create of exciting public attention to the minsters and their congregations. Our elders of most talents and reputation are employed in these services; and all the circumstances are auspicious to a successful exhibition of our principles and views as Dissenters and behalf of them? Unitarians. Need more be said on

PRESBYTER.

Hinckley.

POETRY.

SONNET,

Composed in Burbage Wood, October 3, 1824.

YE beautiful green woods, well pleased again
I hail your deep'ning shades, and leave the joys
Of poor humanity, whose forms restrain

The young ideas, as they duly rise:-
Here Nature sits on an unbounded throne ;-
The soul expands;—and of the ambient scene
Imbibes its plan, and feelings scarce her own,
Boundless and vast, and beautifully serene!
The mind uncircumscribed, roams o'er the earth;-
Asks whence the tyrant's power, the pomp of pride,-
The law of faction,-the parade of birth,-

And feels to nature, and to heaven allied.

Hail, ye green woods! ye have a lesson given,

To teach mankind of man, of nature, and of heaven.

JOSEPH DARE.

TO A DAUGHTER ON THE COMPLETION OF HER 20th YEAR.

My youth-so long extinct her fires,
No more I wake the sportive lay:
Yet, as parental love inspires,

I greet, dear Anne, thy natal day.
What though no more the sportive strain
May suit experience, grave and grey;
Ne'er shall my pensive verse complain,
As though no sun had cheer'd my way.
Rather shall rise, at memory's call,
Bright scenes of bliss, by time endear'd;
Rich boons for ills that life enthral,

For all I've felt, and all I've fear'd.
Then pass, dear Anne, thy road of life,
Virtue thy aim, content thy treasure;
For knowledge urge the generous strife,
Of pleasing oft indulge the pleasure.
And, thus, my number'd years survive,
If such, for good, high Heav'n's decree;
Retrace thy varied sixty-five,

And, haply, spend a thought on me.

OBITUARY.

1825. Mar. 3, the Rev. JOSEPH Cook, M.A., Fellow of Christ College, Cambridge, between Mount Sinai and Tor, on the Red Sea. After spending some years in the University with the highest credit and honour to himself, he went to the Continent in 1820. Having visited Holland, France, Germany and Switzer

J. T. R.

land, and resided four years in Italy, devoting his time to the public performance of his clerical duties at the English chapel at Rome, and that of the Ambassador at Naples, and to the study and contemplation of the interesting objects with which those classical shores abound; and having qualified himself for a full

and minute examination of those regions, sions, by considerable energy and ability. doubly interesting, as being the sources His funeral was conducted by his conof both sacred and profane history, he gregation in the most respectful though set out from Malta in August last, on a unostentatious manner. On the followtour to Egypt and the Holy Land, ac- ing Sunday a funeral sermon, at the recompanied by Dr. Bromhead, of this quest of his relations, was preached, in University, and Mr. Lewis, of the navy. Welsh, from 1 Thess. iv. 14, by the Rev. Having penetrated beyond the second J. James, of Gelli-onnen; and another in cataract of the Nile, the party returned to English, at the request of the congregaCairo, from whence they proceeded to tion, from Numb. xxiii. 10, by the Rev. Mount Sinai. The fatigues of this jour- R. Awbrey, of Swansea. The chapel was Dey, the inclemency of the weather, and crowded on both occasions, and the the privatious inseparable from travelling preachers, as well as most of their hearin those countries, so weakened him, ers, were visibly affected at every allusion (although he left Cairo apparently in per- to their departed friend. The audiences fect health,) that, after stopping a few were seriously and almost painfully atdays at Mount Sinai, to recruit his tentive. The deceased furnished another strength, he was unable to reach Tor, proof of a truth which he had constantly and, under circumstances fraught with illustrated and enforced, namely, "that the most deep and awful interest, expired a well-spent life is the best preparation on his camel, in the Pass Wady Hebram, for a happy death." A short time before near Mount Serbal, to the inexpressible his dissolution, a brother minister asked regret of his family and friends. His him if he was resigned to the will of God. remains were deposited by his compa- He started at the question, and replied, nions in the burying-ground of a Greek in a tone of voice, as if slightly offended church, near the Wells of Elim, a spot at the implied doubt, "PERFECTLY." which he had expressed his most anxious Long be his memory cherished, and his wish to visit, and which, to use the example followed! words of his friend Dr. Bromhead, "Could he have foreseen his fate, he would probably have selected as his last earthly abode."

June 24, after a very short illness, the Rev. JOHN EVANS, minister of the Unitarian congregation at Carmarthen, aged 43 years. He was educated at the Presbyterian College in that town, which is opeu to students of all parties, and is the only public institution for the education of Welsh ministers, conducted upon libe. ral principles. When the subject of this notice entered upon his studies, his sentiments were orthodox; but before the conclusion he became a decided Unita rian; and with the ingenuousness that always characterized him, hesitated not to avow the change. His first settlement as a minister was at Ilminster, in Somersetshire, where he remained several years. In 1816, he removed to Carmarthen with the view to improve his health. Pious without gloom, cheerful without levity, and zealous without bigotry, he experienced a welcome reception wherever his worth was known. In simplicity of manners and integrity of heart he was seldom equalled; and few men have been more esteemed by connexions and friends. His correct and exemplary deportment obtained the respect of his neighbours of all religious parties. As a preacher he was distinguished by intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures, by sound sense and liberality, and, ou particular occa

T.

informs us that Mr. Evans preached, the [Our correspondent, in a private letter, Sunday evening before his death, a fune. ral sermon for the late Rev. Dr. A. Rees, from the words, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace!"]

Dr. ELMSLEY. (Pp. 309, 310.)

Of the literary character of Dr. Elmsley, the following just sketch was sometime ago given by the celebrated Profes. sor Herman. And it will be a gratification to the feelings of the present writer to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of this admirable scholar, by exhibiting. it in an English dress.

"Peter Elmsley, if any other man, is a man born to promote the accurate knowledge of the Greek language, since his extraordinary and truly singular diligence in investigating subjects of grammatical criticism is directed by an excellent genius, by a mind free from subjection to authority, by a most ardent love of truth, impeded in its operation neither by pride, nor vain glory, nor by the desire of detracting from the merit of another. By these virtues he has effected, that, while his learning is to be valued most highly, he himself is not less to be loved and venerated. But this is the greatest praise, and a praise which will never perish, to be not only a useful, but also a good man."

E. C.

INTELLIGENCE.

DOMESTIC.
RELIGIOUS.

Manchester College, York: Annual
Examination-and Ordination of
Rev. W. S. Brown, at Hull.

On Monday, June 27, commenced the Annual Examination of the Students in Manchester College, York, and continued till the following Thursday evening, before Abraham Crompton and Daniel Gaskell, Esqrs., and the Rev. John Yates and John Kentish, Vice-Presidents; the Rev. William Turner, Visitor; the Rev. J. G. Robberds, Public Examiner; the Rev. J. J. Tayler, Secretary; and Robert Philips, Jun., Assistant Treasurer; and Messrs. Bealby, Bell, Brownbill, Dawson, Heaviside, Martineau, Mead, Philips, Pratt, Talbot, Taylor, Tottie, R. V. Yates, and the Rev. Messrs. Gaskell, Lee, Mallison, Smethurst and Tate. On Monday afternoon the three Hebrew Classes were examined together, by written papers, for three hours; and the three Mathematical Classes in the same way, for an equal time. Tuesday morning the Greek Classes were examined in a similar way, from eight to eleven; after which, Orations were delivered by Mr. Paget, on "the Origin and Effects of Chivalry;" Mr. Philipps, on "Ecclesiastical Establishments;" Mr. Dawson, on "the Use of Machinery in Manufactures;" Mr. Darbishire, on "the Tendency of Berkley's Theory;" Mr. Squire, on" the Institution of the Jesuits;" and Mr. Higginson, on "the Influence of Sects and Parties in Religion, Philosophy and Politics." Then followed a viva voce examination of the Ethical Class; Orations, by Mr. P. Crompton, on "Fortitude;" Mr. Raukin, on "the Reformation by Wickliffe;" and Mr. Bayly, on "Penal Laws in Matters of Religion ;" and the business of the day concluded by an examination, in writing, of the Belles Lettres, and Senior History Classes. Wednesday commenced with an examination, in writing, for three hours, of the Theology and Evidence Classes; which was followed by Orations by Mr. Freeman, on Comparative Advantages of Public and Private Education;" by Mr. Busk, on "Innovation ;" and a Sermon by Mr. Worthington, on Phil. iv. 6, 7. After a short interval, Mr. Martineau delivered an Oration on "the Necessity of Cultivating the Imagination as a Regulator of the Devotional Feelings;" Mr. Crompton, on the Imagination considered in

"the

reference to the Works of Nature;" and Mr. Tagart, a Sermon on Acts xvi. 31. The Junior Latin Class was then publicly examined for nearly two hours; and the business of this day concluded with Ora tions by Mr. Talbot, on "the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus;" and by Mr. Ketley, on "the Comparative Evidences and Nature of Christianity and Mohammedism ;" and with a Sermon by Mr. Wreford, on Isa. xl. 6, 7. On Thursday, the Senior Latin Class was publicly examined for nearly two hours; Orations were delivered by Mr. Lee, on "the supposed Unfavourableness of the Roman Catholic Religion to Civil Liberty;" and by Mr. R. Brook Aspland, ou "the Pulpit Oratory of France;" and a Sermou by Mr. Brown on Deut. iv. 9. The Junior History and the Logic Classes were then examined viva voce, and the examiation concluded with an Oration by Mr. Howorth, on "the Charge against Christianity, that it does not inculcate Patriotism and Friendship;" and Sermons, by Mr. Beard, on Matt. xi. 5, and Mr. Mitchelson on Eph. ii. 12.

After a short interval, for determining the prizes for the best Oration and the best delivery, (it having been previously notified that the fifth year's Students did not wish to be included, as not considering Sermons proper subjects for a prize,) the Visitor delivered the following Address :

"Gentlemen, I am now called to the office, which I discharge with annually-increasing pleasure, of closing this long and highly satisfactory examination with our best thanks for the patience with which you have submitted to it, and the many evidences which you have given us in the course of it of the improvement you have made of the advantages here afforded you. I feel particular satisfaction in the highly creditable appearance which has throughout the week been made from the desk, as to both the composition and the delivery of your Orations and more elaborate discourses. It has been particularly gratifying to us all to observe, that you have, nearly without an exception, made choice of subjects which shew your regard for the propagation and spread of truth, virtue and religion, and this upon the firm basis of Christian principles; these principles, I trust, you will carry with you, from this place, and make the rule of your conduct through life.

"With regard to the Lay-Students of this year, let me be permitted to say,

[ocr errors]

that I feel a peculiar interest in their improvement and future welfare. With one of them I hope I may be allowed to claim a personal connexion, through a succession of interchangeable good offices, and consequent obligations, continued now for three generations; and I trust my young friend will recollect that he will be expected by the public, as well as by his near connexions, to make a worthy use of the station in society in which he has been placed by energy of talent.' Others there are, who can never look round this hall without meeting with the countenance of a venerable ancestor, call ing upon them, I trust they always feel, in silent, indeed, but mild and expressive language, to keep up the credit of a long race of his successors, who have hitherto maintained the family character for promoting, as he most eminently did, the interests of learning, truth and liberty. Others, I observe, the descendants or sons of those who have adorned, or are adorning, another liberal profession; and who, at the same time, have shewn, or are shewing, the sincerity of their attachment to the free profession of religion, according to the dictates of individual judgment. All these, and the rest of our young lay friends, are the objects of our inost affectionate good wishes; and our hope, we trust not ill-founded, that they will be the ornaments of a rising generation.

"I desire to congratulate you, my young friends, who are students for the ministry, on the ready and prompt support with which the public have met your laudable endeavours to render yourselves useful to the best interests of men, by enabling you to complete your chapel and school at Welburn. I am happy to hear that you have attended to the suggestion which I offered last year; and that, whether you are present or absent, public worship is always celebrated there on the Lord's-day. I understand it is likely that you are in future years to meet with some opposition* from a class of Christians, the merits of whose original founders we have just heard so promptly and candidly acknowledged, and who have been eminently useful in the promotion of practical religion, though in connexion with the zealous maintenance of a scheme of doctrines which we are apt to deem erroneous. But I trust that I may be permitted to entertain on good grounds the full confidence, that this circumstance will not excite in your minds any feeling of jealousy or ill-will; but only that of a laudable emulation.

* The foundation of a Methodist chapel has lately been laid at Welburn. By Mr. Beard.

I entertain this confidence with the fuller security since I heard yesterday the excellent Oration of one of you, who, ha ving already stooped to the office of instructing infantine minds in the Sundayschool, and thus imitating the Master to whom he is devoting himself by gathering the lambs with his arm, and carrying them in his bosom,' is in future to be one of those who succeed you, my friends who leave us, in instructing more advanced Christians. I persuade myself that he, and with him all of you, my young friends, will carry the principles of that essay into practice; and that, while you are aware of the great advantage which religion has derived from the opposition of sects and parties, you will be careful to keep the pure gold of Christian earnestness undebased with the alloy of animosity; while you inculcate what you deem to be the truth as it is in Jesus, and study to impress the minds of those who hear you with a deep sense of its practical results, and while, in so doing, you may find it necessary to refute what you conceive to be erroneous, you will never revile or scorn, or even ridicule them, still less the persons who may hold them. In short, that, in this your higher office also, you will imitate your Master, and never strive nor cry, or cause your voice to be heard aloud in the streets :" that you will also cultivate the spirit of his apostle, under a feeling of opposition, What, then, every way, Christ is preach ed; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.'

"In the exercise of your Missionary labours I understand you have taken much pains to acquire the talent, or gift, (as it is often called, and as it is right to call it, for all our talents, whether natural or acquired, ought to be received, acknowledged and exercised, as gifts from God,) of speaking extempore. It would ill become me, who have almost daily occasion to lament the want of it, to throw any obstacle in the way of its cultivation or practice. I am aware that what is often acquiesced in, is also often mistaken for, a natural inability; and I greatly regret that I did not, in early life, make more vigorous efforts for its acquirement. Since I came among you on this occasion I have read Mr. Henry Ware's ingenious, and, on the whole, very excellent Hints for the Attainment of the Talent of Extempore Preaching;" and I have no doubt that, under his restrictions, and by a close attention to his rules, it is an accomplishment which may be applied to the noblest purposes, and be productive of the most beneficial ef fects. Still, however, it has its peculiar temptations; and if it should lead the Christian teacher to trust too much to

« AnteriorContinua »