JUBILEE SERMONS. Such is the Gresham Lecturer's apology for exposing the fallacies he discovers in the speeches and sentiments of certain orators named in his title page, de- THAT the late Jubilee, which emlivered after dinner, at a meeting of their ployed the pens of many in composing party. The contempt we attach to discourses, should also employ the press all party meetings, from which enlighten- in communicating not a few of such dised discussion is banished, as a matter of courses to the public, and in extending course, inclines us to think that orations their principles and illustrations beyond of this description should never be noticed: the walls of those edifices in which they -who recollects them after the dinner bill were delivered, was to be expected by all Is paid? Let our public officers of in- who know the ready access which literastruction do their duty, by disseminating ture and loyalty find to the public. It is correct sentiments, luminous statements, not within our power to notice that mass and legitimate inferences: let them pro- of them which duty, or accident, has duce the principles of the constitution, in induced us to peruse. Generally speaking, their genuine purity, and not like certain much good advice, and teaching, were parts of Shakespeare's text "elucidated addressed to the auditories on that occa into obscurity;" and the public (both of sion. It is true, that some preachers, willthe present time, and future ages) willing to carry the principle of comprehension receive their labours with gratitude. If there be canons admitted by both sides as containing sacred and indefeasible truths, let these be rendered familiar among our population, their provisions be set in the clearest light, and their appointments, be, as some learned authors boast on their title pages, made easy to the meanest capacity." If we might advise, no man should be suffered to speechify about Magna Charta, till he had given proof of having read that important, but not common, state paper: and if, whenever the Bill of Rights was intended to be appealed to, five hundred copies of it with the subsequent enactments, by which it was modified, were printed for distribuflou anong the company, we should think such symptoms of fairness, entitled to commendation. Whether an equal, or superior, share of commendation might not be due to that candour which lent attention to the arguments of an opponent, and considered his reasonings, without overwhelming them by hisses, and clamour, might justify the consideration of our public assemblies. And to conclude, (for subjects of this nature being rarely favour able to our good humour, we are glad to dismiss them) we desire John Bull to take notice that his affairs will never pros per to his complete satisfaction, till he can bring himself to hear both sides of a question, and to form his opinion after due deliberation on the merits of the case. That our public orators will accept this advice, we doubt:—we doubt, too, whether they will that of the Gresham Lecturer. to the utmost, thought it not unbecoming to include the acts of the administration, in their commendations of the personal character of the monarch: others disco vered in the term Jubilee much more than we had been in the habit of supposing; with a closer correspondence in minute particulars between the Hebrew institution and the British commemoration, than sound criticism warranted. A general similitude was all our judgment allowed us to find in the two festivals; and those who exerted their talents in discussing the merits or demerits of ministry, or of certain determinations of the legislature, in our humble apprehension, forced a connection between articles, that propriety and good taste would have preserved distinct. But, though we trust the reverend and worthy authors who have favoured us with an opportunity of perusing their sentiments, will not take offence at our omitting particular netice of their performances, since we cannot insert them all, nor even a fair proportion of them, yet we shall allot a few pages of our work, to a specimen of the sermons published on that occasion. It has given us pleasure, to observe, that, with little exception, there has been a near conformity in the principles promulgated by divines of all denominations. who differ on public subjects, should completely coincide on this, was not to be expected; to have indulged any such hope, would have manifested a very imperfect knowledge of mankind. Nevertheless, considered on the whole, there has been That those little diversity of sentiment, and very little perversity of manner. The Churchman, the Dissenter, the Catholic, has addressed to his flock, exhortations tending to unity among brethren, to cordiality among Christians, and to loyalty among Britons. may without any suspicion of flattery very confidently apply the characteristic epithets of pious, pacific, and munificent? innumerable: but, there is no greater proof To his public devotion the witnesses are perhaps of undissembled piety of heart, thar when it diffuses itself into the more private and familiar actions. An instance of this, I beg leave to introduce here-because I am, persuaded it cannot be much known; but which I can authenticate by every thing short of personal certainty. An application was once made to the benevolent compassion of his majesty-out of the due order-by a The articles which follow, are, in fact, not properly a selection; they are the first which happened to come to our hands; they were also the first we perused. They are the productions of a Churchman and Magistrate; of a Churchman, but (we believe) no Magistrate; and of a Dissen-person, who was reduced with a large family ter. In this order we shall review them. The National Jubilee, celebrative of the Fiftieth [49th] Anniversary of the Reign of George the Third, politically and morally improved. By a Magistrate. 8vo. pp xviii.-74. Price 3s. Mathews and Leigh, London, 1809. to extreme distress. It succeeded far beyond THIS worthy gentleman, who deOn the virtues of the throne it is superflu scribes himself as "" an insignificant vil ous to add any thing: the nation itself has lage pastor," in a style somewhat peculiar, whatever untoward and fortuitous incidents been uniformly eloquent on that theme: and, though certainly energetic, introduces many observations in which we acquiesce: to superinduce the calamities of war, it is too may have occurred, in the collision of states, his discourse, however, rather needs than obvious, to require any distinct proof, that bears analysis; and he certainly should there was nothing in the disposition of our have named the writings which have fur- sovereign to provoke it. It is perfectly undernished his numerous quotations and refer- stood, that he would much rather have culti ences. Among others he has honoured vated and encouraged all the more amiable arts the Panorama by inserting an extract, the of peace, taste, and science. He has spent writer of which he qualified as more than ten thousand pounds in the adingenious" but, if he has not quoted vancement of a single branch of the Cycloother writers inore correctly, their evipædia. "When I was last in England," dence in support of his suggestion is pro-honour of expressing to this prince my gratesays one of our foreign literati, "I had the portionately incomplete. ful acknowledgment for the liberal protection he gave to the arts and sciences : to which he made this sensible and humane reply"This is surely much better than to waste money in promoting the slaughter of man 66 very We take advantage of this gentleman's Labours to introduce a few facts, hononrable to his majesty; from which at the same time our readers may judge of this writer's talent at composition. Our pious sovereign,-when three of his chaplains in succession were so unmindful of the sacred dignity of their office, as to be lavish of their eulogiums in the house of God, and in his immediate presence, he is known to have said with becoming disgust, that "he came thither to hear the praises of God -not, his own."-See letters of correspondence between bishops Warburton and Hurd: in which this anecdote is well authenticated. With more immediate reference to the event we are now celebrating-is it a trifling circumstance, that we have had a sovereign on the throne for half an age, to whom we Lind."* satisfaction to record, unless I greatly err, The pen of historic truth will have the that, in the character of this illustrious per sonage, there was nothing of the rapacity and despotism of the Norman invader: of the violence and perfidiousness of William Rufus: of the implacability and voluptuousness of the first Henry: of the jealousy and re *The same thing has been continually celebrated by the most distinguished literat and artists of our own country. it pass entirely unnoticed, that, amidst all Nor should the extreme cares and solicitudes necessarily attached to his regal situation, he has not been inattentive to agricultural improvements. : sentments of Stephen the usurper: of the incontinence and instability of the second Henry of the insuperable pride and haughtiuess of Richard the first: of the cowardice, licentiousness, and treachery of John: of the profusion and inconstancy of the third Henry: of the ambition and illiberality of his successor of the imbecility and indolence of the second Edward of the love of false glory, which distinguished the third of the vanity and frivolousness of Richard the second of the enormities of injustice, which tarnished the reign of the fourth Henry of the imperiousness of the fifth of the ignoble apathy of the sixth of the cruelty and indecency of Edward the fourth of the dissimulation and barbarity of Richard the third: of the selfishness and avarice of the seventh Henry: or, of the arrogance, bigotry, and brutality of the eighth nothing again of the desperate assassinations of his sacred person puerility, capriciousness, and pedantry, of have been prevented!-From what deep and the first James-of the unfortunate passion mestic foes,-from what rash and ungrateful base machinations of both foreign, and dofor power, or the uxorious weakness, to which his successor fell a sacrifice-or of the attacks of those in whom he might have effeminate voluptuousness and unprincipled hoped to place the securest confidence, hath libertinism of his Son: nothing, in short, of he been delivered!-From what afflictive and the obstinate superstition of James the sealarming bodily maladies hath he been recocond-or, of the cold and reserved insensi-vered!-And whilst all the crowned heads, bility of the third William. Is it any wonder then, that there has been scarcely a single subject of patriotic, moral, or religious excellence in the British empire, during the long period of his sway, which has not felt a pleasure in celebrating the amiable and respectable traits in the character of George the him to desire amendment, perhaps a few years might afford cause of congratulation to them and to himself, on account of disgraceful evils checked, if not subdued, or of happy improvements introduced, and visible superiority of manners obtained. The text is Psalm cxviii.24. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice, and be glad in it. The tenor of the discourse may be deduced from the following extract: Towards our gracious sovereign,—mercy on mercy, hath been evidenced for his protec tion. E. G-How many violent encroach. ments on his government have been frustrated!-What secret and foul seditions have third? WHOM GOD PRESERVE! The text is Math. xxii.-21. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's: and unto God the things that are God's." A happy choice of a text for a clerical magistrate. The Righteousness of a King, the Blessedness of the People, a Sermon, preached at West-Tilbury, Essex, on Wednesday, October 25, 1809, &c. By Rev. Sir Adam Gordon, Bart. Rector of that Parish. 8vo. PP. 40. Price 1s. 6d. Stockdale, London. SIR ADAM says it is a frequent custom with him to present his parishioners, about the close of the year with some serious tract of a pastoral descriptionbe therefore intreats their acceptance of this humble, but affectionate offering. There is something in this custom which strikes us as worthy of consideration. If a pastor should affectionately represent to his parishioners, those particulars in which their conduct has appeared to deserve praise, and those in which his duty leads been crushed in the bud!-What open and and once mighty potentates of Europe, have suddenly been deprived of their hereditary rights, and power, or are dwindling into mere vassals to a blasphemous and barbarous tyrant our aged, upright monarch, stands firm upon the throne of his ancestors, secure in the love and veneration of his people, and ultimately trusting in the irresistable support of his God and Saviour.-Now to what, my brethren, can we attribute all these wonderful interferences, but to the marked hand of Divine preference, and over-ruling dominion -to the invincible shield of omnipotent protection!. - to Sir Adam tells us, p. 10. that the word Now the rich stream of music winds along, righteous judgment. But a tree is known by its fruits, and causes by their effects; and we may, therefore, be allowed to indulge the he appears in the world; that he is in the closet what he appears in the temple: that he indeed walks with God," and daily 'uks up to him as his director, guardian, ficod, and everlasting portion. Righteousness the Dignity and Ornament of Old Age. A Sermon preached at Pell-pleasing hope, that he is in retirement what Street Meeting-House, Ratcliffe-Highway, on Wednesday, October 25, 1809, being the day on which His Majesty King George the IIId. entered the Fiftieth Year of his Reign. By Thomas Cloutt. 8vo. pp. 38. Price 1s. Conder, London, 1809. MR. CLOUTT selects his text from Proverbs xvi.-21. The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. He describes the hoary head not found in the way of righteousness; the hoary head of the infidel ;-he explains the term way (walk, progress) of righteousness; and calls us to contemplate" an aged monarch, in whom so many duties center, whose example and influence is so widely extended and powerfully efficacious, walking in the way of righteousness." As the ruler of his people, has he not, generally speaking, and as far as can be expected from frail humanity, executed righteousness among us, swayed his sceptre in love, and reigned in the affections of his subjects? If there have been, as indeed there here, distressing events for these realms in the course of his long reign, we ought not to be too ready to look to h m as the source of all the evils we have endured, but to remeraber, that had he been personally corrupted and vicious, there is every reasou to suppose, our piva. tions and sufferings would have been aggra vated far beyond their present extent moral darkness, from circumstances of misery and degradation, to those stations of respectability, usefulness, and happiness, a kind providence intended they should occupy in the world. sion of knowledge among his people, even He has encouraged and promoted the diffu the poorest of them, and thus shewn bimThis last, this most felicitating object, we self averse to that infernal policy which would are, this day invited to contemplate, not as bind down the minds of the inferior orders of brought to our recollection by the painted society in the chains of savage ignorance and canvass, the sculptured marble, the brazen link them with the brute creation; and desitablet, the sepulchral monument, the page rous of preserving to them their hereditary of history, the memorials of what has been, dignity and freedom, of expanding their fa nor, as the evanescent picture of the imagi-culties, of raising them from mental and nation, presented only from fancy to fancy, a visionary phantom, remote from sensible observance; but as it exists in all the glowing attractions of real life, a suitable object for our admiration and homage, our gratitude, love and praise. Our venerable sovereign now bears his hoary locks upon him, his eyes are dim with age, he is travelling to his long home we shall soon see his face no more, for in a short time, he will be gathered to his fathers. He is not, (thanks to the God of our mercies, who hath called him to his kingdom of glory), just now entered into the way we have described, but has been so long and uniformly in it, that even malice itself scarcely attempts to cast an imputation on his per ́onal and private character. His virtues as a man, a husband, and a father, are resounded throughout the empire. In an age of infidelity, profligacy and lukewarmness, he has continued firm in his Christian profession; pure in his morals; frequent, regular, and exemplary in his attendance on the offices and sacred institutions of our most holy religion. In these respects his light shines before inen. We cannot penetrate the recesses of the heart, and it would be highly presumptuous in me to attempt to determine, what is known only to God, how far his exterior deportment is regulated by those motives and sentiments, which are approved by him who seeth not as man seeth, and who judgeth Mr. C. as becomes a dissenter, pays a just tribute of praise to his majesty's sense of the duty of toleration in religious matters to his assent to the abolition of the slave trade-and he fervently prays for the welfare of the house of Brunswick, to sway the British sceptre,"—and for "the spirit of repentance and reformation upon all degrees and orders of men among us, that iniquity may not prove our ruin." Every loyal Briton will unite with every real Patriot, in these sentiments and in these petitions. "It was a noble wish, which our aged and venerable monarch is said to have lately expressed to Mr. Lancaster, the benevolent projector of these schools, "I would have every poor child in the nation able to read the Bible! This was a saying worthy the head of the Protestant established church-it was a jewel in his crown, whose lustre shall never fade away."-Sermon on the importance of educating the poor.-By J. Evans, A. M. His patronizing Mr. Lancaster's system of education is well known. A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St. Mary, Stratford, Bow, in the County of Middlesex; on the Opening of the East-London Water-Works, October 23, 1809, by the Rev. Edw. Robson, M. A. Vicar of Orston, Notts; Lecturer of Whitechapel; and Chaplain to the Hon. Corporation of the Trinity the Thou menced, have fallen by the way. in the desert ;) behold animals and men con- House. Printed for the East-London Water-Works' Company. London : 1809. THIS is an ingenious discourse: the subject is uncommon, and new to the pulpit. Many considerations press upon us duty of gratitude to the author of all good for hourly mercies; these we too often forget through inattention, or suffer to escape us unnoticed, through custom and If this, unfeeling creature, move thee not; habit. Could the sufferings experienced lok at that dungeon in a scorching climate, by some of our British sailors, on long contracted in dimensions, lighted by one small voyages, for want of water, be described aperture, [Black Hole at Calcutta, A. D. in adequate terms, they would-they-hear their cries! hear them insulting their 1756.] and filled with captive Englishmen ; must affect the sympathising bosom. We inhuman guards, in the hope of provoking know, that nothing more sensibly vexes them to put an end to their torments by dea true sailor, than the sight of water run- priving them of their lives. In vain !-Delining to waste. Even in our own country, rium succeeds. But, amidst the groans of there are districts where good water is death, and the shrieks of phrenzy-one word scarce; but no part of Britain is exposed is plainly distinguishable, one word is clearly to those miseries which are endured in the articulated,-WATER!-Now, thoughtless East, from this cause. To these Mr. R. has man, learn the value of that element which happily alluded in the following paragraph. thou hast not hitherto, perhaps, duly prized. I confess, it ever gives me sensible pleasure Here, in this happy land, it is to be feared to see, generally speaking, the metropolis so that we do not estimate as we ought, many amply supplied with water. In a city so exof the blessings which we enjoy. The ne- tended and populous, nothing more effectually cessaries of life are far more valuable than its tends to prevent the ravages of pestilence, huluxuries. The absence of luxuries soon cease manly speaking, than the water which streams to be felt as a grievance; but, by a privation through our streets, conveying to all but such of necessaries, life is rendered a burthen, abject and indolent people as will not use it, and its duration is commonly shortened. The the means of cleanliness, comfort, and health. temperate breezes which we inhale, the fer--Pass with me for a minute, (whither my tile earth which we cultivate, the wholesome feet have often led me, in the discharge of the water which we drink; these, these deserve, humble duties of a * parish-priest,) into the beyond all things, the tribute of thanksgiving narrow alley, or closely confined court. Let to Almighty God. A pampered and de- me lead you up the steep and narrow stairpraved soul is incompetent to enjoy the pure case into the chamber of poverty; and there pleasures they give; and ill does he deserve take your stand with me by the bed of sickthem, who feels not in his bosom a sensa- ness. Every breath you inhale is fraught with tion of gratitude to the author and giver of danger; and the air, charged with putrescence, all good things.. Unthankful and unholy would soon be sublimated, by animal heat, wretch! learn the value of the things, thou to such a degree of vaporous contagion, as no lightly esteemest, by the want of them. antisceptic could resist. But suddenly the Look at that long line of weary travellers, sound of running water is heard. A hundred making their arduous way across the sultry vessels receive it; liberally thrown upon the desert. Thou expectest to indulge in the floors, it streams down the stairs; all sorts of lsxuries they bring thee: see what those implements are put in motion; the seeds of luxuries cost: calculate, if thou canst, the infection are washed away; the air is purifisum of human suffering at which they are ed; the drooping revive; and the sick recover. procured. With what pain do they print their footsteps in the burning sand. The horses which they bestrode when their journey com * Mr. R. was Curate of Whitechapel for 28 years. |