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it was stated, that the fear of socinianism has made many methodists,' yet there is but too much reason to conclude, what is far worse, that the fear of methodism has made us many of those moral babblers who unhappily occupy so many of the pulpits of this country.

Separation is occasioned by dissatisfaction. Wherefore are numbers thus dissatisfied? Pertinaciously adhering, as most of these do, to the forms and services of our national church, it seems that it is not any objection to her rites which increases the propagation of the evangelical chapellers. What then occasions this schism? The answer to this is pretty clear.-Whilst our seceders still use the prayers of the church, they like not the preaching of the church. These persons look up to preachers to explain the Word of God, and not merely to repeat it. Without supposing its ministers to possess any peculiar species of divine inspiration, most devotional individuals do, nevertheless, expect to find their theological instructors qualified to elucidate the doctrines, as well as to enforce the duties, of our religion; and, therefore, they are not completely contented with any christían teacher, whatever may be his character, who tells them that he can only repeat to them the Word of God,'-with a this is my way, walk ye therein." They look for scriptural understand

ing in, and spiritual instruction from, their guides. This they still look for; and of this they can judge. My sheep hear my voice, said Christ; and I know my sheep, and am known of mine!

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The reverend Mr. Clare professes to hold the Articles and Liturgy of the Church of England in the highest, but not undeserved, estimation as being, indeed, in the study of them, perfectly conducive to eternal salvation, and, it may be, superior to preaching itself: so that it seems the more inexplicable how he can censure those, who, commonly with the establishment, esteem them almost in the same incomparable light. But are its articles generally preached in our church? There seems much reason to conclude they are not. It is one thing to subscribe thirty-nine of them, but quite another affair to feel and preach them. It is one thing to hold fast the form of sound words,'-it is not the same thing to hold them as a form.

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Abstaining even from the appearance of schism, it will be supposed, of course, that Mr. Clare's sermons are not extemporary. Still he inculcates his sentiments with warmth. One cannot, moreover, mistake him. He means what he says, and says what he means. His general style of preaching may be described thus.-Vehement, if not

eloquent; decisive, if not conclusive. He doubtless, however, intends well.

Charity would induce the hope, that some benefit may accrue from the admonitions and hortatives of such established instructors whose sentiments and discourses are of the same stamp with those of the reverend gentleman whose name is prefixed to this article. They may serve to keep men reputable in the guise of their lives, though they should fail to make them religious in their hearts. Civilised society is much indebted for its respectability to the extension of this clerical instruction.

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Preachers might be better suited to their hearers. There are some parishes where the leading persons are either doomed to sit under evangelical clergymen against their choice, or else to desist from going to their church; whilst there are numerous parishes, on the other hand, whose churches are deserted because the great majority of the parishioners find the pulpit occupied by ministers unsuited to their minds. Neither evil should occur. The church suffers through thisthe state suffers through this. Parishes should choose their own pastors!!

W. B. COCKER, A. M.

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THERE is not, I am firmly convinced, any Church so apostolical, so pure, so truly christian in spirit, in doctrine, and in discipline,' declares one of her preachers, as the Established Church of England, in which I consider it a blessing to have been educated, and an honour to be a teacher. Nor can any of her most zealous sons entertain a more respectful and affectionate veneration for her authority, or a more decided conviction of her purity and truth.' Admitting the force of observations of this stamp, and candid men will admit them, the fault of unpopularity must, seeing it cannot be charged to her ordinances and character, be sought for in an examination of the cast of those discourses which are generally heard in the establishment.

Oratorical perfection does not seem indispensably necessary. This certainly would be too much to ask, and it is not what men generally want. Something much short of this might suffice. Yet of that finely simple, and truly christian

strain, which may not invidiously be described as the Eloquence of the Church of England, properly understood and assiduously cultivated, there seem but few remaining traces in the sermons of the preachers of this day. He who spoke as never man spake, but whose example preachers can scarcely emulate too much, has left them the most perfect model of that simplified yet impressive style which might not prove so difficult of attainment as many are apt to think. Christ spoke with authority, we know; and his messengers have great weight.

W. B. Cocker, A. M. the present Vicar of Bunny cum Runnington, in the county of Northampton, possesses much of that eloquence which has just been alluded to. He is an informed, a conciliating, and an impressive preacher.

• Discourses delivered from the pulpit are not,' the Evangelical Magazine says, legitimate subjects of criticism.' What if, however, the Evangelical Magazine should violate this rule! Looking over the account therein given of the Sixteenth General Meeting of the Missionary Society, we find, speaking of the preaching, that Dr. Collyer, of Peckham, delivered an excellent discourse;' that the Rev. Mr. Kelly, of Dublin, preached a very animated sermon;' that the

Rev. George Collison, of Hackney, delivered an

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