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REVIEWS-LIFE AND WRITINGS OF DR. CHALMERS.

many distinct rounds of pedestrian approbation. Even the cold and unimpassioned mathematics, I have been given to understand, are now assailed with the din and disturbance of these popular testimonies; and on asking a professor of that science, whether it was the trapezium or isosceles triangle that called forth the loudest tempest of applause, I learned that the enamoured votaries are after all not very discriminating, but that they saluted each of these venerable abstractions with equal enthusiasm. It is a new and somewhat perplexing phenomenon in the seats of learning; and whatever diversity of taste or of opinion may obtain as to the right treatment of it, my friend and I agreed in one thing, that if any response is to come back upon the professor for the effusions poured forth by him, it is far better that it should come from the heads than from the heels of the rising generation.' We fear that the judge had scarcely pronounced the sentence when the crime condemned was recommitted; nor, putting ourselves into their position, can we severely blame the culprits.

"After a profound analysis, in which the moral sentiment was carefully discriminated from all the other affections of our nature, the professor proceeded in one of his lectures to mark off the distinction between it and the emotions excited by the sublime and beautiful in nature. As instances of this last class of emotions were quoted and described, he kindled into poetic fervour at the recital, till he broke forth at last into the declaration, that though still his philosophic spirit could not abandon the conviction that no moral quality attaches to that region of human feeling, yet he could scarcely repeat the verses of Beattie without joining in the sentiment of the last line :

"Oh! how canst thou renounce the boundless store

Of charms which nature to her votary yields!
The warbling woodland, the resounding shore,
The pomp of groves, and garniture of fields;
All that the genial ray of morning gilds,
And all that echoes to the song of even,
All that the mountain's sheltering bosom shields,
And all the dread magnificence of heaven,
Oh! how canst thou renounce, and hope to be
forgiven ?'

"Towards the close of the session, and in dealing with Christian truth and the Christian evidences, he recited Cowper's celebrated contrast between Voltaire and the Christian cottager. Never did he repeat any passage of poetry with equal delight or equal fervour. In the chair

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and in the pulpit he used it more frequently than any other extract from any writer in prose or verse. It had more than its poetry to recommend it. It struck within his heart a chord that vibrated to the last; and we have heard him in one of his latest years, with a voice somewhat weaker, but with a fulness of sympathy as strong and fresh as that manifested before his students at St. Andrews, in sublime recitative, repeat the lines

"She for her humble sphere by nature fit,
Has little understanding and no wit;
She knows, and knows no more, her Bible true-
A truth the brilliant Frenchman never knew-
And in that charter reads with sparkling eyes
Her title to a treasure in the skies.
O happy peasant!-O unhappy bard!
His the mere tinsel-hers the rich reward!
He praised perhaps for ages yet to come;
She never heard of half a mile from home.
He, lost in errors his vain heart prefers;
She safe in the simplicity of hers." "

We can only afford space this month for one more extract, promising ourselves and our readers another and a more regular notice of a volume which so abounds in attractive matter. The extract represents Dr. Chalmers as a repentant culprit " before the General Assembly,

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"Late in the afternoon of the second day's debate, a speech on the opposite side had been closed by a quotation from an anonymous pamphlet, in which the author asserted that, from what to him was the highest of all authority, the authority of his own experience, he could assert that, after the satisfactory discharge of his parish duties, a minister may enjoy five days in the week of uninterrupted leisure for the prosecution of any science in which his taste may dispose him to engage.' As this passage was emphatically read, no doubtful hint being given as to its authorship, all eyes were turned towards Dr. Chalmers. The interposition of another speech afforded him an opportunity for reflecting on the best manner of meeting this personal attack. At the close of the debate, and amid breathless silence, he spoke as follows:

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had long ere now descended into the tomb of merited oblivion, and that there it was mouldering in silence, forgotten and disregarded. But since that gentleman has brought it forward in the face of this House, I can assure him that I feel grateful to him from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity he has now afforded me of making a public recantation of the sentiments it contains. I have read a tract entitled the Last Moments of the Earl of Rochester,' and I was powerfully struck in reading it, with the conviction how much evil a pernicious pamphlet may be the means of disseminating. At the time when I wrote it, I did not conceive that my pamphlet would do much evil; but, Sir, considering the conclusions that have been deduced from it by the reverend gentleman, I do feel obliged to him for reviving it, and for bringing me forward to make my public renunciation of what is there written, I now confess myself to have been guilty of a heinous crime, and I now stand a repentant culprit before the bar of this venerable Assembly.

"The circumstances attending the publication of my pamphlet were shortly as follows: As far back as twenty years ago, I was ambitious enough to aspire to be successor to Professor Playfair in the mathematical chair of the University of Edinburgh. During the discussion which took place relative to the person who might be appointed his successor, there appeared a letter from Professor Playfair to the magistrates of Edinburgh on the subject, in which he stated it as his conviction, that no person could be found competent to discharge the duties of the mathematical chair among the clergymen of the Church of Scotland. I was at

that time, Sir, more devoted to mathematics than to the literature of my profession; and feeling grieved and indignant at what I conceived an undue reflection on the abilities and education of our clergy, I came forward with that pamphlet to rescue them from what I deemed an unmerited reproach, by maintaining that a devoted and exclusive attention to the study of mathematics was not dissonant to the proper habits of a clergyman. Alas! Sir, so I thought in my ignorance and pride. I have now no reserve in saying that the sentiment was wrong, and that, in the utterance of it, I penned what was most outrageously wrong. Strangely blinded that I was! What, Sir, is the object of mathematical science? Magnitude and the propor tions of magnitude. But then, Sir, I had

forgotten two magnitudes-I thought not of the littleness of time-I recklessly thought not of the greatness of eternity.'

"For a moment or two after the last words were spoken a death-like stillness reigned throughout the House. The power and pathos of the scene were overwhelming, and we shall search long in the lives of the most illustrious ere we find another instance in which the sentiment, the act, the utterance, each rose to the same level of sublimity, and stood so equally embodied in the one impressive spectacle."

How many are there of us who the events and experience of after have spoken or written that which years has proved even to our own inmost conviction to be false and untenable; and who, instead of having the moral courage like Chalmers, publicly to make a recantation of our sentiments, either resolutely adhere to them intact, or seek to explain and excuse our false notions by falser colourings, as to make any acknowledgment altogether worthless.

These biographies of the departed great and excellent of the earth are of immense value. If they shew us, as they are bound to do, the failings and frailties of the best of the saints of God, they at the same time point with startling power to the work they were enabled to perform, and bid us to take the more earnest heed "that we be not slothful," but in our degree, to follow them who through faith and patience have inherited the promises.

Midnight Harmonies, or Thoughts for the season of Solitude and Sorrow. By OCTAVIUS WINSLOW, M. A. Third Thousand. pp. 276. London,

J. F. Shaw.

We exceedingly like the vein of humility and spirituality which characterizes most of Mr. Winslow's

works; a glance at the preface to the little book before us, will at once manifest these excellent qualities. He says,

"It is just possible that this little volume may fall into the hands of some who may not have met with a few works of a kindred character; copies of which the Author would be rejoiced to see laid upon

INTELLIGENCE-EPISCOPAL ORDERS.

every sick pillow, and placed within every house of mourning in the land. He particularly refers to Bonar's 'Night of Weeping,' to Dr. Cumming's Voices of the Night,' and to Dr. Hamilton's 'Mount of Olives.' The writer is conscious that he is but following in the wake of these master sons of consola

tion,' allured and guided by the radiance which, like the stern-lights of a gallant ship, illumes the track along which they have coursed. If, however, through the blessing of the Eternal Spirit, his little vessel should come freighted with the smallest degree of soothing and hope to a single child of sorrow tossed with tempest and not comforted,' it will impart additional sweetness to the dealings of his heavenly Father, to whom all glory shall be ascribed, even to Him who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of

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liever be but spiritually attuned by that key-note, only to be furnished by the indwelling of the Spirit, and the acceptance of the person and offices of Jesus, it will receive from these chords a more delightful appreciation of the harmonies of those songs of confiding love and holy joy, with which God oftentimes visits the souls

of His chastened children.

The portions are written for "children of the covenant;" for they and they only can enter into their meaning, and appropriate the real comfort to be derived from such unfoldings of the following subjects:-"Jesus veiling His dealings," "Solitude sweetened," "A look from Christ," "Honey in the wilderness," "The godly widow confiding in the widow's God," "Looking_unto Jesus," "Leaning upon the Beloved," "The weaned child," &c.

There are multitudes of religious books which promise fair and rich fruit, but which yield to spiritual Christians little or no nourishment. Of Mr. Winslow's "Midnight Harmonies we can safely say, that they do indeed help to cheer and to sustain those who, although in the wilderness, are desirous to lean only on the Beloved.

Entelligence.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND

EPISCOPAL ORDERS.

DURING the early part of the past month, the newspapers have given us a curious correspondence between a Mr. Gawthorne and the Archbishop of Canterbury; with supplementary letters from Mr. Cyril Page, and Mr. Hope, the late employer of Mr. Gawthorne. Still later, we have been furnished with the contents of two letters which have passed between the Rev. William Palmer, of Whitchurch Canonicorum, and the Primate. Many of our readers will have seen the whole of these documents, and judged for themselves as to the importance of the whole business.

The entire matter may be con

densed as follows:-A papist, with more of crafty mischief, than of sense or honesty, writes to the Archbishop under an absolutely false character, and the suppression of that important distinction to a man, his surname; he professes great indignation at the Bishop of London's exclusiveness, in preventing the admission of foreign non-episcopal ministers to the pulpits of the Established Church. He then appeals to the Archbishop to give him his views upon the character in which he and the Church of England regard the position of those who have not received the imposition of Episcopal hands.

To this letter the Archbishop returns a courteous answer, in which, after mildly rebuking his corres

pondent for the undue severity of his strictures against the Bishop of London's bigotry, he declares that he imagines there are not more than two Bishops on the Bench who so hold the vital efficacy of Episcopal ordination, as to exclude from the ministry of the Universal Church those who have not received such orders. The contents of this note are forthwith transmitted to Mr. Cyril Page, who, indignant to the last degree at the falsehood and treachery exhibited by his correspondent, lectures him severely for his share in the transaction, and assures him that an opinion so obtained, and given in such a nonofficial manner, cannot be considered as any authority whatever.

Mr. Gawthorne is then wormed out, under the threefold aliases of his (christian) names; and he then unblushingly admits his being a "Catholic," and that he used his pious fraud, to extract from the amiable Primate an opinion which he could quote, to facilitate his work of perverting wavering Protestants. It is said to be an old doctrine with Romanists, that the end sanctifies the means; but then, in a matter of the above perfidious nature, the means should have been more carefully concealed, to secure so coveted an end. As it is, Mr. Gawthorne stands so pilloried before Protestants, and Tractarians, and Romanists, in his proper character, that, while we imagine both of the two latter parties will disclaim him, the occurrence will only make us doubly vigilant in being prepared

for such treacherous acts.

corres

Mr. Hope's part in the pondence simply goes still further to exhibit the character of Mr. Gawthorne, by entering into the particulars of his connexion with that person, as the paid examiner of Mr.Hope's charitable correspondence.

The question raised by this private expression of the Archbishop's sentiments, has caused great commotion amongst the Tractarian party, and the Archbishop has been severely handled for his heretical tendencies. Mr. Palmer, of Whitchurch, steps in as a kind of mediator, and, in a most respectful letter, puts certain ques

tions, intended to ascertain the Primate's real meaning. The following is the document:

"Whitchurch Canonicorum, Sept. 17, 1851. "My Lord Archbishop,-Having seen in the public journals a letter addressed by your Grace to Mr. Gawthorne, and being under the impression that the purpose and meaning of that communication have been, in some degree, misunderstood, I venture most respectfully to inquire of your Grace, first, whether the letter in question is to be considered as an authoritative and official document, or as an informal expression of private opinion; and, secondly, whether it was your Grace's intention in that letter to state that the

bishops and clergy of the Church of England generally are of opinion that Episcopal ordination is simply non-essential to the validity of orders, in which case it might be dispensed with among ourselves; or whether your Grace meant to include in the majority, of which you spoke, those who would be reluctant to pronounce positively on the invalidity of all ordinations to the ministry performed in foreign parts where Episcopal ordinations could not be obtained, though they would not consent that such ordinations should be introduced into the Church of England, or recognized as conveying power to officiate in that Church?

"I have the honour to be,

"My Lord Archbishop, "Your very humble servant in Christ, "W. PALMER.

"His Grace the Lord Archbishop

of Canterbury."

To these questions the Archbishop sends the following explicit answer,a reply so satisfactory as not to require an additional word from us :—

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Addington, Sept. 19, 1851. "Rev. Sir,-A letter addressed to me in a spirit of christian candour, would be entitled to attention, independently of the advantage which it derives when con

trasted with other notices which have been

taken of the communication fraudulently obtained from me by Mr. Gawthorne.

"In regard to that communication, I take the opportunity of mentioning, that it is not unusual for me to receive

inquiries from persons unknown to me, respecting matters connected with the Church, to which I consider myself bound to reply, when there appears no ground for suspecting the motives of the writer.

INTELLIGENCE-PLYMOUTH REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Mr. Gawthorne's letter came to me as one of these; and, whether concocted by himself, or with the assistance of others, I cannot think that it was otherwise than cleverly composed, or contained anything to excite suspicion.

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'My answer was expressed in a manner which I certainly should not have adopted in an authoritative or official document,' or if I had believed that I was writing any other than a private letter.

"Still, inferences have been drawn

from it, for which it furnishes no ground whatever. Otherwise, you could not ask me whether it was my intention to state, that I myself, or the majority of our clergy, look upon Episcopal ordination as non-essential to the validity of orders, so that it might be dispensed with among ourselves,' or so that others than those Episcopally ordained could have power to officiate in our Church.' This was no part of Mr. Gawthorne's inquiry. His inquiry was, whether, 'in my opinion, or that of the majority of my brethren, these foreign clergymen were not truly pastors of the Church of Christ, but were to be considered as laymen.' This I thought equivalent to the question, whether we held that no person in any country, or under any circumstances, could be entitled to minister in the Church of Christ, except through the imposition of Episcopal hands.

"I replied, that I imagined this to be as far as possible from the general opinion, either among our bishops or clergy. I knew that neither our Articles nor our Formularies justified such an opinion. I knew that many of our eminent divines had disclaimed such an opinion; and I knew that such an opinion would amount to declaring that no valid sacrament, or other ministerial act, had ever been performed, except under an Episcopal form of government; and therefore I could not believe, and I still do not believe, that many of our clergy would venture seriously to maintain such an opinion.

"To be convinced that Episcopal government, and therefore that Episcopal ordination, is most agreeable to Scripture, most in accordance with primitive practice, and is in itself the more excellent way,' is perfectly consistent with the judgment of Hooker, that the lineal descent of power by apostolical succession, is not in certain cases to be urged absolutely, and without any possible exceptions *

"Unable as I am to account for the misrepresentations to which I have been

Book 7, chap. xiv. See also Book 3, chap. xi.

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subjected, I am glad to find so proper an opportunity of correcting them as your letter affords, and

"I remain, Rev. Sir,
"Your faithful servant,
"J. B. CANTAUR.

"Rev. William Palmer."

PLYMOUTH CHURCH REFORM
ASSOCIATION.

have inserted an article bearing upon In another part of this number, we

the Dean of Bristol's letter to an active member of the above Association, or we should have noticed at some length their wise and faithful exertions in the cause of the Protestant Church. It is not astonishing to find that such an Association has sprung up in Plymouth; and, while we trust that it will itself daily wax stronger every way, we can but hope that it will very speedily be but one among many important branches of a metropolitan Society. In this, as in everything else, we desire to wait and to watch for God's opportunity; not, however, with slothful inactivity, but so using the means He has placed within our reach and may still further develop, that we may be prepared for action when His time arrives. The

following quotation from a late Occasional Paper of this Association, convinces us that it is formed of men who are not rashly bent on needless change, but who are real and attached Churchmen, first, jealous for the truth of Christ's Gospel, and then anxious for the stability and extension of our branch of His Church :

"The members of this Association avow their honest attachment to the Established Church, and to the Episcopal form of government; but they will strive, in dependence on God's blessing on their labours, (and they earnestly invite the cooperation of their fellow Christians of the Church of England,) to do what lies in their power to put away those things in her formularies and laws which are held to justify the attachment of so many of her members to Romish error and superstition, and repelling from her communion a vast array of British Christians, whose doctrines are essentially her own, prevent her enlargement to the dimensions of the Church of the nation, and retard the

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