form; it is much the same to them whether they worship here or there, or nowhere; if we forsake the assembling of ourselves together on slight occasions, when they would meet at the hazard of their substance, their liberty, and their lives, what a wretched declension will this show; they will look down, as it were, from their celestial abodes, and blush for their degenerate sons. In a word, let our piety, our strict observation of the Sabbath, our integrity, meekness, candour, and benevolence, recommend our principles, and preserve our characters; may it be said of our churches as it was of the primitive churchesthen had the churches rest, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Amen. ་་་་་་་་་ ON ELOQUENCE. GENTLEMEN,-Among the many advantages of the epistolary form of communication, is to be reckoned the licence-a very important one to a desultory man— which it concedes, of neglecting the regular and compact modes of dissertation and composition, and of bringing forward our facts, corollaries, and conclusions, with out subjecting ourselves to the annoyance of form and system. If I were under the necessity of parading all the pomp, pride, and circumstance of Essay writing on the present occasion, I should feel myself miserably at a loss; but if a few plain, straight forward suggestions on a subject which has, at intervals, employed some of my thoughts, and much of my reading, should be deemed suitable to the purposes of your Magazine, they are very much at your service. A vast deal has been written on the subject of eloquence, and very little to the purpose. Defi nitions-an article of literary merchandise in which, by the way, I seldom deal-have been proposed, and explanations multiplied, and, like most attempts of the same kind, have, probably, left the matter nearly as it was taken up. A definition well conceived and expressed, contains a world of il lustration, but, in nine cases out of ten, it does nothing more than perplex the inquiry, shift the ground of discussion, and raise a host of cavils, to the entire confusion of all substantial argument. I shall, therefore, refrain from every thing of this kind in the present instance, and, after pointing out a necessary distinction or two, pass on to the general considerations connected with the subject. It presents itself, if I mistake not, for consideration, in a twofold view, 1st. As it is connected with the state and processes of the speaker's mind. 2. As connected with the habits, prejudices, and present feelings of those whom he addresses. To the neglect of the first point, I attribute much of the false taste which is so prevalent in the present day. Men destitute of imagination, too frequently, seem to have a spell upon them; if they would consult the peculiar construction of their intellect, they might do well, they might interest by simplicity, convince by argument or clear statement, controul by strength and power, or bear down by energy. But nothing of this will satisfy them; a gilded insect sports before them, a painted bubble sports in the sunbeam, a dazzling meteor glitters in the distance, and away they go in wild and unsuccessful chace. If those who are given to these aberrations, would recollect that there is a distinct line of separation between poetry and eloquence; that they range in different domains; that while the first reigns over the world of fancy, the latter is conversant with business and with actual life;-if, too, they would reflect that the legitimate sources of impressive appeal lie deep in human nature and the human heart, as well as in higher laws, and sanctions more awful and sublime-they would soon quit this attractive but dubious field, for a larger course and a nobler aim. Burke, that man' of magic power, in whom the poet, the philosopher, and the statesman, were so mixed up as to form a strange and heterogeneous, but most enchanting compound, introduced this false taste. Dr. Chalmers, with all his unquestionable talent, has much to answer for in this respect. Charles Phillips is the oracle of a lower form. The productions of this school remind me of those antique gems which represent, in whimsical combination, the faces of a bearded man, of a beautiful woman, of an eagle or a griffin, of a sheep or a goat; the thing is fantastical, and attracts attention for a moment, but we glance at it only as a toy, and turn aside to the contemplation of art in its higher moods. to the consideration of sacred oratory-to hear the plain man in his simplicity, the strong-minded preacher in his vigour, the warmhearted pleader in the intensity of his feeling, each with his various gift, but all in their piety and grace, holding forth the word of life, and enforcing the message of salvation. When men of this stamp address an audience, they command an attention proportioned to the magnitude of the truths which they are delivering, and unbroken by the intrusion of an awkward suspicion that the speaker is more occupied with himself than with his subject. I have known men of an inferior order of mind produce a strong and permanent impression, by a prudent estimate of their own powers, and a humble reliance on divine assistance; while I have seen men of a far higher intellectual order, by a fatal miscalculation of their own peculiar faculty, aiming at that which was beyond their reach, and neglecting the effective means which were within their grasp. In intellectuals, as well as in spirituals, wisdom and humility teach the same lessons, and one of the most important is to know ourselves. An attention to this simple rule would spare us much confusion, and save us many a fall. I am interrupted, but much matter yet lies before me, and I intend speedily to resume the subject. 'O Aɛiva. “Consult the genius of the place in all." -If, mutatis mutandis, the aspirants to popular fame-alas! that in the exercise of one species of oratory, there should be any room to suspect the influence of so base a motive-would bear in mind this poetical precept, we should soon be well rid of this spurious mixture. If the first investigation were directed to the "potential ON THE COMMON USE OF THE range" of the faculties, and a fair estimate formed of the mind's peculiar bent, there would be an end to all this empty flourishing, and a more severe and manly style of eloquence would become popular among us. How refreshing is it limiting ourselves for a moment WORD CHURCH. the DR. CAMPBELL, in his instructive lectures on Ecclesiastical History, somewhere observes, that world is governed by names. This remark applies to the general use of the word church. How many individuals and communi ties are "governed" by this one scriptural. If we contend that word in the most absolute and the New Testament, in the use arbitrary manner. One, in his of the word ecclesia-rendered simplicity or his guile, cries aloud "church"-speaks only of parti"The church is in danger!- cular assemblies and societies of The church is in danger!" Im- Christians, gathered together by a mediately the sound is re-echoed voluntary act of the individuals by ten thousand voices, with as composing them; which societies much enthusiasm as the men of severally met at stated times and Ephesus displayed, when the mul- places; and that the use of the titude, with one voice, about the term, in the general sense, applies space of two hours, cried out: only to the aggregate number of "Great is Diana of the Ephe- the faithful in Christ Jesus throughsians!"—While "the more part out the world, or those already knew not wherefore they were admitted into his blissful presence come together." However, this above; we are giving others who ignorant zeal served the purpose contend for "a national church" of Demetrius, and "the craftsa great advantage, in perpetuating men" who had instigated it. and promoting their sentiments, so long as we persist in using their phraseology. We in fact submit to be "governed by their words and names, and may be insensibly drawn into a sort of belief in the things for which they stand." In the same manner, what that church is, which is in danger, or what danger it is in, many of those who join the cry, are as uninformed; for did they know that it most usually means, that certain great revenues accruing to lordly persons, are in danger of being diminished, and certain corrupt practices, passing under the name of religion, are likely to be exposed, for consistency's sake they would probably be silent; being themselves in the habit of speak ing in private against these things. But how serviceable are ignorance and bigotry! What wonders can they not effect! Of what use have they been, in aiding the wishes of the more enlightened part of mankind! Who but simple folk could ever wish that such useful auxiliaries should ever be put to flight? -- But to our point. Whether Episcopalians, Presbyterians, or Congregationalists, we indiscriminately speak of "the church of England" The "The church of Rome". "The Greek church," &c. &c. This use of the word is certainly not consistent with the ideas of those who profess to think, that " a national church" is un To be consistent, we should abide by the scriptural use of the term; and when we have occasion to speak of those bodies of professing Christians, which are denominated according to their ideas of ecclesiastical polity, would it not be better to use such a phrase as "The Roman Catholic communion"-" The English Episcopal communion"- -"The Greek com munion"-" The Scottish Presbyterian communion ?" &c.-These terms are already in such use, that they would not easily be misunderstood. I commit the hint to the consideration of all who love accuracy of language and consistency of sentiment; and who, instead of slavishly submitting to be" governed" by human names and words, are rather disposed to assist in establishing the sovereignty of those" words, which the Holy Ghost teacheth.” THEOLOGUS. REVIEW OF BOOKS. An Appeal to the Religion, Justice, and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire, in behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies. By Wm. Wilberforce, Esq., M. P.-London: Hatchard, 1823. ་་་་་་་་་ Negro Slavery; or a View of some of the more prominent Features of that State of Society, as it exists in the United States of America, and in the Colonies of the West Indies, especially in Jamaica. 3s. London: Hat chard, 1823. East and West India Sugar; or, a Refutation of the Claims of the West India Colonists to a Protecting Duty on East India Sugar. London: Relfe, 1823. SIGNAL as was the triumph over selfishness and inhuman prejudice, when the British Senate finally closed the avenues through which the sugar colonies of England supplied the enormous waste of life occasioned by labour, neglect, and cruelty, among their slave population, yet it was, unhappily, incomplete. Circumstances prevented the abolitionists from following up their success to the only point where it would have been secured. Aware that their work was unfinished while no provision had been made for the obliteration of the last vestige of slavery in the dependencies of Great Britain, they felt it right to yield to considerations of expediency, and to defer until some more favourable season the putting forward of their claims on the religion, justice, and humanity," of their countrymen, for the emancipation of the negro slave. For our own parts we regret this forbearance. The cause advocated by those distinguished individuals was too sacred and too elevated, to admit of inferior considerations. Its opponents must have felt a secret consciousness that they were violating the immunities of men and the law of God; that they were not only rejecting the abstract principles of morality, but outraging the best feelings of mankind; and, however furious an opposition of such a kind might be, it was obvious that it could not long withstand the steady pressure of reason and right. In vindication of the conduct of the abolitionists, Mr. Wilberforce, we admit, makes out a strong case, and we shall presently give it in his own words, but we confess that it does not by any means remove our objection to a temporizing system in matters of justice and conscience. Where the distinction between the righteous and the unlawful is so strongly marked, it does appear to us that there is delinquency in concession ; we may, if we please, barter or surrender our own privileges, but when we are entrusted with the guardianship of the temporal and immortal interests of others, it is at our peril if we allow them to be impaired. The slave is crushed, his body is overlaboured, fettered, and lacerated; the cultivation of his intellect is imperiously forbidden ; and the salvation of his soul is not likely to be a matter of solicitude to those who are sacrificing their own to gain and to the foulest sensuality. In circumstances like these, there can be but one course,-that of perseverance in the clear path of duty, leaving the event to God. But we shall now give place to the reasons assigned by Mr. Wilberforce for the adoption of a different system. |