T On a Sermon delivered at King's Chapel, Boston, 1st January, 1809. this 6 Br SAMUEL CAREY. (Concluded from page 217.) t th, ytrD? Page 16. Our author' says, He ought not to satisfy himself with discussions of general topicks, with dispensing general censure or praise, but he should honestly represent to his people the conséquen- ! ⚫ces of particular sins.', Pray ought a minister to dispense' particu lar censure or praise? If the consequences of all sins are the same, why talk about the consequences of particular sins? He proceeds, • It is one very important part of his duty to reprove voluntary faults," &c. Pray what is to be done respecting involuntary errors, as Mr. Madison expresses himself in his inaugural address? The author A adds, It is a duty to disclose the real motives of bad actions. Is not o requiring more than any human being was' ever able to perform? He talks of displaying the extreme deceitfulness of the human heart: How will this gentleman and his colleague agree upon this expression?r He proceeds, this may and ought always to be done with gentleness; In page 12 he says, some persons should be answered in a style of general invective and contempt.' He adds, It is certainly a most uns pi welcome employment, but it ought not to excite enmity.' Many peowo! ple think it an agreeable employment,' and believe that it excites not more enmity' " than many other employments, but upon the whole rather less. He then speaks about concealing necessary truth, as if any body expected unnecessary truth' from these gentlemen. He concludes the paragraph, by saying, ' We must not see them loitering or negligently upon the edge of a precipice, without telling them plain ly that death is before them.' The effect of this metaphor is entirely ta destroyed by the tameness of its termination. Death is before us all, whether upon the edge of a precipice or not. This mode of writing, isos somewhat in the style of the following lines: 6 His eyeballs burn, he wounds the smoking plain, T MART. SCRIB. In the last line of this page, he says, A faithful minister must govern 'himself." Is this duty peculiar to "a faithful minister ? Page 17. He says, He must exhibit himself a living example,' &c. a dead example' will not answer the purpose; nor could he indeed in this case exhibit himself." In the next paragraph he e says, the first 'care of a christian minister should be to enlighten his conscience.' He probably means his understanding. Perhaps, however, the word was adopted on account of the beauty of repetition, as it occurs again v within three lines. He here varies his language very prettily, by a frequent change of person, Let him,' and 'Let us. This entertaining variety of person, is indeed spread through the whole sermon. The two con *cluding sentences of this page, cannot boast much elegance of compo sition. They are somewhat in the style of an petulant schoolboy, sition. They are what we are,' and what if it should,' &c. Page 18. The sentence at the top, seems by the repetition of the word ' general,' to contain a military idea, especially as it is preceded by the word storm? This idea is contained in á subsequent sentence, as, "We are protected by a shield,' by a fortress, and by a power." Then changing the person, HE is an ambassadour." Our author' gently hints to this ambassadour, that he need not do what it is utterly impossible he should do, if he be the ambassadour he pretends; (i. e.) ́ ́ of a meek and lowly master.' He need not do this in a tone of 'fierce defiance, or in a spirit of bitter animosity, or in the language of a common brawler. If these insinuations be intended against other persons, he condemns himself in page 15. For such language must be considered as an attack upon their reputation and influence.'. If we suppose these expressions to afford an exposition of his own character, then has our author long lessons indeed to learn, of humility, of gentleness,' of patience,' and forgiveness,' before he can be fit to teach others by his example. Although indulging in a style of general invective and contempt,' may be considered as closely allied to the conduct described in this page, (18) yet the ambassadour of Jesus Christ certainly required no such caution. In the next ́ paragraph he says, ' a christian must act his principles. Can principles' be acted? They may be acted upon. Our author' proceeds, • We are not to content ourselves with professions of benevolence,' &c. If we are conscientious, we cannot thus content ourselves. Perhaps he intended to say, we must not expect that others will be contented with our professions of benevolence.' This supposition is corrobo rated in page 19, by the beginning of the adjoining sentence, 'It is expected of us also. He then speaks of throwing some flowers and • some cheerfulness into the path of misery.' This mixture of metaphor and reality accompanied by the repetition of the word some, is indeed very entertaining; as if he had said, I will throw a little of each, but I will take care not to block up your path with one, nor overwhelm you with the other. After amusing himself with a triple repetition of the word sometimes' and a little expletive verbosity, he says, 'a min-d ister may be called to hear the last groans of a wretch whose conscience has now told him for the first time that he has lived in vain. Then it may be in his power to save a soul from everlasting death.' Can a minister save the soul of a wretch who has lived in vain, and Do even our Roman Catholick breth-long e no bugoki our master may suddenly appear bearis r. Perhaps the gentleman intended to 13 is groaning for the last time? ren pretend to as much as this? Page 26. The author' says ore us. This is a new idea. *fore 1 say, We may be suddenly called to appear before our master,' &c. In the next paragraph, he says, the employments of the pastoral office, are such as may give delight to the purest and greatest minds.' He seems to forget that in page 16, he said of the business of a minister, It is certainly a most unwelcome employment. The expressions purest and greatest' are probably allusive to himself, as in the next sentence he says of the employments, they place us above the power of the world, above the fear of death.' Here is another new idea. To start two original ideas in one page must be admitted as evidence of genius. With the utmost respect, however, for the clerical profession generally, some persons are heretical enough to believe, that its members are neither above the power of the world, nor the fear of death.? Page 21. The preceding page was remarkable for invention, this excels in another embellishment. The gentleman appears here in a very knowing character, In thirteen lines, the expression, 'I know,' is repeated five times, and the consequential, I appear,' eleven times. This exhilarating pronoun, 'I,' acquires here the ascendency over 'He' and We,' and maintains it to the end of the sermon. " Our author' says, I know the blasting influence of the temptations of the world. I tremble when I remember the weakness of human nature. In the preceding page, he boasts of being above the power of the world." The last sentence on this page is constructed in our 'author's' usually lucid manner; the last six words, however, appear to be entirely expletive, and not strictly grammatical, as the indicative mode is usedinstead of the subjunctive, Page 22. Our author' says, 'I hold it a crime to pledge myself to defend the dogmas of any human theological system." Are there any other than human' theological systems? I will be the slave of no man's creed.' Perhaps the young gentleman intends to form a creed for himself, for it cannot be supposed that he will remain without one. It is to be hoped he will oblige the publick with it, as soon as he thinks it complete. He proceeds, because among all that endless va"riety of opinions, which have rent the church asunder, there is not one which is supported by better authority than some human teacher.' Pray what other authority' than human' does he expect to find for opinions? In the next sentence the gentleman has deigned to state a part of his creed, which is indeed truly liberal and ingenious. I believe,' says he, that every christian has a right to reject what he proves to be absurd!' Page 23. Beginning at the bottom of the preceding page, he says, 'Lacknowledge myself unqualified to decide peremptorily on questions, which my aged and learned brethren in the ministry, after ♦ spending their whole lives in attempting to solve, have pronounced inexplicable.' Most marvellous sense and modesty! Really, he ཅས m! Carries his diffidence and condescension to an extraordinary length ! SHI He proceeds, I may have advanced a little way from the shore, up སྐྱ upon assist the sea of knowledge,' &c. From what shore? The shore of ignonorance? Whenever the gentleman ventures on a trip,' he should take his partner to steer his skiff, and never go out of the teach of a -wance alone. Ah Page 24. His former fancy for repetition now returns, and in a little more than e than two lines, he repeats the word,ne," five times. This inclination must be irresistible, for he is here under the influence of *pe-251-199 culiar solemnity." He speaks just below of an eye fixed in heaven.' He means on heaven. This, however, with many other inaccuracies of minor importance, may be the fault of the typographer. There appears in the sermon a supercilious disposition, and dogmatical manner, not very becoming in an ambassadour of a meek and lowly master.' It is to be hoped that time will correct this gentleman's egotising inclination, and that a careful perusal of Lindley Murray's grammar will improve his m mode of writing. It would be fortunate, if he, as well as some others, would recollect an observation ascribed to a clergyman of Boston, that it is dangerous for any man to print a sermon before he is forty years of age. Sincere good wishes for the welfare and usefulness of the author,' accompany these observations, which it is hoped will not appear more severe than the various occasions of them justify. It only remains to say, that in the admirable charge, which, unfortunately for this sermon, is annexed to it, there appears only one oversight, if such it may be called. At page 12, the fifth line from the bottom, the word for might perhaps be advantageously substituted, for the word, but. It is almost impossible to say too much in praise of this charge. to Cambridge, April 5, 1809. די N. B. It is to be hoped, that the sagacious reader will perceive, that these observations are imbued with the spirit of the sermon which produced them. Its character appears to be somewhat similar to Gratiano's reason, two graïns of wheat in a bushel, of chaff.20 9195 22 45, nța - THE natural prospects around this city are highly delightful. If you ride de into the country and enjoy the reality of what in the town on. ly delights you at a distance, you are never disappointed; the scenery constantly varies its appearance as you proceed, and always adds the charm of vivacity and beauty to that of perpetual novelty. Whether Vol. 1. FF you view the city from the country or the country from the city, the magick of the scene enchains your imagination with irresistible power. The Bostonians are remarkably fond of conducting strangers through their city; as they often imagine it adds to their consequence among their fellow citizens, who are the most curious people in the universe; and in their investigation of a man's respectability, the place at nubich he lodges, and the persons to whom he may accidentally bring letters of introduction, are of infinitely more amount than his learning, abilities, or general manners. This peculiarity, however, from whatever cause it arises, is eminently agreeable to a visitor; I owe to it many a pleas ant hour, which but for it, would have been spent in solitary retirement. Mr. Gadfly who seems wonderfully fond of shewing himself in publick, can derive no greater pleasure than in accompanying me to all places eminent either for publick resort, beauty of appearance, or any other distinction. He knows every body, and every thing which transpires, and in our rambles, he entertains me with the characters of almost all the passengers we meet. I will give you some of his characteristick delincations occasionally, as my recollection may furnish me with materials; for I assure you they are often given with liveliness, and expressed by much finer touches than could be expected from so superficial an ob server of men and manners. There is no depth, no elegance, no refinement of observation about him, but his sketches are given with grimaces so ridiculously absurd, and language so singularly constructed, that it is almost impossible to resist laughing at his folly, whilst you condemn your judgment that can suffer you to be pleased with any thing he utters. Irregularity is a peculiarity of Boston, which distinguishes it from all the cities I ever saw; it is situated on a peninsula, in itself very uneven, and is intersected by streets, lanes, and alleys, in all directions, off all widths, and hardly one of them straight. The streets are some of them with and some without pavement; the side walks are part of them covered with flag-stones and brick, part of them only with gravel, and part of them with round paving stones. The same irregularity is to be observed in their buildings; every one builds to please his fancy, so that at every corner you turn you discover a new whim. Of consequence there is a most agreeable disregard of all rules of proportion and architecture, in some edifices, whilst others are eminently elegant and built in the finest possible taste. The general effect of this freakishness is pleasing enough. One man builds his house upon the top of a very high hill, in order, like the spirit Asmodeo, to oversee the rest of the town, whilst the hill, daily deserting him, makes the building tremble at the foundation; another erects his dwelling so high, that not having sufficient base to sustain the elevation, a whole side of his house has fallen through his neighbour's roof. Some choose their parlours in the air, others on the ground floor; the len- / |