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JOHN LEIFCHILD.

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OPPOSED to some young evangelical preachers of note, respecting what we may here term Collyerism, stands the present Minister of the New Testament. Nothing of the plaintive, nothing whining, nothing wooing, belongs to his manner. mendation should be given to the few who, disdaining affectation, are in this sense content to be themselves. Those who are thus greatly singular, eminently deserve both thanks and praise.

Fashion forms, however, even preachers. When once any rising preacher has obtained distinction as such, he becomes the model by the successful imitation of which youthful preachers hope to attract notice. Much of this is observable in the religious tone of our day. Instead of that impressive solemnity which well becomes those who preach, and which seems so inseparable from the circumstances in which they stand, the hearer meets mostly with the plaintive whine,-with what I would call the Collyerism of late too much in vogue, so painful to the feeling of pious taste, to that of such individuals as are accustomed to

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hear the truth, and of course hurtful to the official efficacy of the preacher. Servility of imitation moreover intimates deficiency of ability.

Natural imitation is altogether different. There is an assimilation of disposition, as it respects the mind, which leads us unconsciously to imitate those whom we admire, whether in temper or in talent; and hence it is possible for the student preacher, should he chance to hear some eminent minister of like mind with his own, to model himself, without copyism, by that character which so closely approximates to his own. This

sort of imitation is just, and is entitled to due praise. Intellectual sympathies draw much more than physical possibly can; but spiritual sympathies draw still more than natural sympathies. This superior sympathy must have been formed between Christ and his beloved disciple' John! Imitation of excellence is, whenever thus contracted, an evidence of superiority.

Reverting however to that species of clerical imitation which has been too long predominant amongst some rising divines, it must be conceded that it will much impair, if not checked at once, the effect of our divinity eloquence. The alarm should sound then. Painful experience might long since have brought us to know of what questionable pretensions were those whom it was then the

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rage to style, velvet-tongued preachers!' Have we not had enough of the smooth things,' but must hear them also told in smooth words? Oratory has to fear the loss of its virility.

Religion has unhappily been deprived of one minister, who (had the wished prolongation of his usefulness at all consisted with the inscrutable councils of God!) was calculated to have reformed the puerilities of preaching. The Rev. Thomas Spencer's distinguished example promised this good. Respecting that highly great though really youthful preacher, the present writer had formed his judgment; connected with a presentiment, (unhappily too soon verified!) that his pulpit career, although hopefully brilliant, would not be extended. He had the air of those who seem not made for this world. Scarcely borne the image of the earthly; he was on the wing,-panting for the image of the heavenly! The loss of this preacher will be long felt.

The Rev. John Leifchild completed his ministerial preparation at Homerton Academy; whence he was invited to take the Pastoral charge of the Independent Denomination at Kensington, on the removal of the Rev. John Clayton, about six years ago, to Camomile Street Meeting. His immediate predecessor had most acceptably ministered there. Himself accordingly succeeded

to the charge of an eminently respectable congregation; by whom his exertions, however, are properly estimated, and amongst whom they are attended with success.

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Since the subject of this critique has escaped the contamination of clerical frivolity, and still stands nobly aloof from this crying folly of his school, surely he will not take it amiss to find himself cautioned against indulging the opposed extreme, by degenerating, perhaps from too much plainness, into that colloquial slovenliness which never can become his sphere. He is a scriptural, impressive, searching, and edifying preacher,excellent pulpit qualities; yet these essential endowments are so far from being impaired by an assiduous attention to the dignified decencies of preaching, that their effect is considerably enhanced by it. This hint is tendered in good part. Improvement might here likewise be suggested as to his deportment. Paley said of worship, that which applies well to preaching.

'I

I do not say,'

observes Paley, that modes of worship are in different things; for, certainly, one mode may be more rational, more edifying, more pure, than another.' Now the pulpit has its decent modes' too. Forms are of old and high worth,—essentially understood,-and were felt so by wise men.

Mr. Leifchild formerly sent to the press a Ser

mon upon Infant Baptism; and has just published another, entitled 'The Evil and Danger of Fickleness in Religious Opinions, preached beforethe Monthly Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches, (Thursday, April 9, 1812), and published at their Request.'

SAMUEL LYNDALL.

OUR age of boasted reason is the age of reason bereft of true mind. So small is the number of those who think much, and as they ought to think, that what we call thinking men are now most rare. Such is too palpably the state of the religious part of the world. Does not each here pin his faith, more or less, on the sleeve of some one else? The man who here ventures to diverge from the set track, and by his own master resolves to stand or fall, must look for the rudest jostlings as he goes on. The path of truth will not be found the path of ease.

Vitality generally accompanies integrity. Those who can thus seek for truth, have hearts to prize

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