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Art. VII. 1. The Voice of Royal Bereavements. A Sermon preached in the Protestant Dissenting Meeting House, Battersea, Feb. 16, 1820. By Joseph Hughes, A. M. 8vo. pp. 36. Price 1s. 6d.

2. A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Harrow on the Hill, on Feb. 6, 1820, on the Death of His Most Gracious Majesty George the Third. By J. W. Cunningham, M, A. Vicar of Harrow, &c. Svo. pp. 28.

MR.

R. HUGHES has so rarely appeared before the public in the character of an Author, although, as one of the co-secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society, his admirably appropriate talents as a public speaker have made him known in every part of the kingdom, that in making our selection of the Sermons which have been published on the occasion of the demise of our late venerable monarch, his would seem entitled to what will not be thought an invidious preference. Perfectly distinct, and we might add for the most part incompatible, as are the qualifications of the preacher or the secular orator, and those of the writer, we should not expect to find in a fugitive composition of the kind before us, any thing above a certain elegant correctness of style, and a dignified propriety of sentiment. It is by these qualities, perhaps, that Mr. Hughes's extemporaneous addresses are most prominently characterised,-qualities which, if they do not come up to the full idea of eloquence, are not less rare nor less valuable in the advocate of such a cause as that to which Mr. Hughes, has devoted himself, than the utmost impetuosity of a luxuriant imagination. In a written discourse, it would have been very excusable had we found them carried to the extreme of a frigorific nicety. But this is not the effect which the present discourse will have upon the reader. It is far from being deficient in feeling or animation; while the style is perfectly chaste, and the sentiments strictly appropriate to the occasion. It has all Mr. Hughes's calmness of manner, the calmness of unaffected good sense; but this is carefully rescued from becoming tame. Altogether, we consider it as one of the very best occasional sermons which have come before us

The Preacher takes his motto from Jer. ix. 21." Death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces.” And first he adverts to the loss which society at large has sustained in the sudden death of H. R. H. the Duke of Kent, upon whom he pronounces a warm but not less just eulogy.

In him the cause of civil and religious freedom was blessed with an intelligent and zealous advocate. Towards the various schemes

of benevolence, fostered all around with such commendable assiduity, he evinced a friendly disposition. If, however, it were required of me to specify the cases in which his joy and pleading energies beamed forth with more than wonted lustre, I should be supported by those of you who witnessed his public career, in referring to those Institu tions on behalf of which our countrymen, abstaining from allusions, political or theological, of a discordant nature, were seen associating their counsels, their pecuniary means, and their general influence, for the benefit, sometimes of a neighbourhood, sometimes of a nation, and sometimes of a world. You will, therefore, readily and justly presume, that The British and Foreign School Society, and The British and Foreign Bible Society, were his favourites. He cherished the former, as offering to the children of the poor an opportunity of learning to read; he cherished the latter, as disclosing and conveying to the educated poor, whether children or parents, the treasures of divine revelation; he was attached to the proceedings, and he exulted in the success, of both, as exhibiting common ground benignantly and advantageously occupied by the pious and humane of all ranks and of all parties. Few things were so revolting to his generous mind as selfishness, bigotry, and a systematic purpose to restrict within a mere section of the Christian church, or the globe, privileges, which, flowing down, not from an earthly partisan, but from our heavenly Father, were meant for universal circulation. Yet, to show how remote he was from the latitudinarianism often charged on liberal principles, it may not be unsuitable to inform you, that, the last time I had the privilege of intercourse with him, he expressed great satisfaction in the prospect of a measure then contemplated by himself and a few other patrons of education, which, if accomplished, besides perpetu ating in the schools the use of the Holy Scriptures, would furnish the children with Catechetical instruction-regulated, of course, so as not to interfere with the convictions and scruples of their re spective parents. Whether the project will be extensively tried, or abandoned; and whether, if tried, it will, without deteriorating the constitution of The British and Foreign School Society, convert objectors into advocates, or leave them, for the most part, objectors still His Royal Highness's sanction and benevolent hope demonstrate that his endeavours to provide schools for all, did not imply the sacrifice of truth on the altar of indifference, or the opinion, that to introduce human formularies, is to bar an ultimate appeal to the oracles of God.'

Mr. Hughes expresses himself with most exemplary caution on the subject of his Royal Highness's views and impressions as an expectant of immortality, when he arrived at its confines. Aware that by some persons his language will be thought more than sufficiently guarded, he adds:

1 feel assured, that, could the voice of him whom the statement regards, be rendered audible in this assembly, his voice, from whatever region of the universe it might proceed, would proclaim my for

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giveness, or rather, my full acqutital. The colourings of hope, in their application to the dead, are, probably, much oftener chargeable with excess than with defect; and, while, in neither case, can they alter the condition of the dead, it is to be feared, that, in the former case, they are incalculably prejudicial to the living-whom they dazzle into a confidence, that, whether their characters be exem plary, or dubious, or flagrantly bad, death will elicit the encomiums of men, and surround them with the congratulations of angels.

'On the other hand, we should recollect, that the spiritual disad vantages of a prince are neither few nor small. To say nothing of the homage invariably paid him, and of that pomp whose glare so often conceals from him his obligations and his interests-how easily may he avoid listening to the accents of evangelical truth, as they fall from the lips of those who, experiencing its renovating influence, are intent on the eternal welfare of all around them; and how seldom is wholesome advice poured into his ear, or "pure and undefiled religion” exemplified before his eye! The elements of his grandeur conspire against his salvation.

Let inferior and even indigent mortals, when regretting, the former their obscurity, the latter their privations, consider this; that they may learn to oppose the first risings of discontent, aad even to be thankful that God has assigned to them the humble vale-a spot favourable to the growth of righteousness and peace. I may also suggest, that the most candid conclusions which the Scriptures, fairly interpreted, will support, should be eagerly drawn in favour of such as must encounter the perils of worldly elevation' p. 9, 10.

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In the same spirit of affectionate but chastened loyalty, the Preacher proceeds to delineate the character of our late sovereign, adverting to his regular habits, his temperance, his conjugal fidelity, his paternal tenderness,'-describing him as frank, sincere, affable, and benign, a patron of the arts, a "lover of good men, a firm believer in the Bible, and a constant frequenter of the sanctuary.'

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The fact is familiar, that many subordinate situations about the court were filled by persons of undoubted piety; that his majesty set a high value upon such persons; that he occasionally conferred with them on the subject of their distinguishing sentiments; that he was uniformly indulgent to their peculiarities; and that, according to their testimony, he deserved to be revered as an humble disciple of the Divine Redeemer.'

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As for bis official capacities, the administrations which he framed or dissolved, the wars which he levied or concluded, the territories which he lost or acquired, and all those mighty movements which, within the last forty years, have convulsed Europe, and astonished the world; I attempt no discussion, I adduce no document, no conjecture, no opinion. My province is not that of a politician; I should never be at home, never at ease, there. Thoughts, indeed, will naturally arise on such subjects, which it were fastidious and absurd to banish from our social intercourse. But, sensible that, every where, the disciple of Him whose kingdom is not of this world, must guard

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against secularity, animosity, sycophancy, faction, and that political interference which lays the mind open to them all; I feel, more especially, concerned never to be chargeable with such interference here, or indeed to dilate on any topic, or manifest any temper, which would disappoint the holy wishes of a Christian congregation or violate the awful engagements of a Christian minister.

At the same time, a discourse professedly applicable, as far as religious considerations admit, to an event so serious and affecting as that of a sovereign's demise, would be palpably dehcient, if it took no cognizance of the principal transactions of his reign; whether those transactions respect the laws of the kingdom or the deeds of its inhabitants, such omission would, in the present instance, be the more inexcusable, as the period under review may, on various accounts, be deemed both important and illustrious.' pp. 12, 13.

The points to which Mr. Hughes directs the attention of his audience, are judiciously selected. He reminds them that it was during the late reign, that our judges were rendered independent of the crown by being fixed in their office for l'e; that the term of military service was lusted; that the privileges of dissenters from the established church were extended, the execrable slave trade was abolished, and public munificence burst forth, in the form of voluntary associations, with unprecedented ardour.' These are adverted to as furnishing matter for gratitude, rather than as the materials for panegyric, for which they would not in all respects constitute a legitimate occasion. With regard, however, to one of the particulars-the enlargement of the privileges enjoyed by Protestant Dissenters, the Preacher feels himself called upon as a sharer in those privileges,' to offer a fuller acknowledgment of that righteous, gracious, and seasona'ble measure.' After a very temperate assertion of the right of private judgement in the matter of religion, Mr. Hughes vindicates the introduction of the topic, as strictly relevant to the occasion, and then adds:

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Through the mercy of Him in whose hands are the hearts of kings, we, and our immediate progenitors, have reposed beneath the protection of a sceptre wisely and justly swayed. If every reasonable desire is not gratified; if, according to our conceptions, and to those of many connected with all the Christian communities in Britain, certain statutes are still in force, which frown upon individuals of whom the world is not worthy, injure the public service, and desecrate a sacred ordmance; and if the hard name of schismatic is sometimes applied to men, who, amidst the separate inclosures into which a sense of duty urges them, keep "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,”—it stul becomes us joyfully to hail the progress, here and there observable, of more liberal sentiments, and gratefully to embrace the opportunities awarded to us, of worshipping God agreeably to our convic tions-none making us afraid.

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• I cannot state this, without reminding those who, in common with myself, have peculiar reason to dwell on the circumstance, that, at a very recent period, soon after recovering from the apprehension of losing a part of what had been conceded for ages, we received, without importuning, additional favour. The right of exercising the ministerial office among Protestant Dissenters, apart from legislative interference, was thrown more widely open ; the crime of disturbing their assemblies was visited with heavier penalties; and thus, the numerous intimations which, for several preceding years, had floated through the realm, that formidable restrictions were preparing, subsided into a tranquility and a confidence which, I trust, will never be forfeited by abuses on the one hand, or broken up by unmerited severity on the other. Such things endear the memory of the sovereign during whose life they occurred, and who had, long before, signified, that there should be no persecution in his reign. Well might he say so, on the ground of equity and enlightened policy, and it peculiarly

; befitted him to say so in reference to a class of subjects, whose ances. tors contributed their utmost efforts towards raising bis illustrious family to the throne, and who, subsequently, reasoned, and prayed, and expended their treasure and their blood, for the protection of that throne from the attack of popish usurpers.' Pp. 20, 21.

The remainder of the Discourse is occupied with a very striking application of the solemn lesson which the general subject of inortality supplies. We must make room for the concluding paragraphs.

I entreat you, my hearers, to give timely heed to the counsels of the Bible, and to all that is taught you, when you hear another and yet another cry from the beds of the dying and the sepulchres of the dead. Sharing in the solemnity which now pervades, or ought to pervade, the nation, be it yours to derive everlasting benefit from the awakening occasion. Royal personages have been smitten, but you are spared. If the stroke had fallen on you, what would have been your present condition? Does the appeal offend you? “ Far from it.” (I feel persuaded,) is your unanimous reply. You know that the appeal is at once important and seasonable. If you cannot meet it with cheerful decision, how deep should your solicitude be, how urgent your inquiries, how serious and firm your resolutions! Fain would I lead every wish, and hope, and thought, within you, to Jesus Christ.

“ There is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” From this day, from this hour, may He enthrone himself in your Hearts, and enrich you with the inheritance of his “exceeding great and precious promises.” May thie Teacher, Sanctifier, and Comforter of his church, be with you all. Thus will you draw attention to the claims of the gospel; conter the advantages of a high example; and, nature having in vain struggled awhile with the last enemy, sink down in the embraces of the best Friend-by him to be conducted, amidst the acclamations of the heavenly host, into the palace which neither death, nor sorrow, nor sin, can for onc moment enter.' pp. 29, 30.

• Refrain, o Christian, from lamenting, that you, and the other VOL. XIII. N. S.

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