Preaching and Preachers [pp. 454-483]

Preaching and Preachers.
perspicuous, and at times eminently happy from his idiomatic
English; it is well known that Addison took him as a model.
For studied ornament, and the glow of oratorical passion, he
will never be quoted; but a better model of didactic or practical discourse, could scarely be chosen.
If our object had been to go fully into the history of the Anglican pulpit, we should have inserted many other names; but
then we should have written a volume. Among these we should
have found a place for Atterbury, a man of worldly character
but great force, and often superior to Tillotson in the elaborate
graces and warmth of oratory. We could not have omitted
Bull, and Waterland, whose learned and profound vindication
of Athanasian truth will abide as a venerable and unequalled
monument, as long as our language shall be the vehicle of
sound theology; Samuel Clarke, the friend and interpreter of
Newton; Secker and Ogden, smooth, judicious and instructive
sermonizers; Bentley, Butler, Warburton, and Horsley, giants
in theological conflict. But these and many others must be
left unrecorded. The perusal of all will only serve to evince
more fully the justice of our statement, that the predominant
quality of the Anglican pulpit, has been learned and extensive
instruction. A manner corresponding to this has prevailed
even till our day. Sermons have been read from the manuscript, with little elevation of voice, little action of body, and
no fervour of delivery. As the liturgy has become the crowning part of public services, the sermon has become more attenuated in matter and curtailed in length; until in many a fashionable church and chapel, there is a cold essay of fifteen
minutes. The mode just now is to cultivate what is called a
"quiet manner;" by which is meant a nonchalant utterance,
such as may persuade the hearer that preaching after all is
almost a work of supererogation. There have indeed been
Simeons, Melvilles, and McNeiles; but these are rarxe aves in the
Anglican flock. Though a Scotchman, Blair was in all respects
a sermonizer after the English heart, and his discourses had
immense currency south of the Tweed. No manly critic can
read without contempt his pretended survey of the British
pulpit, in his Lectures. Amply has the truth been avenged
by John Foster's strictures on the once famous sermons of
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