On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
noble author , who possesses and abuses commanding talents ( 59 , 60 ) : « — darker scenes are generally exhibited , when selfishness becomes predominant ; the passions , that are raised to relieve languor and discontent , regardless of the bounds of reason , soon acquire a frightful ascendancy , and precipitate their victim into excesses , which ,
to ordinary observers , who have been happily exempt from feelings that lead to them , appear the height of frenzy , and altogether unaccountable on any supposition but that of insanity . And should it so happen , that one of these slaves to ungovernable passions is possessed of genius which enables him to present
a faithful picture of such a mind , what an awful scene of mental confusion does it exhibit ; what a wild chaos of feeling ; how rayless and benighted is the path into which it leads ; and what pernicious forms of malignity and despair hover around !"
We find a similar reference in a recently printed , yet unpublished , sermon , from which we are permitted to copy a few sentences : € t To the disgrace of genius it must be confessed , that many a noxious weed is found amongst the fairest flowers of
eloquence and poetry ; that a mortal poison is hidden in the fruit , which is most goodly to the eye and sweetest to the taste . The danger to the young mind is the greater , because those who seek to corrupt the heart by means of
literature , usually make their appeal to those sensibilities and passions , which are most strong and lively in the youthful bosom ; and endeavour to captivate and lead astray the judgment , which is then necessarily most weak and open to delusion . " *
Mr . H . Turner ' s fifth sermon is entitled , " Oa the Public Worship of God . " [ Psalm xxvii . 4 . ] He discusses with ability and zeal a topic which , though extremely familiar , is of vast importance . After setting forth generally the obligations of this practice , he makes a feeling appeal to his hearers as Protestant Dissenters and Unitarian Christians : and , surely , it could not be made in vain !
• The complaint is not peculiar to modern times : Mr . Berington ( Hist , of Abeillard , &c , 252 ) , says , with reason , of a well-known poem of Pope's , •* It presents poison to the hand of inexperienced youth , and the cup which holds it is all of burnished gold . ' *
Untitled Article
We extract a passage distinguished by taste and pathos . In reference to David ' s habits and language , our author observes ( 67 ) , € ( The beauty of Zion is a source of interesting recollection to the hearts of Christians ; for out of Zion God hath
shined , even unto the ends of the earth ; there , the great plan of the world ' s redemption from its idolatry and sin , was carried forward , and finally accomplished ; there , was spent the youth of the church of God : and even at this cold philosophic period , when at any time the Christian traveller describes to
us his emotions at the sight of the desolate , yet still magnificent Jerusalem , there is a responsive feeling of tenderness and veueration in the breast of every reader . "f " Neglect of public worship , " is considered in the sixth discourse
( Nehein . xiii . 11 ) , which forms an admirable supplement to the foregoing . In a strain of delicate , yet forcible and dignified , remonstrance , the writer animadverts on certain omissions of duty , wluch no enlightened , zealous and consistent friend of Christianity will fail to deplore . In No . VII . our author enforces
Firmness of regard to Duty and Faith . " [ 1 Kings xviii . 21 . ] He well describes the magnificence of the spectacle to which his text refers ; and then exposes the folly and the guilt of halting between two opinions , between God and the world , religion
and irreligion . From Jer . viii . 6 , the " Necessity of Repentance" is argued in the eighth sermon . Mankind are not naturally incapable of repentance . Yet long-indulged habits have a baneful effect in changing the character and obliterating the natural qualities of the mind . Repentance is more than transient feelings of sorrow : it calls for a considerable sacrifice of present ease and pleasure , and for
t Sandys calls Jerusalem , " This city once 3 acred and glorious , elected by God for hie seat , and seated in the midst or nations ; like a diadem crowning the head of the mountains . " ( Travels , &c 6 th ed . p . 120 . ) Of such an association the historian and the poet have skilfully availed themselves : so tar & scr iptural criticism and theology *** concerned , it 13 treated of in Moa . K ^ PXV . 216—2 £ 0 .
Untitled Article
47 * 2 Review . —Sermon * by the late Renj Henry Turner .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1823, page 472, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1787/page/40/
-