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attended its first promulgation . * But the Bible Society , by the simplicity of Its object , and the comprehensive Catholicism of its constitution , so consonant to the unbounded liberality of his views , commanded bis unqualified approbation ; and having been chosen one of the Secretaries for the
Northern Auxiliary Branch , in the county of Northampton , from its first formation , be directed the entire force of his mind to it ; attending regularly , as long as his health would permit ,
the various meetings held in the vicinity . The sensation produced by his speech at the first meeting at Northampton , where his Grace the Duke of Grafton presided , will never be
forgotten . Mr . Toller ' s addresses to the Supreme Being , in public worship and in family xlevotion , were copious , without being redundant , fervent without extravagance , elevated , without the least appearance of turgidity or pomp . _ ¦
W&at he was as a preacher , may , in some measure , be conceived from his single sermons , ^ and from the volume now submitted to the public . Hence we may judge of the general nature of the subjects which he selected , of his manner of treating them , and of the characteristic features of
hie style . His discourses were never vapid , tedious or uninteresting : nor waB the effect of them injured by his delivery . A certain intensity of devotional feeling , a deep and solemn pathos , accompanied with tones expressive of the greatest sensibility , sustained the attention of the
audience in full vigour . For the present , we decline to notice the copious remarks of the biographer on Mr . Toller ' s preparations for the pulpit , and addresses from it : this topic will be more conveniently
An opinion not peculiar to Mr . Toller * f Of these a very small number appeared frqyci the press : nor hap Mr . Hail mentioned them . We recollect to have seen one , of considerable excellence , on ' the Evidences of Christianity . ** Two others have cpme to our knowledge ; a Funeral Sermon for Mr . John Hennell , 1809 . aud a discourse of thq same class , for the Rev . S . Palmer , of Hackney , 1814 .
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diseiiss ^ fl * when the posthumous sermons themselves are i |^^^^ . We are desirous that , in the first instance , our readers direct tlieir thoughts exclusively to the life and character of the late minister of the Independent congregation at Kettering . These ,
we trust , will be very gratifying a » d salutary themes of contemplation ; and it is not until after they have produced their appropriate effect upon the mind , that we wUb to select from the Memoir any extracts which we cannot bring forward with unmixed pleasure .
The following passage ( p . 3 ) , completely approves itself to our judgment and our feelings ; it is a charming sketch of the character of a tutor in the academy at Daventry : " Among itiany other mental endowments , he fftlr . Robins ! was remarkable
for delicacy of tastQ and elegance of diction ; and perhaps my reader will excuse my observing , thai $ jke first perception of these qualities which the writer of these lines ? remecifeers to have possessed , arose from hearing him preach at Northampton on a public occasion . It is
to be lamented that he has left xtqne of those productions behind him , virhich a correct and beautiful imagination , embodied in language of the most classic purity , rendered so impressive and delightful . The qualities of his heart corresponded to those of his genius ; and
though long before his death , his bodily infirmities obliged him to relinquish a commanding station and retire into obscurity , he retained to the last such an asceudancy over the minds of his former pupils ., aud such an interest in their affections , as nothing but worth of the highest order can command . " +
* There is some incongruity in this transition of jhe biographer from the first person ttf the third . «* Delicacy of taste , ** however , a ad ** elegance of diction ** strongly characterise Mr . Hall ' s
style , and perhaps are the inost prominent of his intellectual and Jit erary excellencies . The Memoir before u . s » h&s " careless- beauties , " hut is altogether a very attractive composition .
+ It was not . the reviewer ' s happiness to be one of the pupils of Mr- Robins , whose conversation , Nevertheless , he had frequent opportunities qf enjoying , and from whom he personally experienced a candour and a kindness , never , he trusts , to be forgotten . In the manners of this
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178 x Eemew ^ filemoir qfthe Rev . IF , Ni W $ X $ r * ' - * V - - * ¦ -
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1824, page 178, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2522/page/50/
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