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literary accomplishments , by which many of our established clergy are distinguished , we always wish to speak in terms of respect and commendation . But neither the learning , nor the logic , nor the style of Mr . Merewether entitles him to such consideration . We shall conclude this notice with the following specimen of perspicuous gracefulness of expression : " The balance remains to be struck .
Can candour hesitate to pronounce on which side the scale turns ? The Church of England , as whilst she is such , that is uatioual , she ought to do , preponderates : the Dissenting cause kicks the beam . " ( P . 146 . ) We question whether the most illiterate Dissenting teacher could produce
aiiy thing much worse than this ; and we are certain that " the general character both of their labours in the pulpit atid of their productions from the press , " at least among that class which enjoys a regular education , exhibits a style very greatly superior to it .
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Art . IV . — The Silent and Unmarked Progress of Truth : a Sermon , preached , October 16 , 1827 , at JVolverhampton , before a Meeting of Ministers . By John Kentish . 8 ? o . pp . 26 . Birmingham , Belchers ; London , R . Hunter . Mr . Kentish ' s text is the question of the Pharisees and the answer of our Lord , concerning the coming of the kingdom of God , recorded Luke xvii . 20 , 21 . He adopts , in his interpretation of the passage , Schleiennacher ' s paraphrase : " In the way in which thou seemest to watch for the kingdom of God , expecting its appearance to be marked by outwardly striking events , it
will never come to thee ; thou needest not look , abroad , for it forms itself in the same circle in which thou art living , in that of teaching and instruction , and is in fact already come . " The object of his Sermon is to guard this statement from being misapprehended ; to illustrate the justness of it ; and to point out JMinfluence which it ought to hare oil the sentiments , temper , language and behaviour of Christians and Christian ministers . The discourse is the work of a leavned and critical student of the Holy Scriptures . Clearness of sense and precision of style are its prominent character . Iu the following passage , the truly respectable preacher gives a perajncnous and animated illustration of his subject :
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" This quiet and usually imperceptible progress of truth and holiness , ' distinguishes Christianity from , false systems of belief and rules of life , and gives i 6 one feature of pre-emiueoce above less complete and more partial revelations of the Divine Will . The march of the
Impostor of Arabia , was , alas ! but too conspicuous in traces oi blood and devastation . On the other hand , the empire of ' the Prince of Peace' has for its captives willing and renewed minds ; for it is the kingdom of God within us . So far is it from employing in its own be- . half the sword either of the magistrate * or of the military leader , so far from
loving scenes of parade and state , that its triumphs , altogether moral , have been , perhaps , the greatest amidst those who have suffered persecution for righteousness' sake , and those , too , who have been scantily provided with this world's blessings , yet who have been rich in faith , and heirs of the kiugdom . While some men , knowing scarcely any thing more of the Christian dispensation than the name , have exclaimed , ' Lo , here , or Lo , there , ' while they have looked for its approach , and even for its victories , in the patronage which forms of it have received either from the learned , the mighty , the wealthy , the great , or from numbers of the people , the humble , enlightened follower of our Lord has been sensible that his kingdom does not so come with observation : such an
individual seeks for the Gospel and its ascendancy , where the multitude , whether in lowly or in fashionable life , behold it not ; he views it , wherever it forms within the soul the moral image of Jesus Christ , wherever it exalts the child of ignorance and frailty and death , to the hope of pardon and immortal life , and to the glorious dignity of the sons of God . "—Pp , 13 , 14 . We know not whether there be a particular reference iu the application of the discourse to any local occurrences : the concluding paragraph would lead us so to think .
" Many around us are , in their religious profession , ostentatious and obtrusive : I arraign not their motives ; while I take leave to protest against their judgment and demeanour . There is a parade , a secularity , in their manners , their language , and some of their measures , when they associate for avowedly Christian objects , which I cannot witness without extreme disgust , -and the recital of instances of which would ill suit the services of this hour . Alat !
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Critical Notices . ]< 2 l
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VOL . II . K
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1828, page 121, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2557/page/49/
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