Essays on Eminent Characters.

to the country; the intellectual powers appeared to gain new strength under its inspiring influence, and a wonderful revolution took place in Literature, Science, and the Arts. A new race of worthies sprung up on the ruins of the ancient system, and while they attracted the admiration, they spread their acquirements with liberality among their countrymen.

In no country have the clergy done more for the knowledge of the people than in Scotland. From the moment that the reformed divines acquired the ascendancy they struggled with disinterested zeal, in the same laudable pursuit. It is through their means that knowledge, and religion, are so generally diffused amongst us, and it is right that we should know a truth which is not generally understood-how much we are indebted to the indefatigable labours of this body of men. But if the Scots are among the most religious people in Europe, and their clergy among the most zealous, it is remarkable that Scotland has not by any means been so fortunate in producing celebrated divines, as in giving birth to men of the highest eminence in other departments in literature. It would be unsafe to hazard a conjecture on the cause of this curious fact, but in whatever manner it be reasoned upon, it is nevertheless true. To a deficiency of education it cannot be owing; for men with genius calculated to excel in the pulpit, would triumph over this circumstance with as much ease as a true poet could climb Parnassus without the foreign aid of learning. But even granting the impossibility of a clergyman arriving at distinction without extensive erudition, this falls to the ground, since it is known, that the clergy of Scotland are generally men of liberal education, and many of them deeply versed in the various mazes of literature. We will not attempt the explanation of a truth universally admitted, any more than the reason why Switzerland has never produced a poet, or Scotland, a great dramatic writer, we merely state the fact, and leave it to be accounted for by more ingenious minds.

*

Of late years this peculiarity in North Britain with regard to her clergy seems to be wearing away. The names of Blair, and

*We have perhaps expressed ourselves too strongly on this head; we do not absolutely mean to say that a man could ever acquire eminence in the pulpit without learning-but that if his natural abilities are great, his erudition may be made so far subservient to them as to lead their possessor to eminence, at the same time we deny, that a mediocrity of talent, although supported by the deepest erudition, could ever gain him lasting celebrity.

Essays on Eminent Characters.

Campbell, have conferred a dignity on the Scottish Church, which has been more lately enhanced by the distinguished abilities of Dr. Chalmers. Now from the greater number of candidates the openings to preferment are less numerous than before. A more thorough erudition, and greater talent, are demanded than contented our forefathers, and from these causes Scotland may yet see her clergy arrive at the same eminence as her poets and historians. At present while we are talking of her church, we cannot forego the pleasure of noticing with gratification one of her members, whose splendid talents have by general consent, rendered him one of the most popular preachers in the whole island.

The fame of Dr. Chalmers does not merely rest with the circumscribed circle of his hearers; it was spread before he became an author; and now that his works have been laid before the public, it has become firmly established by the general voice of the world. It is from them, that the generality of mankind can judge of his merits, and wherever they have been impartially perused, the talent which dictated their contents has been fully acknowledged.

He has traced out a new course purely his own; he has left the trodden field in which divines have laboured for ages, and adorned his path with the richness, and garniture of an original mind. By a bold, sweeping, declamatory style, arrayed with the variety of exuberant genius, and supported by the sublime effusions of Christianity, he has clothed his discourses in an attractive mantle, which rivets the attention the more strongly it is inclosed in its folds; the mind is never allowed to tire, or wander, it is hurried along by a power which becomes more fervent as it reaches its termination. In the course of his argumentation, scepticism is confounded doubt evanishes, and as we hurry through the lengthened periods of the discourse, we scarcely dare to call in question, what such overpowering eloquence

asserts.

The oratory and strength of diction he possesses, even in inferior hands would attract popularity, and be admired; but when supported by the coercive operation of talents far above the ordinary run, their effects must be irresistible. Eloquence is on all occasions a valuable qualification to a clergyman; there are many most able men who deliver lessons fraught with the spirit of a superior mind; but who from the want of this fac

Essays on Eminent Characters-Dr Chalmers.

ulty, can neither acquire eminence to themselves, nor impress their sentiments with vigour on their hearers.

In the whole of Dr. Chalmer's discourses, we observe the same mind to breathe on the subject, a certain peculiarity which is instantly acknowledged, and which at once unfolds the author: a certain loftiness which delights more in giving free vent to its effusions, than in expounding the more intricate points of Christianity, which passes rapidly along, and fixes the mind in enthusiasm. No part of his subject appears tedious; he delights to dwell in the higher regions of thought, and to enforce his imagination with a splendid energy of language. It must however be admitted that in his sermons, there is often a wonderful transition from the humblest to the more exalted regions. At one time as if unconscious of his strength, he travels on the lowliest and most unaspiring ground: at another he arises to prouder heights, and soars in the regions of the sublime. We are led along in rapture by the hand of a master, and shrink with a sense of our insignificance, when he declaims on the littleness of man, and on the glory of the Most High.

This we anticipate is bestowing a greater panygeric than many of our readers will admit; there are many we apprehend who will not perceive such extraordinary merit in his productions as has occurred to ourselves; if so, we cannot help it; we state our own opinion, and we believe it is borne out by the testimony of numberless admirers. We do not recollect to have ever perused any work with more unmingled sentiments of admiration than the Astronomical Discourses; the most splendid display of Philosophy and Christianity, that has for a long time been given to the world. We would remark, however, that their beauties can neither be felt nor appreciated by those who are accustomed to decry the admixture of Philosophy with Christian knowledge, and that they can only be relished by understandings open to liberality, and perhaps rather, we may say, above the ordinary standard. We are aware that the style of these Discourses is unacceptable to many readers, but we think that the most unwilling to bestow their praises, will not withhold surprise and conviction at the talent which composed them; without considering the strength of the arguments with which he combats in delity; or the depth and extent of his reasoning powers; we apprehend that every unprejudiced mind must be convinced of the vigorous judgment which produced such a gorgeous display of exuberant variety.

Essays on Eminent Characters,Dr. Chalmers.

It is not so much by an evangelical exposition of Christianity, and by a profoundness of the reasoning faculty, as by a powerful eloquence, and a vigorous talent, that Dr. Chalmers has gained popularity; it would be needless to deny that in the former points he has been greatly surpassed-his warmest admirers will readily admit, that greater ingenuity and depth of argument have often been displayed: but we believe, we will scarcely find one who ever impressed his discourse more into the conviction of his hearers-or who ever made them more fully satisfied with the purity of the doctrines he taught. This eloquence and force which he so eminently possesses, add im-mensely to the effect of his sermons, and make a greater impression on the mind than the most ingenious argument, or the most logical demonstration. He never mounts the pulpit but to command a throng of auditors, and he never opens his subject but to draw their unqualified attention and applause. He commences slow and monotonous, as if unable to unbosom his thoughts; but as he proceeds, he becomes enthusiastic with his discourse, and throws it out with rapidity and power; he does not unfold the word of GOD with an unfeeling delivery, but with a trembling fervour, and an enthusiasm that shows his consciousness of the task, and his ardent desire to do it ample justice.

With all his popularity, however, there are not awanting men who feeling themselves humbled by his superior genius, and en vious of a distinction which they themselves cannot attain, have with an ungenerous officiousness, attempted to detract from his merit, and by robbing him of a share of that applause which is justly his due, to bring him down to their own level. A fair examination of any man's writings, wherein his errors and beauties are alike candidly exposed, is both reasonable and proper. But we cannot but think very meanly of those, who as if blinded to the merits, take a delight in exposing an author on his weaker side. It shews a littleness of disposition, allied to cunning, which with a microscopic eye takes pleasure in exposing the minutiae of objects; but in the narrow range of its vision can form no idea of the nobler and more magnificent workings of design.

Something of this nature appears to us to prevail with regard to the Doctor; a set of snarling critics have perseveringly assaulted him since the beginning of his career criticisms with

Essays on Eminent Characters-Dr. Chalmers.

out number have been written on his works: not a page but has been found faulty by these minute observers. The enlightened men who support our principle Scottish journals have been very warm in his praise, and although they have freely pointed out his errors, yet their portion of commendation has been so great, as to hide his faults in the more brilliant exhibition of multiplied beauties. But an assemblage of illiberal dunces can only perceive a tissue of bombast and error in these very works, which are read throughout the island, which are recommended by the highest authorities, and which are even translated into foreign languages. A hue and cry has been raised against them, that they endanger the primitive simplicity of style, in which the sacred word should be delivered, and lead the young clergy to the imitation of a degenerate and artificial original. To all this a simple answer only need be given. Either these few illiberalists, or the united testimony of multitudes must be in error. Dr. Chalmers has chalked out a path which happily accords with the taste of the age. He has gained popularity because he pleases. He has gained reputation, because his talents are unfolded to all who can examine them with an unjaundiced eye. As to his style we shall neither reprobate nor defend it. We only answer that in his hands it has become the fittest engine for displaying his powers: and that if it be the one by which he can most powerfully enforce the sacred doctrines, it is the pedantry of criticism to demure and examine it with illiberal views. As to his example corrupting the taste of the rising clergy, we do not perceive any harm in the occurrence, and if it can render them as popular and admired as himself, we would hail him, as being one of the greatest benefactors of our national church.

Let it not be imagined however that we are against any critical examination of his works when executed with candour, or that we think them by any means exempted from error; on the contrary we think that no inconsiderable portion of defects are scattered throughout his writings, and shall again state our sentiments more fully before the close of the volume; but while we respect such a candid and homely criticism as that by Mr. Burns of Paisley, we cannot peruse without sickening disgust, the envious, and pitiful lucubrations of a few jealous opponents. JEREMIAH.

Glasgow, July, 1819.