lar. Considering, nevertheless, what it is to fill the pulpit, how much of solemn meditation is required, and how much of private emotion it may occasion, I have almost concluded that the preacher should be left entirely to himself, to spiritual solitude, till he appears in his proper sphere. Much has he previously to do, in which no human being can participate. He is not with men. His presence may indeed grace their devotions, but the association must be distracting to him; employed, as he ought then to be, in absolute communion with divinity!

It is not enough, however, to have filled the pulpit with effect; to have ascended it circumspectly, and occupied it impressively. Consistent throughout, the pious preacher will not, after having spoken wisely,

at the close,

Grow wanton; and give proof, to ev'ry eye,
Whoe'er was edified, himself was not!'

He, therefore, will not hurry from his sacred station as if he felt fatigued by its demands,

or was eager to meet the salutations of the vestry, or anxious to escape to some more pressing or pleasing engagement; but, like the subject of this sketch, he will remain where duty placed him, awaiting the time for modestly withdrawing from the gaze or compliments of his hearers. He will bar all intrusion. He will be solicitous only to avoid notice, and avert congratulations.

Mr. Dodd, though successful, is not inaccessible; and I shall therefore advert briefly to his deficiencies.

Animated as generally he is, he has yet too much the air of reading his discourses; and he is given to finger his manuscript, turning over leaf after leaf, with such precision as considerably weakens his powers of address. His delivery is not sufficiently diversified, the fulness of his voice occasionally impedes his articulation, and his emphases are sometimes prolonged till they approximate to pauses. I know the detestation in which he holds fanaticism, but I trust it will never drive him from spirituality.

Why do I write in commendation of Mr. Dodd? If he is among the few whom, as clerical characters, I venerate, it is because his conduct, as far as I can learn, demands my respect; and because his talents have acquired him my warmest approbation. Full of his charge, but negligent of himself, he accomplishes every thing without affecting any thing. His sincerity is his energy; his simplicity is his dignity.

As it is painful to me to be compelled to expose the delinquencies of clergymen, so do I feel it truly exhilarating when circumstances authorize me to admire the characters, and applaud the exertions, of ecclesiastical instructors. My opinion of Mr. Dodd has not been immaturely advanced. He is now far, very far, above those christian pastors, described by our divine Milton, to whom

The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed,

But swoln with wind; and the rank mist they draw,
Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread!'

I therefore confidently hope, that, as he has begun, such he will continue; that, in truth, he will persevere to the end; and that he will certainly be found among them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. He has now my best wishes, because he has long excited my esteem; while, in commending him, I trust that I am furthering the cause of the church itself.

LAWRENCE PANTING GARDNER, M.A.

As long as it is permitted me to continue my investigation of the merits of our popular preachers, so long must I persist to expose error and testify truth, unswayed by interest and undaunted by intimidation. It is upon this feeling that I have hitherto endeavoured to proceed in the career of criticism. My aim, however, was not to scourge but to correct, not to ruin but to reform; and, accordingly, I have almost seized every favourable occasion for speaking propitiously of the objects which successively presented themselves to my attention. Why am I to deviate from this system of conduct?

It again happily falls to my lot to announce ability, and to extol eminence. No man is dis