which it should awaken: then he confidently states the "righteous" one lately taken away to have been worthy, in a moral and religious point of view, of almost unqualified commendation: he declares him to have possessed the Christian graces of piety, benevolence, and self-control, as wrought by the Holy Spirit in his heart; and, after justly stigmatizing the murderer, he concludes with certain appropriate reflections and counsels. No one probably has perused this composition without being deeply moved by the tone of religious awe, and pure affection and regret, and dignified rebuke, and spiritual admonition, which pervades it. Yet more deeply must it have been felt by the hearers, coming to them, as it did, warm from the Author's heart, and with all the advantages of a suitable aspect, and enunciation. On such a topic one may probably imagine him to have excited a stronger interest than usual, or, as it were, to have surpassed himself. However, the ordinary manner of Mr. Van Mildert in the pulpit was highly interesting, and in accordance with his matter. Though calling to aid little or no gesture, and often experiencing much physical infirmity, he always spake as fully convinced of the truth and importance of his doctrine, and as being much in earnest to convince others likewise. His accents, the expression of his countenance, and his whole bearing, became authoritative, argumentative, or persuasive, in agreement with the nature of his subject; at the same time, he generally appeared to be rather refraining, than urging himself, and under the influence of a judicious mind, to be exhibiting

less emotion than he really felt. To shew the estimate formed by strangers of his preaching about this period, it may be allowable to close these remarks with an extract from a work entitled "The Pulpit," by Onesimus. After ascribing such a preference to the extemporaneous oratory of dissenters, as proves him to be certainly not a partial witness, Onesimus thinks fit to say as to the Subject of this Memoir, in the following year, when he had been farther promoted, and had proceeded to his Doctor's degree," Dr. Van Mildert, it must be owned, has

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nothing of action; but his deportment exemplifies "all that solemnity of character which can alone "be said to dignify the preacher. Whenever he "ascends the pulpit, it is evidently for the religious "instruction of his hearers, and not to challenge

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their applause, or admiration. He chiefly aims to "expound the word of God-never attempting to "be wise above that which is scripturally stated"for the practical improvement of those around "him. Learned, reflecting, and judicious, he af"firms nothing that he has not rigidly examined, " or respecting which he is not thoroughly satisfied. "His expositions are profound, yet not abstruse; "elaborate, yet not unintelligible: his arrangement "is natural and perspicuous; and his arguments are solid and convincing. Nothing that savours "of intemperance, nothing crude, nothing of flourish or of figure, is suffered to impair the substantial "fabric of his compositions. His voice consorts "with the nature of his preaching, being deep, 66 sonorous, and grave. His style is not homely,

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but studiously plain. He will doubtless fill the

high office of Regius Professor of Divinity with "credit to himself, and advantage to the students "of Oxford; and may not unreasonably look to "adorn that mitre, with which his professional ex"ertions must eventually be recompensed."

In Easter term, 1813, Mr. Van Mildert was chosen by the Heads of Houses at Oxford, to preach the Bampton lectures in the ensuing year; and in the autumn, that higher and more valuable preferment which is mentioned in the foregoing extract, devolved on him. To Mr. Perceval there had succeeded, in the person of Lord Liverpool, a Prime Minister equally bent on advancing merit. Accordingly, in the month of September, Dr. Howley having been promoted to the see of London, on the demise of Dr. Randolph, the vacant divinity chair at Oxford, with the canonry of Christ Church and rectory of Ewelme annexed, was graciously offered to Mr. Van Mildert; and, after an inquiry into the nature and duties of an office which he had never thought of being called to occupy, was accepted by him. Many, and most heartfelt on this occasion, appear to have been the congratulations of his friends, and strong their expressions of satisfaction at so excellent a dispensation of ministerial patronage. Among these, two letters, on the same sheet, from two eminent barristers, then on circuit, who were shortly afterwards raised to the bench, must have been felt specially gratifying by the new Professor. The first, after noticing the intelligence of his appointment, proceeds, "I must say it is one of the most

"honourable ever made, and proves that the present "ministers are actuated by an earnest desire for the "welfare of this Church and nation." Then he adds, "But I write in a great hurry to entreat that "you will not resign Lincoln's Inn. You have

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done, and are doing, so much good in that place, "that I beg you will not take such a step without "the fullest consideration. Unless your duties of Regius Professor render your attendance in Lin"coln's Inn impossible, I, for one, entreat you not to resign, and three of your hearers, now in court, "join in my request." The second writer says, after expressing his heartfelt satisfaction, "I do "verily believe that our present rulers are really "anxious to appoint the fittest men to the highest "stations; for which I highly honour them. "not abandon Lincoln's Inn, where you may be "assured you are doing incalculable good, without "full consideration." Much more, too, of the same kind, from other distinguished persons, is at hand, to prove, that no one more acceptable at once to the Church, and University, and the public at large, could have been fixed upon by Lord Liverpool, for the situation.

Do

In consequence of the above solicitations, which his Sermons, since published, strongly demonstrate to have been prompted by something better than an indiscriminating friendship, or partiality, Mr. Van Mildert, who almost immediately became D. D., having resigned the vicarage of Farningham, determined to continue a time longer at Lincoln's Inn. Thus he had pressing upon him at once, besides the

cares, and ceremonies, and hospitalities, inseparable from a new and eminent situation, the arduous duties of providing discourses for that learned audience in London, and of preparing the Bampton lectures, and divinity lectures at Oxford. Very few persons could have supported such a burden; and he on whom it now fell, was frequently heard to express a painful sense of its distracting and complicated nature. Nevertheless, he persevered, and by tasking to the uttermost his powers of mind, was able to keep on until the termination of his Bampton lectures, by which, of course, he felt considerably relieved. These having been duly preached in 1814, were published in the commencement of the following year, and are presenting themselves at this point to be observed.

The subject chosen by the Lecturer was, "An "inquiry into the general principles of Scripture"interpretation." By way of vindicating such his choice, he says, in his opening lecture, "If any one "period more than another may render a discussion "of this kind necessary, does it not seem to be when "there prevails, as in the present moment, an ex

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traordinary zeal for the dissemination of the Scrip"tures; a zeal, which, however pure and laudable "in itself, appears to call for a correspondent care "to guard against the perversion, to which even "that best gift of God is liable?" and presently afterward, he thus lays down his plan-" It is proposed to consider, in the first place, the moral qualifications requisite for a right understanding "of the Sacred Word. An inquiry will then be "instituted into the paramount authority of that