THE MONTHLY REPOSITORY of THEOLOGY and GENERAL LITERATURE JANUARY TO DECEMBER INCLUSIVE 1816 VOLUME XI HACKNEY Printed for JOSHUA TOULMIN DD Review of John Hyatt's Sermons at the Tabernacle ************************************************ JOHN HYATT is one of the ministers of the Tabernacle, the temple of modern Evangelical worship, and he has here favoured the public with ample specimens of that kind of preaching which, throughout all England, is drawing the multitude away from their parish churches and forming them into a "peculiar people, zealous" - for a more rigid species of Calvinism than was taught by the mortal enemy of Servetus. The Evangelical preachers will not, we apprehend, object to Mr Hyatt's being considered as the representative as from his station he is the chief of their order. He is regarded, we are told, as one of the best preachers of the sect and he appears to be a man of thought and to possess a vigorous imagination. Evangelical preaching is, we need not say, preaching without book. The preacher believes himself and is believed by others to be under the influence of the Holy Ghost, a written discourse would stint the spirit and instead of the word of the Holy Ghost the speaker degenerated to reader would utter the words of man's wisdom. Extempore speaking is winning from its familiarity and in Mr John Hyatt's specimens is rendered more attractive by certain tender appellations by which the auditory is addressed "Poor sinners, Precious souls, my dear friends" and other similar expressions of endearment go, we imagine, a great way in helping forward the effect of this strain of preaching. Mr John Hyatt and his brethren are pleased with themselves for lowering their discourses to the rude apprehensions of the lowest vulgar, not once thinking that it is possible or feeling that it is desirable to improve their taste and enlarge their understandings. Hence they deal out common places with great self complacency and the merest truisms with a pompousness which indicates self admiration. Their words drop from them with a Volubility which makes the multitude stare, for they preach against critics and would think it criminal to stay to sift and select words and phrases and to consult purity and elegance of language. These preachers think it necessary to prove nothing, every thing is taken for granted, but then there is a text for everything - though it is seldom deemed requisite to justify the application of the words of Scripture to the preacher's subject. It seems as if minister and people considered their creed as matter of absolute certainty and regarded it as the end of preaching to deliver out the articles of their faith and to express pity for or to denounce judgements against such at cannot understand or will not embrace them. In point of composition, the sermons of Mr John Hyatt's class of preachers are artless to a degree that borders on childishness. A whole paragraph will often consist of a self evident proposition repeated in several forms, sometimes put in a broad simile, followed by a set of Scripture quotations unconnected and unexplained, mingled with interjections and the whole concluded by an anecdote, a dying experience, a stanza from Dr Watts or possibly a couplet from Dr Young. Perhaps nothing has contributed more to the illusion which Evangelical or Tabernacle preaching brings over the mind than its abounding in Scriptural quotations which seem to invest it with sanctity and solemnity, and to cover its meagreness and folly. In a great mass of citations some must be appropriate and we have observed occasionally in this volume a happy use of the sublime and affecting language of Holy Writ. Great wrong, however, is done to the Bible in the ordinary way of selecting texts for this class of sermons - passages are plainly taken more for sound than sense and whether moral, devotional, doctrinal, prophetic or historical are forced to speak Tabernacle theology. But the principal and most availing part of Evangelical preaching is its damnatory style, its denunciation and description of the torments of the damned in hell - this is the heavy artillery of Calvinism with which the least skillful engineer can beat down the proud heart and storm the stubborn conscience. A great part of the conversions recorded in the Evangelical Magazine here been effected by the sons of thunder. Thundering however, as Dr South remarks, from hell and not from heaven. To thoroughly ignorant vicious men it is in the nature of things that such preaching should be interesting and affecting, we believe that it rarely produces striking effect on the minds of men of information and good moral habits. But it is proper we should exhibit Mr John Hyatt himself to our readers, so we shall select a few passages from him which explain the style of Tabernacle preaching and illustrate some of our remarks. In nothing is the good sense of a preacher more tried than in the announcement and development of the plan of his discourse, his division if he adopt one formally should be natural, simple and distinct and the several branches of his subject should be connected together and all appear important. The terms in which the plan of a sermon is laid down should be plain and precise. Ingenuity and eloquence should here be avoided, a painted ornamented threshold would be a silly device even for the entrance to a palace. We have not to blame Mr John Hyatt for ingenuity or eloquence in this particular, he is on the contrary blunt and quaint. The first sermon for instance "On the Importance of Meditation" from Gen xxiv 63 - "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even tide" is thus divided: "Let us first notice the nature and importance of this exercise mentioned in the text; secondly mention some suitable subjects for the believer's meditation; and, thirdly urge it upon Christians to imitate Isaac in this exercise." - P. 4. Sermon IV on "The Death of the Righteous" from Numbers xxiii 10 "Let me die the death of the righteous and at my last end be like his" is thus divided: "From these words we shall observe; I. Death is the common lot of mankind, both the righteous and the wicked must die. II. It is most desirable to die as the righteous die [dies] and that our end be like his. III. However desirable is [be] the death of the righteous the wish for it is vain without a gracious change produced in the mind by the Holy Ghost." - P. 80. The following extract from Sermon II on "Abundant Grace" is a favourable specimen of the preaching the Tabernacle school; "Grace is one of the most comprehensive and interesting terms with which any of mankind are acquainted If its real importance was were understood and experienced by every one present each countenance would brighten each heart would leap with joy and all would readily unite in expressing the sentiment of the truly excellent Doddridge:" "Grace! 'tis a charming sound, Harmonious to the ear." "There is infinitely more in this term, when its meaning is understood and its blessings are realised, to encourage the heart of man than there is in all the terms by which the consequences of sin are expressed to discourage Grace, in an effectual remedy for all the spiritual maladies of the soul. Sin has not produced an evil in the nature of man, which grace cannot effectually counteract, and finally remove. Hath sin blinded the understanding? - grace ran enlighten it. Hath sin perverted the will? - grace can reduce it to subjection. Are the affections defiled? - grace can sanctify them. Is man impoverished? - grace can enrich him. Is he ignorant? - grace can instruct him. Is he guilty? - grace can pardon and justify. Is he an heir of hell? - grace can make him an heir of heaven. Nothing else has ever performed such wonders. The loudest note that is heard in glory sounds in praise of grace. It is an inexhaustible theme, its wonders will be: Ever telling - yet untold" - Pp. 28. 29. The conclusion of the same sermon is in the terrific style which we have adverted to:- "Is there in this assembly an individual whose desperately wicked mind derives encouragement to sin from the aboundings of grace? Because God is able to make all grace abound towards the chief of sinners, are you resolved to try how far you can proceed in a course of ungodliness? Abominable wretch! how knowest thou but thy base determination is the effect of thy having been given up by the Almighty to hardness of heart? How knowest thou but God hath said concerning thee "Let him alone!" Should this be the case, O! how tremendous will be the end of thy mortal course! Miserable wretch what will thou do when the heavens lower, and the tempest roars, whither in thine extremity wilt thou turn for shelter? Then no voice of pity will address thine ear, no place of refuge will encourage thy flight, but without refuge and without hope thou wilt be hurled to the dismal abodes of everlasting despair." - P. 50. But this is feeble compared with the following address to "An ungodly sinner", [words which could not be associated with propriety under any system but Calvinism] in Sermon III entitled "The Christian's Desire of Heaven" :- "Ungodly sinner, if you die in your present state when absent from the body you will be present with the devil and innumerable fallen spirits in the world of endless misery. Thoughtless sinner, did you see how near death is to you and how thin is the partition between death and hell how would you tremble! how terrible to die in your sins and sink into everlasting darkness. You may now indeed enjoy health and vigour and anticipating many years in this world, nothing that we can say concerning death and eternal misery alarms you, but your days upon earth may be fewer than you expect years - yes tomorrow or before tomorrow, death's cold hand may press hard upon you, your countenance may be distorted your pulse irregular and HORROR STARING FROM YOUR EYES TERRIFY THOSE ABOUT YOU; sad state, unable to live and most reluctant to die. Your friends may crowd around your bed and weep bitterly but alas! they will not be able to afford you the least relief; your unwilling soul at length may be forced out of her 'earthly house' then with a dismal groan she will leave the world to GROAN IN HELL FOR EVER." - Pp. 71. 72. Enough of this outrageous rant! fit only for Bedlam or the Court of Inquisition. We gladly turn to the following amplification of a pleasing image of Scripture occurring in Sermon VI II entitled "The Redeemer's Sympathy" from Exodus? [[barely readable text, Ed.]] ix iii 9:- "Ye have seen (said God to the children of Israel) how I bare you on eagles wings and brought you unto myself. The Lord's portion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness, he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him. What a fine description of the tender case of Jehovah towards his people. The maternal eagle, perceiving that her young ones are in danger from an enemy is anxious to preserve them she, flutters over her nest thus exciting them to fly by her example; but the nestlings are not sufficiently fledged for flight. What then will she do? will she forsake her helpless brood and leave them all exposed to the merciless foe? No, finding that they cannot by their own strength to avoid the danger which threatens them she takes them upon her wide spread wings and bears them away to some place of safety. Thus the Almighty secures his people from the cruel designs of all their potent and inveterate adversaries." "O ye persecuted and tempted saints, fear not! While the eternal God can afford you support and protection you shall not perish. He will 'bear you as on eagles wings' to the world of perfect and everlasting felicity." - Pp. 203. 504. In Sermon III "The Christian's Desire of Heaven" is some appearance of argument in favour of an intermediate state of conscious existence between death and the resurrection and this is almost the only passage we have observed in which there is any argument - the preacher has stated pretty strongly and tolerably well the scriptural proofs in favour of the popular scheme. He concludes with repelling the interpretation put by the Materialists on our Lord's address to the penitent malefactor and finishes with this burst of fanaticism and intolerance which we are happy to remark is not countenanced by any similar passage in the volume:- ---"in this way is Scripture tortured and distorted with a view to make human souls sleep - One wonders that the wrath of God steeps that it is not roused to resent such daring insolence in presumptuous man." - P. 59. Apostrophe is a favourite figure with the preacher of the Tabernacle, there is something ludicrous in the following use of it Sermon III p. 73. "Precious Bible! I love thee; because from thee I have received direction in many difficulties etc. & etc.." "Tabernacle, I love thee because within thee I have often enjoyed the presence of my much loved Saviour; here have I beheld his goings &c" The Sermons are fourteen in number but it is observable that there is not one on a practical subject. This may be mentioned as another feature of modern "Evangelical" preaching which is indeed explained to be preaching up the doctrines of grace. Holiness is insisted on in several of these Discourses as we suppose it is in most discourses, bearing the Tabernacle stamp, the mint mark of orthodoxy, but we fear the common people would not understand by this term doing justly and loving mercy. It imports something done for them rather than any thing which they are to do. We shall not however, here borrow the language of the alarmists on the subject of the anti-moral teachers, partly because we believe that it is commonly unjust and therefore mischievous, but principally because Mr John Hyatt has not provoked censure by a single remark or expression that we have met in disparagement of good works and moral worth. These Sermons considered as the official homilies of the Tabernacle or Evangelical party, present us with the idea of a sect not far advanced in knowledge and refinement they can be relished only by persons of little inquiry and of mediocrity of talent. ******************************** http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=JkMFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA611&lpg=PA611&dq=rev+%22john+hyatt%22&source= bl&ots=qTrVIVYxRE&sig=HHzrNtfX-J1jzbiZFm1B1M_lrh4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UX9MUvigFYqd0wWm_4HQBA&ved= 0CDsQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q=rev%20%22john%20hyatt%22&f=false