THE REV. THOMAS RENNELL, D. D.

PREBENDARY OF WINCHESTER, MASTER OF THE
TEMPLE, &c.

MANY of the most dignified characters among the established clergy are bright examples of unwearied diligence; and in the midst of those honours and enjoyments for which they are not unfrequently envied and calumniated, they labour with a constancy equal to that which may be supposed to distinguish men who have preferments to seck.

Among these luminaries we may with the greatest propriety rank the subject of the present brief, but faithful sketch.

The Rev. Dr. Rennell is the son of the late Rev. Dr. Thomas Rennell, A.M. prebendary of Winchester, and rector of Teignton-Drew, or Druid's Teignton, in Devonshire, of which parish his father was also rector, and where our divine was born. The family of Rennell is of considerable antiquity and of great respectability in that county, as may be seen in Prince's curious book, entitled "The Worthies of Devon," where some account of one of Dr. Rennell's ancestors is to be found.

Dr. Rennell, the father of our preacher, was the intimate friend of the late Bishop Hoadley, who gave him the prebendal stall in his cathedral, and appointed him his chaplain. He was a very judicious divine, and a man of extensive learning, but of such singular

modesty

modesty as even to conceal, at least as much as he could, the appearance of his great attainments.

Dr. Rennell, the subject of the present sketch, was educated on the foundation at Eton school, where he distinguished himself by an unremitted attention to his studies, and by the meekness of his temper. From Eton he was elected off to King's College, where he was noted as a profound scholar, particularly in Greek, and also remarkable for being so devoted to study as to acquire the name of the "absent man."

In his college he gained a fellowship in due course, and not long after his entering into orders his father obtained leave to resign to him the prebend of Winchester, while his talents as a preacher soon rendered him highly popular both there and at Cambridge.

His next preferment was the rectory of Saint Magnus, London Bridge; and in 1798 he was, on the advancement of Dr. Pearce to the deanery of Ely, promoted to the more honourable than lucrative situation of Master of the Temple.

Here the Doctor preaches always, as is customary, in term time, and upon festivals. His discourses are so plain, yet so pathetic, so sound in doctrine, and so perspicuous in the composition, filled with such a devout spirit, and so admirably calculated to affect the heart while they inform the judgment, that it is not to be wondered the Temple church should be crowded when he preaches: add to this, the Doctor is a powerful and impassioned orator. He feels what he utters, and therefore his eloquence is natural while it is

warm

warm and vehement. In the management of his subject he possesses the most happy art, and that is not so easy an one as is generally imagined, of making it completely clear to the conception of his hearers. There is no abstract reasoning in his discourses, but one important topic is fixed upon, and kept in view throughout. Whatever is said to illustrate it, or whatever reflection or exhortation may be made, still the hearer knows the grand theme, and loses not a preceding proof in attending to a new observation.

But it is in his perorations that the Doctor seems to shine the most. Here he seizes upon the avenues of the heart at once, here he engages its principles, its fears, and its hopes on his side, and forces even the sceptic and the libertine to shudder at the consequences of impenitence, and to desire the "death of the righteous."

This is not an over-charged picture; but a very faint and imperfect outline of a christian preacher sketched by the feeble hand of one who equally admires, but who enjoys not any degree of intimacy with him.

"I venerate the man whose heart is warm,

Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life
Coincident, exhibit lucid proof

That he is honest in the sacred cause."

COWPER.

Dr. Rennell has published, at several times, sermons upon particular occasions, all of which, together with a few others, have very lately been reprinted in one volume octavo. It often happens that the discourses of a celebrated orator do not give the entertainment

tainment when read which was afforded at their deli very. A good voice, managed with judgment, and an action elegant and impressive, will frequently set off a very superficial composition, and impose upon the auditors the appearance of graces which in reality it does not possess. This it is which so much distinguishes the generality of popular preachers, espe cially those who are very improperly termed evange lical ministers. They take great pains to rouse the attention of their hearers, and by a display of uncommon earnestness, and a most peremptory tone; they succeed in leading the passions, and thereby deceiving the understanding. Let their loose and rhapsodical effusions be committed to the press, and the charm is instantly dissolved: the discerning mind wonders at its credulity, and perhaps conceives from that moment an indifferent opinion of pulpit eloquence. This will not be the consequence of hearing or of reading any of Dr. Rennell's discourses. The pleasure excited by attending to the delivery of them will be continued, and even heightened by the perusal. It may be asserted with safety that in argument, and doctrine, and pathos, better sermons, on all accounts, are not to be found in the English language, or indeed in any other, than those of this truly excellent divine.

Dr. Rennell might well look forward to the highest dignities in the establishment; but if our information be right, and we have no reason to question it, this is what he by no means either expects or courts. There is a primitive simplicity in this excellent man which

much

much resembles that of the first prelates of the christian church, who were with great difficulty prevailed upon to undertake the episcopal office.

He may be ranked with what are called the pla tonic divines; and were we to compare him to any modern, it would be to the pious and very ingenious John Norris, of Benerton. Like that valuable man he places religion in the heart, and conceives that unless it is rooted there as a general principle no good practice is to be expected. Like him also Dr. Rennell is remarkable for great abstractedness of mind. This amiable weakness, shall we call it? for that is the harshest epithet it deserves, often reduces him to many strange blunders; and indeed one of his most intimate friends fixed the appellation upon him of an "etourdi."

Some curious stories are told among his intimates of the Doctor's mistakes; but though the anecdotes might amuse we do not choose to detail them.

In this respect he is but equal to many other great men; for where there is much intenseness of thought, let the speculation be what it may, there must of course be a correspondent absence of mind in respect to other subjects, especially the ordinary concerns of life. W.

CALEB WHITEFOORD, ESQ.

THIS gentleman, born at Edinburgh in the year, 1734, is the only son of Colonel Charles Whitefoord, third son of Sir Adam Whitefoord, Bart. in the shire of Avr, in North Britain.

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