WORKS OF THE REV. SIDNEY SMITH. WHOEVER has had the good fortune to see Dr. Parr's wig, must have observed, that while it trespasses a little on the orthodox magnitude of perukes in the anterior parts, it scorns even the Episcopal limits behind, and swells out into boundless convexity of frizz, the paya davμa of barbers, and the terror of the literary world. After the manner of his wig, the Doctor has constructed his sermon, giving us a discourse of no ommon length, and subjoining an immeasurable mass of notes, which appear to concern every learned thing, every learned man, and almost every unlearned man since the beginning of the world. For his text, Dr. Parr has chosen Gal. vi. 10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, esperally to those who are of the household of faith. After a preliminary comparison between the dangers of the selish system, and the modern one of universal benev. olence, he divides his sermon into two parts: in the first examining how far, by the constitution of human rature, and the circumstances of human life, the principles f particular and universal benevolence are conpatible: in the last, commenting on the nature of the charitable institution for which he is preaching. feated; the public good is impaired, rather than increased; and the claims that other virtues equally obligatory have to our notice, are totally disregarded. Thus, too, when any dazzling phantoms of universal philanthropy have seized our attention the objects that formerly engaged it shrink and fade. All considerations of kindred, friends, and countrymen drop from the mind, during the struggles it makes to grasp the collective interests of the species; and when the association that attached us to them has been dissolved, the notions we have formed of their comparado not say any hold whatsoever, but that strong and lasttive insignificance will prevent them from recovering, ing hold they once had upon our conviction and our feelings. Universal benevolence, should it, from any strange combination of circumstances, ever become passionate, will like every other passion justify itself: and the impor tunity of its demands to obtain a hearing will be proportionate to the weakness of its cause. But what are the consequences? A perpetual wrestling for victory between the refinements of sophistry, and the remonstrances of indignant nature-the agitations of secret distrust in opinions which gain few or no proselytes, and feelings which excite little or no sympathy-the neglect of all the usual duties, by which social life is preserved or adorned; and in the pursuit of other duties which are unusual, and indeed imaginary, a succession of airy projects, eager hopes, tumultuous efforts, and galling disappointments, such, in truth, as very wise man foresaw, and a good man would rarely commiserate.' In a subsequent part of his sermon, Dr. Parr handles the same topic with equal success. The former part is levelled against the doctrines of "The stoics, it has been said, were more successful in Mr. Godwin; and, here, Dr. Parr exposes, very strong-weakening the tender affections, than in animating men to ly and happily, the folly of making universal benevo- the stronger virtues of fortitude and self-command; and lence the immediate motive of our actions. As we consi-possible it is, that the influence of our modern reformers der this, though of no very difficult execution, to be by far the best part of the sermon, we shall very willingly make some extracts from it. may be greater, in furnishing their disciples with pleas for their endeavours for the performance of those which are the neglect of their ordinary duties, than in stimulating extraordinary, and perhaps ideal. If, indeed, the representations we have lately heard of universal philanthropy 'To me it appears, that the modern advocates for uni- served only to amuse the fancy of those who approve of versal philanthropy have fallen into the error charged them, and communicate that pleasure which arises from upon those who are fascinated by a violent and extraor- contemplating the magnitude and grandeur of a favourite dinary fondness for what a celebrated author calls "some subject, we might be tempted to smile at them as groundless moral species." Some men, it has been remarked, are and harmless. But they tend to debase the dignity, and to hurried into romantic adventures, by their excessive ad- weaken the efficacy of those particular affections, for which miration of fortitude. Others are actuated by a head-we have daily and hourly occasion in the events of real life. strong zeal for disseminating the true religion. Hence, while the only properties, for which fortitude or zeal can be esteemed, are scarcely discernible, from the enormous bulkiness to which they are swollen, the ends to which alone they can be directed usefully, are overlooked or de A great scholar, as rude and violent as most Greek scholars are, unless they happen to be Bishops. He has left nothing behind him worth leaving: he was rather fitted for the law than the church, and would have been a more considerable man, if he had been more knocked about among his equals. He lived with country gentlemen and clergymen, who flattered and feared him They tempt us to substitute the ease of speculation, and the pride of dogmatism, for the toil of practice. To a class of artificial and ostentatious sentiments, they give the most dangerous triumph over the genuine and salutary dictates of nature. They delude and inflame our minds with pharisaical notions of superior wisdom and superior vir tue; and what is the worst of all, they may be used as "a cloke to us" for insensibility, where other men feel; and for negligence, where other men act with visible and useful, though limited, effect.' An attempting to show the connection between parti. |