Press enter after choosing selection

Pulpit Eloquence

Pulpit Eloquence image
Parent Issue
Day
8
Month
May
Year
1843
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

That eloquenec i of vast importancö in me - ilpil, iscvincedby i's value elsewhere. He. m ho is callcd to spcak in other situalions. finda an of peculiar conseqncnce. It gives weighl to 8 scmiinents, - and srcures him n powcrful 'l icendcncy over the mindtj of his (ellow-mcn. at t the bar, and in the senate, the first regard is tachcd to cloquence. liutits importance rises Jc gher in the pulpit, than in any other sphere, in al hich its power can be cxertet!. lis value there aI veil in exact proportion to the amaziflg u: íquence, which mnybe anriexed to the religious itérest of mankind, when contrasied with the im'pnratively jmny concerns ot Iife. For, we " ive cvery renson, on which to rest the ■■ on, that il will place it in the po .ver of a p of the gospel to subsnrve far more efíeciually r ie cause of truth and holincss. We knov.indcedi P ïat unless a divine energy altend tlieni. and givc t ïcm success. all means will be frukless. t nu perverseness, we are aware. will wiilistand ( 11 cfibrtfl. which the grace of God does not makc i -iumphant. jfï'ri eloquence, we allow, cm L jfm to ftush the marblè ofilie human hcart.- ( s'ü cl.i-nienne, wc admit, can charm _from their ' !;ucle, or chili irh the frost ofdeath, ' ions of the human brensl. The eloquenco of ' jt. Paul. and of a greater than St. Taul. of him" ' vlio spake as never man epake, was oltcn ! ed in vain. 13ut if ineans are of any ' luence, and are likcly to produce any ctïccts ind who will duny it? thaso ineans, that are jest suiieil to atuin tlic enda, for which they are mployrd, aio unqiteationably oftli'c highest valje. Tliat preaching, wo niay, therefore, salely ■onclude, will be of ihe most avail, which posseSses qualities, that shall give it the most ciTectual command ofthc attention. and atrongest hold on the heart. The cold discussion of rcligious principies, and tbedryar.d didactiek exhibition ofreligious truths and duties, will probably leave the mind unmoved, theheait uncleansed, and hc lile unrefotmed It is not merely insttuction, which mankind nccd. The preacher, who aims no furiher, will probably finil his cfforts powerlcss and unavailing. If there be nothing ia them to excite and seize the attention, and por.crfully toress the heart, bis discourses, ït is to De y ended, will be like the impotent and fruitless t nshing of the wavcs against the rooky barriera s f the ocean. Thcy feel not such assailanis. - ] ;hey are neithcr hurled from llieir rooted beds, ior torn piecemeal by the idle beating of the { urge. Such a preachcr leaves his audienee tor,id and lifeletss. They hear without concern, nd thoy retire with their understandings ttninormed, and their hearts unimproved. Their nindsare not sullieiently roused, to cause them opcrceivewh.it sentimentg are advanced, and i vhatduties are inculcated : and.ignornnt anddeiravedas tbey enteied it, -thty reti.e from tho ( ïouse of God. ■ ' Sonic, in aímóst every congregation, make it , hcir uniform practico to pns, in sluniber, the )eriod of public vrorahip, which elapses, whiíe ; :hc sermón is pronounced. The drowsinesB, , vhich is often witnesscd, is, vc fear, usually lot les the fault of the preacher, than of his ( ïearera. Oftcn hare we heard discourses, rejlete, indeed, with good sensc, sound argument, uid important trutli, yet so cntirely clevoid ol kvhatevcr cuuld deciiy interest a promiscuous assembly, ihat wliile aoine wcre dozing, the inass, .sil!S5 and weary, were waiung with ippjitieqce, or the conclusión of the irksome service. When ve have set-n a congregation thussunk in cpathy, iow have wc wished the preachcr liad posseesed tliose resistless powers of eloquence, which should enatíle hini, ns with an electric sliock; to rouso every soul irom its supinencss, and, with i general warmth. to inelt every hcai t ! Wo au review the niighly eüects, which altended Lho preacliing of Whi-.efield, and not think H [luvoutlyto.be Jesiied, that hcraids of tho gospel, gified with powers liko lus, iniiu bc every where cmployed lo sununon tliuir Icllow-inen to , ■ 1 " t_ _ ._ T 1 1 . ï ï) I.

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News