The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-01-18

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Buffers "reminiscences"
When we.recollect before whom he
preached that he had, for his auditors
! the most luxuriant court In EUROPE,
| and a monarch abandoned TO ambition
and pleasure, we shall find it impossible
not 10 honor the preacher for the Dig
niied simplicity with which he uniforms
ly held up u his audience the severity
of the gospel, and the scandal of the
cross. Nov and then, and ever with
very bad glace, he makes an unmean-
ing compliment 10 the monarch. On
these occaions, his genius appears 10
desert hin; but he never DISCUSSES the
morality # the gospel, or withhoIds its
threats. n one of the sermons which
he preached before the monarch, he
described, with infinite eloquence, the
horrUs of an adulterous life, its abom-
lnatim in the eye of God, lis scandal to
man. and the public and private evils
whih attend it; but he managed his
discourse with so much address, that be
KEEP the king from suspecting that the
thurder of the preacher was ultimately
to tall upon him. In general, Bourda-
louespoke in level tone of voice, and
will his eyes almost shut On this &C.
casDn, having wound up the attention
of he monarch and the audience to the
highest pitch, he paused. The audi
enc expected something terrible, and
seemed to fear the next word. The
pause continued for some time; at
length, the preacher, fixing his eyes di-
reilly on his royal nearer, and in a tone
of voice equally expressive of horror
and concern. said, in the words of the
prophet, =" Thou art the man - Then,
leaving these words 10 their effect, he
Concluded with mild and general pray
er to Heaven for the conversion of all
sinners. A miserable courtier observed,
IN a whisper TO the monarch, that the
boldness OF the preacher exceeded all
bounds, and should be checked. No,
sir'3' replied the monarch, "the preach
er has done has duty, let US do ours
| When the service was concluded, the
mohaich walked slowly from the church,
and ordered Bourdaloue into his pres.
ence. He remarked TO him, his general
protection of religion, the kindness
which he had ever shown to the socie-
! ty bf Jesus, his particular attention 10
Bolrdaloue and his friends. He then
reproached him with the strong language
OF The sermon; and asked him. what
could be his motive for insulting him,
thus publicly, before his subjects p
Bourdaloue fell on his knees: God,''
he assured the monarch, +" was his wit
ness, that it was not his wish to Insult
his majesty; but / am minister Of
God" said BOurdaloue. and must not
Disguise his truths. What said in my
sermon is my morning and evening pray.
er. May God, in his infinite mercy,
grant me to see the day, when the
greatest of kings shall be the holiest.''
The monarch was affected, and silently
dismissed the preacher; but, from this
time, the court began TO observe that
change which afterwards, and at no dis
tant period, led Lewis to life of regu-
larity and virtue.
Whatever motive first melted action,
has still greater force TO stimulate per.
severance since he that might have
lain still at first in blameless security
cannot afterwards desist but with infa-
my and reproach. He, whom doubt
full promise of distant good could en-
courage to set difficulties at defiance
ought not to remit his vigor, when he
has almost obtained his recompense.
To faint, or loiter, when only the last
efforts are required, is TO steer the ship
through tempests, and abandon il to the
winds in sight of land it is TO break
the ground and scatter the seed, and al
last to neglect the harvest.
Nothing is more unmannerly than 10
reflect on any mans profession, sect, or
natural in6rmity. He who siirs Up
against himself another's selElove, pro-
vokes the strongest passion of human
nature.
There are moments of dependency.
when Shakespeare thought himself no
poet, and Raphael no painter; when
the greatest wits have doubted the ex-
cellence of their happiest efforts.
1t being told 10 Philip Of Macedon,
that several calumnies were spread
against him by the Athenan orators !;
2" IL shall be my care" said the Prince,
"by my life and actions, to prove them
liars"
One asking Diogenes what course he
should take to be revenged of his ene-
MY "By becoming good man.
answered the philosopher.