American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-12
Socrates died like philosopher, but Jesus CnRSsr
fke GoD

thR GOD.
The following beautiful extract is from the wri.inus of
Mr Writ, Attorney General Of The United States
II was on Sunday, as travelled through the
county oil Orange, (Va.) that my eye was caught hy
cluster o. horses tied near runous. old wooden
mouse N the forest, not far from the road side
Iaa''hg frequently seen such objects before in rav.
CHING IN these states, had no difficulty in under.
standing that this was place of religious worshin.
OeVotion alone should have stopped me, to JOIN il,
'he ou.es OF the congregation but must confess,
that curiosity 10 hear the preacher Of such wider
ness, was not the least of my motives On enter.
ing was struck with his preternatural appearance.
nc was tali ana very spare man his head. which
Was covered with white linen cap his sbrjyeled
hands, and bis voice were all shaking under the in
fuence OF palsy, and few moments ascer,ainea
| 10 me that he was perfectly blind The first emo
tions that touched my heart were those of m,n,Iea
| pity and venerstio0 But ah sacred Sod how
soon were all my feelings changed The lips ol the
apostles appeared not more touched with holy Gra
than were those of this holy man l. was day Of
the administration OF the sacrament the subiec, was
OF COURSE the passion OF our Saviour. had hea
the sooec. handled thousand times had thought
AT exhausted long ago. Little did suppose that 10
the wild woods Of America, was to NEE, with
man whose cloquence would give the subiec, new
and mors sublime pathos, than l had ever before
witnessed.
As he descended from the pulpit TO distribute The
mystic Symbols there was peculiar, a more than
human solemnly in his air and manner, which
made my blood run cold and my whole frame sbiy.
er.
ne then drew picture of the su1erings of our
Saviour; his trial before Plate; his ascent up Call
vary; his cHucihxion and death 81 knew the whole
history; but never until then, had heard the cir
coms,ances so selected. SO arranged, SO colored II
was all new, and seemed to have heard it for the
lrst time in my life. His enunciaton was so deli
ed
and every heart in The assembly lrenbled in unison
i1ls peculiar phrases had that force oil description
That the original scene appeared to be, at that mo-
ment acting before our eyes. We saw the faces of
the Jews; the staring, fFghlul distortions OF malice
and raee-we saw the buffet; my soui kinded with
a tame of indignation and my hands we're inyol-
UNFAIRLY and COW usiveIy clenched.
But when he came to touch on the patience, the
torgivlng tekness OF our Saviour when he drew,
to the lille, his blessed eyes streaming in tears 10
heaven; his voice hreathi' e to God soft and pen-
lie prayer OF pardon on his cne7nos Father for
give them, tor they know not what they do'-ihe
voice oil the preacher. which had all along faltered
grew fainter and fainter until his utterance being
entirely obstruc,ed by the force of his feelings he
raised his handkerchief to his eyes, and burst mo
loud and inexpressible food of grief The effect
was inconcelvabie. The whole bnuse resounded
with the mingled groans the sobs and shrieks OF the
cong egation. II was some time elore the umUs
deed, Judging by the usual but fascous standard os
my own weakness, began TO be very uneasy FOR
The situation of the preacher; for I could not CON
,eSe how he would be able TO let down his audience
rom the height to which he had wound them, with
'ut im2alring the solemnity and dignity OF his sub
ec or perhaps shocking them by the abrnptness Of
he fall But, no,-the descent was as beautiful
md sublime, as the elevation had been ronid and
The FIRST sentence with which he broke the awful
Ilence, was Quotation from Roussean Socrates
lied like philosopher, but Jesus Christ like
loa!
This man has been before my Imagination ever
ince. thousand times as rode along. dropped
he rens of my bride, and tried iyntHte bis quo
alton from Runsseau; a sthousand times abandoned
he attempt In despair. and felt persuaded that his
'ecuar manner arose from an energy of seu, which
ature could give, but which no human being could
Justly copy.