Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-03
PULPIT ELOQUENCE.

PULPIT EL0QUENCE.
The following is on extract from an Address
delivered ,oihe students Of Harvard College by
John Quincy Adams, while a Professor in that
Institution. Ii has Of late become loo much
the practice OF our ministers Of talents 10
place in their pulpts when called from home,
men who are real y Disgusting in their man
ner Of delivery, as well as in the matter OF
their discourses. 1t is a practice which ought
20 be discountenanced. We have in New En-
gland preachers Of talents to ill the pulpits and
we have those who are willing TO give their
time to the cause of religion when called upon
by their brethren. 1t is useless in this enlighten-
ed age to attempt to drive people TO the House
of God there must be some inducement held
out; people are not willing to attend church
nnless they can hear good discourses and have
the scriptures illustrated by men Of learning;
who have devoted their time 10 study and re-
Election such men Will never be under the ne
cessiiy of preaching to bare walls they will
collect together crowded audiences and have
influence over then hearers which is both USE
ful and instructive. Il is not uncommon now,
however, to see our houses of worship deserted
in the afternoon, in consequence of the disgust
which the regular attendants on Sunday exer-
cises feel at the harranguc which they have lis
tened 10 in the forenoon, from some ignoramus
who has more whine and cant than talents or
pie'y. What the motives can be for pursuing
this system, is impossible to say, but such is
the fact and it cannot be disguised.
"But the pulpit is especially the throne Of
modern eloquence. There IT is, that speech is
summoned to realize the tabled wonders Of the
Orpheln Tyre. The preacher has no control over
the will o: his audience, other than the inlu-
encc of his discourse. Yet as the ambassador
Of Christ, it is his awful duty TO call sinners to
repentance. HIS only weapon is the voice; to
rouse the ind lllerent and 10 shame the scorn-
or. He is to infiame the lukewarm, TO encour-
age the timid, and TO cheer the despouding be-
hover. lie is TO pour the healing balm Of con-
ISOLATION into tho bleeding heart Of sorrow, and
10 soothe with celestial hope the very agonies
of death Now tell me who il is that will best
possess and most effectually exercise these
moro than magic powers? Who is il that will
most etiectually stem tho torrent ofhuman pas
sions. and calm the raging waves of human life
and folly? Who is it, that with the voice of
Joshua, shall control the force Of nature her
self in the perverted heart. and arrest the lu-
minaries Of wisdom and virtue in their rapid
re volutions round this little world of man! Is it
tho cold and languId speaker whose words fall
in such sluggish and drowsy motion from his
lips, that they can promote nothing but the
slumbers Of his auditory, and administer OPT
aies to the body rather than stimuIan,s to the
soul?. Is it the 'unlettered fanatic, without
method, without reason; with incohercnt raw
ing and voCiierous Ignorance, calculated TO fit
his hearers, not for the kingdom Of Heaven, but
for a hospital of lunatics: Is il even the learn
ed, ingenious and pious minister of Christ, who
by neglec, or contempt ofthe %oratorial art, has
contracted a whining, monotonous sing song of
delivery TO exercise the patience Of his flock at
the expense of their other christian graces? Or
is it the genuine orator of heaven with q heart
sincere, upright and ~tervent; a mind stored
with that universal knowledge, required as the
foundation of the art; with a genius for the in
%vention, a skill for the disposition, and a voice
for the elocution OF every argument TO convince
and Of every sentiment to persuade? IL then
We admit, that the art of oratory qualities the
minister oc the gospel TO perform in higher per-
lection, the duties of his station, We can no lon
ger question, whether it be proper for his
cultivation. II is more than proper; il is one
Of his mos. solemn and indispensable duties. If
Nature never lends
The smallest scIuple Of her excellence,
Herself the glory off creditor
But Ike a tlriiy goddess, she determines
Both THANKS anu use.
Moro especially ia the obligation of c~xerting
every talent, Of improving every faculty incum-
bent upon him, who undertakes the task Of in
s'ructing. of reforming, and Of guiding liz
The paths of virtue and religion, his fellow NOR
tails"
MORE EXTRA PIETY.-The Boston. Re-
cordcr, with its usual regard for decency, has
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