Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-14
ELOQUENCE
OF THE PULPIT.

the New South Church, in Boston, died at Mou-
lines, in France, Jan. 2, 1918, atat. 32. lie had
long been absent from this country for the recov-
cry of his health. The following sketch Of his
character is taken from discourse delivered in
Boston, by his early and bosom friend, the Rev
DIR. VIM. E. CHANNING, the Sunday after
the accounts Of his death were received there
Without trespassing at all upon the limits of con-
troversy, and entirely free from sectarian bias, the
picture here presented of superior intellect, ami
mated by the hopes and incentives of religion, UNI
der circumstances the most trying to the heart OF
man, cannot fail to awaken in every rejecting
mind aspirations after virtue and love of its Au-
thor Among the variety Of publications, which
have conferred celebrity on DR.. c. and his country,
identifying his name with her infant literature, we
have always considered this sketch of Mr..
THAcHER as his happiest effort, even in walk
of composition where he is peculiarly successfully
Ed. Her.
The news of Mr.. Thacher's death, al
though not unexpected, spread an unus-
ual gloom through the large circle in
which he moved and was known. When
we thought of his youth and virtues, of
the place which he had filled and of the
confidence he had inspired, ,ofhis sickness
and sufferings, of his death in distant
land, and of the hopes which died with
him,we could not but speak ofhis removal
as mysterious, dark, untimely. My own
mind participated at first in the general
depression but in proportion as have
reflected on the circumstances Of this
event, have seen in them a kindness,
which / overlooked in the first moments
of sorrow and though in many respects
inscrutable, this dispensation now wears
a more consoling aspect.
l now see in our friend young man,
uncommonly ripe in understanding and
virtue, for whom God appointed an early
Immortality. His lot on earth was sin
gularly happy for have never known
q minister more deeply fixed III the hearts
of his people. But this condition had its
perils. With paternal concern for his
character God sent adversely, and con-
Quoted him to the end Of his being by Il
rougher but surer way, way trodden
and consecrated by the steps of the best
men before him. He was smitten by
sudden sickness but even here the hand
of God was gentle upon him. His sick
ness, whilst it wasted the body, had no
power over the spirit. His understand
ing retained its vigour and his heart,
as often observed, gained new sensibil-
ity. His sufferings, by calling forth an
almost unprecedented kindness in in his
people, furnished him with new and con-
stant occasions of pious gratitude, and
perhaps he was never so thankful to the
Author of his being, as during his sick
ness.
He was indeed removed at length
from the kind Offices of his friends.-
But this event was fitted, and, may not
say, designed, to strengthen his connex-
ion with God, and to prepare him for the
approaching dissolution of all earthly
ties. Inow see him tossed on the ocean /;
but his heart is fixed on the rock of
ages. He is borne to another hemis-
phoro, but -v.ry whore no eeee tho Gvt-
steps and feels the presence of God.-
New consultations roll over his head
but they guide his mind to the same
Heaven, which was his hope at home.
l see him at the extremity of Africa,
adoring God in the new creation which
spreads around him, and thanking him
with emotion for the new strength, which
that mild atmosphere communicated. l
see him too in the trying scene which
followed, when he withered and shrunk
like frail plant under the equinoctial
sun, still building piety on suffering, and
growing in submission, as hope declined.
He does not indeed look without an oc-
casional sinking of the heart, without
some shudderings Of nature, to foreign
soil as his appointed grave. But he re-
members, that from every region there
is a path to Immortality, and that the
spirit, which religion has refined, where
ever freed from the body, will find its ma
tive country. He does not indeed think