Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-11-12
PULPIT ELOQUENCE.

! tOl.fll Ei.(JNlD L.NNF..
In the MAY number of the knickerbock.
or, the following specimen Of pulpit eto.
quence is given from sermon delivered
not many years since, by the 2oE. John
N. Mafht:
He commenced with the text" have
never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his
seed begging bread" In his pictures OF
youth and age, and of the sole consolation
=" the one thing need ul"-which could
s'rstain both, he broke forth in the following
sublime emblem:
Nv friends. as | look down from this
advantageous eminence, upon the different
mortal ages that appear before me-upon
cheeks painted with the rosy blossoms of
childhood, and lips redolent with the fra
GRANGE of spring-when Contrast them
with the corrugated lineaments and SNOW
spriuhied temples of age, my mind labors
with fearful comparison. contrast The
full veins and fair nodded features of child.
hood with the Thin and shriveled aspects of
declining years, and hken them to the
scenes we meet with on the broad ocean
of existence. In our better days, we leave
the land OF pleasant youth in u fairy bark !;
the sunshine laughs on the pennon, and
trembles on the sail the sweet wind re.
freshcs our nostrilS from the hoWery shore,
the blue vistas delight onr eyes, the waves
dance in brightness beneath our keel the
skies smile above us, the sea around us,
and land behind us as it recedes; and he
fore track of golden brightness seems 10
herald onr way. Time wears on-and the
shore fades to the view. The bark and its
inmates are alone upon the ocean. The
sky becomes clouded-the invisible winds
sweep with a hollow murmur along the
deep the sun sinks like mass Of blood
over the waters, which rise and tremble in
mad Confusion through the wide radius of
storm-the clouds, like gloomy curtains,
are lifting from afar. The sails are rent;
broken eoriage streams and whistles to the
tempest the waves like mahen mountains
break upon the half merged and shudder-
ing deck: masts are rent to splinters, the
seaman is washed from the wheel. Cries
of terror and anguish mingle with the re-
morseless dash of pillows, and the bowling
thunder and storm. The foundered boat
sinks as she plunges the deck is breaking.
God of mercy! who shall appear for the
rescue? Men and brethren-ad is near
at hand. Through the ri.i< of the tempest,
beaming over the tumuluous waters, moves
a Pavilion of golden light. The midnight
is waiting; gushes of radiance sparkle in
the foam; a towering form smiles on the
eyes Of the despairins vovagars, enclrcied
with halo of glory. 1t is the Savior of
mln--it is the ark of the covenant! Ii
moves onward-the waves rush back on
ether hand and over track Of calm ex-
panse the ark is borne. Who st ps from
its side and walks over the deep as upon
land? 1t is the great Captain of our saliva.
tion--the mighty to 5ave He res 'ues the
drowning from death, the hopeless from
He stills the fury Of the tempest, and for the
spirit of mourning, he gives the song of re-
lolcing, and the garments Of praise. Ark
of the covenant We are sinking in the
deep waters. and there is none to deliver!
Let the prayer be offered, and it will save
us all :" 1