The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-11-22

:CPDICKENS, in his ".AmeF'c9n '"oes |or "e"
eraz Ciyculaion,' Just republished in this country
pves the following account of sermon he heard IN
Boston, by Mr. Taylor, originally sailor and now
Preacher to seamen:
sThe only preacher heard in Boston was Mr. lay
Tor. who addressed himself peculiarly to seamen, and
who was once mariner himself He looked
weather beaten hard featured man. of about six or
eight and fifty; with deep lines craven as it were into
his face. dark hair, and stern, keen eye Yet the
General character of his counenance pleasant and
agreeable.
The service commenced with hymn, to winch
succeeded an extemporary prayer 1t had the iault
of frequent repetition Incidental TO all such prayers
but it was plain and comprehensive in its doctrines
and breathed tone of general sympathy and CHAR
ity which, is not so commonly a characteristic OF
this form of address to the Deity as it might be. lie
opened his discourse, taking for his text passage
from the Songs of Solomon, laid upon the desk before
the commencement Of the service by some unknown
member of the congregation: "Who is this coming up
from the wilderness, leaning on the arm of her Be-
loved?'
He handled this text in all kinds of ways, and
twisted it into all of shapes; but always in
geniousy and with rude eloquence. well ndap-
ted to the comprehension Of his hearers His imagery
was all drawn from the sea, and from the incidents OF
n seaman's life. He spoke to them of that glorious
man, Lord Nelson,' and Of Collngwood; and dew
nothing in, the saying is, by the head and shout
ders, but brought it to bear upon his purpose, natu-
rally, and with sharp mind to its effect Some
times when much excited with his subject, he had
an odd way-compounde Of John Bunyan and Ial-
four of Burny-of taking his great qunrto bible under
his arm and pacing up and down the pulpit with it,
looking steadily down. meantime, into the midst of
the congregation. Thus, when he applied his text
to the first assembage of his hearers, and pictured
the wonder of the church at their presumption in for
ming congregation among themselves, he stopped
short with his bible under his arm in the manner
have described and pursued his discourse after this
manner:
'Who are these-who are they-who are those
fellows where do they from? where are
they going to Come from What's the answer!'
Leaning out of the pulpit, and pointing downward
with his right hand: ''From Notwithstanding back
again and looking the sailors before him: From be-
low, my brethren From underneath the matches of
sin, batted down above you by the evil one. That's
where you come from!'-a walk up and down the
pulpit: 'and where you gong'-stopping abrupt
ly: 'where you going? Alof!'-very softly, and
pointing upward: sAloft!'-louder 'aolt!'-louder
still: 'Thats where you gong-with fair wind
all taut and TRIM steering direct for Heaven in its
glory, where there storms foul weather,
and where the wicked cease from troubling and the
weary at rest Another walk chats where
you going to, my friends.-That's it. That
the piece That's the port.-That's the haven.
It's blessed habor-stll water there, in all chan.
ges Of the wind and tides; driving ashore upon
the rocks, or slipping your cables and running out to
sea, ere:Peace-Peace-Pea Peaceful peace' Anoth
or walk, and putting the bible under his left arm:
'What!These fellows coming from the wilder
ness, they? Yes. From the dreary, blighted will
derness of Iniquity, whose only crop is Death But
do they lean upon anything-do they lean upon moth
ing, these poor seamen? Three raps upon the bible:
ooh yes Yes. They lean upon the arm of their
Beloved Three more raps: Upon tho arm of their
Beloved,-three more, and walk: 'Pot, guiding
STAR and compass, all in 10 all hands-here il is
three more: 'Here it is. They do their sea-
mans duty manfully and be easy in their minds in
the utmost peril and danger, with this,- more
'They come, even these poor fellows come,
from the wilderness, leaning on the of their Be-
loved, and 60 up-up-up !'-raising his hand high
er, and higher, at every repetition of the word
so that he stood with it at last stretched above his
head, regarding them in strange rapt manner, ant
pressing the book trumphantly to his breast, until he
gradually subsidized into other portion of his dis
course
have cited this, rather instance of the prea
chers excenrcities than his merits, though taken il
connection with his look and manner, and the char
ncter of his audience, even this striking. 1t il
possible, however, that my favorable impression o
him may have been greatly influenced and strength
ened, firstly, by his mpressng upon his hearers tina
the true observance of religion not inconsistent
with cheerful department and exact discharge O
the duties of their station which, indeed it scrupu
lousy required of them; and secondly, by his eau
toning them not to set up any monopoly in Parads
and its mercies