Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-01-19

( Ills imagry was all drawn frem the sea,
and from the incidents OF seaman's life.
He spoke to them Of that glorious man,
Lord Nelson and of Colliagwood: and
drew nothing in, as the saying is, by the
head and shoulders; but brought it to
bear upon his purpose naturally. and
| with sharp mind to its effect. Some
| times, when much excited with his sub
| ject, he had an odd way-compoundcd Of
John 8unyan and Baifour Of Burley-of
taking his great 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 bis text 10 the tlrst as
semblage Of his hearers, and pictured the
wonder Of The church at their presump-
lion in forming = congregation among
themselves, he stopped short. with his
Bible under his arm in the manner have
described, and pursued his discourse af--
ter this manner:
''Who are these who are they-who
are these fellows? where do they come
froms where are they going to? Come
from! What's the answers Leaning
out Of :he pulpit, and pointing downward
with his right hand: From beiow!'-
Starting back again, and looking at the
sailors before him: 'From below, my
brethren. From under the matches of
sin, ba'tened down abuve you by :he evil
one. That's where yen come from. 4
walk Up and down the pulpit. And
where are you goins'-stopping abruptly:
'where are you going? AIoft.-very
softly, and pointing upward: 'Aloft!'-
louder: 'Aoft louder still: That's
where YOU are gong-with IA fair wind
all taut and. trm-steering direct for
Heaven in its glory, where there are no
storms Or foul weather, and where the
wicked cease from troubling, and the
weary are at rest Another walk
That's where YOU are going to, my
| friends. That's it. That's the place.
That's the port. That's the haven. It's
d blessed harbor-stil water there, in all
changes Of the wind aud tides; no dri-
wing ashore upon the rocks. or slipping
your cables and running out 10 sea, there:
e-peace-peace-al peacen An.
other walk, and putting the Bible under
his left arm: What! These fellows
are coming from the wilderness are theye
Yes. From the dreary, bligl;ed wilder
ness Of iniqulty, whose emily crop is
death. But do they lean upon anything
Ito they lean upon nothing, these pour
seamen?' Three raDs upon the Bible:
'Oh yes. Yes. They lean upon the
arm of their Beloved Three more raps:
Upon the arm Of their beloved. three
more, and walk: Pilot, guiding star.
and compass, all in one TO all hands
here it is'--three more: sHere it is.
They can do then seaman's duty manful-
ly, and be easy in their minds in the ut.
NEST portland danger. with this'--twa
more: They can come. even these poor
fellows can come, from the wilderness.
leaning or the arm Of their beloved, and
go 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. and pressing the
book triumphantly to his breast. until he
gradually subsidized into some other por-
ton Of his discourse.
:! have cited this rather as an instance
Of the preachers eccentricities than his
merits. though, taken in cennexion with
his look and manner. and the character Of
his cadence. even this was striking. 1t
is possible, however. tha, my favorable
impression ofhim may have been greatly
Influenced and strengthened, firstly, by
bis impressing upon his hearers that the
true observance of religion was not in
consistent with cheerful departments and
an exact discharge of the duties of their
station. which. indeed, it scrupuIously
required of them; and, secondly. by his
cautioning thea not TO set up monopo-
" in Paradise and It's mercies. 1never
heard these tive points SO wisely touched
Gf, indeed, have ever heard them touch
ed at aii) by any preacher of that kind
hefnrp,