Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-02-17
THE BLIND PREAC E IL.
ny WILLIAM WRIT.

wooden house in the forest, not far from the
roadside. Having frequently seen such OBJ
icc,s before, in travelling through the States,
had no difficulty in understanding that this
was place Of religious worship.
Deviation alone should have stopped me ~
join in the duties OF the congregation; but |
must confess, that curiosity TO hear what the
Preacher OF such wilderness could say, was
not the least otmy motives.
On entering, was struck with his protorna.
tural appearance. lie was tall aud spare old
man; his head, which was covered with n white
linen cap, his shrivelled hands, and his voice,
were all shaking under the influence of palsy,
and in few moments asccrtuined that he
was bind
The first emotions which touched the breast
were those Of mirgIcd pity and veneration.
But ah! sacred God how soon were all my
feelings changed the lips of Plato were never
nore worthy Of prognostic swarm of bees,
than were the lips of this holy man. Il was
the day Of the administration the sacrament;
and the subject, Of course, was the passion Of
our Saviour | had heard The subject handled
Thousand tiMcs, had thought it exhausted
long ago. Little did suppose that in the lid
woods Of America, was 10 meet with ,nan
whose eloquCncC would give this topic new and
more sublime palhos, than | had ever before
witnessed.
As he descended FROM the pulpit, to distribute
the mystic symbols, there was a peculiar a
more than human sulemni;y in his air aud
manner, which made my blood run cold and my
! frame shivcr
! lie then drew picture of the sullcrngs of
cur Saviour; his trial before Plate his ascen,
, up Calvary his crucifNion; end his death.
knew the whole history but never until then,
had heard the circumstances 50 selected; so
arranged; 50 co!ored-t was all new and !
seemed to have heard it for the first time in
my life. His vo,ce trembled on every syllable :;
and every heart in the assembly iremblcd in u
n'son. His peculiar phrase had that force OF
! description that the original scene appeared to
be at the moment acting before our eyes. We
saw the faces Of the Jews; the starting, frioht-
iul distortions Of malice ana rage, with fame
" "u'E"a''""' an" III! names lh'o!uh'af"y
'''l'O"'"'
h"t "hch "' came 10 ''Neh on III" pnU'noe'
the torpNing mcckncss Of our Saviour; when
NJ u'c" u ''e me- "'' o''SS'u eyes Streaming
to Heaven, his voice breathing To God soft
ana gchue prayer o' pardon on his enemies
- Il
Rather, 'org'Ve thcm' Tor they know not what
'"ey DO - inc voice o' 'he preacher mad all a.
'ooS 'a"efco' ana gre" 'an'''r ana iaihler' nh'
III "'s u''eTa''ce beng e"t're'y "o''rncted oy
the iorce OF his feelings he raised h's handkcr'
chief Ia his eyes, and burst into loud and it.
rcpresSlble Hood otgriet.
The effect Is incouccivabIe. Tho whoe
house rcsound'd with The mingled groans, and
sobs, and shricks Of the congregation,
II WAS lonU timp hct,rc the tumult had
subsidized. So far as 10 permit him to procccd
Indeed. iuI,lng By the usual bn, foIIaciou.
staoaerJ ofmv own weakness, bogon to he
very uneasv far the .i,uatIon or the preocher
r,rI co,l,I,,, corc,i,. b,,, I,o ,,onId ho ol,I,
to To-, his audience dovn from the boinL, I,
which no had ,youra them yi,hou, nnc,iruo
,ro solo,,;,, and li,,,,;, o his .,h,c, ,,r nor
,.o-t,,,.;.,, ,,, l., H., oL..,.,;,.,, - a.,
c,ll n,,-oL ,ho dc..or, ,,o. ~ ho,o,.,,
and s,l,;,,o os ,bo elevation h,J hooo ,,,i,
, ,I o.,,...;..,;a
> rho Gr., soo,o,oo ,,;,h yb;ch ho hro,o H.,