The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-21
From the Saturday Courier.
AN ELOQUENT PREAC HER.

There is scarcely an intelligent rea-
der who has not heard of the Rev. Tho.
mas Ii. Stockton. Of this city. He is
pastor Of the Methodist Protestant
Church. North I lth street. His name
has been, to-day, called to our mind, ia
consequence Of reading just tribute to
his exalted abilities, as pulpit orator,
from the pen of the Cincinnati Herald.
Its editor, when lately i'll Philade!phia,
heard him, on the great subject OF
'Christ's Ascension'--and he thinks it
one of the finest specimens of pulpit
oratory he ever listened to. In ns fin
est passages of spiritual soaring, he
held dense auditory in breathless 81
lence. lie spoke, a; he advanced, of
'the expectant array Of saints AMI an
gels, the chariots and horses of fire, the
cloud, dark beneath, but rejecting
above the glories Of Heaven, the pause
of the Saviour, when the cloud had re-
ceived him, while the celestial hosts
stood silent, as he gazed once more on
familiar sccnes--Nazereth, his birth
place the temple in which he had taught,
the desert where five thousand had fed,
the mountain Of prayer, the grave Of
Lazarus, Gethsemane and Calvary.
Then began the ascent, the throng fol-
lowing, passing worlds upon worlds in
their upward flight, far above all prin-
cipalitics and powers, and thrones and
dominions, till the gates of the Eternal
City were reached, when, with electric
power, he introduced the sublime COLO
guy in the Psalm, 'Liit up your heads,
yc everlasting gates, and let the King
of Glory in!' He seemed to gather
power as he rose into the Heaven of
Heavens. His tall, slender form,
stretched 10 its utmost Eeight--his eyes
flashed as with the splendors of eterni-
ty. Every stroke of the pencil brought
out new feature--added richer
glow; every tone becalne more and
more rapturous,t till the ascent was COM
pleted, and the gates closed upon the
burning throng. | drew long breath,
and felt as ii should be glad to des-
cend. But nu!-the preacher paused
for amoment, as if gathering. strength
for still bolder flight, and then called
his auditors to 60 with him TO- witness
the glories of the coronation. will
not attempt to give even an idea Of this
crowning effort; it was subimity itself.
One would almost imagine, that Milton
had risen from the dead, and in his lofty
diction was revealing the mysteries Of
the Inner Sanctuary. Without doubt,
Stockton surpasses all men | ever
heard. in rich, bold, and well-propor-
toned imagination. For, were it not
for its exact proportions,it would seem,
beyond measure, extravagant. But, in
his highest soaring, he moves with such
ease. poises himself so dextrously, that
the circle of the Heavens seems TO be
his natural element
Mr.. Stockton is, we should think,
about forty years of age. He was orig
inaIIy a journeyman printer. Posses
sing great natural powers, persever-
anco took him onward and upward.
He has been Chaplain to Congress,and
now labors most industriorsly in his
present high calling as a Pastor; is Ed
itor of The Christian World;' and, but
for infrm health, could, without much
time in their composition, pronounce
more public discourses,to mold in breath
less awe immense auditories, than, per-
haps, any other clergyman of his time.