The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-10
VOL. IV.-NO. Al.
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER J, 1850
DYpJsyJ,y TUDuGUT 0y LJRE..


The author of this volume of religious U.S.
courses is more widely known as contributor 10
magazines and public lecturer, than as preach
err The preface informs US that these sermons were
not written for pastoral purposes They are, as
thew purport TO be, Dscourses on Lift" assum-
ING now the form of the lecture, now of the SER
mon and occasionally combining with these the
meiitative and easy flow of the essay, as the wri-
ter's moods have suggested.
It may be that to this freedom in the use of the
form we are indebted for many of the best pages
of this admirable volume; for the religious life is
capricious in its literary manifestations, and does
not always as the old WEAKNESS in the churches
indicates, appear at the call of him who writes
with parish upon his shoulders and Sabbath
at his heels; rather of him who in day Of clear,
intense life feels moved to write, with no fear of
the doctors and no purpose save the expression OF
himself the truth that successive years Of thought
and feeling have given him.
We value, therefore, more hignfy Eneoe o7o-
courses, because coming from writer out of pull
pit and pastoral relations yet who knows the out
sr and inner world by'sdch fnfntss Of experiences
as has been granted to few preachers.
In estimating the value of this book it would be
unfair to separate it from its authors personality.
Those are fortunate indeed who can read it with
the commentary of tones, looks, and gestures,
which the friends of Mr.. Giles especially will
never wish to forget, and it is no disparsgement
to the writer to say this.
Mr. Giles was made to speak to men, and only
before an audience is he in full possession of him
discourses were not written in solitude for in
his study be yet sat before that surging tide of
human faces and felt tingling through every
nerve. the electric shootings of thousand beat
ing hearts.
Those who read his book with no thought OF
this will miss its Interpretation the voice that
rolled its impetuous tide underneath these waves
of thought and emotion, and bound reasoning
and quiet humor and sudden leap of fancy, and
swift spiral ascent of passion, and the gush'
ing of deep heart into one whole discourse
the face even a more obedient servant Of the
spirt-and above all, that mysterious and instinct
i've feeling between the orator and his audience
ic, snaps chains of logic, and sweeps along speak
er and hearer triumphantly from point to point
telling in secret what is not said, and leaving {
sense of satisfaction which the printed words o
the DISCOURSE will never impart to a critical read
er Fortunate, we say, then, are those who Car
read this book in Mr. CHESS personal atmosphere
1t has revelations for them, which it has not fol-
for 4 mil ;pta nj :,
enough with such commentary We make NJ
apology for introducing this consideration. ANY
man has more about him than he can put int,
proof sheets; and years of intellectual, emotional
and imaginative life, may have conspired to modu
lating a tone, or drawing line across the brow
or guiding he wave of an arm lifted in momen
Of enthusiasm above listening assembly.
And the same consideration must come int
our estimate of the authors style IL is the styl
of man who always talks and writes to an audi
ence-who is so sure of its sympathy that he will
whisper in its ear what he can hardly say to hi
bosom friend. Hence its great simplicity for b,
who can feel the heart Of multitude beatin.
against his own need not wrap himself in obscur,
or ambitious phrases. Hence its wonderful fex
ibiyi now level terse airy, declamatory, undu
latory, or, in higher moments, springing like
splre of flame from the earth, or reposing awhile
on quiet uplands Of contemplation for all these
moods does the soul of the speaker assume to hi,
hearer And here too, is the explanation of it:
fulness, almost wordness; this is not troublesome
to an audience when great man is behind the
words. Yet its rare purity of diction is beauti
full proof of delicacy of taste which never throws
dust in that "well of pure English undefled,
which has too often in these latter days become 9
mineral spring, whose waters leave upon the pal
ate unsavory "reminiscences of hundred new
schools of literature and eloquence. To say tha
the style of these discourses is unsuitable is ther
TO question the spiritual instincts of a man who's
life has been passed before approaching audien
ces Its apparent defects sudden transitions, an,
incongruifies, are often in obedience to more sui
tie laws than those taught by Whately and tn
Universities
thousand men in one room will soon tell
speaker how he must talk to them though the
only listen; and Mr. Giles has not been instructe
by this great professor of rhetoric in vain.
1t is not our purpose now to inquire how ia
these peculiarites of the authors literary position
nave modified his original mental tendencies
neither do we pretend, in the space here alotte,
US, to do justice to the various manifestations o
MS power This would involve a criticism Of hi
essays and lectures and other productions. Gu
intention is to indicate few leading characters
ucs OF his mind as they appear in the volume be
fore US
Inc hrst thing that mpresses us in these page
.he authors firm grasp of moral principles. II
reels the reality of the laws that make Christi
shi'y, and the facts upon which it is founded, a
lew men do. The Of Worth of Man, the Valu
Freedom, Reverence, Faith, and Forgiveness
we Purpose Of Life, the Boundary Between
knowledge and Mystery of these he is intensel
CONSCIOUS, and he writes always under the sub
lung or inspiring influence Of such conscious
ness But we must think his appreciation Of thes
''c's Is more vivid, as they appear in their out
'@rd manifestations than in their interior spirit
4N relations. His eye turns more naturally out
'ir1 towards moral laws, incarnated in person
"nd events, than inward towards the secret growtl
VI the religious life. He is content to lool
1p0n truth, love, and beauty, and, through rever
'"ce and endeavor, grow unconsciousy into thei
leSemolance. He shrinks from exploring thos
p''''ous mazes Of the inner life where the sharp
~ eye often fails, and the stoutest heart beats fast
nus ne nils US with healthy and hearty admi
'''on Tor excellence and a horror for sin, rattle
reveals our own souls to US Wedo not rea'
1' say F" Cone see man who told me oil thing
' ever did hut we do come from him glow
ars WIN aspiration for every thing great, good
and lovely.
IA christian Tbo.yh, ~, I,, Ia -. A.,