Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-01-05
aEoRCE wnITErIELD.

WnltcHcld was the Frlnce OF EUSibh
Many have surpassed him
as scrmon.makers, but mono have ap.
him as pulpit orator. Many
have outshone him in the clearness Of
their logic, the grandeur OF their concep'
tions, and the sparkling beauty Of sin
gle sentences: but in the power OF dart
ing the gospel direct into the conscience.
he eclipscd them all.-Wiih full and
beaming countcnance, and the frank
and easy port which the English people
love-for it is the symbol Of honest pur.
pose and friendly assurance-he com
bined voice Of rich compass, which
would equally thrill over Moorefelds in
musical thunder, or whisper its terrible
secret in every private ear; and to this
gainly aspect and tunely voice he added
a most expressive and eloquent action.
Improved by conscientious practice, an
instinct with his earnest nature, his clo'
cution was the actel sermon, and by its
pantomimic portrait enabled the eye to
anticipate each rapid utterance, and
helped the memory to treasure up the
palpable ideas. None ever used 70 bold
ly, or with more success, the highest
styles Of impcrsona,ion. His SHARK !!
Hark !" could conjurc up Gethsamane
with lis faltering moon. and awake again
the cry Of horror. stricken innocence;
and an apostrophe to Peter on the Holy
Mount, would light up another Tabor,
and drown it in glory from the opening
heaven. His thoughts were possessions
and his feelings were transformations
and if he spake because he felt; his hear
crs understood because they saw. They
were not only enthusiastic amateurs,
like Garrick, who ran to weep and
tremble at his bursts Of passion, but even
the colder critics of the Walpole school
were surprised into momentary symPa'
thy and reluctant wonder. Lord Ches'
terfcld was listening in Lady Hunting
toms pew when Whitefeld was compar'
ing the benighted sinner to blind beg
gar on dangerous road. His little dog
gets away from him when skirting the
edge of a precipicc, and he is left to ex'
plore the path with his iron.shod staff
On the very verge of the cliff this blind
guide slips through his fingers, and skins
away down the abyss. All unconsci'
Gus, its owner stoops down to regain it.
and stumbling forward-"Good God! he
is gone!" shouted Chesterfield, who had
been watching with breathless alarm
the blind mans movements, and who
Jumped from his seat to save the catas
trophc. But the glory Of Whitefeld'.
preaching was its heart kindling and
heart melting gospel. But for all this
his bold strokes and brilliant surprise:
might have been no better than the rhe
torical triumphs ofKirwin and otherpul
pit dramatists. He was an orator, bu
he only sought to be an evangelist. Like
a volcano where gold and jems may bt
dsrted forth as we'll as common things
but where gold and molten granite flow
all alike in fiery fusion, bright thoughts
and splendid images might be projected
from his flaming pulpit, but all were
merged in the stream which bore along
the Gospel and himself in blended fer
YOUR. Indeed, so simple was his nature
that glory to God and good will to mar
having filed it, :here was room for littl'
more,
Having no church to found, no famil!
to enrich, and no memory to immortal
ize, he was the mere ambassador o
God; and inspired with its genial spiri
so full Of heaven reconciled and hu
manity-he soon himself became liv
ing gospel radiant with its tenderness
by sort of spiritual Introduction vas
audience would speedily be brought int
frame Of mind-the transfusing Of hi
own. and the white furrows on thei
sooty faces told that Kingswood collier
were weeping, or the quivering of al
ostrich plume bespoke its elegant wear
er's deep emotion. And coming to hi
work direct from communion with hi
Master, and in all the strength Of az
cepted prayer, there was an elevation j
his mien which often paralyzed hostili
ty, and self:possession which onl
made him, amid uproar and fury, tn
more sublime. With an electric bo1
he would bring the jester in his fool
cap from his perch on the tree, or gal
vanize the brickbat from the skulkin
miscreant's grasp, or sweep down i
crouching submission and shame. face
silence the whole Of Bartholomew Fail
whilst revealing flash Of sententou
doctrine or vivifed Scripture, would di.
close to awe. struck hundreds the forgo1