Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-10-03
SyflisfeAanepl1s 8faai1lg
A. MODEI MINISTER.

The Rev. DR.. Bethune, in his sermon upon
the death of the late Rev. DR.. Brodhead thus
aludes to the labors and character of that good
marS:-
The gospel was, in his conscientious Judgment,
not only the sole theme proper for the pulpit,
but the great method appointed BY the wisdom
of God for the exercise of his power in removing
the evils consequent upon sin from our happy
world Hence we never knew him bring into
his discourses any of the various measures and
schemes of reform which have, like fashionable
epidemics, excited the. world and the Church:
not that he did not desire universal freedom
and morality, but because he doubted the eff
cheney of every invention that came not from
God. Whether the success Of the gospel were
immediate or delayed, he had no alternative.
Politicians might wrangle about laws, and self
styled philosophers aim Mt reconstructing the
world on better system than that of its divine
Author; he was neither statesman, nor leglsla-
tor, nor Judge, nor philsoper, but preacher Of
the gospel. The world was, at the least, as
bad when Jesus Christ and his apostles went
forth to save it. They had no method. but the
gospel, and he followed them. "Where," would
he excaim, I" is the wise; where is the scribe; !;
where is the dispuer of this world? Hath not
God made foolish the wisdom OF this world g
He preached the gospel in its simplicity. He
was particularly happy in teaching Chriatian
doctrine with clearness and sweetness. His
style was an unusual compound Of didactic
statement, glowing illustration, and pathetic
ardor. Some men, whose. mechanical brains
can never work outside of n dialectic formula or
metaphysical theorem, might have disputed his
rhetorical talent, because he did not strip his
subject to n dry, fsshless skeleton. But its
genuineness was proved by its effects, when
thousands hung weeping on his utterances, and
hearts, long obdurale, broke in penitence, as he
pleaded, with demonstration of the Spirit Du-
ring the thirteen years he spent in Philadelphia
between his twenty-ninth and forty.second year,
when his faculties were most vigorous, he had
control over thousands Of hearers-unparalled
in the history Of that city, and rare in modern
times. His own immediate congregation filled
the vast edifce they had erected, every morning
of the Sabbath but every evening the rush from
all parts of the town and all classes of people
overAowed its utmost capacity, the moment its
doors were open; and this throughout the whole
thirteen years. He gained such attention by no
unworthy arts. He never truckled to vulgarity
of taste, or prejudice, or passion; never pleased
tho gross ear by invective or caricature; never
scoffed at the recorded wisdom of pious expert
ence, nor acted the pantomine of droll or crown.
No light, mocking laugh. ran through bis gale.
ries, to the proclamation Of holy time and place.
He was ever solemn, earnest, reverent of God
and respected to man. His doctrine the solid,
oulspoked truth of Scripture, revilled as Calvin
ism his language decent,4manly Saxon, such as
scholars choose for its honesty, gentlemen
speak, and Christians love, because like that into
which our Bible is rendered. A weli-taught
child could understand DR.. Brodhead, even when
most eloquent-for eloquent he was-eloauent
from the depth of his personal Piety, from his
thorough acquaintance with our bes. model, the
English Scriptures, from his admiration Of evan
gelical truth /; but chiefly because his Masters
love and pity, and tenderness for sinstricken and
sin.burdched souls poured through all and over
all he said an unc,ion from the Holy One, fra
oront with the name of ,Je sus