The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-11-24
G,,',,orous.
The Harp Of a Thousand Strings.

A Western paper publishes the following
inimitable sermon, by a preacher, who. as
appears by his discourse, was also captain Of
Mississippi Hat-boat.
al may say TO you my brethering, that l
am not an edecated man, an am not one O.
! them that believes elccation is necessary for
gospel minister, fur believe the Lord cdc-
Gates his preachers jest as he wants 'en to be
edccsted, and although say 1T that oughtn t
to say it. yet in the State of Indianny, whar
| live, thar's no man as gifts bigger congre-
CATION nor what gifts.
Thar may be some here to-day, my brcth-
ering, as don't know what pcrsuation I am
Nv. Well, may say to you, my brethering
that I'm hard shell Baptist. Thar's some
folks as don't like the hardshell Baptists,
but I'd rather hev hard shell as no shell at
all. You see me here to-day, my brother
ing, dressed up in fine close you mout think
was proud but am not proud, my brother
ing, and although I've been preacher NV the
gospel for twenty years, and although I'm
captain NV that faiboat that lies at your
landing, I'm not proud, my brcthering.
I'm not gwine ter tell you ed-achly whar
my tex may be found suffice it tn say, it's in
the ledS of the Bible, and you'll find it some
whar tween the fust chapter Of the book of
Generation, and the last chapter Of the book
Of Revolutions, and eff you'll 90 and sarch the
Scripture. you'll not only find my tex thar
but great many other teres as will do you
good to read, and my tex, when you shill find
it, you shill find it to read thus:
sand he played on u harp of a thousand strings
sports Of just men made perfeck.'
"My tex. brethren, leads me to speak Nv
thsr ind IF
sDerits in the world-in the fust place. thar's
got as good artikcl Nv them kind Nv sperits
Mississippi River; but thar's great many
ether kinds of sperits, for the tex says: He
played on a harp Nv thousand strings
sperits Of just men made pcrfeck.
But III tell you the kind Nv sperits as is
ment in the tex I: it's FIRE. That is the kind
of sperits as is mcnt in the tex, my brother
ing. Now thar's great many kinds of fire
in the world. In the fust place, thar's the
common sort Nv fire you lite segsr or pipe
with. and then thsr's camfre, fire before
you're rcddy to fall back, and many other
kinds Nv fire, for the tex SEES: HE played OH
a harp NV thousand strings Spirits NV just
men made pcrfcck.''
But I'll tell you the kind of fire as is ment
in the tex, my brcthcrn--it's hell fire an
that's the kind nv fire as a great many Of
you'll come to, eff you don't do better nor
what you have bin doin'-for He played on
a harp nv ttou-sand strings -spcrits of just
men made pcrfeck.'
Now, the different sorts NV fire in the
world may be lkened unto the different per-
suasons in the world In the fust place, we
have the Piscapalions, and they are high
salin' and highfalutin' set and they may be
likcncd unto turkey buZzard. that flies up
into the air, and he goes up and up till he
looks no biggar than your finger nail and the
fust thing you know he clims down and down
and is film himself on the karkies of a
dead boss by the side Nv the road-and lie
played on harp of thousand strings
spcrits of just men made perfect.
And. then thar's the Methods, and they
may b. likcned unto the squirrel. runnin' up
into tree for the Methods believes in gwine
on from one degree Nv grace to another, and
finally on to pcrccshun, and the squirrel
goes up and up, and he jumps frop lin to
lin, and branch to branch, and the fust
thing you know, he falls, and down he comes
kcr-fummux and that's like the Methods.
for they is alters falln' from Grace, ah And
He PLAYED on harp of a thou strings
-sperits Of Just men made perteck.'
.And then. MY brethcrng thar's the Bah
fist, all and they hay bin likened unto a
possum on .simmon tree, and the thunders
may roll and then the earth may quake. but
that possum clngs there still, all And you
may shake one foot loose, and he laps his
tail around The linn, and he clings fur ever,
for-'IIe played on harp NV thousand