The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-02-18
THE WITS OF THE PULPIT.
Form Sprague's Lives of New England
Preachers.

Form Sprague's Lives of New England
Preachers.
1t was the elder Moody who at one time
saw number of his hearers asleep in the
midst of preaching. He stopped in his
sermon, and cried out at the top of his
voice,
"Fire! fire! fire!"
One man, waking out of a sound sleep,
asked, in the utmost CONSERVATION,
"Where?"
"In hell for sleeping Sinners" answered
the preacher
When Cape Breton was taken the first
time, Father Moody served as chaplain.
After the capture was effected, the officers
of the navy and land forces dined togeth-
er. Some of Mr.. Moody's friends, who
knew his partiality for long services were
apprehensive that he would be so long
before they could commence eating
When dinner was ready, General Peperell
spoke to to Mr.. Moody, and he came to
the table, lifted up both hands and saying,
30 Lord, We have so much to bless thee
for, we must refer it to eternity, for time
is too short; so bless our food and fellow
ship for Christ's sake"
Among Mr.. Moody's stated hearers
there was young man who took special
pains, when he had new pair of shoes to
creak, or new garment to show, to come
into meeting after the service had COM
menced. After having annoyed Mr..
Moody in this manner for some time, he
came in, as he usually did, one morning
during the prayer, and had to walk con-
siderable distance in the house before he
reached his seat, Mr.. Moody, with an ell
evated tone of voice, exclaimed,
20 Lord, we pray the, cure Ned In
graham of that ungodly strutW
Lemuel Haynes was minister Of color,
and the most eminent negro preacher ever
known in this country. He was, howey-
er, only half negro, but that half was the
best part of him: his mother was white
woman, and abandoned her child in its
infancy. So the boy had an inheritance
of shame. of color, of poverty, of neglect,
but through all, and in spite of all, he
lived and grew to be man of mark, the
pastor of large and intelligent churches
of white people, universally respected fol
his talents, piety and usefulness, and ad
mired fox his keen and eyerready wit, which
he used like spear in the side of the
foes of truth. 1t was dangerous expe.
rement to trifle with him. Two fast young
men tried it once to their cost. They
met him in the street, and one of then
said,
Father Haynes have you heard thu
good news?"
No." said he, "what is it?"
at is great news; and ifit is true, your
occupations gone!"
"Ah, what can it be?"
"Oh, the devils dead"
In moment the good old man lifted
up both his hands, and placed them OF
the heads of the young men, in tone o
solemnity and scorn, replied.
"Poor, fatherless children, what will be
come of your"
As Mr.. Haynes was travelling in Yer
mont, he fell in company with a persol
who soon discovered himself to be an un
principed scoffer at religion. In tn,
course of conversation he demanded O
Mr.. Haynes what evidence he had for be
lieving the Divine origin ofthe Bible.
"Why, sir" answered Mr. H. "the Bi
BILE, which was written much more than
thousand years ago. informs me that
should meet just such person as your
SELF"
"But how can you show that?" return
ed the caviler.
1.-THE Bible says, 2 Peter, iii, 8, In tn,
last days scoaers shall come, walking af
ter their own lusts.'
We have some very pleasant reminis
cences of John Hanccck-not the signe
of the Declaration, but the Rev. Johl
Hancock, pastor of the church of Lexing
ton, Massachusetts, where the war brok
out some twenty years after he was dead
1t was in the latter part of his minis
try, while he was quite aged, but still hal
and vigorous, and not little disposed t.
use his authority, the two deacons, an
perhaps others in the church, thought i
was necessary to put some check upon tn
, good old man. So, at a set time, the dea
cons went to his house to propose tina
3 they should have ruling elders in tn
:, church. 1t was thought to he Difficult
y matter to propose the business to so loft
a man, SO the ablest of the deacons under
: took it, after the following fashion:
t ave think, sir" said he 'that, on ae
+ count of your great age, you ought t
: have some assistance from the church i
, your numerous assiduous labors''
t "Ah," says Mr.. Hancock, who kne'
n what was coming, 81 know am old, an
), l suppose am feeble too; ! thank tn
r church for their kindness. But how d
e they propose to help me?"
: "Oh," said the deacons, "they though
they would appoint two ruling elders t
divide the care of the church with you-
t But they do not wish to do so withou
o your consent"
: sWell | shopld like il nsaid he. one,