Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-01-09
SpurgeOn's Appearance in the Pulpit.

Ihe INhuol correspondent OF the Banner
and Advocate thus describes Mr. Spurecon:
have, ere now, given you brief sketch
of Mr.. Sturgeon, the popular preacher Of
London at this hour. lie is not popular
with the refined classes nor Is b. moulded
At all after the Melville model nor is his
aught but violent contrast, both in person
and manner, to the gcn,lo, elegant, yc, ear
nest Baptist Noel. Sturgeon is not yet
twcnty.0ur years old H. began, like VIM.
jay, to preach when almost a boy. lie has
not tccn at Collcgc Ills father isa Baptist
minister, and be has younger brother
stddying in the Baptis, college at Stcps,y,
who, they say, will BE- superior to himself.
Mr. Spurcron Is Of the middle sitc-thiek
set in figure, with deep, capaciou' chest,
and a throat, and tongue, and lip, all formed
ror vehement oratory. Ills hair is black,
over u tolrably wide forehead his eyes
dark aud deeply set. His manner in tho
pulpit i' Hsrry fiom first to las,-physical
energy, imrclled by a vehement purpose.
and determination 10 arouse, from tho b..
ginning. H. reads the palm abruptly ho
vnys with startling rapility, you would
ay sometimes, with .irr1ycrcnce. And yet
there !, p5rr,r in IL, and fervor and full
ness, too, which Commands brcnthlcss inter
est Esp,ism does come up and yet. you
,ay, hc il very young, and ho could not
.pcak or pray thus rs an experienced Chris
tian, and with petition, rureycry class, with
out some Divine teaching Then comes an
exposition Of the chapter. What a iorrcns
OF words What strikn: rrmarks, quaint
and uthy and how well be knows his
Bible Il. i. not lecture. The English
will no, stand that. but il is rapid,
runuin. commentary, which in my mind,
when well done, j. the perfection Of an cI-
p5.iiory reading i,to,s, ana a. preparatory
10 the sermon.
Next comes the sermon itscll-say that
delivered in my own church Thc teIt Is.
A" they cruciicd him l. The place ..
The Victim 3. Tho ESccutioncrs 1. Tho
Punishment. How natural tho division
What vivid cl,lruc,, oi illustration aud
force or application on each head S0mo
oIdi,ic. appear. \ story, halt humorous,
b,r'ins on religion, o., told, and the people
.miIc--almost laugh! Many are shocked.
but hear him out. aud say. is not the effect
oC tho whole ra5i-,riraordiHary' Listen,
too, 10 his lansuasc. How thoroughly In
eli.h. ycmacular' scarce Latinizsi or
Greek borrowed term. I. it any wonder
with tia. and the rich, full, old doctrine Of
the Puritan ace-,l,c,i1n defended, a''crt-
cd, sovereign grace ,iudicated and gIorlGcl.
Chris. ,ct Drth a, crucihei..and slain. PIC
,urr-. an..loto,-,laI in spite of cNtraya-
game, and much OF 5.i, the common people
hear him gladly.
Look 40 him.as be prepares TO describe tho
cruc.GAion, bear hin lower his voice and
,.y, " II YOU have tears, prepare 10 shcl
tacm TOW 2" Al you say that is from
SAak,psarc and you az, do..sd' So VAS | 4:
but then said, " half. ihrgc-lJurih, OF this
crowd DON'T know 10, and i,' all natural to
them 900 That does no. quite satisfy me, or
justify lsm. lIe goes on. How thrilling
the painting Of the agony, the physical sgo-
~ ol the rruclfrl victim But see bow ho
turns round upon the hack.liler, almost an
ap5uais. You cruelty him airysl,' ho
cries in a voice Of taunler, and with lash.
ins eye Then placing one hand, closed,
~ un q thick nail, against tA' back Of tho
pulpit. aud with ,hi other, Initiating tho
action Of man with hammer driving
homo the sli.a through the hands or fec;,
be charge, home tho lack,liJcr bis awful
guilt, and thrills the whole assembly. IL
would be mcr, acting with ordinary prcacl-
crs, with him il !, natural, aud almost en-
tir,ly ~. lie dos take liberties with his
audience; BE- does deal too much in ,,imu-
ant,. but anything better than tlcsc myri-
ads Of London allowed to perish unwarnod,
aud anything bsi,rr than tat miserable
nrsation Of truth, which our younger
preacher, are setting forth as a new anl
be,,er s,spl Spursoon pr'achcs the doc
,riucs OF gslc' with great courage and full
ness; and, Ike Paul, like Whitfield, liko
Berrids, and Eomaiu', be trnly invites az
70 our Saviour. Aud fruits have appeared,
although ur,s miusis with the wheat.