True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-10
Pulpit Elouuence.


burning with love TO God and the souls Of
men; and all attempts at sacred eloquence
without these are like the splendor of
snow in the moonlight Of December-it
shines and sparkles, but the more it does
so the more it freezes. Preachers may
talk about eloquence, they may write
prettily, they may speak charmingly, but
unless they feel the everlasting truths
which they utter, they are not and cannot
be eloquent. ..5e 49, (
When you rise in sacred eloquence
to the highes, possible pitch, your elo-
quence as TO matter, must be the echo Of
the eloquence of God. That, like its au-
thor. is perfect. The perfection Of hu-
man eloquence is to be like it. That is
the pattern which you must follow. And
"those that honor me, saith God, l will
honor"
No matter how great a mans talents,
VI extensive his learning, had he mind
surprising thousand-fold the mind of
Gabriel, and stored with all the wisdom
and knowledge that has ever existed, or
that ever will exist out of the mind Of
God. he could add nothing and take away
nothing from divine revelation, without
rendering It, so far as he altered it, i'm
perfect, and tending to prevent its proper
effect on minds. Would you produce the
right effect on minds, and raise this eff.
feet to the highest pitch Of intensity, and
give it the greatest extent, show them the
character Of God Just as he reveals it.
II you fail essentially here, you may ex-
pect to fail every where. You may speak
with the tongue of men and angels, but
without exhibiting the character Of God
in the work Of saving sinners, you will
be nothing. Should your voice be music
itself, and reach the ear Of every being in
creation, it will fall powerless upon the
hear. which is at enmity with God, and
produce in it no reconciliation to him:
Those books, those studies, those con-
versations, those amusements, and those
desires which draw you away from God,
and render you unlike him, abhor and
renounce. Have nothing to do with any.
thing which you cannot in some way
make subservient 10 the glory Of God in
the salvation of men. Would you rise tc
the highest pitch Of sacred eloquence
keep your eye and heart fixed on thi:
grand point, and towards it without ceas
ing direct your highest efforts Let tht
same mind be in you which was also If
Christ Jesus. Let no trials, no sacrifices
no temptations turn you from the path O.
duty. Walk with God. Live by faith
Reside at the throne of grace, and habit.
uaIy commune with him who sits upor
it. One hours communion with Got
daily. amidst the realities Of eternity, will
do more to make man excel in sacret
eloquence, than whole life of laboriou
, study without it. Select your text, pre-
pare your sermon, and preach for eterni
lty. This will make you truly eloquent
This was the grand secret of the elo
buence of Baxter, when there was scare
: a family. through an immense congreg'
! ton, which was not. o family Of dali
i prayer, and which did not become sue
through his instrumentality. This wa
the grand secret Of the eloquence {
Brainerd; as it echoed through the tree
q Of the forest, the savage dropped his ton
ahawk, and with streaming eyes erie
Guttummaukalummeh | ,Guttummauka
ummehl-Have mercy on me! have me
= cy on me! Nagg od
This was the very soul Of the ell
h quence Of Paul, as kingson their thron
trembled, and beggers leaped for joy.-
le Nor has it lost the least degree Of
d power in eighteen hundred years. h
sr Excel in this kind Of eloquence al
y extend it through the world, and &
ID light Of the moon shall be like the lig
le Of the sun; the light Of the sun shall
seven-fold, and he light Of Zion "
ID eclipse them. Kings shall come to b
,e light and princes 10 the brightness Of b
ut rislng.-Dr. Jastin Ed,0Gfds. TOT