Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-12-01
CARROLLTON, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1,lS5S
THE MANIAc's SERMON.
A cLMP.MKETISo ISciDKSI.

during the forenoon, and the horn bsd
been blown announcing the third. The
people 6Oeked into the meeting BY thous-
ands. for q very popular divine vas to
preGch ct that hour. Soon the rough seats
beneath the tal! forest trees we're hlleI;
then the aisles became crowded. and still
there was not room for those who wished
to hear the words Of the eminent minister.
fhs oahefs Of the tensmsnts looking into |
the space, IN . spirit Of kindness, threw
them open, and ihsy tOO we're well filed
with eager listeners. The scene presented |
within that church Of trees, 9 natural TEN |
pie to the living God, vas striking aud i'm.
presEive.
The eloquent minister, be who badsssy.
cd thousands BY the ~ords Of truth, who
bad caused the sinful to repent and the
scofer to cry out for mercy, sIOSe. All
vas instantly hushed, and the Stiffness Of
midnight rsigned 10 that vast assembIsgs.
He opened book aud read therefrOm,
softly swee.ly. mOsicaIy, hymn, which
re requested the congregation to s;ug.
The music Of q c~mp.meetingl Who
that has ever beard il mas not paused TO
drink the rich melody into bis sOull 1t
comes With a grandeur, yet softness and
sweetness that can be heard nowhere else.
The measured strains Of . multitude Of
voices, united in charming melody and
uubtOken by walls, swell in solemn grand.
eur, and roll delieiOusIy through the for
rsts, aWaking re-ochoiDg cadences on ev-
cry hand, and :
dUntEisting all the chains that tie
The hidden soul Of harmony"
After the hymn had been sur z the min
i.ter offered up brief eloquent prayer, sod
thea resumed bis seat. He had taken the
bible on bis knee and was searching for hh
text, when be and the whole congregation
we're startled BY the appearance Of the
| Maniac Smith.
The young luDstic, who was known to
nearly ell present, ascended the pulpit with
folded arms, bowed head, aud allow and
steady paee. Facing the immense cougrs-
CATION, hs gazsd carefully around. and.
amid breathess silence, spread forth biz
hands, and in the most thrilling manner
said:
your music iS the music Of heaven
The pretty birds iu yondst tree-lops are
benribg it with their songs to the lips O
angels above, who will convey it Is swee
incense to the omnipotent throne Of God
Joy is thine, o Israel. You possess th'
living soul that iejoiees in the light of rea
sou, that laves in the waters Of pureSt love
and rejoiceS In the glory Of Immortality
Nv soul 10 dead A CHERISHED child o
piety, became recreant to the God whc
gave me being, and sod my life. my hap
piness. my Immortality TO the Prince o
Darkness Like the traveller who has I
) we'll trodden path before him, but is at
tracted 10 dangerous places by the gaud.
} show Of some poisonous flower, / have wan
! dered to my death! My feet were place.
J in the straight aud narrow way, wer' GOV
! cred With sandals of piety, and tue Chris
3 tian staff WAS placed in my hands, and yeI
= o God, l wandered to my death! Tb
. Gsudy baubles of vice, the sboEy ye
3 Ihorny flowers Of Wickedness drew m
! aside. left the smooth surface and AZ
cendsd to the mountains Of trouble. an,
J vet gained not the object of my pursuit
8 On dashed, reckless and indifferent
: nv fate. The Wicked One, who sough
y my destruction, led me on, and |, curse
with remorse, followed. l knew wa
pluugiug into ruin, but, with soul alrsad
accursed, what cared |? Voluntarily l ha
3 sought death and it came. 1t was on
0 night, and oh fearful night it was
| me. Exhausted, doomed, sccursed, l wa
= sull cIambering up the mountain Of sir
4 [ came to q chasm, deep and FEARFUL
! The lightuiDgs Of heaven flashed abo'
8 ns, aud the thunder Of 0mnipotence pea
0 ed in my ears. felt myself moving L
8 wards that fearful chssm! Death, eterD
8 death, stared NE in the face, aud scream
ed piteously for help. No one came TO
0 me. My companions in vice listened D
to nv cries. aud be to hon bad so
my soul deridsd me in mOckely! l W
moved on Dearer aud nearer TO The preC
4 pice. Frantic.Ily l graSped each shrr
7 and rocky prominence which lie in n
Z way. but they crun bled in my hands.
7 reached the edge of the precipice! ple'
s Heaven for mercy, but great God, it "
0 TOO Iatel
o "My siu>covered soul trembled With Il
aeoby il suffered, and was piteous in
appeals. But the thunder told me-'T'
latel' The lightning told me-Too late
3 and, gracious heavens. my own coward
8 soul told me--'Too lateg' clung wi
S tenacity 20 everything within my rsas
4 but nothing could save me. / shriekel,
l groanedI DoUn to psrditiOR Dsnt o
| soulf"
8 Here the maniac paused. His Viv
g portraiture Of bis carseI startled the Hhc
8 congregation. some Of whom shrieked OF
right as be represented bis soul's descs
Into perdition. He pauseda minute onl
: Then, calm again, be softly said:
al am living without soul! You pc
IT pie of God may sing your praises, for
ea is sweet incense 10 your souls. But y
ior sinners" aud here be again became eI
es, ted in manner, "but you sinners must
pent this day, or your SoulS will go af
Y. mine, over that deep. dark. fearful ab.
NO lato hell! Will YOU repent, or 60 W
ar me into eternal psrdiIion!'
II. The effest Of this Was more than tel