The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-05-10

THE SYNOPSIS OF A GOOD SERMON

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the consideration Of one of Father Tay.
lor's sermons as brifley epitomized by
Charles Dickens in his " American
Notes., Father Taylor, be it known,
Tor was) the Sailors Preacher in the
old Boston Bethel and he is man for
whom all Yankee tars, rough ones and
all, hold that complete respect which
all men, however tough and rude al
ways entertain for honest, fearless,
manly piety. The only preacher who
Dickens listened to when he was in
Boston during his first visit to this
country was the same Father Taylor.
He describes the preacher, his Bethel
and the subject and manner of his dis
course in the following touching style !;
The only preacher heard in Boston was
Mr.. Taylor, who addresses himself peculi-
arly to seamen, and VINO was once a mariner
himself. l found the chapel down among
the shipping, in one OF the narrow old water
side streets, with gay blue flag waving
freely from its roof. In the gallery opp0-
site to the pulpit were little choir of male
and female singers, a violoncello, and vio-
lin. The preacher already sat in the pulpit,
which was raised on pillars, and nrnamented
behind him with painted drapery Of lively
and somewhat theatrical appearance. He
looked weatherbeaten, hard-featured man
of about SIX or eight and fifty, with deep
lines craven, as it were, into his face, dark
hair, and a stern, Keen eye. Yet the gen.
eral character of his countenance was pleas
ant and agreeable. he services commenced
with hymn, TO which succeeded an extern
porary prayer. 1t had the fault Of frequent
repetition, Incidental to all such PRAYERS );
but it was plain and comprehensive in its
doctrines, and breathed 4 tone Of general
sympathy and charity. which IS not so com
monlv characteristic Of this form of adj
dress to the Deity as il might he. That
done. lie opened his discourse, taking for
his text a passage from the Song of Solo
mon, laid upon the desk before the com
mencemen Of the service BY some unknown
member Of the congregation a.: . Who Is this
coming up from the wilderness, leaning Oh
the ann Of her beloved ''r-.. -...-
IL handled his text in al kinds Of ways.
and twisted it into all manner Of shapes.
but always inoeniouslv, and with a rude elo-
his hearers. Indeed, if be not mistaken,
be studied their svmpathieS and understand
ings much more than the display Of his own
powers His imagery was all drawn from
the sea, and from the incidents OF seamans
lie, and was often remarkably good. He
spoke to them of " that glorious man, Lord
Nelson and of CollingwOod. and drew no.
thing in. as the saying is, by the head and
shoulders, but brought it to bear upon his
purpose naturally. and with sharp mind to
its effect. Sometimes. when much excited
with his subject, he had an odd wagon
pounded of John Bunyan and Balfour of
Burley-of taking his great quarto Bible
under his arm and pacing up and down the
pulpit, with il, locking steadily down, mean
time, into the congregation. Thus, while
he applied his text to the first assemblage OF
his hearers, and pictured the wonder of the
church at their presumption IN forming a
Congregation among themselves, he stopped
short with his Bible under his arm il the
manner l have described, and pursued his
discourse after this manner:
"Who are taese--vho are thev-who !
are these fellows: where do they come from
Where are they going TO Come from
What's the answer :''-leaEing OUT Of tbs
pulpit, and pointing downward with his
right hand g From below ,'-startinC back
again and looking At the sailors before him
- from t1low. nv brcthefn. From under
the matches Of sin, ba.tsned down above you
bv the evil one, That's where Won came
f ON -, walk up and down the pulpit
q" and where are you going stopping ab /
rupt!y-' where are you going Alott ~
very softly, and pointing upward - aloft -
.louIer-'' aioft .'-louder still" that's /
where yen are go;ns-wj,h a fair wind
all t;.;it and trim. steering direct fo- Heaven
IN IL g,nr~ where there are no storms or !
foul weather, and where the wicked cease
from truub ling and the weary a!e at rest
Another walk - That's where you are go
ing %, nv friends. That's it. That's the
place That's the port. That's the haven.
rs a blessed harbor-still water there, in
ali changes of the winds and tides no
driving ashore upon the rocks, or slipping
your cables and running cut to sea- there
ce-peace-peace-aU peace .'-Anoth-
ar walk. and putting the Bible under his
et: arm % What! these fellows are coming
from the wilderness, are they: Yes. From
whose only crop is death. But do they lean
upon anything, these poor seamen -
Three raps upon the Bible. -" Oh yes. Yes.
They lean upon the arm Of their beloved -
.hree more raps-' upon the arm of their
beloved three more and walk = Pilot,
guiding star, and compass, all in one, 10 all
lands-here il is three more =" here
il is. They can do their seaman's duty man
July, ard be easy in their minds in the ut
most peril and danger with this two
more They can come, even these poor
fellows can come, from the wilderness lean
ng upon the arm Of their beloved, and 60
ip-up-up l'-raising his hand higher and
higher at every repetition of the word, so