Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-10-06

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| scan,
These are the angels of our God, ascending
| Upon the Son of Man?
Spurgeon.
| The London Correspondent of the Lynchburg
| NeaoS went to hear Spurgeon. The following
extract from his letter will be read with inter-
| est:
Mr.. Spurgeon, who is a good reader, read the
lesson, portion of the Epistle to the Corinthi-
ans then gave out the hymn In his clear, fine
voice. It had now been nearly an hour since
| entered the building during which time Mr..
5. had been using his voice, either praying or
giving out the hymns, for he performs the whole
service himself, except as to the singing. Yet
he seemed by no means fatigued, and now pro-
ceeded to deliver his sermon, with unfagging
energy and spirit. His text was the Apostle
Paufs protestation to the Corinthians: Il die
daily" The instant he advanced to the front
OF his platform and uttered these words, he
| fixed the attention of his vast audience. He
| then proceeded to connect his text with COM
| mon human experience, then set forth its orig
inal, heroic sense in the life of the Apostle, and
afterwards announced that he should treat it as
| of general application. | did not think the
sermon we'll organized. For instance: having
announced that his subject would be the art of
dying daily, he made certain preliminary re-
qulsltles OF that art the first division of his SER
mon before he explained what he understood by
this daily dying. Probably, there were few in
the building to whom this would be serious
objection. At all events, the people listened
with breathless attention from first to last, a
fact which [ commend to the attention of those
who are telling us that sermons and preaching
are out of date. For my own part although
think | know where brighter, more vivifying
and truer gospel than that of Mr.. Spurgeon is
to be heard, l could have sat twice as long,
with pleasure, listening to his preaching. Hay-
ing said so much, am perhaps bound to state
| what L conceive to be the elements of Mr..
Spurgeon popularity as preacher. They are
| very simple and may exist In other preachers
but it is these combinations, in high degree,
| In him which constitute the attractiveneSs of
his sermons. In the first place he has very
definite and positive system of doctrine, in which
he thoroughly believes. He does not tell his hear
ers that different views have been taken of this
OR that doctrine, and that on balance of opin-
ions he has come to this or that concluSlon.-
There is only one truth that all persons are con-
cerned to know, and it is his duty to preach it.
1t is more than his duty; it is evidently his de-
light My experience is that the great majority
of the people like to take their religion on a
strong assurance. In the second place, Mr..
Spurgeon is evidently happy man. He has
good animal spirits to begin with. If at any
time these have betrayed him into indecorum,
certainly there was tinge OF 1t in his demeanor
on this occasion The whole service was con-
Quoted most devoutly. Nevertheless, it is ap-
parent that he is happy man, and happiness
is, thank heaven, contagious. In the third
place, and most important OF all, Mr.. 8: is
great master of the art of direct address. have
no doubt he considered the matter we'll before
be abolished the use of pulpit and substituted
| platform. His sermons are delivered to the
| people, not merely before them. He uses no
notes. Every word is spoken as If from man
to man, and every one is to the point. There
is never, any resort to expletive, no padding.
Every sentence contributes something to the ef-
feet wi ich is constantly in the contemplation of
the speaker. No one, [ think, could doubt
that MIR. s. is always expressing, in virtue of
his ready command oflanguage, thoughts which
| he has worked out in his study He makes
considerable, but not excessive use of figures
introduces frequent illustrations from legend,
natural history and fable and quotes literally
from the poets. The impression produced on
my mind was that Mr.. s. possesses a powerful
genius, an inexhaustible faculty and fuency Of
speech, which enables him to enchain his audi
ence without the aid of oratorical display-with-
out the adventurous sources generally adopted
by public speakers. Mr.. Surgeons sermons
are the sole effect of his natural abity-the
spontaneous ehusions Of the most fertile and
prolific imagination, and are the most glowing
and vigorous that are possible to be conceived.
Indeed [ have never seen a speaker who SEEM
ed to have more entire command over himself
and his auditors, one with such an exuberance
of animal spirits, and who used his powers with
such consummate and potent effect.
Anecdots of Hume
An amusing anecdote is told of Dr. Robertson,
Scotland, who, with a ready wit, drew an Illus
tration from misfortune of David Hume, to
point an argument 1t was as follows
The celebrated Mr.. Hume wrote an essay on
the sufficiency of nature and the no less cele-
brated DR.. Robertson, on the necessity of re.
velation, and the insufficlency of the light o1
nature. Hume came one evening to visit Rob
ertson and the evening was spent on he subject.
The friends of both were present, aud 1t is said
that Robertson reasoned with accustomed clear
ness and power Whether Hume was con
vinced by reasoning or not we cannot tell, but
at any rate he did not acknowledge his convic
, tions Hume was very much of a gentleman
and as he arose to depart bowed politely tt
, those In the room, while, as he retired through
the door, Robertson took the light to show hin
the way.
80, sir" he said, II find the light of nature
always sufficient as he bowed on.
, The street door was open, and presently, a:
he bowed along lne entry, He stuLloleu oVe
something concealed and pitched down stairs
r into the Street. Robertson ran after him with
candle, and as he held it over him, whispered
softly and cunningly.
: You had better have little light from a
bove, Friend Hume" and raising him up, h
;. bade him good night and returned to his friends
SAYINGS OF Dean Swift. Ambition Otter
puts men upon doing the meanest Offices S!
{ climbing is performed in the same posture witt
J. creeping.
Small causes are sufficient to make aman un
easy, when great ones are not in the way; 70
.s want of block he will stumble at a straw.
# Apollo was held the god physic and sende
= of diseases Both were originally the sam
n trade, and still continue.
If a man makes me keep my distance, tn
comfort is-he keeps his at the same time.
i. Men are content to be laughed at for the
wit, but not for their folly.
How is it possible to expect that mankln
will take advice, when they will not as much !
take warning?