The New York herald., 1869-03-08
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
sermon by the New Pastor, Rev. DIR. Tai
mage.

sermon by the New Pastor, Rev. DIR. Tai
mage.
This church, which has been for several months
without pastor, extended not long since call to
Rev. s. De Witt Talmage, Of Philadelphia which
accepted. He preached his first sermon yesterday
though he has not vet been regularly installed the
pastor. He is o gentleman chiefly known IN this
vicinity as lecturer. He has several essential quail
ncations for success In his calling which he has not
failed to make the most Of. Most audiences would
sit az patiently under lecture Of his under that
Of any man you could name and show their enjoy
ment OF 1t by as much laughter and as hearty ap-
plause Mr. Talmage is man who mas not yet
reached what IL termed middle life by several years
He Ii about the medium height, has good figure
and fine head but his bearing-at least In the pulpit
can hardly be styled graceful Preaching, obviously,
is not his best hold; yet he has talents that
will undoubtedly make him one Of the celebrities
among the Brooklyn clergy. An orator he is not,
and indeed never can be, until his words pass
through some alembc far different from any he has
yet found. At present he p0urs them out upon his
audience In perfect mood. with the glitter Of the
intellect but not the warmth OF the heart upon
sound sound. Il never ever scfiens. No spell comes over you
you sten first or last such as is felt at the first
utterance of tne true orator But i1nger ger moment
bit OF Il: but will sit confounded and 1t may be quite
overwhelmed at seeing the commoncst things set
coloring that words can give A lively Imagination
and an acute rather than comprehensive intellect
are the the strong points oi,r,i Of Mr. Ialmass;
that while his intellect rs lighted uy by his
imagination till 1t sparkes with an ICY glitter his
flush OF light. His hearers SIT to the end attentive
always ct times entranced but never for once man
se speaker o swaT GUua
hearts. His text yesterday was God IS love-" His
treatment Of 4 was precisely what might be sup
character OF his mind. It was cold brilliant, some
would say, mastery treatment OF his subject but
gument OF the love Of God was found in the facts OF
the physical world and mans own organization,
with It's wonderful comptexity and manifold adap.
but the tone Of the sermon BY his treatment OF the
subject was very much like an attempt OF chlld 70
prove the love OF hs mother by the variety OF the
clothes. the rrnkets and bon-bons received at her
hands, or course this would be some evidence
bearing on the case but NOT tne or .e
dumpfounded by some OF the blazing pyroech-
MICS he let or but IL Ii safe to assume that tpey
a. q rock retains OF the grandest breaker that ever
dashed upon Il. Mr. Talmage does not seem to un-
derstand tnat what need Is not so much greater
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the love OF God, as 70 have
the evidence they already nave burned IN. Preach
the love OF God always II - subject never TO 70 oe ex-
to be carried by storm; that citadel capltulaed long
ago with most men II not all; at all events, every
ectuay already to set him right II he had the heart
to put his knowledge to good use. What In COM
plaIned OF Il not too much learning. too brilliant an
imagination, too4powerful intellectual grasp; al
these the reigousS teacher ought to have In large
measure; but learning, intellect and imagination
must get something from the heart Of that teacher
something OF tenderness, OF sympathy,sof interest:
something that softens tbs voice and becws the eve
az when one talks to q friend OF = matter OF
deep concern. Perhaps the best idea that can be
given OF the style Of Mr.. Talmage's sermon
likeuing II to the essay on Milton written by Lord
Macaufay IN his early manhood, and which in ma
gaudy and ungraccful ornamcnt.n The Italian
word pdponepgidrst, to one familiar with ts ety.
moloRy, would, perhaps, slightly modified give
livery. Too much Of himself not enough OF his
theme-this y his great fault. The theme, lt would
almost seem, " now but 3 screen upon which, ~
with the maGnined rays q magic lantern, n pro-