Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-02
The Power Of the Pulpit.

1
1t is not little singular how few really
splendid pulpit orators there have been in the
history of the world. Since the golden tongue
of Chrysostom was hushed, the preachers Of
marvellous power and effect can almost be
counted on the fingers of both hands. Two
or three French priests, two or three English
preachers, one or two Germans, and as many
Americans, are all that can be counted, as
having permanently swayed vast masses OF
men by their genius and eloquencc. The
f Roman church represses and cramps The pull
pit by the massiyeness of her ritual. The
English church makes the sermon but Sec
ondary part of worship. The Methodist
church finds the soil Of the circuit not deep
enough for the sun-seeking plant Of clio.
auenco The Baptist church deems it an
exotic, and a leading teacher in it once zeal
ously protested against it. In the Presby-
, terian church, minister's standing depends
less upon his pulpit exhibitions than upon his
power of debate in the general assembly, and
we know of none in the Congregational
churches who have caught the spirit and pow
er of Chrysostom Thus, excelency Of speech
and the dazzling words Of human wisdom,
seem not to have been the secret Of the inhu-
ence, or the hiding of the power Of the pull
pit The preacher has retained his hold upon
the vast numbers Of the successive generations
Of the Christian world, by some other art
than that of rhetoric, aud by some other skill
than that of oratory
1t is true there are preachers who are
: continually making themselves famous for
their discourses men who have neither the
l. terrible earnestness and warfare of Luther ;;
the power to scodrgo royal vices like Mas.
- sllon, the inspiration Of llyacinthe; the
spiritual intensity of Wesley or Sturgeon, or
the discursive and grand genius of the elder
Beecher They take advantage Of every
small OF large occasion to catch the popular
:. ear They live upon occasions and sensa-
tons and unusual events as the Esquimaux
g live upon the occasional walrus. A war a
= great storm; a disastrous FIRE an eclipse
the death of a wealthy merchant Il celebra-
y ton or convention new proposition III
t, Congress or the formation Of some local as
sociation,-these are godsends to them. They
4 are new revelation sent down like the old
T. mama, direct from heaven, to furnish then
subjects and ideas in their lowly estate The
70 ordinary themes Of christian truth the spi
~ ritual necessities of men and the offers Of lil
10 aud immortality through the Son Of God, arr
not enough to stir their extraordinary powers
Noble spirits are wrought only to fine issues an'
their thunder reyerberates only to great oc
II casions. But these preachers though the.
n. occasionally give US Rouser,' and seem t
he blow through the trump Of mn angel, wit
checks distended like the drunken monk
u in some of the pictures of Europear galleries
cd for the entertainment and delight Of the Ell
tranced listeners never appear to produc
a any great or permanent effect They max
lk' fine display of their pyrotechnios, but usua
-" ly explode in mid.air, and when the glare an
id noise are over, only threaten injury to ii
ay heads below, in the reaction that surely 70
lows. Their congregations are usually thi
" except on the heel of some great occasion,
,as Then the people who remember the mau
IRE dull Sabbaths preceding, seem to have a
nd instinct of something unusual and SO the
IAN shoal out, saying one to another, "Guess OF
moon fulls to-day Mighty new and tn
, . along back" And the coming event cas-
its shadow before The preacher comes
his work like giant refreshed with new win
and delivers a sermon that is an epoch in Il
parish, and causes everything to date fro
mas that magnificent effort. All the neighbour
ministers send for him to come and prea
uil that particular sermon about the scam
Judas or the sleek sinner, Absalom or 4
III Dignities Of the christian citizen; or Z
" unknown God" OF Reverence for our faith
'ot- Abraham. These are the preachers, Of who
there are too many in our day, who sacrif
rob the true power of the pulpit to a little dral
er attic effect or selfish, sensational display
However, they are not numerous enough
cial be held of much account in any estimate
,re- the real power and influence of the pulp
IN. They are the little great preachers Of t
has day, who rattle round in the church like
on pea in hogshead, and whose power is
vcrsely to their sei.display.
on But while there are but few notable {
'hl amples of the charm and power Of true g
Ter. us and eloquence in the annals of Christie
dom; while, too, the spirit and glory
ING revealed truth have been often travestied
on the seekers of popular admiration and Sc
led ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and tho pulpit brought it
ii'' contempt by mere sensational orators, it 81
n remains true that in all churches and in
ions lands, ii is wonderful agency of streng
Mr.. movement and life. Its so, though not na
and mighty masters Of human hearts have used 1t
'een the throne ofther power; though many char
tans and imposters have made il the vehicle
W." their conceits aud absurdities The voices
.;,os but few Of Z" the great company of the prea
ers are ever heard beyond the walls VIII
urch echo them. The things of heaven have b,
hid from the wise and prudent. Out of
the mouths of the humble and lowly, God
ordained strength, Not many mighty 4
256 noble have been called, but the triumphs
Christianity have been extended and perp
'ne uated by the poor, the infrm and the gen
. " sons Of earth. The apostolic succession
anal not succession Of brilliant intellect and IN
lues- vellous oratory, but succession of self-dc
ing, earnest, faithful men, who esteem
ook- reproach of Christ greater treasure Il
lgers the riches of the world. The spiritual for
Of the world are love and light VIII