Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-08
Illustrations Of Scripture.
PREACHING.


But for Nathan's plain preaching should
we have had Dsvid's peritenti, ! confess
ions9 The monarch's conscience was asleep.
His heart needed to be pierced. Most
sdroitly does the prophet under the guise
of Eastern parable, secure the attention
and conviction of his nearer, so that it is
not Nathan who condemned David, but
David himself The King could not have
the face TO be severe upon another, and
yet all at once grow lenient to himself
The sublime fidelity which supplies this
key'to the touching story, Thou art the
man." brings the royal defender to his SEN
SEES. That was anything but bow drawn
at a venture, or a letter addressed to no
one in particular, e Sam. xii ~ 1t is al
ways great point to secure indirectly the
assent of judgment and conscience.
In one of the sermons which Bourdaloue
preached before Louis XIV, he described
with great eloquence the horrors of an adul-
ferrous life, its abombination in the sight
of God, its scandal to man, and all the at
tendant evils; but managed his discourse
with 80 much skill as to keep the king from
suspecting that a thunderbolt was present.
Iy to fall on himself. Bourdaloue usually
spoke in level tone of voice, with his eyes
partly closed. On this occasion, having
wound the attention of the monarch and
audience to the highest pitch, he paused.
They expected something terrible, and
seemed to fear the next word. The pause
continued for some time. Atlength Bour-
daloue, fixing his eye directly on the king,
and in tone of voice equally expressive
of horror and concern, cried out, Chou art
the MANI Then leaving the words to
their effect, closed with ageneral prayer to
Ged for the conversion of all Sinners
Louis soon ordered the preacher into hi.
presence, and sternly demanded, "Whl
could have been your motive for insulting
me, thus publicly, in the presence of my
subjects'" Bourdaloue, falling on hi.
knees, replied, God is my witness that i
was not my wish to insult your majesty
but am minister of God, and must no
disguise the truth. What l said in m,
sermon is my morning and evening prayer
May God in his Infinite mercy grant me t
see the day, when the greatest of monarch
shall be the hottest of kings" From tina
time the monarch's life was, to say tn
least, less irregular than before.
In the experience of Whitcfeld there oC
CURED an instance, though less striking
While he was waiting at Plymouth, LA;
to embark for America, he preached fir,
quently. An attempt having recently bee
made to assnssinate him, much attentio
, was excited and thousands hocked to hes
him.
: One day while he was preaching, ma
by the name of Tanner, who worked {
ship builder at some distance, heard h
voice, and resolved, with five or six con
l. panions, to 80 aud drive Whitefeld frol
the place. For this purpose they file
their pockets with stones. When, howeve
Tanner drew near, and heard the preach,
: earnestly inviting sinners TO Christ, he WI
/ filed with astonishment; his resolutio
failed, and he went home deeply impresse
> The next evening he attended again, al
D heard Whiteheld on the sin of those wi
J, erucifed the Redeemer After expatia
Q ing on their guilt, the preacher appeart
l u L - - 4 H.