Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23
Simple, grave, sincere,

Simple, grave, sincere,
In doctrine incorrupt, in language plain,
And plain in manner, decent, solemn, chaste
Himself as conscious of his awful charge
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
May feel it too, affectionate IN look
And tender in address as well becomes
a messenger of grace to guilty man.
While if our ideal of sermon be that
it is didactio, devout, springing
from the prayerful mediation of a
loving soul on the Holy Scriptures with
redeeming Christ as the central
and burning theme, tender aud full of
love, strong and hopeful in faith. Sub
stantial in reasoning of the purest style
almost plain and homely so that the COM
mon people hear it gladly, upbuilding the
Christian character with that which every
grace supplieth, and thereby producing
the good works of manly and pious life,
and make sinful men meet for Heaven,
then his sermons appropriated very near
ly the ideal. His thoughts rose one after
another naturally, never perhaps flashing,
never perhaps rounding out in brilliant
periods, never seeking to startle by forced
expression or eocentricity of manner. He
would often, however, in a plain and
striking figure, embody an illustration
freighted with meaning, and that was
hard to forget. Hence his sermons had
compass and grasp. His style was like
himself, strong, transparent, dignifed.
As an original thinker, an accomplished
scholar and fine writer he was not pre-
eminent, but he had fund of good sense,
of practical wisdom that gave his utter
ances weight and made his arguments
aCnoluc1ua o.
prayed over his Bible all his life time.
But to crown all, and to complete this
imperfect portraiture, | must return to
my starting point and finish as began.
He was good man, full of the Holy
Ghost and of Faith. Naturally he was
amiable, magnanimous and upright. But
this is not Christian goodness. He was q
new creature in Christ Jesus, as we have
every reason to believe,-his natural en-
dowments were sanctifed, and consecrate
TO his Saviour's glory in the active and
holy purpose of his soul He seemed
sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of
Redemption, even from his conversion
man of marked and ever growing spirit
uality and faith and love-a man of holy
and constant communion with God, walk
ing with Him, of great simplicity and
sincerity, of sweet and childlike humility,
an Israelite indeed, in whom there was
no guile. A Calvanistic Congregation
alist in sentiment, yet Catholic in spirit,
conservative and yet full of ardor to save
souls. The cultivated and educated find
ing in him the manliness and dignity of
true gentleman-the lowly, the condos
cension and suavity of friend. But old
age admonishes him that his course on
earth is nearly finished. Most gracefully
he lays aside his armor. He retires to
the private walks of parishioner-unites
himself with the Church of Pittsford-is
constant attendant upon it's meetings
when able, taking his part with the rest
of the brethren, holding up the hands of
his youthful pastors-is ready to pray or
exhort or preaoh-worshipping in the
Sanctuary like old and dying Jacob, lean-
ing upon the top of his staff, ga living and
every day sermon, living exhortation
and living psalm"
very countenance seems to shine with the
soft and evening light Of his setting day.
He Is often on the mount. He is cheerful,
happy, grateful that he has has been per-
mitted to labor SO long in the vineyard of
his dear Lord and Saviour, and vet watch
ing for sunset. 1t came in an heuz he
thought not of, but he is ready. All
within is peace, for he feels sweetly as
sured that having finished his course and.
kept the Faith, there Is laid mp for him. =
crown of Righteousness. When the -Four
of his departure came, the angel of aeath
walked the room SO softly that his steps
were not heard.