The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-11-01
Recent Publications.

SERMONS OF HENRY WARD BEEcgER.
plymouth Pulpit. Fifth and Sixth Series
IS'2. Published by J. b. Ward & Co.
New York.
Sidney Smith, We believe, once said he
adopted the rule not to read the books he was
about to review, for fear if he read them, he
might be prsjudiced.
win two large volumes of ordinary SER
mons before us, we might be tempted to
adopt, in real earnest, the rule which the IA
mons critic announced in sport. But in the
TWO volumes which comprise the fifth and
sixth series of sermons delivered in the Ply
mouth pulpit, even the careless reader will
md an attraction, which will incline him
rather to llnger over their pages, than to Law
them down hastily, and the reviewer, as he
reads, will find himself more and more preiu-
diced in their favor.
Even without the magnetism of the pres-
ence and manner of the man, there is enough
In Beechers thought and style to stir and to
sway the vast congregation of readers to
whom these books are addressed.
The sermons are broad and liberal in their
tone, full OF sympathy and suggestion for the
LIE OF the present, free alike from morbid sem
tlmenality and morbid theology, breathing
throughout the spirit of hope, faith. couraoe
and conscious strength, which inspires the
preacher, and overfowing with charity, love
and good will to all men.
lts the lot OF some men to be more dis
tmgulshed than any of their works. This
was SAID to be true of DR.. johnson, even in
MS life time. and, since his death, while his
works are comparatively unknown and nm
read, he himself, the clear-cut individuality
which his name suggests, the rare and brilli-
ant traits of his character. the STRANGE can-
trasts and vicissitudes of his fortunes have all
become more and more familiar to the litera-
ry world. He himself is more celebrated than
any of his works.
This is undoubtedly true of Reecber II i
more or less true of all orators Or -pnblc
speakers. To generations of men who have
never sat under the spell of their eloouence.
their fame must seem more or less mythical
but when hereafter an explanation shall be
sought for the influence which Beecher excit-
ed upon the thought and life of his time. it
will not be difficult to find the kew to his pow-
er IN the published volumes of his sermons.
A DEMOCRAT met Jere. Black few days
after the defeat, and asked the large-wird
Judge what he thought of the election ?"
Jere. answered with story, to the following
effect:
When Whitfield was in America he had n
negro servant whose admiration for the great
evangelist was very great. If ever this man
heard Whitheld's voice when preaching he
fell into paroxysm of devotional excitement
soon as he happened to hear the moving
tones. On one occasion Whitfield was an
nonnced to preach in a barn; and the negro
hearing this, fastened to enjoy the eloquent
exhortatlon. Passing ovet the manure pile.
the ravishing sound met his ear, and he fell
down and rolled over and over in an ecstacv
OF delight. In few moments man coming
from the barn asked Cuffee "what he meant
py Wailowing IN the hlth"' ''Oh! Massa."
he answered, 81 neoer can hear massa Whit
fields voice but must git right down and
shout wild glory" ''Why, you fool" an
swered the man, ''that was not Whitfield
lie could mt be here and sent another man to
| preach" Cuffee looked at his soed clothes
ruetully for moment, and feelingly broke
forth: Den have all this dirt for nothing
and that is what think of the election.''
said the judge. Wonder if anybody here
abouts feels like Jere,-an Whitfelds negro
man.