The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-02-12
SERMONS BY REV. T. DEWITT TALMAGE
Second Series

The titles of the diacour8es in this volume
remind us of the changed style Of pulpit
ministrations since the days of our fathers.
1t is true they are all suggested by the texts
treated, but many of them are of the bizarre
type-bOrderiDg on the fantastic. Fishing
too near Shore" "The Owl, Vulture, Bat
Chameleon and Snail, g The White Hairs of
Jesus" "The Poultice that cured the Car
buncle," "The Battle of the Pitchers,
"Left-handed Men" certainly do not remind
US of Jonathan Edwards or Samuel Davies.
The style of these sermons is as peculiar
as their titles While it is direct, concise
and clear, and keeps alive the attention
through a single sermon, when several are
read in succession it becomes wearisome by
its continued intensity. The mind is kept
in a perpetual strain, and the very eye Is
fatigued by the ince88ant glitter. A pyrO
technic display is very exciting, but one does
not care to see such an exhibition every
night, and after reading half dozen of these
sermons, one longs for little repose after SO
much tension. A few paragraphs even, Of
the calm and peaceful flow of Arnold Of
Rugby, for instance, or of Dean Trench, in
terspersed here and there through these dis
courses, would be real relief to the reader.
When one lays down volume of Napoleon
and his Marshals," there is a feeling of ex.
haustion after so much flashing of armor,
aud waving of banners, and war of guns, and
rushing of chargers, and crashing of bones
and MIR. Talmage is among dIvines what Mr..
Headley is among historians, so far as style
is concerned.
But as to the effect of these discour8es
upon the crowds who hear them, we can
readily imagine how stirring it must be-
While they contain little discussion Of greal
principles, and still less unfolding of cardi
nal doctrines, they do present practical
truths in the most pungent and impressive
way; and here we are in full sympathy with
the preacher. We could wish indeed that
he had given more time to the instruction Of
his hearers, to grounding them in the fun
damental doctrines of the Word of God, and
thus to laying frmer basis for his super
structure; but this is not his method. Hi,
sermons consist of series of propositions
plainly stated, and then he hastens to make
them more vivid by Illustrations of which he
seems to possess an inexhaustible store
His discourse entitled, "The Carousal in the
Palace, is opulent with oriental imagery
Lalla Rookh is little less richly imbued witt
it, and we will not be a critical Fadladeer
to say aught in disparagement of such gifts
Indeed when so many are more careful tt
preserve what they call the proprieties o.
the pulpit at the expense of its power, soon
tent to dwell on decencies forever, as Miss
Hannah More expresses I've honor the
man who is bold in his adj bcacy of truths
which are uncongenial to the natural mind
and fearless and outspoken in his inculca
ton of them. The honesty and earnestnes'
of Mr.. Talmage is unmiStakable. He never
compromises with error, never apologies
for any statement which he finds in Revela
ton, never INDUCES in euphemiSms, never
misses an opportunity to strike manly blow
for what he believes to be right and true.
We regret the injustice he does himself
by occasional exaggerations, and at times &
certain colloquial familiarity in his handling
of sacred themes, resulting no doubt from q
constitutional and exuberant flow of ANNA
spirits, and never from irreverence; but shin
ing through and over all is the sympathy o.
a heart full of love to God and man, ever
loyal to truth aud duty, and ever intent OF
bringing souls into the Kingdom of Christ
e