The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08

As some wears had elapsed since it
was my pleasure to hear Mr. Sturgeon,
and TO worship in the Metropolitan
Tabernacle, it was an object Of some
interest to compare himself. his preach
ing. and his congregation. with the i'm
pressiOns which former experience had
received and maintained. There were
some advantages in the expert
ment, from the fact that constant
familiarity with a person is ant
to conceal those changes which
observation made at distant periods
instantly detects. Having seen and
heard him ON his arrival in the world
of London. when. like young and in
trepid gladiator. he stepped into the
arena Of public life, when the freshness
and dew of youth was upon him. the
eve was marvellOusly bright, the frame
somewhat 1.-the, and the voice strong
and melOdiOus, it was interesting TO
inquire what changes. II any, lncessant
labor, undated popularity. and fire.
quent pain had wrought in his per-
son and ministry. His preaching
at the first was somewhat flOrld
in illustrations, but the fertility
Of his intellect, his power Of compell-
ing all that he read, or saw in human
life: all the treasure of wise sayings
and passages from tavorite hymns, and
the felicitous use Of Scripture were re.
markable from the first days of his
ministry in London. His form is now
massive: his hair is touched with gray,
and he wears spectacles which denote
advancing years; but his voice retains
its original sweetness and power
His action is so natural, that
mike some hOnored preachers
who are remembered for their
climaxes and perorations. and other
easily imitable forms. he has founded
no school of conscious or unconscious
imitators. lie is well acquainted with
pain. and has often been compelled TO
suffer in silence, when thousands hoped
TO enjoy his spiritual help. That which
surprises some is the unity of his life,
spirituaI beliefs, and ministerial and
beneficent work. Amid the theOlOgi-
cal changes of the last thirty
wears he holds all he had when
he began his voyage; and has
cast nothing overheard; though the
tempest has ragged around him; and
some in treacherOus seas have made
shipwreck Of faith. He has kept to his
work of preaching, and the publication
of his sermons, which have been read
wherever the English language is
spoken: the superiutendency OF his col
lege, the orphanage, the system OF
the publication of the
Treasury of David, and the
monthly issue of the Sword and
Trowel - with the innumerablc details
of church life, and his own personal
culture. 1t is diflicnlt to imagine the
silent heroism of declining iiatterng
invitations TO the tables OF the wealthy
and the splendors of public banquets.
Asa public man he has been the object
of a prying curiosity; and has borne
With fortitude the innumerabie misre-
ports of himself, his motives, and his
work. Thousands OF these misrepre-
septations have already persisted, and
those which survive are on their way 10
SheOl.
The sermon on this occasion was
founded on Jeremiah IA; from which
he dwels upon three truths contained
in the chapter; of winch the first was
our absolute dependence upon God; the
second our sense Of dependence; the
third, the right use of our dependence,
which was TO 20 to God at once. There
were some passages of special and NOV
ing appeal in the discourse. when he
exhorted those who, like the prod
igal, were going away from God,
and with a patbos and force as If he
saw them approaching a precipice. he
implored them to track back and re-
turn to the Fathers house. In the
course of his sermon there were una
yoidaDiy what logiciaps call ''antino-
mics. - or apparent oppositions Of truths.
This did not trouble him, because Scrip