The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-06-28

speech, they are unsurpassed by any
that have been delivered before or
since. You will notice how Senator
Hoar, In his autobiography, describes
the influence of the sermons of Robert
South upon his own mind. He spoke
Of him with the greatest admiration.
There was third great preacher In
that generation-Dr Isaac Barrow.
He was master Of Trinity College.
Cambridge. preceded Newton as pro
fessor OF mathematics there, and was
afterward chaplain to Charles II. His
sermons are ideals of true eloqQence
and have vitality enough TO live for
ever,
"The great Whiteheld has never
been surpassed in this country for
fiery eloquence. and probably no man
of his time or since was ever able
10 sway an audience as he did, but his
sermons, like Moodys, did not read
as well as they sounded. Benjamin
Franklin, printer as he was fond of
calling himself. published a volume Of
Whitefield's sermons, although he hai
never any sympathy with Methodism.
Franklin relates his experience under
Whitefeld's preaching and tells how
his soul was stirred by Whltefeld's
eloquence, although ! am sure II will
be admitted that Benjamin Franklin
was as well balanced and possessed
as much self-control as any mortal,
he tells us, however, that he went
one day TO hear Whitefield preach, In.
tending to drop shilling into the con.
tribution box, as was his custom.
But his emotions were so excited by
Whitefeld's appeal for funds for his
school In Georgia that he emptied his
pockets and put In the plate every
penny that he had with him. copper,
silver and paper. Whitefeld, you
know, died and was buried in New
buTyport, Mass.
: Jonathan Edwards was perhaps the
greatest theologian, logician and met
aphysician that ever spoke from an
American pulpit or any other pulpit
for. that matter. Although no one
would ever think of calling him a
popular preacher, several editions OF
his sermons have been published and
for generations every orthodox clergy
man In the country considered ii
necessary for him to have them on
the book shelves OF his study, just as
he had his Bible, his catechism and
his commentaries. Edwards Urea
tise on the Human VIII is the very
essence OF logic. Nothing in the Eng
lish language approaches 1t, and his
other writings are OF equal strength
and vitality As specimens Of reason
ing they will stand yofeyerp And
there were never more convincing APP
peals TO the consciences OF
men than bis sermons preached from
the pulpit at old Northampton Al
though IL Is said that he had iixty
feet of daughters, he was a weakened
faced, dried-up, little fellow. with more
brains than body, yet, lacking the adj
yantagel OF an imposing presence, he
preached with such intelligence. sin
cerity and compelling force that he
fascinated those plain. illiterate New
England farmers, who would lean for.
ward breathless in their seats during
his long sermons foI fear they would
lost word. Byery line Of Edwards
sermon is worth reading, although
you may differ entirely prom him 10
theology They are adm4able exam.
pies Of English, and, like We scrmons
Of Jeremy Taylor. they WV live for
sver. y
"a very different hind 81 ploec6er,
~ nH's' s''''l's y eass'' xp'