Year: 1859

From the Springfield Republican. PREACHING UPON POPULAR PROVERBS. BY TIMOTHY TITcoMB.

 NUMBER oNE-INTRoDucToRY. "Cold broth hot again, that loved never; Old love renewed again, that loved cyer." "Get thy spindle and thy distaf ready, and God 1 will send thee flax"

 It is not for the brilliant brace of initial ser nous that we still admire the man whom we love to call -four minister" The old love must be renewed again, from Sabbath to Sab bath, from month to month, and from year to year, by new exhibitions of his power, and new demonstrations of his faculty to feed the motives of large and luxurant life within our souls. If he fail in tbis-if his power finch through lazncss, or flag through Ian guOr-and he resort to the too common pro- cess of heating again the old broth, his pro ductions will grow insipid, and our hungering natures will turn uneasiIy to other sources for refreshmcnt. It is not for the fresh cheek, the full lip, the fair forehead, the parted sweeps of sunny hair, and the girlish charm of form and features, that we love the wives who have walked hand in hand with us fer years, but for new graces, opening each morning like Ao"Cio iu thC pdi tCiiC, t'AVt piSuCSCSoOio ving accomplished their beautiful mission and new motives to love, is certainly thing love- ly in itself, and desirable by all, whose ambi- tion and happiness it is to sit supreme in sin gle heart, or to hold an honorable place ill the affections of the people.

 A brief year ago, the pen that traces these lines commenced series of letters to the young. The letters accumulated, and grew into book and this book, with honest aims and modest pretensions, has place to-day in more than ten thousand homes, while it has been read by hundreds of thousands of men and women in every part of the country. More and better than this it has become all inspir- ing. moving and directing power in great aggregate of young life. l say this with that kind of gadness and gratitude which admits of little pride. l say it because it has been said to me-revealed to me in letters brim- ming with thankfulness and overaowing with friendliuess expressed to me in silent pressures of the hand--pressures so full of meaning that involuntarily looked at my palm to see if jewel had net been left in it uttered to me by eyes full of interest and pleasure told me in plain and homely words in the presence of tears that came unbidden, like so many angels sliding silently out of heaven, to vouch for their honesty. To say that all this makes me happy, would not be to say all that feel account the honor of occupying pure place in the popular heart-of being welcomed in Gods name into the affectionate confidence of those for whom life has high meanings and high issues-of beiug recognized as among the benefcent forces of society-the greatest bon or to be worked for and won under the stars So much for that which is past, and that which is.

 And now, I would have the old love renew ed. l would come to the hearts to which the letters have given me access with another gift with food for appetites quickened and natures craving further inspiration. l would bring new thoughts to be incorporated into indivd- ual and social life, which shall strengthen their vital processes and to their growth. would continue and perpetuate the communion of my own with the popular heart. To Go this sue cessfuly know that l must draw directly upon my own Xperience-upOn the results of my own individual thinking, acting, living. l know that no truth can be uttered by soul that has not realized it in some way with hope to be heard. Perceptive wisdom that has not been vivfed by life has in itself no affinity for life

 It is blessed thing that the heart has an instinct which tells it without fail who has the right to teach it. The stricken mother, sit ting by the side of the lifeless form of her first born, will hear uumoved the words of consola- tion and the persuasions to resignation which are urged by one who has not suffered, even though he eloquently draw motives from the highest heaven while the silent pressure of her hand by some humble creature who has hidden her treasure under the daisies, will in- spire her with calmuess and strength. The world cares little for theorists and theories little for schools and schoolmen-little for any thing man has to utter that has not previ- ousIy been distilled in the alembic of his life It is the life in literature that acts upon life. The pilgrim who knocks at the door of the human heart with gloved hands and attire borrowed for the occasion, will meet with tar dy welcome and sorry entertainment but he

 who comes with shoes worn and dusty with the walk upon life's highway-with face bron- zed by fierce suns and muscles knit by conflict with the evils of the passage, will find abun- dant entrance and hospitable service. The machinery which propose to adopt fer

 my serviceis simple enough. It is the habit

 of the mind to condense into dimnutive, agree

 able and striking forms the results of experi-

 ence and observation in all the departments of

 life. As the carbon, disengaged by fire in its

 multitudnous ofices crystalizes into diamond

 that flashes fire from every facet, and bears at

 every angle the solvent power of the mother

 flame, so great clouds of truth are evolved by

 human experience, which are crystalized at

 last into proverbs, that flash with the lights

 of history, and illuminate the darkness which

 rests upon the track of the future. The pro- I verbs Of nation furnish the index to its spir- ] it and the results of it's civilization. As this spirit was kind or unkind-as this civilization was Christian or unchristian-are the pro

 verbs valuable or worthless to us. l know oi