Arrows from my quiver; pointed with the steel of truth and winged by faith and love

Front matter

t r v :'

t *

JUNITED STATES OF AMERICA.!

Chapter I. Explanations To A Hearer — Pulpit Archery

Preaching, differences of style — The old farmer's critique — The long-bow and the cross-

' bow — Assertion and argument — Arrows for tire cross-bow — Direct aim — Charming

a snake — Alcestes and the stars — Jonathan's bow 13

CHA PTER II.

CHRISTIANS DEFENDED.

Consistency a jewel — The loadstone and the diamond — A bad inference — An author's privilege — Christian perfection, its standard — Liability to err — Perfection, absolute, "rejected — Professors the worldling's study — God our judge, comfort of— Mute at the balance — Revolving lights — Lunar comparisons — The glass and the cistern — The old man's victory over the new — Grace for ten, but scarcely enough for himself— Backsliders the scomer's triumph 19

Chapter VI

THE OPPOSITION — ON HINTS TO "AN OPPOSITIONIST." An Imperial principle — Heaven's gate, its motto — "A stone in the other pocket" — Politian and his shadow — Burns on happiness — St. Paul's tenderness — Weak Christians and alarming preaching — New converts and Satan's grudge — The lion in a storm 40

VI CONTENTS.

Chapter VII. Revival — Truth And Its Effects

Revival preacher and his troubles — Young believers, without their shield — The law of God a terrible power — Vivid experiences, "flying from command to command" — A glimpse of the Cross — Fiery serpents — Jesus, frequent mention of — Bleating of the Jambs — Grunters against goodness — Tender ears — A pinch in the sermon — Learning the alphabet — Faith a master-spring — Numa's confidence — The way to conquer 44

Chapter VIII. Hints To Professors

The upsetting sin — Old Negro — An old fable — Counter-motion — A Scotch divine, striking remark of— Sheridan's simile— Instability and firmness — Aristotle's test— Wisdom, Socrates' idea of— Divinity and science, difference — Example — Nero's complaint — Hume, and gloomy Christians — Skeptic, conversion of one — Gospel, a great time for— An evil angel— Bell, reporting its own motions 51

Chapter IX. Method With Questionists

Question-sick — A blind man's question — Curious questions— Crotchety questions— Tracing a pinnacle — Satanic deception — Hell, neither tolerable nor terminable — Scriptures, two notions not found there — A false sentiment 58

Chapter X. Dealing With Critics

Drunken opinions, phrase defended — Text, manner of treatment — A cunning painter — Back-handed blows — Preaching, " a faultless style " — Quintilian — Versatility of style — Eloquence, thoughts on — Oratory and conscience — Mismanaging the rouge. .. 63

Chapter XI. Pulpit Eloquence

Preaching, a principle of action — Offended hearers — Abruptness — A flowery style — Pictorial preaching — A lofty style — Passion and eloquence — Hot springs — A serious inquiry — Simple eloquence — A wondrous rod — Sympathy, opening the flood-gates - 69

Chapter XII. Thoughts On Pulpit Style Continued

St. Paul's apology for his — The breeze of nature — " People leaders" — A beautiful simile — An old proverb — Eloquence, a charm — A polished style — A fireside fact — Out-ofthe-way preaching — Bounding a thought — Entire devotion 76

Chapter XIII. Defends His Method Of Preaching

Critics — The old doctor's motto — Fearful state of sinners — Salting them — Bitter waters — Living by their sins — irritable skeptics — Sin and uneasiness — Salvation only in Christ , 83

Chapter XIV. A Bow To The Critics

St. Paul's annoyances — Ambition, misstating that of the preacher — The herd of deer — The atoning death — Hearers, sponges, strainers, sieves — "A candle is no star" — The candle defended — A star-gazer in the ditch — The unfashionable lantern — The Scripture candle 91

CONTENTS. Vll

Chapter XV. Dealing With Uneasy Consciences

The wondrous book — The adorned idol — Old sores — A just critique — False inference — Pascal's question — Promises of God, a right to them 100

Chapter XVI. Running Fire !

Merry way to misery — Trifling with conviction — Birds of Norway — Blasts of contradictions — Long-suffering of God — Plucking death from the tree of life — Devil, argument for — God, his economy with sinners — A death-bed confession — The arrow on the string — The despairing penitent 104

Chapter XVII. Reviewing

Preaching, a good time — Material for a sennon — Fancy's kite — God, his love — Jesiu — Atheism, converted from — Sins, what became of them? no happiness without knowing — The Lamb of God — Jesus, abasement of — Divinity of Christ — Faith, the eye of the soul — Witness of the spirit 109

Chapter XVIII. The Holy Trinity

Doctrine of, shines in the Scriptures — Baptism — Benediction — To be believed, not comprehended — Hilary, of the fourth century — A triad of trinities — Not a Christian believer who disbelieves this — A form of infidelity to deny — Divinity of Christ, to deny is to justify the Jews in crucifying him — At home in Scripture — A sad story of a Socinian in Saxony — Picture of Christ in a ball-room, a singular conversion 116

Chapter XIX. Prosopopoeia

Inequality of pulpit style, a reason for — Supporting a reputation — Personification the handmaid of eloquence — Stripling impressions — Biblical prosopopoeia — A deputation from the trees — Replying mountains — Voices from the firmament — A bold allusion 123

Chapter XX. A Plain Talk With "a Plain Man."

Intolerance of the Bible — Our Lord and the Scribes, contracted teaching — Sinners, how "thrown into conviction " — The awe-band — "Tyrannical preaching — A formidable enemy, Satan — Mind at the worst — The devil's titles defined and defended — Not a mythical being — God, as set forth in Scripture — God and Satan liked and disliked by sinners, Baxter's testimony 130

Chapter XXI. Flowery Preaching

Flowers of inspiration — Luxuries of oratory — Flowers, when out of place — Flower-wreathed hammers — A relief from prosiness — The tawdry hearer — Flowers and barrenness — War and flowers — Flower-consuming preaching — Pillar of fire — World, preaching which it can or cannot stand before — An early lesson in the ministry — Preachers of olden times — Jay's remark 138

Chapter XXII

MORE ABOUT AN EMBELLISHED STYLE OF PREACHING. Christ's flower— Taste and piety — Nature's embellishments, flowers— Bouquet in the hand of a corpse — Antidote to dulness — Origen and the flowers — Hopes for a revival — Wild flowers, planted beside a rugged truth — The reward 143

Vlll CONTENTS.

Chapter XXIII. Further Thoughts On Preaching

Hearers, different tastes — A figurative style — Jesus, the Beloved of the Church,' a song of triumph — Jesus armed with vengeance — Man, back turned on God — The Gospel, touching their swords when hearing it — Merry sinners — A trio of insects — Virgil and the bees — Life in the hives 148

Chapter XXIV. To An Angry Hearer

The image in the glass — The unadorned mirror — The belfry of memory — Silent repentance recommended 157

Chapter XXV. A Quiet Explanation — Facts About Preaching

Preaching simply, what ? — Sieve in a river — The art of hearing — Sudden conviction — Bunyan's experience when preaching — Anybody's style — Effective preaching, its sorrows and its joys — Directness, effects of— A general truth made personal — A curve in the lightning — The spreading cloud — "Mind the main" — The worst companion, conscience — A striking remark of one 161

Chapter XXVI. To A Wordy Doubter — Prolixity

Verbosity — A single aim— Lost in a fog — Packing a sentence — " Don't quarrel " — Flinging feathers — A surprise step^— Small thoughts — Pompous words — A meagre field — Infidelity arms the mind against God— Seeking *' the virtues " in a wrong direction — Christianity, an epitome of— Dogmaticalness accounted for — Truth and brevity — Bible, a system of human nature — Rousseau's remark on the Bible 168

Chapter XXVII. Closely Pressed

Bible, an argument for, in virtue and vice — Enemies of the Bible, who ? — Death-bed inferences — Out of humor — A haunted heart — Death, indifference to, a fancy — The dying poet — a death scene— Aristotle— The preference 179

Chapter XXVIII. Used Up

Spinning the same thread — The great want — The wondrous Book — Languages into which translated — " Meaning blazed in heavenly light" — Responsible for our belief — Satan's master-stroke — The Irish landlady — "Troublesome thought" — The baron's freak — Fond of " nots " — An armed conscience 187

Chapter XXIX. The Stray Arrow

The unintended mark — Advice to a pierced sinner — A singular inquiry — Luther on faith — Light to reason by — Plato's caution, a remarkable acknowledgment — New Testament, immortality of the soul — On reading nothing but the Bible — Contending for the faith — Worldly company — Bible abridgment — Bible in chains — Aggression, advised to — Stanzas from an old poem 195

Chapter XXX. Reconnoitring Infidel Positions

Truth, a Frenchman's remark — Revivals awaken inquiry — Swiss divine, an observation — Doubt, a stout one — Devils hopeless — Marasmus of indifference — A Spanish Jesuit's notion — Demosthenes' testimony of the Athenians — Error betraying itself— Weak heads — An idol on the altar — Plutarch story about the "chief good," could not miss it — Chips from the same block — Depravity, strength of— Victory over 204

CONTENTS. IX

Chapter XXXI. " Late An Infidel " — A Parley

Satan's colossal idea — Infidel sarcophagus — A mother's influence — The test of experience — Spirit of bondage— Plato's acknowledgment — Infidel raft 211

Chapter XXXII. The Bible

Hope for the heathen — Bible, absolute necessity of— Ship-yard — Weighing anchor — Alone on the sea — Man, the ship without a sail — Scriptures adapted to him — Sails for the heavenly port — The coast of Glory 215

Chapter XXXIII. Awakened — Glimpses Of Truth

Bible rejected, consequences — Perilous guides — Principles, how to judge of them — The will, a master-wheel, a Port Royal, a throne for Deity — Bible, will to believe it — Sin not ripe till it reaches the will — New birth, necessity of 221

Chapter XXXIV. The Bible Defended

Dust of the adamant — Heaven seen by its own light — Sun, criticised by candle-light — Satan, gyrations of— Farmer and the herbalist — Unbeliever, plain words to — Turks and the plague — Bullets on the eyelids — Blindman's mistake — The sorcerer — St. Paul's apology for want of success — Satanic escutcheon, influence — Sailors and the birds — Fault, questionable one 227

Chapter XXXV. Plain Spoken

Too wise to learn — In the vortex of the pit — Balancings of the clouds — Infidel principles, the recoil — Reason, a Diotrephes. should follow faith — Reason, its limits — The basket of tares — False premises — Light enough for the humble— Chariot of fire, an experiment — The Galaxy, and Papist enthusiast 237

Chapter XXXVI. Plain Dealing

Addresses before sermon — Alps of thought — Ladder in the mists — Inhabitant of a star, first tidings of earth — Heaven— Hell, conscience there — A furious penitent — Antidote to temptation 247

Chapter XXXVII. The Baptism Of Fire

True peace — Religion, its own evidence — Faith, hope, and love, their relation to inward religion — The Hudson skeptic — Lecturer testing nature for the truth of science — A promise of God tested — A great baptism 254

Chapter Xxxviii. The Foreknowledge Of God

Science has its difficulties — Christianity a science — Motives for intellectual humility — Chillingworth, his faith in the Bible — Divine foreknowledge — Contingencies, instances — An Arab teasing a Turk — The leaky ship — Storm on the Adriatic — Burning the books 263

Chapter Xxxix." Hints For Certain Hearers

Satan's shadows — Bridge of shadows, the mistake — Dying infidel advised by his brother infidels — Dying in sin, with an aw.ikcned conscience — Death, the cup of trem-

X CONTENTS.

bling — Bible, reverence it — Myconius' dream — Jay on practical preaching — Revival provides pulpit material 270

Chapter XL. Thoughts About Books

Books, pleasing society — My Bible at the port of Rome — Mariners, an old maxim of— Without a compass — Sea-captain and his Bible, narrow escape — Adamic sentence — An impious remark — Eternal old age 276

Chapter XLI. The Truth Of God Defended

Truth and Error — The Oak and the Willow — Pliable statesman — Trials, benefit of— Principle — Paper shot — Verities — Science, medical and theological — Sun, looking at — Oliver Cromwell — Apelles and the courtier — Holy Spirit, human habitation of— Sun and the mirrors — Sinning member punished — Sunshine and stubble 283

Chapter XLII. Impatience

Two against one — Hard to please, or the preacher's difficulties — Clubbing down nature — Aristotle — Patience, as bread to salt, a cloak, helmet, and paring-knife — Satan hit — An emblem — Warm side of the hedge — The preacher tesced — Wealth and wickedness — The whirlwind prayer — Logic impassioned — Talent and genius, distinction, the gift of God — A great time, professors frightened 292

Chapter XLIII. A Stir In The Encampment Of Un Relief

Satan roused — Unbelief, its character— Reviewing, pulpit artillery — Spider webs — The hypochondriac — Merry ass — Sneering at creeds — The course of error — Calvary — Apostasy, fearful prospects — Truth, circuit to find — Democritus, saying of— Hell, a knowledge of the truth — Blindman's buff— Socrates, saying of— Bible, love in every page — Tears, prevalence of— Loud praying 300

Chapter XLIV. A Talk With A Skeptic

Leaning upon a reed — Neutrality — Opinions, the offspring of passion— Prohibited book — Bible societies — The circular saw — Ship in port — Summerficld — The Cause that must live and prevail — Christ's kingdom, final triumph — The poor woman's song.... 311

Chapter XLV. " Bold In The Presence Of Facts."

Preaching, its great end — Baxter's apology — Interest and passion — Dr. Griffen, on the final triumph of the Gospel — Truth defined, a beam of God — Truth, how it turns sin to crimson — Sun, his own evidence — Bible, obligation of Europe and America to — Bible for man, and man for it — Scriptures, cannot be broken — The scales, the Word of God weighed against heaven and earth — The two canopies — Sinner, his peril — Bible, a world without, anomaly in government — Epictetus on truth — Infidel positions — Golgotha 318

CHAPTER XL VI.

A PHILOSOPHICAL DEIST.

Tully and Aristotle in Hades — Bible, neglect of— The lonely island — A clamorous disputant—God, Scripture view of, unequalled — Rocks, their testimony disputed — Deluge — Earth's strata — Bible, a world-wide challenge — Trio well met, their style — The man that lost his shadow 332

Chapter XLVII. On Style

A French word — Juggler, wit, and punster, defined — Style, good, advantages of— Abruptness, a necessity — Lash elegantly — Thought, just, to be beautiful — Writing natural way of— Heart, disordered fountain — Giardino's fiddle 340

CONTENTS. XI

CHAPTER XL VI II.

THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD.

Phocion on persuasion — The ephemeron — Wearing out the hammers — Church, how she triumphs — Bible, antagonism to it, a marvel — Error on the advance — Signs of the times — Crisis farther into the future 344

Chapter XLIX. Turning The Ba1tle To The Gate

Impatience, armor against — Bible, simplicity of its terms — Philosophical inquiries — Pebbles in competition with diamonds — World's wonder — The soul's escort — " Two strings to our bow " — The catcher caught — Hunted down — Necromancer converted — The cock and vulture — Sinners, fearful prospects — God, not to be " outfaced "— Judgment scenes, no escape, no refuge — Preaching, purity of motive — Fearful peril — Time, remorseless 350

Chapter L. The Bible On The Ascendant

Bible, adaptation to mental caliber — The ambassador's boast — Ignorance of Scripture — Painstaking — Divers for pearl — The discouraged miner — "Drowned out" — Experience — Setting his thoughts by the Bible — Prayed for — Cicero to his son — A Bible without difficulties, effects of— Directed to Christ — Bible, a beautiful tribute to- Divine inspiration — Helps to understand the Scriptures — Talking about religion — Bank detectors — Divine patience — The underground river 361

Chapter LI. " Let Us Alone."

Comment — An idiot in eternity — The Grecian's preference — Talents, principal and interest to be required — Insensible sinners— No contending with God — The river Tigris — Old convictions revived— Why in such baste to die ? — Sin a perilous element, fish in a river — " Small sins" 362

Chapter LII. Seeing Things In A Different Light

Pythagoras, maxim — Ingenious about nonsense — Lunacy — The saddest sight — Holy Spirit's aid — Providential guidance — A queen and the Bible— The garden of the Church— A sprig of the tree of life — Bible, why valued — King of Sicily — Bible, abiding by its precepts, etc. — An eloquent tribute — Characters addressed 378,

Chapter LIII. The Imprecation

The Magnet— Ocean experiences— Sermonizing — Compass, deviations from a point — Seamanship, eccentricity — Pulpit tactics — A sea song — Critics — Preaching, object of— St. Paul and the Cross — Horace, depravity — New convert, bones instead of milk — Jews, their isolated position — The Forum at Rome, Author's visit to— Arch of Titus — Reflections — The imprecation — The crimson stain in hell — French divine on eternal punishment — The Cross, a key, a harp, most terrible image in hell — Redemption and perdition, mutual illustrations — German preacher — Crimson shower, effects of— The Cross, a lightning conductor — Its doctrines, effects of — Heathen deserts and northern icebergs under its influences 3S5

Chapter LIV. The Art Of Printing, And The Bible

The first book — Writing, ancient method — Providence — Ptolemy's library — Bible, its size, advantage of— A doubtful sentiment regarding books — Newspapers, heralds of Providence — Books, advantages of reading — A troublesome debater — Novel-reader and the Bible 405

Xll CONTENTS.

Chapter LV. The Bible

Bible and Euclid— Virgil's storm— Shipwreck— Sailor and his Bible — Life preserved by the Bible — The two orphans — A touching story 411

Chapter LVI. The Bible And Its Author

Dive or swim — Pearls — Sky and sea — EzekiePs scroll — Reading the Scriptures — Books, how to test them — Satanic influence — Sword of the Spirit — Universalist sophistry — Small shopkeepers — Error traced — Bigoted philosopher — Indisputable title — Moon a prejudice against — The great discovery — Virgil on controversy — Replies to the "conversazione" — Sincerity and simplicity — Bombast, what? — God, not duration nor space — False gods rather than none — Plutarch's testimony — Napoleon, " Who made all that ? " — Fenelon on the Christian heart — Creation, significance of the term — Pagan absurdities 417

Chapter LVII. The Scriptures Defended

Jesting with Scripture — Bible, an attempt to burn — The Word of God, its sweetness — Bible, our Eden — A dying mother and her Bible — Flowers of inspiration — Jay — Fords and gulfs — Repetitions — Luther and Latimer — Chart, tampering with — John Randolph and his candles — New discoveries — Mistakes — Reason — Locke, and the boasting footman 433

Chapter LVIII. The Soul

Dead works — Going to perdition in silk — Pagans — The Athenian madman — Soul, proofs of its immortality, a pleasing view of — Pagan doubtfulness — Pliny — Scipio's dream — Geologist — The old map — Wise frogs — New ideas, mistake — Old poetry 442

Chapter LIX. A Brush With An Infidel

Devils in his head — Advice to the owls — Oriental literature — Ancient sages — Deist in a stage-coach, a contest — Cicero — An ancient confession — Pagans, Locke on their disabilities— Deist and his rushlight— Tertullian's defence— Pagans and the^kriptures 451

Chapter LX. Replies To Hearers

Religious gayety— Bubbles— " An honest skeptic "—Stating a fact— Servants, foundation for trust — Burleigh on trusting a skeptic — The two Johns— "The Wandering Jew" — Pagans, hope for— Bible, a handsome compliment to — "Book Notices," character of— Bible, a beautiful testimony— A great scholar's testimony for the Scriptures — Hale and Johnson, commending the Bible — Bible, the only objection to it 460

Chapter LXI. The Bible Vindicated

The sun and our time-pieces— A ray of God's Word— Bible its own witness — Sun, argument against — The mountain goatherd and his Bible— Topographical accuracy— A tottering faith — Suspecting the foundations — Revival of infidelity — Jumping with the world— The fatal leap— An old maxim— Conscience— A frightened debtor — Satan's plans 47°

ARROWS FROM MY QUIVER.

Chapter I

EXPLANATIONS TO A HEARER. PULPIT ARCHERY.

iREACHERS differ in their manner. This is as it 2Jjkj> should be. To be true to nature, our style of preaching should, perhaps, be as dissimilar as are our foces. Mine, I suppose, is no exception. My manner differs not only from others somewhat, but is not generally in harmony with itself: thus the style of to-night's discourse (after making a few explanations) will differ, likely, from that of last night ; and that of to-morrow night, if spared, may be as unlike both as possible. Much depends upon circumstances. The same may be said of my replies, and other remarks before taking my text from night to night, and of exhortations in prayer-meetings. Such variations and inequalities are unavoidable. Hearers, not comprehending the causes, are perplexed, and provoked to criticism.

On my return to America in 1847, when ascending the Hudson River on board one of our steamers, I was looking over a volume of my Letters (which had been published in England), not having had an opportunity of doing so since it came from the press. An old farmer, noticing my name in print at the top of the page, said, " Caughey ? do you know him ? " " Yes, I have some acquaintance with him." " I heard him preach, a number of years ago, in the city of Hudson." After making a few remarks, he concluded with, " But his style is not equal, sir ; his style is unequal." That is, I suppose, not uniform — different at different times, and, in his estimation, falling much below itself — which I thought a pretty fair criticism. The old gentleman did not recognize me, as I had spent a number of years in Europe. It was but fair I should remain incog., and we parted good friends. Now, I confess, this is saying a great deal about myself; but as explanations have been required, I hope the apparent egotism will be excused.

But let us proceed. In ancient times archers had two sorts of bows: 1st, the long-bow, which required much strength of arm, and from it the arrow went forth in accordance with the strength of him who used it. 2d, the cross-bow ; from this the arrow r went with the same force, whether shot by a boy or a giant. Lord Bacon, I remember, uses this fact as an illustration of the difference between Assertion and Argument. Assertion he compared to an arrow from the long-bow, depending mainly upon the strength of intellect, and conviction of its truth, in him who projects it ; but it requires more force. Argument he represented as an arrow from a cross-bow, which, if rightly directed, is of the -same force, whether shot by a common or a giant intellect. And yet the sage w r ould not have objected to a hint, that much depended upon the judgment in both classes of archers, whether the arrow went home directly to the mark or not.

EXPLANATIONS TO A IIEARER. PULPIT ARCHERY. 15

Well, sir, it is true, I deal sometimes in assertion, and sometimes in argument, but never in the former unless capable of being sustained by argument; but, taking it for granted that argument is uncalled for, I draw the long-bow, and let the arrow fly with the utmost of my strength. That such arrows reach the mark, now r and then, the cries of the wounded attest most convincingly. Thus the work is accomplished without argument, although I would not say that argument, like a John the Baptist, has not been the forerunner to prepare the way for the arrow of assertion.

I use the word assertion in the sense of an undebatable and positive truth — that which commends itself at ouce to the common sense of my hearers, as well as to their understanding and conscience. And many such truths there are in the doctrines and morals of religion, and in the lives of those who hear, you must be very well aware. My quiver is usually full of these during a revival, and therefore the long-bow of assertion is called most frequently into use, greatly to the annoyance of some that have no liking to come within the range of arrows from that bow. My quiver, I have said, is full of them, and, if not " polished shafts," they are " rough and ready," and sound withal — pointed with the steel of truth, and tipped with fire. And so, tossing my argumentative shield and cross-bow over my shoulder, and giving the fear of man to the winds, the arrows, one by one, are placed at the disposal of my long-bow ', and sent forth with all the force my strength, united with the strength the living God supplies at the moment, with a sure and certain faith of their going straight to the mark, piercing through joints and marrow, through soul and body, through the very thoughts of the heart, clear into the quivering conscience, and there sticking fast, till the hand of Jesus draws them forth, and heals the wounds of the weeping and agonizing sinner.

The deepest humility accompanies all this, which, if not so evident amidst the blaze of zeal and faith, is immediately so on retiring to the footstool of God in secret. Diminished congregations for a time, after such a conflict, or professors siding some with those who have taken offence, deprecating " such extravagance and imprudence," are apt to bring a large increase of humiliation. If the conversion of many has beeu the result, it does not distress me ; but, if the results do not appear, then is my soul burdened indeed. Oh ! what seasons of conflict, and power, and victory I have had with my long-bow ! — ay, and of humiliation also.

But the cross-boiv is sometimes brought into action, and, consequently, the quiver where the argumentative arrows are deposited. Argument is an arrow from this bow — a reason, or a series of reasons, in support of .a debatable or disputable point.

A single proposition may require many of these arguments. A. proposition attributing some quality, negative or positive, to the subject on hand ; some affirmation requiring proof, when skeptics demand it or weak believers need it — this must not be withheld. I have seen some fine effects and lasting convictions resulting from the cross-hoio arrows. Even as in the case of that skeptic who said, " Cleverly done ! a fine fellow that ; made the best of his argument ; almost, but not quite, convinced; shall hear him again." Well, even that is worth something ; it may be the forerunner of better things. But determined opposers, who need the earthquake that awakened the Philippian jailor to arouse them, or a storm such as that

EXPLANATIONS TO A HEAEEE. PULPIT AECHEEY. 17

which vindicated the claims of God upon a Jonah, or red-hot thunderbolts, such as those to which Israel's God gave the flocks of the Egyptians, in days of old, as David tells us : these laugh at the whole affair of cross-bow argument, and set out from the house of God for a glass of grog, a jug of ale, and a game at cards, or something worse, and think no more of it. The long-bozo arrows are the best for these gentlemen. Do you understand me ?

My aiming so directly at the mark, renders such spiritual archery so very intolerable. True, it is the manner of projecting the arrows which seems to provoke criticism. But that is not the difficulty ; the provocation is that the arrow- is aimed at a mark, and actually hits it ! Were the humble archer but to aim at some imaginary character, sitting away upon some distant rock of Asia, or at the clouds, or higher yet, the stars, criticism would be amused and quiet, as a snake I once tried to charm by whistling to it, but the moment I stopped whistling, he eyed the cudgel in my hand, and darted out his fang like the forked lightning ! so I concluded to let him alone, if he would let me alone, and both of us went our ways ; and I thought if I could but treat sinners in this way, the carnal mind and myself might be on better terms ; at least the severity of criticism might be avoided. But men have souls, and snakes have none ; therefore, neither they nor myself have much peace these days.

A criticism one levelled at the writings of Plato, may not be amiss here : that Plato drew a good bow ; but, like Alcestes in Virgil, he aimed at the stars; and, therefore, though there was no want of strength or skill, the shot was thrown away. His arrow was indeed followed bv a track of dazzling radiance, but it struck nothing ! If my pulpit archery were of this sort, the criticisms of the party in question would be somewhat more lenient, I fancy ; but as I cannot be an Alcestes, let me be a Jonathan, of whose bow it was said it " turned not back" and of his father's sword, it "returned not empty. 11 (2 Sam. i. 22.) There are more arrows in the quiver, and they may rely upon it none of them shall be wasted. Amen !

Chapter II

. CHRISTIANS DEFENDED.

J£$W^ ET " one who has had his eyes opened " make use of !$fN\. his ears for a few minutes, for the stranger trusts he f'/YWO^ nas something to say worth hearing, as you have seen some things worth seeiug among professors of religion ! A certain poet calls consistency a jewel. Would to God that all our people were adorned with it ! That would tell upon the world much more than the most eloquent preaching ! The loadstone for its attraction, and the diamond for its brlliancc. Christians should resemble both, as to their attractive qualities and the brilliancy of their graces. We lament that too many are not so. Nevertheless, there are some who possess these engaging properties. Your " inference " is a sad one, and dangerous too : "If Christians do so and so, why may not I?" A shrewd man proposed the matter thus : " If a professor cuts his finger, I may boldly cut my throat." You reject the application of the principle to your body, and yet seem to have no scruple in applying it to your soul ? Where is the consistency of that ?