you seek Philosophy, and confide in that? It is a ravening wolf, and ere
morning you are consumed. Will you lean on human pride--on your own
sufficiency? It is a broken reed, and your fall will be forever fatal.
Will you say there is no God?"--his voice sank into a low, menacing
whisper--"will you say there is no God?" He raised his hands warningly,
and shook them over the congregation while he lowered his voice. "Hush!
hush! lest he hear--lest he mark--lest the great Jehovah"--his voice
swelling suddenly into loud, piercing tones--"Maker of heaven and earth,
Judge of the quick and the dead, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
and the End, the eternal Godhead from everlasting to everlasting, should
know that you, pitiable, crawling worm--that you, corrupt in nature and
conceived in sin! child of wrath and of the devil! say that there is no
God! Woe, woe! for the Judge cometh! Woe, woe! for the gnashing of teeth
and the outer darkness! Woe, woe! for those who crucified him, and
buffeted him, and pierced him with thorns! Woe, woe! for the Lord our
God is a just God, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. But oh! when
the day of mercy is past! Oh! for the hour--sinner, sinner, beware!
beware!--when that anger rises like an ingulfing fiery sea, and sweeps
thee away forever!"

It seemed as if the sea had burst into the building; for the congregation
half rose, and a smothered cry swept over the people. Many rose upright
with clasped hands and cried, "Hallelujah!" "Praise be to God!" Others
lay cowering and struggling upon the seats; others sobbed and gazed with
frantic earnestness at the face of the young apostle. Children with
frightened eyes seized the cold hands of their mothers. Some fainted, but
could not be borne out, so solid was the throng. Their neighbors loosened
their garments and fanned them, repeating snatches of hymns, and waiting
for the next word of the preacher. "The Lord is dealing with his people,"
they said; "convicting sinners, and calling the lost sheep home."

The preacher stood as if lifted by an inward power, beholding with joy
the working of the Word, but with a total unconsciousness of himself. The
young man seemed meek and lowly while he was about his Father's business.
And after waiting for a few moments, the music of his voice poured out
peace upon that awakened throng.

"'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.' Yes, fellow-sinners, rest. For all of u