EARL Y MANHOOD. 23

'^ Haying stated and iilostrated his position clearly^
he laid broad the foundation of his argument,
and piled stone upon stone^ hewed and polished, till
he stood upon a majestic pyramid, with heaven's own
light around him, pointing the astonished multitude
to a brighter home beyond the sun, and bidding de-
fiance to the enemy to move one fragment of the rock
on which his feet were planted. His argument being
completed, his peroration commenced. This was grand
beyond description. The whole universe seemed ani-
mated by its Creator to aid him 'in persuading the
sinner to return to God, and the angels commissioned
to open heaven and come down to strengthen him*

'^ Now he opens the mouth of the pit, and takes
us through its gloomy avenues, while the bolts retreat,
aud the doors of damnation burst open, and the wail
of the lost enters our ears ; and now he opens heaven,
transports us to the flowery plains, stands us amid the
armies of the blest, to sweep, with celestial fingers,
angelic harps, and join the eternal chorus, ' Worthy,
worthy is the Lamb !' As he closed his discourse,
every energy of body and mind was stretched to the
utmost power of tension. His soul appeared too great
for its tenement, and every moment ready to burst
through and soar away as an eagle toward heaven.
