The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 47 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 47 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.
red-hot pincers could supply, with flesh, nerves, and sinews quivering under them, was omitted.  The perspiration ran in streams from the face of the preacher; his eyes rolled, his lips were covered with foam, and every feature had the deep expression of horror it would have borne, had he, in truth, been gazing at the scene he described.  The acting was excellent.  At length he gave a languishing look to his supporters on each side, as if to express his feeble state, and then sat down, and wiped the drops of agony from his brow.

“The other two priests arose, and began to sing a hymn.  It was some seconds before the congregation could join as usual; every upturned face looked pale and horror-struck.  When the singing ended, another took the centre place, and began in a sort of coaxing, affectionate tone, to ask the congregation if what their dear brother had spoken had reached their hearts?  Whether they would avoid the hell he had made them see?  ’Come, then!’ he continued, stretching out his arms towards them, ’come to us, and tell us so, and we will make you see Jesus, the dear gentle Jesus, who shall save you from it.  But you must come to him!  You must not be ashamed to come to him!  This night you shall tell him that you are not ashamed of him; we will make way for you; we will clear the bench for anxious sinners to sit upon.  Come, then! come to the anxious bench, and we will show you Jesus!  Come!  Come!  Come!’

“Again a hymn was sung, and while it continued, one of the three was employed in clearing one or two long benches that went across the rail, sending the people back to the lower part of the church.  The singing ceased, and again the people were invited, and exhorted not to be ashamed of Jesus, but to put themselves upon ‘the anxious benches,’ and lay their heads on his bosom.  ‘Once more we will sing,’ he concluded, ’that we may give you time.’  And again they sung a hymn.

“And now in every part of the church a movement was perceptible, slight at first, but by degrees becoming more decided.  Young girls arose, and sat down, and rose again; and then the pews opened, and several came tottering out, their hands clasped, their heads hanging on their bosoms, and every limb trembling, and still the hymn went on; but as the poor creatures approached the rail their sobs and groans became audible.  They seated themselves on the ‘anxious benches;’ the hymn ceased, and two of the three priests walked down from the tribune, and going, one to the right, and the other to the left, began whispering to the poor tremblers seated there.  These whispers were inaudible to us, but the sobs and groans increased to a frightful excess.  Young creatures, with features pale and distorted, fell on their knees on the pavement, and soon sunk forward on their faces; the most violent cries and shrieks followed, while from time to time a voice was heard in convulsive accents, exclaiming, ‘Oh Lord!’ ’Oh Lord Jesus!’ ‘Help me, Jesus!’ and

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The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.