Oh, how his grandest sermons linger still in my memory after three-score years—­like the far-off music of an Alpine horn floating from the mountain tops!  His physique was remarkable, he had the ruddy cheeks of a boy, and his square intellectual head we students used to say “looked like Napoleon’s.”  His voice was peculiarly melodious, especially in the pathetic passages; his imagination was vivid in fine imagery, and he had an unique habit of ending a long sentence in the words of his text, which chained the text fast to our memories.  The announcement of his name always crowded the church in Princeton, and he was flooded with invitations to preach in the most prominent churches of New York, Philadelphia, and other cities.  One of his most powerful and popular sermons was on the text, “Remember Lot’s Wife;” and he received so many requests to repeat that sermon that he said to his brother James in a wearied tone, “I am afraid that woman will be the death of me.”

There may still be old Philadelphians who can recall the magnificent series of discourses which Professor Alexander delivered during the winter of 1847 in the pulpit of Dr. Henry A. Boardman, while Dr. Boardman was in Europe.  The church was packed every Sabbath evening, clear to the outer door, and many were unable to find room even in the aisles.  Dr. Alexander was then in his splendid prime.  His musical voice often swelled into a volume that rolled out through the doorway and reached the passerby on the sidewalk!  During that winter he pronounced all his most famous sermons—­on “The Faithful Saying,” on “The City with Foundations,” on “Awake, Thou that Sleepest!” and on “The Broken and Contrite Heart.”  It was after hearing this latter most original and pathetic discourse that an eminent man exclaimed, “No such preaching as that has been heard in this land since the days of Dr. John M. Mason.”  I enjoy the perusal of the rich, unique, and spiritual sermons of my beloved professor and friend; but no one who reads them can realize what it was to listen to Joseph Addison Alexander in his highest and holiest inspirations.

Was Albert Barnes a great preacher?  Yes; if it is a great thing for a man to hold a large audience of thoughtful and intelligent people in solemn attention while he proclaims to them the weightiest and vitalest of truths—­then was Mr. Barnes a great ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He combined modesty and majesty to a remarkable degree.  He had a commanding figure, keen eye, handsome features, and a clear distinct voice; but so diffident was he that he seldom looked about over his congregation and rarely made a single gesture.  His simple rule of homiletics was, have something to say, and then say it.  He stood up in his pulpit and delivered his calm, clear, strong, spiritual utterances with scarcely a trace of emotion, and the hushed assembly listened as if they were listening to one of the oracles of God.  His best sermons were like a great red anthracite