Even before he was fairly
out of college his translation of De Wette's _Introduction to the
Old Testament_ made an impression on many thoughtful men; his sermon
in 1841 on _The Transient and Permanent in Christianity_ marked the
beginning of his great individual career; his speeches, his
lectures, and especially his _Discourse on Matters pertaining to
Religion_, greatly extended his influence. His was a deeply
devotional nature, and his public Prayers exercised by their
touching beauty a very strong religious influence upon his
audiences. He had his reward. Beautiful and noble as were his life
and his life-work, he was widely abhorred. On one occasion of
public worship in one of the more orthodox churches, news having
been received that he was dangerously ill, a prayer was openly made
by one of the zealous brethren present that this arch-enemy might
be removed from earth. He was even driven out from the Unitarian
body. But he was none the less steadfast and bold, and the great
mass of men and women who thronged his audience room at Boston and
his lecture rooms in other cities spread his ideas.
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