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interpretation of the Bible； of all that literature； science； and
art could contribute。 Hence his writings had a wider influence
than could be produced by the fascination of personal eloquence； on
which Savonarola relied； but which Luther made only accessory。
Again； the sermons of the Florentine reformer do not impress us as
they did those to whom they were addressed。 They are not logical；
nor doctrinal； nor learned；not rich in thought； like the sermons
of those divines whom the Reformation produced。 They are vehement
denunciations of sin； are eloquent appeals to the heart； to
religious fears and hopes。 He would indeed create faith in the
world； not by the dissertations of Paul； but by the agonies of the
dying Christ。 He does not instruct； he does not reason。 He is
dogmatic and practical。 He is too earnest to be metaphysical； or
even theological。 He takes it for granted that his hearers know
all the truths necessary for salvation。 He enforces the truths
with which they are familiar； not those to be developed by reason
and learning。 He appeals； he urges； he threatens； he even
prophesies； he dwells on divine wrath and judgment。 He is an
Isaiah foretelling what will happen； rather than a Peter at the Day
of Pentecost。
Savonarola was transcendent in his oratorical gifts； the like of
which has never before nor since been witnessed in Italy。 He was a
born orator； as vehement as Demosthenes； as passionate as
Chrysostom； as electrical as Bernard。 Nothing could withstand him；
he was a torrent that bore everything before him。 His voice was
musical； his attitude commanding； his gestures superb。 He was all
alive with his subject。 He was terribly in earnest； as if he
believed everything he said； and that what he said were most
momentous truths。 He fastened his burning eyes upon his hearers；
who listened with breathless attention； and inspired them with his
sentiments； he made them feel that they were in the very jaws of
destruction； and that there was no hope but in immediate
repentance。 His whole frame quivered with emotion； and he sat down
utterly exhausted。 His language was intense； not clothing new
thoughts； but riveting old ideas；the ideas of the Middle Ages；
the fear of hell； the judgments of Almighty God。 Who could resist
such fiery earnestness； such a convulsed frame； such quivering
tones； such burning eyes； such dreadful threatenings； such awful
appeals？ He was not artistic in the use of words and phrases like
Bourdaloue； but he reached the conscience and the heart like
Whitefield。 He never sought to amuse； he would not stoop to any
trifling。 He told no stories； he made no witticisms； he used no
tricks。 He fell back on truths； no matter whether his hearers
relished them or not； no matter whether they were amused or not。
He was the messenger of God urging men to flee as for their lives；
like Lot when he escaped from Sodom。
Savonarola's manner was as effective as his matter。 He was a kind
of Peter the Hermit； preaching a crusade； arousing emotions and
passions； and making everybody feel as he felt。 It was life more
than thought which marked his eloquence；his voice as well as his
ideas； his wonderful electricity； which every preacher must have；
or he preaches to stones。 It was himself； even more than his
truths； which made people listen； admire； and quake。 All real
orators impress themselvestheir own individualityon their
auditors。 They are not actors； who represent other people； and
whom we admire in proportion to their artistic skill in producing
deception。 These artists excite admiration； make us forget where
we are and what we are； but kindle no permanent emotions； and teach
no abiding lessons。 The eloquent preacher of momentous truths and
interests makes us realize them； in proportion as he feels them
himself。 They would fall dead upon us； if ever so grand； unless
intensified by passion； fervor； sincerity； earnestness。 Even a
voice has power； when electrical； musical； impassioned； although it
may utter platitudes。 But when the impassioned voice rings with
trumpet notes through a vast audience； appealing to what is dearest
to the human soul； lifting the mind to the contemplation of the
sublimest truths and most momentous interests； then there is REAL
eloquence； such as is never heard in the theatre； interested as
spectators may be in the triumphs of dramatic art。
But I have dwelt too long on the characteristics of that eloquence
which produced such a great effect on the people of Florence in the
latter part of the fifteenth century。 That ardent； intense； and
lofty monk； world…deep like Dante； not world…wide like Shakspeare；
who filled the cathedral church with eager listeners； was not
destined to uninterrupted triumphs。 His career was short； he could
not even retain his influence。 As the English people wearied of
the yoke of a Puritan Protector； and hankered for their old
pleasures； so the Florentines remembered the sports and spectacles
and fetes of the old Medicean rule。 Savonarola had arrayed against
himself the enemies of popular liberty； the patrons of demoralizing
excitements； the partisans of the banished Medici； and even the
friends and counsellors of the Pope。 The dreadful denunciation of
sin in high places was as offensive to the Pope as the exposure of
a tyrannical usurpation was to the family of the old lords of
Florence； and his enemies took counsel together； and schemed for
his overthrow。 If the irritating questions and mockeries of
Socrates could not be endured at Athens； how could the bitter
invectives and denunciations of Savonarola find favor at Florence？
The fate of prophets is to be stoned。 Martyrdom and persecution；
in some form or other； are as inevitable to the man who sails
against the stream； as a broken constitution and a diseased body
are to a sensualist； a glutton； or a drunkard。 Impatience under
rebuke is as certain as the operation of natural law。
The bitterest and most powerful enemy of the Prior of St。 Mark was
the Pope himself；Alexander VI。； of the infamous family of the
Borgias；since his private vices were exposed； and by one whose
order had been especially devoted to the papal empire。 In the eyes
of the wicked Pope； the Florentine reformer was a traitor and
conspirator； disloyal and dangerous。 At first he wished to silence
him by soft and deceitful letters and tempting bribes； offering to
him a cardinal's hat； and inviting him to Rome。 But Savonarola
refused alike the bribe and the invitation。 His Lenten sermons
became more violent and daring。 〃If I have preached and written
anything heretical；〃 said this intrepid monk； 〃I am willing to make
a public recantation。 I have always shown obedience to my church；
but it is my duty to obey God rather than man。〃 This sounds like
Luther at the Diet of Worms； but he was more defenceless than
Luther； since the Saxon reformer was protected by powerful princes；
and was backed