LE CTURE S

H O MIL E T I C S A ND P RE A C HI N G ,

A ND ON

PU B L I C P R AY E R ;

T OG E T H R
E WI T H

S E R M ON S AN D L ETT E R S .

EBENEZ ER P O R T E R, D D,
. .

PR NE S I DE T

O F T H E TH E O LOG A L NARY A OV R
IC SE M I , ND E

K e p r in t eb f r o m t he fi nw ma n ZEDit f o n of 1 834 .

LO N DON

T HOMA S ! VA R D A N D C O .

PAT ERN O ST ER ROW .

 P R E FA C E
‘

IN en t e rin gmy la b o ur s as B A R L E TT P a o
on T p i e ty alone render him s ilful and powerful i k n
AR
F E S S O R o r S C E D R H E T O RI in t hi s Seminar C y , the pulpit Besides r espectable native endow
.

I f o un d the office to be in some re spects a n e w ment s he must have others tha t can result onl
, y
o ne ,
in the bus iness o f theological instruction . from study T he preaching o f the gospel is a
.

After an examination o f the many books that s c i e n ce which has elementary pri nciples
, O ther .

have be en writ t en o n Rhetoric in general and , thi ngs being equal he will best succ e ed in this ,

the comparatively few that have been written sacred work who best understands and applies
,

on Sacred Rhetoric it becomes manifest that , , n

these p ri ciples I t will be sufficient to give .

I mus t be ca lled to traverse a field t o a co n , on e illustrati on o f my meaning The young

n n
.

s i d e r a b le extent untrodden by any predece s sor . preacher who has no i s tructio t o the contrary
k
,

O ne of the first di fficulties which met me as , will b e li ely to draw into the plan of hi s ser
an Instructor o f o ur Senior Class was the want , mon all that is related t o the subj ect i ha d n n .

of any single work that I was satisfied t o put

, If he multiplies hi s divisions to the number o f
into their hands as a Text book o n Homiletics
,
-
.
twenty fiv e he feels confident that he can go
-
,

The be s t thing o f the kind as far as it went , , o n with less mental e ff o r t than if he has but ,

was Fenelon s Dialogues but this little work

’
s ix o r eight great er and smaller But in this
,

y
.

is too li mited in its range o f subj ects and t o o , labour savi ng process he spoils hi s sermon b
-
, ,

desultory as to clas sification o f the matter

, sweeping over so many t hings as t o make no ,

which it does contain to occupy any consider , distinct impression o f any thing
L
.

able time o f students so advanced in knowledge
as our Senior Class are expected to be This
deficiency is no supplied in any adequatet
“
manner by Claude s Essay ; nor by the few
, The Homiletic ectures compri s ed in this
. volume cover only a part o f the ground to
, which my customar instructio s o n these sub y n
’

, j e ct s has been extended in the lecture room

y
.

“
judicious Lectures of Blair o n Preachi ng , It remains with Him t o whom I cheerfull
y
,

nor by those o f “ Campbell o n Pulpit Elo , commit the di sposal o f my life and o f all m ,

powers to determine when if ever the Lectures

, , ,

This state o f the case left me no option as still unfinished shall be completed Should it .

to the course to be pursued It was plainly be his pleasure to give me strength for such a
t
.

necessary for me to adapt my instruc ions t o purpose it is my design to r e write for publica
,
-

the immediate neces s ities o f my pupils and to , tion a course o f Lectures which I have prepared
give them aid o n those pri nciples which they on Style and another course o n Elocution
were at once to apply in pra ctice Hence my .
with special reference to the pulpi t .

precepts t o ok a systematic form as design ed to , The re a der o f these Le ctures is reques t ed t o

exhibit a connected view o f the points w hi ch bear in mind tha t the author has always r e ,

come i n requisition with a theological student , garded this species o f didactic compo sition as ‘

j ust begi nning to compose sermons all owing very little scope t o the imagination
t
.
,

Next to a war m and sancti fied hear and a , and requi ring that the di ction shoul d possess
sound understanding knowledge respecting his , purity simplicity a d prec i sion as its promi ent
, n n
n
,

own sacred employment i s necessary to make quali ties His ear est hOp e is that God will
n
.

n
,

the preacher a workma that needeth not to accept a d bless hi s humble instrumentality f o r
be ashamed No man ca le a r n to preach by
. n the benefit o f hi s you ger b rethren i the holy n n
s t udy me r e ly He must b e t a ught of Go d o r he
.
, n y
mi ist r .

wi ll never understand the gospel He must lo ve .

E P O RTER . .

Chr is t o r he will never feel the motives o f the

,

gospel nor e xhibit its truths in demons t ration

, T he o lo g i ca l S e mi n a r y ,
of the Spirit and with power But neither will .
A n d o v er , J an ua r y , 1 83 4 .
 CON T E N T S .

L E CT UR E X X.

H O MILET IC S A ND PREAC HING .

G e ne ral t Ch r t r t a ac e i s i cs— Di re c ne s s
PAGE

L E CT UR E L L U R XXI E CT E .

n r l Ch r t r t — D r t — xpl t
N RO ORY —G
P A GE
Ge e a a ac e i s i cs i ec E i ci
I U r i t i ca l E xe rci se s
L U R XXII
T D CT .

UR
E CT E
L E CT E 11.
G r l h r t r t —D r — xpl t
.

Hi s t or y o f t he Pulp i t
en e a

L U R XXIII
C a ac e i s i cs i e ct E i ci

L E CT UR E I I I.
Cult v t Sp r tu l H b t P r gr
E CT E .

Hi s t ry
o of t he P ulp i t
i a io n o f i i a a i s, an d o e ss in

L E CT UR E IV .

C h o i ce o f T t e x s
U B L I C P RA Y E R ON P
UR V
.

L
L UR
E CT E .

Ch Subj t — G r l Pri i pl e s— F ur l E CT E I .

H t ry rd r P tur L gth ubl Pr y r

o i ce o f en e a nc o c a s se s

S ubj t D tr l th l tr l H
ec s

e c s— ina E i ca Hi s i ca is o O e os e an d en o f P ic a e s

— Pr y r C r t
o f oc o ,
or , ,
, ,

a e to h is

L E CT UR E VI L UR E CT E II.

L turg
.

Stru tur S rm n —
c e of e o s Ge n e ra Pri n ci l pl es — Exo r ium d Us e o f i ie s

L UR E CT E VI I L U R III E CT E .

G r l Dr t Publ Pr y r
.

x
E p i ca i ol t n of T xt—Pr uti
e e ca o n s — Pro p to si io n en e a i ec io n s on ic a e

L UR ECT E V III L UR E CT E IV .

F ult Pr y r
.

a s in a e 0 0. 0 0 .

UR L E CT E i x .

Dv i i si o n — O bj t ec io n — Uti l i ty
s
S E R MON S .

L UR E CT E x .
SE R ON
M I

Dv d l
.

i i sio n— Difie r e n t ki n
'
s— Ru es Do c r ina —t l Lv o e t o Go d . M tt xx a . i i 3 7, 3 8
.

L E CT UR E X I. SE R ON
M II.

Ar gum nt S rm ne in e o s Do c ri no t Pr ac t l—L v
i ca o e t o Go d . Ma tt xx. ii 3 7 , 3 8
.

L E CT UR E XII . R ON III SE M .

Ar gum nt e s— Ri fl e s o n o o 0 “ Eth al— F r ght Futur ty

ic v o e si o f i . Je r . iii . 7

L E CT UR E XIII . R N SE MO I V.

Ru e s l of Ar g um e n t H t r l—
is lg u D n D
o i ca Re i i o s e ci s i o . an . vi . 10

L E CT UR E X IV. R ON V SE M .

C lu
onc si o n of S rm e ons H t t ry —
or a o C r l S r w rn d T he a e e ss in ne a e . Isa i . . 18 123

L E CT UR E xv .

Styl e o f t he P lp
u i t —F a ul s— Exce t ll n e ce s
L E T T ER S .

L E CT UR E X VI . L E T TE R I .

Dr ti ec io ns i n f rm g
o in a s ty l e On B oo k s an d Re a i n d g
L E CT UR E X IIV . L E TT E R I I.

G en e a r l har t r t
C S rm n — v n g l l
ac e i s i cs o f e o s E a e i ca On B oo k s an d Re a i n d g
L UR E CT E xv r r r . L E T TE R III .

G ene r Ch r t r t — tru t v
al a ac e i s i cs In s c i e R h t r l Stud
e o i ca i e s i n t he S en i o r Y e ar

L UR E CT E XI X. L E TT E R I V.

G ene r l h
a t r t — tr t v
C ar a c e i s i cs In s uc i e To a Pr f
o e s so r in a. Th l g l S m n ry
eo o i ca e i a
 SYLLABUS

O F T HE

L E C T U R E S O N H O M I L E T I C S

AN D O N

P U BLI C P R AY E R .

N t t B — The rs Le c ure i s i n ro uc o ry
fi t d t p t
I t h as re s ec to t he s yt s e m o f publ ic an d pr v t
i a e e xe rci se s i n
t m g l S Cl wh h x r d t mp r l w th
. . .

cr i i ci s o n o r i i n a se rmo n s o f t he e n io r as s , ic e e ci s e s a r e ca rri e o n co n e o an e o us y i t he

h lt t t
,

co ur se o f o m i e i c i n s ruc i o n .

LECTURE L manner The habit o f se eking compliments t o

.
,

C R ALITI C E X E R C ISE S.
be avoided by the young preacher
or
Offici o us
impertinent remarks when well intended ,
.

Laws of t he Seminary respecting these .

how to be treated Take care tha t the habit o f .

I Why such exercises are important to Theo

.
criticism o n the sermons o f others shall n o t
, ,

logical Students .
withdraw your attention f rom the great end o f
1 The preaching o f the gos el is a work in preaching nor injure your spirit of piet y Cau
p , .
. ,

preparing for which every a tta i nable degree o f tion necessary in mingling such exerc i ses with
early e ff orts in public prayer and in preaching
'

perfection sho uld b e sought

y
. , .

2 N 0 one sho uld thi n k himself already so per

.
A literar cen s orship should be religiously
f e ct as t o be above improvement .
avoided o n the sabbath .

3 The requisite improvement is not to be

.

'

made without one s o w n e fio r t ’

.

Opinion o f Johnson o n this point ; his exam

ple as a critic on himsel f This proce s s o f cor
, .
LEC T URE II .

rection requires more caution and judgment in

regard to a sermon than to an e s say ; but the “mm “ 0" ” BA C H NG I

danger lies more i wrong habits o f writing n , What do y o u know o f Enoch as a religious
than in subsequent correction . teacher ? and what of Noah ?
Yet 4 No man can be so perfect a critic o n
. General form o f religious instruction and
himself as not to n e ed some aid from the j udg
, worship in the patri archal ages what was it ? ,

ment of others ; for two reasons ; t he imper Tabernacle .

ce p t ib le influence o f habit Partiali ty t o faults Schools of the prophets what were they ?
W v
.
,

which are his o w n hat chan g e took place after the capti ity in
n t
.
,

These principles somewhat modified by age the qual i fications a d du ies of religious teachers ?
t t
.

O ther hings being equal he youngest men are , and for what reasons ? Readi ng of the Scripture s
generally least patient o f critici sm . in synagogue worship ; w hat parts ? in what
II How such critical exercises should be con
. method ?
ducted Difie r e n t ch a rac teristics o f true taste
'

Prie s ts in E gypt and Persia ; their public

n
.
,

a d o f that which is arti ficial . rank privileges s ervices

, , .

In public exercis es devoted t o critical remarks , State o f assemblies t o whom Christ and t he
among Christian students is it be st form ally t o apostles preached
t
.
,

aim at poi n ting o ut good quali ies as well as , N a mes o f the preacher and of his discourse ,

defects ? A consideration in favour o f such among the Fathers .

co mm endatory remarks Five reasons agai ns t . La ics preaching o f what ? Deacon did this
, , ,

them when made as part of a system In pri o ffice imply authority t o pre a ch ? Deaconesses
y
.
, ,

vate criticism the may often be pro per . their duties .

Two cautions ; Cultivate the habit of receiving P la ce o f public worship among the early ,

censure o r approbation fro m others in a proper Christians Erection o f Churches in time of

.

0 “
 SY LL ABUS .

Constantine ; P ulpit its name a d form ; place , n the Bible hich should be chosen fir st the
. W ,

o f Presbyte rs and Deacons . subj ect o r the text Campbell s reasons f o r pre .
’

Ti me o f preac hing ; viz frequency o f o n week . ferring the former course Cases in which it .

days ; numbe r o f services o n the same Lord s ’

must be adopted Danger to be guarded against . .

day ; usage o f the Ro mi sh and the Greek church General character o f motto sermons
t
.
,

in his respect 2 The r e s ho uld be n o afie ct a t i o n of p e culi a r i ty

n
. .

P o s t ur e o f the preacher what ? als o o f the ,

i n t he cho i c e of a t e xt Professed motive i such .

hearers Classification o f hearers Why their

. . cas es Examples . .

3 A t e xt s ho uld con t a i n a co mp le t e s e n s e o i ts e l
f
faces to the east ?
P r a y e r before sermon a n d aft er ; how it a p
.

Explanation o f this rule Whe it is v i olated

f n
.

, , .
,

pears that the minister used hi s o w n language what is generally t he motive ; examples o f its
in prayer among primitive Chri s tian s violati on by Bishop Horne Om ission o f words
n
.
, , .

R e a d i n g t he S cr ip t ur e s ; by whom ? Con a d phrases in the middle o f a text though the ,

n e xi o n between the pas s age re a d and the subj ect s ense is not destr oyed ; examples from Blair
n ,

W
.

of t he sermon ; co s equence as t o unity o f hat ad vantages in a concise text The proper

n
, .

co urse for the preacher when his text contai s

more matter than he wishes t o discus s .

4 I t s ho uld e xp r e ss a comp le t e s e n s e of t he i n
.

s ir e d w r it e r The ta king from a compound sen

p .

LEC T RE U III tence a single clause e xpressing grammatical

t
. , ,

HI ST ORY O F P R A H NG E C I .
sense may o r may not be a viola ion o f this
,

r ule : Examples o f both kinds

,

I n ancient
.

f S e r o ns o m
assemblies 5 I t s ho uld fa i r ly con t a i n o r s ugges t t he s ubj e c t
V
. .
,

a r e r s distinguished into two gener al classes ; of di s cour s e iolations where there is a fauci
.
,

Adaptations o f subj ects to these Most general f ul connexion o f sound and sense ; examples
W
. .

character o f subj ects in the second century ; here there i s no connexion o f any sort ; ex
state o f the chur ch as to controversy Influence amples W
here the apparent sense is not the
y
. .

o f Platonic philosophy in the third centur on true sense ; examples Accommodation o f a

,

y , .

the pulpit From Chr sostom onward to the

. text improper and proper kind o f examples .

6 A t e xt s ho uld ha v e s i mp li c i ty
. Should n o t .

demand a nice philological exposition Nor a , .

theological discussion t o show that the apparent

sense is consistent with the preacher s subj ect ’

n
.

Should n o t promise great e ff orts i the preacher .

P r ep a ra
f S e r mo n s Extempo rar method
t i on o . y , LEC T URE V .

by whom introduced ; evidence that St Augus

y
ti ne and Chr sostom sometimes preached in this
.

S UB JE C T S O F R ON SE M S.

manner ; but that general us age was in favour o f S tate the church in any period ho w to be
o f ,

written sermons In what case Augustine justi

.
kno w n from the prevalent strai n o f preachi ng .

fle d the practice o f preaching other men s ser ’

This principle applied to four di fferent periods of
mons T o what extent this practice has prevailed
.
the church Choice o f subj ects will be accord
.

in the Engli s h c hurch ; its influence o n the ing to the principal end o f the preacher Cir .

spirit of the pulpi t cums t a n ce s which have given character to the

n
.

E lo que n ce of S e r mon s T he t w o most d isti .

pulpit at di fferent times viz celebrated mod els .
,

gui she d ancient treatises o n this subj ect Elo . great emergencies in the church Circumsta nces .

ue n t Latin Fathers ; also Greek fathers besides which at all times will influence a j udicious
,
hr y s o s t o m ; extract from the latter .
preacher in choosing his subj ects : capacity and
L e n g t h of S e r mo n s Mode o f measuring .
. cultivation o f hi s hearers ; time and occas ion ;
Customary len g th why difficult t o be determined , his o w n talents and age ; hi s relation to the
from r i n t e d sermons o f the day .
hearers .

E e ct of S e r mo n s ; as to silence and order in F our ge n e r a l c la s s e s of s ubj e cts .

e mbli e s : applauses o f hearers what and how

I D o ct r i n a l O bj ect o f a doctrinal sermon
n
far e couraged b preachers y .
, ,

W
.

hat is meant by essential doctrines

.

From .
.

w hat motives a man who believes these may y e t ,

forbear to preach them Reasons f o r preaching .

them
W
.

LECTURE IV . II E thica l
. hy thi s term is here preferred.

C HO O F
I CE TE X TS.
to practical and moral ; doctrines are practical
Character o f sermons commonly called moral ;
.

From what princ ple this practice is derived

i W
Wn
and influence o n hearers hat sort o f subj ects
n
. .

hy i t 1 8 no obj ect i on to this practice that there

.

belong to ethi cal discours es Three cautions i

18 othi ng analogous to it in secular orator y public treatment o f these
.

n
. .

III His t o r i ca l Includi g facts which respect

. .

an individual a period a community Eulogies , , .

o n the dead inexpedi ent why ? Maxim “De mo r

,
”
tuis nil nisi bonum
, Nor may we describe all .
 SYLLABUS .

the bad qualities o f the dead the true course 1 He ma y pp os in

g t o o ma n d
y ifii u lt i es
err by s u
‘

t
. . c
Two dif fic ulties in preaching on hi s orical sub i n his w a y Tendency o f t hi s state o f m i nd i n
.

j ects Several advantages ; evidence o f fac ts a preacher To what extent the Bible i s a plai n
t t t
. .

surpas s es other kinds ( firs t) in familiari y and book ; how the suppo s i ion hat o n essential
preci s ion ( s econdly ) in vivaci y of impression
,

t . . points it is neces s arily unintelligible t o plain

,
,

Examples from the Bible o f t he difference b e pious men i s i nconsistent with the grand princ i
t
,

tween abs tract teachin g and illu s tra ion of fac t s ple of Prote s tantis m Why reasonable to expect
V
. .
,

I Hor t a t o ry The mo s t common fault i n thi s

. . that it would be intelligible t o such men if we ,

s ort of discour s e ; remarks o n language of terror con s ider by whom f o r whom and for what pur , ,

and denunciation Three general remarks as to . pose i t was written Evidence that it has been
, .

choice of subj ects The preacher s hould ai m . correctly understood b such men Yet .
,

at variety Avoid a vain love of novelty Never

. . 2 .He ma y e r r by i n g i t f o r gr a n t e d t ha t t he ,

be perplexed for want of s ubj ects . obv i o us i s a lw a ys t he t r ue se n s e Reasons why this .

ought n o t to be expec ted ; great diversity o f

matter and phraseology in the Bible local cus
toms figures Examples o f allusions to oriental
, .

LEC TURE VI .
custom s in which the terms do not obviously
,

G N RAL PR N P L
E E I CI ES .
—E X OR DI UM .
convey the true meaning viz from language o f
Moses and of Chri st , .
, .

P r e li mi n a ry r ema r ks Nece s sity of a sound j udg .

3 He ma y e r r by a i mi n g t o fin d a n e w s e n s e t o
.

ment in a pre a cher ; t o preserve him fr om a hi s t e xt Motives that may lead to this cours e
. .

mechanical uniformity in his sermon s ; and from Random censures in sermons o f the received , ,

di sregard o n the other hand o f all settled prin translation why improper Excess o f criticism
t
.
, ,

ci p le s thr ough a studied pec uli arity Neces s ity in the pulpi condemned by C a mpbell ; his rea
W
, . ,

o f pious feeling what character wi ll be imparted sons . hat was the example o f Christ and the
to hi s s ermon s by the want o f this ; and by the ap ostles in relation to this subj ect ? Ho w a man s ’

posses s ion of it Principal parts o f a sermon critical knowledge without any ostentation o f it
t
.
, , ,

what This classifica ion only general to be may benefit hi s hearers

t
. .
,

more or les s used according t o the subj ect When the s ense of he text is ascertained and
t t ,
.
,

E xor di um I s chief obj ect what Chief o h

.
, . exhibited i is announced in the ,

s t a cle s to the preacher s success s tated Pr e

’
, . P r op os i t i o n Diff erence in the signification o f .

judiec again s t hi s ta lents character o r opinions , ,

this term as use d i n logi c and as us ed i n oratory
, , .

how to be treat e d Ign orance and indi ff erence Examples of each Either i s proper in a sermon
t
. .

o f hearers ; the regard which hese require as ,

which most favourable to unity Manner of .

to the mode of pre s enting a subj ect . announcing propositions Two suggestions o f .

An exordium should possess l Simplicity ; , . caution .

this forbids pomp and studied ornament Warm, .

appeals t o passions O stentation o f learning . .

Abstruse thought and language Abruptness . .

Exam les of proper and improper abruptness LECT RE VII I .

U .

2 . e r t i n e n ce ; it should not be foreign from

the subj ect or occasion No r general and trite

, .
U IT
.
N Y .

Influence o f pertinence on variety Introduction Un i ty ; why is it that some do and others do

t
.
,

from the context advantages o f n o t con s ider divisions as inconsistent with uni y ?

t
, .

3 D e li ca cy ; this s hould arise from reverence

. Unity di fferent from samene s s Unity w i h and , .

towards Go d & c ; respect to hearers It does without variety Illu s trations ; from a j ourn ey
t
, . .

not require timidity ; nor formal apologies for from navigation applied to a dull uniformi y i n
defects of the preacher ; obj ection to these It the matter and me hod o f sermons .
,

t .

forbids an angry austere manner Unity in a sermon requires that it be

V
, .
,

4 Jud i ci o us le n g t h ; r a ct i ce of o ld divines ; of 1 On e in subj ect iolated by too many

some modern ones Tiie kind of matter common pre aratory topics diverting hea rers fr om the
.
. .
,

p
.
,

in long exordium T w o brief reasons why i n . mai n poi n t when there i s one How exemplified , .

experienced pre a chers are apt to di late the first in Claude s plan on Acts ii 2 7 Thou wilt not ’
. .

tho ughts o f a sermon .

”
leave my soul i n hell & c Subj ect the re s ur , .
,

rection of Chri st introduced by a discussion of

‘
Peter s in spiration ; and the notion concerning ’

limbus patrum iolated by introducing a . V

LECTURE VII s ystem of religion into each sermon .

2 O ne i n de s ign
.

EX S I TI — SI TIPO ON PROPO ON De s ign a di stinct thing from

subj ect Example ; it is his which should leave

. .
.

.
.

t
E xp os i t i o n of t he t e xt When after due exam o n the hearers some o n e d istinct and predominant
.

i n a t i o n we suppose ourselves still not to under

, impre s sion .

stand a text what cours e is prope r Explanatory

, 3 O ne in a djus t ment of its parts to the prin . .

remarks may be useful where no di fficulty is to ci p a l end and to each other Grand p r inciple in
, , .

be removed and may fa ll in w ith the exordium preaching viz a sermon should produce an e f fect .
, .

Where a regular exposition o f the text is called as a whole How accomplished Its materials . .

for there i s a diff erence between the o fli ce o f the should be chosen and arranged with a view to
t
,

cri ic and of t he preacher this Illu s tration fr om works o f art ; from ar

n
, . .

Practic al principles to be observed b y the latter chi t e ct ur e from lands cape garden i g from his .
,
 L
SY LA BUS .

toric an d portrait pai nting ; fro m epic and a geographi cal description of a whole by i t s parts
t t
.

dramatic poetry Character o f a sermon made .

Few ; i ll us trated by a map Mul iplica ion of .

up of a s ucce s smn o f good remarks unconnected ; divi s ions in the s eventeenth century Conci s e
t
.
,

or o f s triking sentences o r br i lli ant passages in terms Reasons of his rul e example of
.

verbose div i s ion from We lw o o d s s ermons How

, ,
’

independent o f a main obj ect

n
.
.

4 O ne in mode o f illustratio
. .
brevity o f term s is promoted by aid o f gr a mm a t
o ul d serve to fix the main 5 ical ellipsis Examples o f brevity in the form o f
n n n
.

i the mind Does u ity forbid .

heads by such an arrangement as to sus pe d
,

them all on some o n e connecting term or claus e ,

.

LEC T RE I X U . LE C TURE XI .

DI V I SI ON S. ARG U N ME T .

l Obj e c t i o n s t o div isions T hey give an air Some w ho allo w reasoning to b e proper in
n y
.
.

o f stif f ess and take away the interest which an

,
secular orator obj ect to it in the pulpit why ? ,

intelli gent hearer has in discovering the method The obj ection not well grounded Influence of .

for hi mself A n s T o intelligent hearers divi .

such an opinion o n the preacher o n the hearers
. , , .

sions are not useless ; and to plain hearers they are Moral evidence and not demonstrati on is appro , ,

in dispensable ; especially in a spoken di scourse p r i a t e to the reasoning o f pulpi t Still it does . .

Obj Divi s ions are a schol a stic device unknown not follow that a knowl e dge of intellectual
. ,

in ancient oratory A ns Ancient orators though lo s o p hy and o f geometry are us eless to

. .
, , ,

not formal had method Examples from Cicero preacher ; n o r that religion does not admit o f
, .
,

in which his method w as distinctly announced certainty . .

2 Ut i li ty of di visions By these is meant not

S o ur c e s of Ar gume n t
. . ,

occul t but obvious divi s ions Not essenti al that

.

heads be alway s marked numerically ; sever al 1 The B i ble i s t he c hi e f s o ur c e of a r g ume n t i n .

ways of marki ng them to hearers Do d dr i dg e s t he p ulp i t O n some subj ects the only source ’

t
. . .

advice and example Method promotes p e r In regard to subj ects and evidence o f this sor
.
,

s p i cui t y Beauty Illii s t disorder in a fine what is the proper province o f rea s on How
. . .

library Brevity how promoted Energy may we fail in giving prominence to the divine
t
. .

order strengthens impre ssion by combining the tes imony Examples of this defect Sermons . .

powe r of separate arguments ; by relieving atten o f Ed w ards in what re s pects a pattern o f rea ,

tion and promoting vivacity Memory is soning from the Scriptures O n some subj ects
t
.
, .

aided ; viz o f the preacher and hearers illus

. proofs are mixed p artly from the Bible par ly , , , ,

t r a t e d from the philosophy o f memo r y from from other sources Examples of this sort . .

facts viz plan o f a city introduction t o stran

, . 2 C on s c io us n e s s Distinction be tween this and
, . .

gers in a room aid o f method to memory as an conscience Strength of this evidence T o what . .

associating princ iple Story o f Joseph compar e d purpo s es this kind of evidence is mo s t applic able
t
. .

with li s ts o f names in Chronicles Kind of ser 3 C o mmo n s e n s e Why proposi ions o f this . . .

mons that are in fact most easily remembered by class are called self evident E xample from -
.

common people Test from the practice o f note Tillotson to show ho w this sort o f evidence may
.
,

taking and o f repeating sermons in famili es

, be employed in sermons How this s ort o f rea . .

soning applies to the doctrine of strict imputation

o f Adam s sin Al so t o t he atural inability of
’
. n
sinners .

LEC TURE X .

DI V ISI ON S.

3 . K i n ds of divisions
The Verbal o r T extual ; .
LEC TURE XII .

the Topical ; the principle o f each stated

ample o f t he kind o f division required by each
.

,
ARGU N ME T

o n this text Add to your fai th virtue and t o

”
, , f a c t s ; including expe rience ,

virtue knowledge & c And on this To day , .

,
-
testimony authority A general law of the
, .

”
shalt thou be wi t h me in paradi se The Scho . materi al and intellectual worlds stated according ,

lastic ; principle o f Example o f division o n , to which facts become the basis o f argument .

t ext He that believeth s hal l be saved and o n To what extent this sort of evidence may be used
”
this The just shall live by faith
, Example of . i n s ermons Cases in which t es t i mo n y as proof
.
,

a deliberative oration on the same plan . in s ermons is liable to abuse A ut hor i ty ; its , .

4 R ule s by which d ivisions should be con abuse ; its true weight Practical bearing o f this
W
.
.

ducted They should be Necessary

. h en , . last topic o n the evidence o f what doctrines are
they are so Well arranged Chief principles . . taught in the Bible .

of arrangement in di f f erent cases according to ,

order of cause and e ff ect ; order o f time o f genus

and species In s ome cases the order o f h eads .
,

i s nearly indi f ferent in others it is essential

n
, .

Examples of both ki ds Complete ; what is .

p rinciple Protestantism mus t be adhered t o
o f ,

meant Ill ustration from light and colours from

.
that o ur faith must conform to the Bible and not ,
 SYLLABUS .

the Bible t o our fai h iola ions of t hi s prin t V t preacher Application b the agenc y y o f co n
t
. .

ci p le ; heir tendency . sc i enc e Examples from rench p ulp i t

.
‘

2 But though there be no pervers i on the

t
. ,

proof may b e obscured by quo ing too many

texts or t o o few ; o r by bare quotation o f the
,
clo s e Convergent method and divergent ; ho w
.
,

text where comment al s o is necessary to show the former is analogous t o the current o f a river
t
. .
,

i t s bearing Examples on the last point Cases

.
. In adju s ing the plan of a sermon how far should ,

in which Scriptural proo f is made o ut by co m the topics o f concl usion be previou s ly settled ?
pari s on and induc ion t . Inferences ; cautions respecting ; advantages o f .

II I n r e as on i n g fr om w ha t e v e r s our ce w e s ho uld
.
, ,
4 M a k e a n ap p e a l t o t he he a r t
. .

co ns ide r t he i nfl ue n ce of p a s s ion a n d p r ej ud i ce o n The pathetic Five remarks on viz .

, .

l .

principle i llustrated . Advantage o f 2

an alytic method in such cas e s . 3Not to be protracte d
. .

4 Requires moral painting

. .

5 Though hi gh powers i n
n n
.

wanting t o a preacher this is o reaso why he ,

LECTURE XIII .
shoul d be dull and cold .

ARGU N ME T.

III A r gume n t s s ho uld be s i mp le — that is not

.
, ,
LEC TURE XV .

complicated nor abs tract Grounds of th i s rule

YL P UL P
. .

Prej udi ces agains t metaphysics often extreme O F T HE

t
, . ST E IT .

A tru h may be my s terious while the proof that

t
it is a tru h i s plain Use o f me t aphy s ics and
,
I Ho w far it may be professional a d pec uliar
. n .

t
.

Religion must have its own technical terms in

abuse Rhetorical reasoning better han ab s t ract
.

for s ermon s Language of metaphor and i ma .

t
o her re s pects should conform to general laws o f ,

sty le
g i n a t i o n not incon s is t ent with the dignity of
t
.

religion Example of the Bible II Pec uliari ies amounting to faul t s arise
.
, ,

V from — de s igned i mitati o n o f Scriptural language ;

. .

I A r g ume n t s s ho uld n o t be t o o ma n y
. Di sa d .

vantages o f accumulation using fami liar t erms abstractly or mystically

V
.

S ho uld be w e ll a r r a n ge d Remarks on the reading old authors and catchi n g their diction , .

t t
. .

bes order i n introd ucing p r oofs from he Bible Influence o f conversation dialect -
.

t t
,
I l l Prope rties o f a good style for a preacher
w hen hese are connected wi h a serie s of proofs .

from other sources Illus trations O n al terna l S i mp lic i ty This requires him never to use
. .

t
. .

tive of two place s for a topic O n rela ion of a hard wo r d when a plain o n e will express his ,

t
.

time caus e and e ff ec t & c O n nega ive head s meaning never to use a common word in a n
t t t
.
, , , .

On he anti he ic fo rm o f reasoning On rea s on .

uncommon sen s e ; to avoid di s play o f reading .

ing from a ut ho r i ty Metaphysical obs curity Classical quotations and .

V
.

I A vo i d a co nt ro ve r s ia l s t r a i n of
.
allus io n s To guard agai n s t tak i ng it for granted
.

Three way s of refuting obj ections When we .

that words familiar to hi mself as a scholar w ill , ,

mu s t meet them in form ; six cautions suggested .

be so to plain hearers .

2 S e r i o us n e s s
. This is opposed to ridicule ; .

to levity and wittici s m in any form ; t o aff ected ,

smartne ss and s parkling ornament

t
. .

3 E a r n es t n e s s Wh a is requisi t e in the man

X IV
. .
,
LEC TURE .
to give t hi s quali ty to hi s style
ON ON
.

C C LU SI .

Recapitula tion : in what cases useful ; example

o f Cicero Continued o r running application ;
.
LECTURE X I V .

when allowable )
Faulty conclu s ions of sermons . DI R E CT I ON S IN F OR M I NG A ST Y L G N RA LLY
E, E E .

1 Th e formal conclu s ion what it is ; e xe m

t t
.

p li fie d in s ermon s of he Puri tans ; change after 1 Remember that hought is the bas is of style
t
. .

the re s toration of Charle s II . Writing wi h no obj ect except to form a style , ,

,

2 The desultory
. what leads t o this . its tendency.
3 The dry ; what it is 2 Study your o w n genius Mistake of Plato
t
.
. . .
,

To make a good conclus ion the preacher must wri ing poetry
t
.
, ,

1 A i m a t p r a ct ica l efl e c t — aim to impress

'

.
, 3 Study he best m odels
. In p oint o f style .
,

the hearers as individual s How far thi s effect what benefit may a student for the mi nistry de
t
.

depends on the design of he preacher rive from reading the clas s ics ; what from read ,

W
.

2 Un de r s t a n d t he p r i n cip le s of t he huma n min d

. . ing po ets to one who writes only pro s e ill
, .

Aid of this knowl e dge in applying truth Rule sty le o f popular a ddress by
t
.

i llu s rated In applications difference between re a ding e s says ? What period of English litera
,

t
.

person al ity and indivi duality ; the former why ture furni shes the best models Compara ive
t
.
,

i mproper i n an unin s pired preacher often value o f Scotch models In reading au hors as .

alleged however when there is no fault in the

, ,
models generally what caution s req uisite
, , .
 4 Maintain the habit o f writing
.
Persever .
In a iming to enrich sermons with matt e r shoul d ,

ance and resolution in this case impo rtant in , ,

avoid two mi s takes — a sw e ep i ng gene rality and , ,

early life as connected with subsequent us eful an e f fort at perpetual novelty

t
.

ness Despatch in wri ing ; o n wha t things it

.
Should have the form o f discussi on rather ,

depends ; habits o f John s on as to despatch than o f the desultor y manner

n t
. .

C ha ge in the characteri s tics o f Engl i sh s yle Should exhibit truth in i t s c o nnex i ons .

since the time o f Addison ; reasons of thi s

ch an ge O ver exactness in wri ting and hurry
.
-
, ,

both to be avoided
5 Take it for gra n t e d that your best perform
.

. ,
LECTUR E XIX
ance is capable o f subs equent amendment Di f
.

f e r e n t methods adopted by re s pectable men

.

,
I N RU ST CT I V PR
E E A H NG C I .

the act o f composing t o d i mini s h the labour The p r e a che r sho uld i m t o i n s t r uct hi s he a r
correction ery strong and s a cred obligations
. V , 2 . a

rest o n young min ist ers o f the present day to is appears ( L ) From t he c o nstitution o f the ,
cultivate skill in writin g .
human mind as influenced by motive s
t
.
,

From the nature o f he go s p el as a system ,

o f t ruths o n which is predicated a system o f

,

duties .

G EN ERAL CHA RACTERI S TICS From t he best examples o f preaching .

From the best e ff ec ts of preaching Ig .

n o r a n ce o f the gos pel i n a Ch ristian country ,

S E R MONS . why cr imin al and fatal to the soul s o f men , .

Reviv a ls o f religion why n o t common under

British preaching Deficiency o f mode r n Bri ish .
,

t
sermons as to doctrinal instruction The di ffer .

LEC T RE XVII
U .
ence in American churches betwixt conversions
V ANG L A L P R A H NG y
, ,

E E IC E C I . under a min i str o f light and tho s e which occur ,

under preaching that aims at emotion without

I S e r mo n s s ho uld be
c e va n g e li a l
W instruction
. .

1 hat is evangelical preaching ?

.
The tendency o f instructive pr e aching to
Di ff erent kinds o f phraseology t o expr e ss this , ,
promote the unity and strength of t he church
ed in the New Testament Why n
.

r i st ia n i t y

y By produci g respect and attachment o f hearers

.
,

like ever other science or system must be taught ,

to their minister and harmony of views among
by the exhibition o f its elementar y principles .

thems e lves Unity o f faith founded o n know

Diff erence between a discourse o f Socrates and t n
.
,
,
ledge gives streng h to a church
,
Mour ful .

examples o f an o ppos it e char acter .

LEC T URE XX .

R N PR A H NG
W
DI E CT E SS IN E C I .

in the evangelical system hy these are .

ada pte d to giv e special interest to preaching .

III . S e r mo n s s ho uld ha v e di r e c t n e s s ;
that is t he ,

2 Evidence o f facts shows it to be s o

. .
preacher should so conduct his ad dre s s as to make
Apostolic and primitive ages Reformers Eng each b e a r e r feel He preaches to me .

Wha t co n s t i t ut e s di r e ct n e ss in p r e a chin g ? It
,

lish Puritans ; time o f White field Testimony .

1 .

o f Priestley ; o f O rton ; Bogue and Bennett ; imp lies such an exhibition of a subj ect that the
Andrew F uller Similar results o f preaching o .
hearers shall understand it ; i e not in a n un . .
,

the continent o f Europe Evangelical p r e a chi n known tongue n o r o n a subj ect too recondite for
n
. ,

o f America Fathers .
their comprehension pe rceive its pertinence and
importance to themselves Il lustrated in the .

pre a ching of Christ ; and o f Whitefield .

I I Causes whi ch produce indefinite and indi

.

LEC T RE XVI II U rect preachi ng .

Wa n t of i n t e lle c t ua l p r e ci s ion
.

I N STR U V
CT I E P RE A H NG
C I .
1 .

Defect in his mind as to native structure o r i a ,

II S e r mo n s s hould be i n s t r uc t i v e t e lle ct ual habi t s Henc e want o f discrimination

n
.
.
,

Wha t t hi n gs a r e r e qui s i t e t o ma ke
.

I. a s er mo n and ad aptation to dif ferent classes a d characters ,

i n s t r uc t i ve among hearers .

It must have a important subj e n

Should be perspicuous i meth o d and , n
lan guage .

Should b e rich in matter T o render ser . LEC TURE XXI .

mons so the preacher should have — respectable

,

capacity ; fixed habits o f reading and thinking ;

,
DI R N E CT E SS I N PR E A H NG
C I .

sho ul d re a d and think as a preacher and with , 2 . I n defin i t e p r e a chi n g ma y a r is e f ro m fl a se

systematic clas s ification of acquired knowledge . tas te i n t he p r e a che r , — that is , want o f rhetorical
 SYLLABUS .

LECT URE XXII .

DI R N E CT E SS I N P B E A C HI N G .

4 .
m
F r o m a bs olut e w a n t of p i e , o r a lo w s t a t e of
p i e ty , i n the p r e a che r sistency o f this theory with the Bible and facts
How a man s manner, as
’

t
. .

t o explici declaration o f the truth , will be modi 1 The Bible represents un sa n ct i fie d men as .

fie d by supreme regar d t o hi mself, — and to God predispos ed n o t t o love the truth but t o oppos e it
n
. , , .

Use of evangelical terms while n o o n e doctrine 2 The theory in question has n o cou tenance
n
.
,
'

of the Gospel i s preached Indefinite la guage from the mini stry o f Chris t
n
. .

never resorted t o i n any serious b usi ess o f thi s 3 No r from the general evidence o f f acts
n
. .

world . Recapitulation Concl udi ng reflectio s o n the .

in fluence o f indefinite prea c hi ng upon o ur

churches and o n the obligations of ministers to
give an explicit and undis gui sed exhibitio o f the n
whole gos pel in their sermons .

L E C T U RE S O N P U B L HI P R A Y E R .

LEC T URE I . LECTURE II .

H ORY O F P UBL P RAY R

I ST IC E . AN CI E N T L I T U B G I E B.

Number and length of prayers i n h ancient t e No authority for them in the primitive J ewish
worship T w o reasons why Christ
. church ; none given b Christ ord s prayer ; y . L ’

with Jewish rayers in his time . remarks on Wh en and how forms were intro
.

1 Or de r of p r a ye r i n
. e e a r ly C hr i s t ia n c hur ch . d uce d Further evidence that they were n o t
.

Regular seas on for prayer between the sermon and used in the primitive Christian church En gli sh .

the communion ; o ff e r e d in successive distinct , Liturgy ; how and when formed .

n xr n n r n n cr o r F OR M S. — G N RA L
E E n rn n ér ro n s
n n s r n cr ma r a xr na .

Ar gume n ts us e d i n f a vo ur f
o f or ms .

1If they are n o t enjoi n ed they are at least

.
,

allowed in the Bible t o such as thi nk them ex ,

p e di e n t .

4 . P r a yi n g t o Chr i s t , Thi s an d i n his na me . prayers .

practice authoriz ed in the New Testament ; 3 . principle involve d i s the same as in

The
common also among primitive Chri stian s This . using precom po s e d psalms o r hymns i n devotion
'

sho w n from Pliny s lette r t o Traj an from d o x

’
Remark on this argument
ologies us ed in prayer ; spe cially co firmed by n O bj e c t i o n s ofie r e d a ga i n s t fo r ms
.

Bas il s all us ion t o Arius

’
.
1 They are inconsistent with freedom and fer
.

veney in devotion Facts alleged o n this point . .

2 Extemporary prayer i s not necessarily n o r

n
.

common l y extravaga t in manner .

3 No set o f forms can be suf ficie ntly various

.

t o correspo nd with the obj ects and occasions o f

prayer Illus tration from transactions of common
.

li fe ; from revivals of religion ; and families .

nat ural af fection .

4 There IS more danger o f embarrassment in
.
 SY LABUS L .

than without them . Illustra

LECTURE III . Eyes ; mismanagement o f .

A t t i t ude a n d ges t ur e Movement o f the body,

DI R E CT I ON S AND
F OR M A N CB
A D V I CE R P
ES NG
ECT IPROP
O F P UBL PRAY R R
IC
T HE
E
E P E R”
2 .

and action o f hands ; how far called for in prayer

.

Vo i c e Key that IS mo s t s m t a b le Quan

.

. .

R e me mbe r t ha t yo ur a mo un t of us ef uln e s s i n tity what extremes to be avoided In fle ct i o n s ; .

how di fferent from those Of f a m1 11 ar speech

.

t he mi n is t r y dep e n ds muc h o n t he cha r a c t e r of y o ur .

Cadence 5 bad hab 1t respecti ng

.

p ubli c p r a y e r s The proper influence o f these o n

. .

success in preaching ; as connected with the

ble s sing of G od ; as promoti n g solemnity and
candour in hearers ; as connected with he t
preacher s o w n state o f mind and its influence
’
, LEC T URE IV .

o n his sermons Prayer used by Doddridge pre

paratory to writing a sermon
.

.
F AU L T S I N PRAY E R .

1 1 If yo u w o uld p r a y w e ll i n p ublic yo u mus t be

a de vout ma n
.

hy the habit o f devotional feel W , His o w n why not likel t o be known to a

, y
.
minister .

ing is essential i n t hi s case How this habit is . .

l I mp r op e r ha bi t a s t o le n gth i n
. y
to be c ultivated by a minister Influence o f main .
no one is conscious o f his o w n y
ta ining secret prayer a s a matter o f form ; also of error is more common o n the side o f length
irregul a rity in it Consistency in spiritu al .
than o f brevity Some regard sho uld b e had to .

habits why important .

usage What may be con s idered as a proper and
.

1 11 L e t t he ma t t e r of yo ur p r a y e r s co r r e sp on d t o
,
.
what an exce ss ive length in a prayer before ser
t he oc ca s i o n a n d t o t he o bj e c t s f o r w hi ch y o u p r a y
, .
mon Remarks o f several d evout ministers
.
.

There is no point in which intelligent Chris The mo s t general precaution against undue
tians so often feel a deficiency in the public length Prayer after sermon . .

prayers o f ministers as in want of matter 2 To o f r e que n t r e cur r e n ce o f a vour i t e w or ds & c

,
f
.
.
,
T o gua rd against this deficiency enter with
.

, O bj ection aga i nst such a habi t a s it respects ,

deep feeling in to the circums t ances o f an assem titles and attributes o f God ; set phrase s as
bly convened in the presence o f Go d for his “ ”
, ,
, we pray thee 85 0 How these tend to p ro
t
, .

worship their diversity o f character obligation , , duce hesitation In erj ection O ; prope r and .

prospects necessities Cultivate the habit o f r e

, .
improper use of .

fle ct i o n o n the proper subj ects o f prayer Re 3 I nj udi c io us us e qf

’
.
.
p us e s
a Appearance o f .

plenish your stock o f devotional thoughts from embarra s sment in a preacher s prayer ; its i n flu ’

the Bible and t he writings o f holy men

V ence o n the minds o f his fellow worshippers
, .

n
-

I L e t yo ur me t ho d ha ve c o n n e xi o n w i t hout
.

.
, How this appearance is produced by a un s kilful
s t ud i e d f
or mali ty .
habit as to pauses and by complex sentences
Order in thought t
, .

specially proper in a d ,
w hy Detached sentences without any train o f hought ,
dressing Go d Its influence o n matter and length
.

I r r e v e r e n t a mi li a r i ty i n a dd r e s s i n g Go d
4
f
.
.

in prayer How far it is be s t for a y oung

.
How thi s habit IS probably produced Example .

preacher to regard the usual heads of prayer o f the apostles o n this point
n
.
.

Rigid exactness o f method ; Newton s obj ectio ’

5 L a n g ua g e of ce n s ur e a n d o
to O rton s change o f views as to premedita ion
.
’
t p
.

r a ye r . Example for illustration

f c o m li me n t i n
Impres s ion
p
and method
.

V made by such pa ss ages in prayer on intelligent

.

Yo ur la n gua ge i n p r a ye r s ho uld be a da t e d devout Christians

,

p
.
.

to t he s o le mn i ty of de vo t i on It should have , 6 The p r a c t i ce q a hi n d i f

r e ct r e e r e n ce t o t he
.

1 S i mp li c i ty
.
g
Thi s requires that you avoid r e a che r s o w n i n
fir mi t i e s a n d s i n s i n p ubli c p r a y e r
’

n n p
. .

low words a d colloquial familiarity ; a lear ed

.

T w o reasons against this as a common thing

y
phraseolog ; po etical ornament ; scholasti c ex CAS
OC I O N AL P R YE S Brief suggestio n s A R
,

.
.

a ct n e s s .

respecting these Shun those things which you .

2 . F e r vour
How the language o f the heart in.
have marked as prominent fa ults in the prayers
,
d 1 r ct confession petition o r praise di f fers from
e , , , of your brethren It is indispensable that occa
Ho w the didactic habit is
.

a di dactic prayer .
s i o n a l prayers be appropriate Praying with the .

sometimes acquired Scriptural language in .

sick ; circ umstances which often render this a
prayer ; advantages o f ; obscure passages how , dif fic ul d u y Family prayerst t . .
 L E CT U R E S .

L E C T U RE I . consideration invests the preacher s work with a ’

character o f exalted and awful dignity which

NT RO D UC R Y —C T CAL CS y ,

I T O . RI I E X ER I ES . ver far transcends the most elevated employ

ments o f thi s world Well did Paul say and .
,

of this seminar y had he been an angel well might b e have said

Who is s ufficient for these things ? Surely
, ,

requi re that each ser

m o n of the s enior stu
,

t hen a pious uninspired man should aim at the

,

t t
, ,

den s af er it has been , highe s t attainable degree o f p erfection in his

“
corrected shall be tran preparation for this work
. .

s cribed and r e examined - 2 No man who has any j ust conceptions o r

t
.
,

as o f en as the o fficer by this work and o f his own acquisitions wi ll think

w
, ,

hom it is examined hi m s elf already so perfect as to be above improve

shall deem nece s s ary ; ment .

and that no s ermon shall He who has made any real progress in wisdom ,

be publicly delivered in the seminary by any will see at every step of hi s researches a field
s tudent which has not been thu s regularly ex
”
,
,

opening before him that is absolu ely boundless ,

t ,

a m i n e d and approved . His s ermons cannot b e rich in thought unless ,

Be s ides the great r e spon sib ility attached to his materials are drawn from inexhaustible r e
thi s branch of instruction there i s an in rin s ic t s ource s and t o t hese he cannot have a cces s
t t
, ,

delicacy connected with it which doe s not a p wi hout pa ient assiduous well directed and -

t t
, , , ,

per ain in the same meas ure to any o her of our long continued application But supposing him
-

t ,

t
.
,

public exercises For his reason I shall now “ ”

o be a s cribe we ll instructed and furnished
.
, ,

bring together a nu mber o f con s ideration s with ample stores o f biblical and theological
w hich may serve to show at once hy such w ,

learning he may be very unskilful in bringing

t t t t
, , ,
”
cri ical exercises are impor ant and how they , for h he s e treasures f o r the instruction o f ,

may be rendered mo s t profitable . other s His s ty le may b e vulgar or inaccurate

.
, ,

I The preac hing of t he go s pel is a great

. o r unintelligi ble o r d r
y o r feeble , , .

work In the magnitude of i t s obj ects it sur In one or more of the qualifications requisite
t
.
, ,

pas s es beyond all compari s on every o her em

, , to form an able preacher very few at any age , , ,

ployment in which men can engage Thi s or in any circumstances are free from consider
t t t
.
,

might be illus rate d did my limi s allow the ,

able imperfec ion s To any young man then it .
, ,

detail by an ample exhibition o f fac ts showing can be no reproach to acknowledge him s elf i m
t ,

that he hi ghest deg r ees of intellectual cul iva

,

t ,

t ion of civil liberty and of soc ial order which

, , ,
3 . To correct o ur own defects and to increas e ,

a r e found in the mo s t favoured communities our qualifications for usefulne ss is a work which
res ult not so much from all other causes com
,

requires our own e ff or s N 0 proces s in which t .

,

b i n e d a s from the s a n ct i f y i n g influence prod uced one is merely passive can tran s form him into a n
t ,

t
by he fai hful preaching of he go s pel t able preacher or a u s eful man in any respect
,

n
.
, .

But the con s ideration which atta ches pre Importa t acquisitions of every kind mu s t be , ,

eminent importance to thi s work i s that God the result o f care and labo ur There is no
t t , .

”
ha s appointed i a s he g rand in s trument o f sal royal road to knowledge in o ur profe s s ion
t
vation o men The scheme of redemption is an more than in others It would i n d e e d b e unwise
,

t t
. .
,

obj ect to which a ll o her obj ec s and events in a t this day for a Chri stian s tudent to adopt a
our world are s ubordina e Thi s i s the ra d iant
, t .
, ,

cours e like that o f the Athenian orato r who ,

point where a ll the attributes and work s of God transcribed th e hi story o f Thucydides eight
t
,

converge into a blaze of glory In con emplating times with his o w n hand that he might learn to
t
.
,

the gr eat mystery o f godline s s into which , imi ate the conciseness str ength and fire of the , ,
”
angel s de s ire to look we s e e how infinite wis hi s torian But the s ame industry though it may
,

t t
.
,

dom love justice and grace uni e in he forgive

, , , be better applied in this age o f books is as n e ,

nes s o f s in and in s uspending the immortal

, ce s s a r y as it was in the age of Demosthenes .

ho p e s of s inners o n the cross o f Chri s t Now ”

Men says Johnson “ have sometimes a p
t
.
, ,

the princip a l means which God has in stit uted p e a r e d of such transcendent abili ies that their
t
, , ,

to make known thi s s cheme of mercy to a lost s ligh e s t and mo s t cursory performances excel
world is the preachi ng o f the gospe l Thi s
, . all that labour and study can enable meaner
 LEC TURES ON H O MILE TIC S

intellects t o compose ; as there are regions o f analyze those laws o f mind o n w hi ch the po w er ,

which the spontaneous products canno t be o f habit depends The fact i s too obvious to be
.

eq ualled in other soils by care and culture But . proved that thi s power does exi s t and exert an
, ,

it is no less dangerous for any man t o place him important influence upon o ur whole course o f
self in th i s rank o f understandi ng and fa cy that , n thinking and acting The constant recurrence .

he is born t o be illustrious without labour than of an y obj e ct o r event di minishes the interest
to omit the cares o f husban d ry and expect from
”
,
,

whi ch it excites i the mind O n this principle n .

,

his ground the blossoms o f Arabia Johnson . w e g radually become familiar with the attitudes ,

was practically acquainted with the principl e o f features vo i ce and language o f one with whom
, ,

Qui n ct i li a n that it is the work o f correction to we daily associate so as not t o observe any p e
add to retrench and to change That it is co m
,
culi a r i t i e s n
i these respects that would be
,

n n ,
.
, ,

p a r a t i v e ly easy to determine what part s requi re i sta tly noticed by a stranger For a still .

amplification o r abridgement ; but t o repress stronger reason we become insensible to what ,

the tumi d to raise the low to prune the luxur i, ,

ever is pec uliar i n ourselves Faults that are .

ant to restrain the extravagant to condense the q uite obvious to others in o ur use o f favourite
,

n
, ,
”
di ffuse is a labour of double dif ficulty
,
. words a d phrases o r in the general method of ,

It deserves t o be remembered that J oh n so n expressing o ur thoughts may excite as little ,

was neither t o o indolent nor too fastidious to b e noti ce in o ur o w n minds as the acti on o f o ur ,

come a critic o n himself His Rambler which .

, , lim bs i n w alking or o f our lungs i n respiration , .

as it was first publishe d competent j udges had , The other and the more im p ortant re a son
,

why a man cannot be a perfect critic o n himself

,

classed among the finest specimens o f English

composition he almost rewrote for subsequent ,
is that he i s liable to feel a partiality to the faults
,

e ditions Chalmers in hi s biographic al preface

.
, which need correction because they are his own , .

T his di i cult y exists i n all its force respecting a

to the Rambler has preserved o n e o f its origin al ,
fl
papers as a literary curiosity Any student who . compos i tion that is recent and towards which ,

will carefully compare this with the corrected the wr iter cherishes a fond regard as po ssessing ,

copy and see with what punctilious inspection

, a sort o f identity with hi mself It was the ten .

this great man revised his o w n composition deney o f both the above causes especially the
wi ll find himself ampl repaid f o r hi s trouble y .
,

latter to pervert a man s j udgment o f his o w n

,
’
,

I am aware that this critical process when perf orm ance that occasioned the precept o f the
employed i the correction of a sermon needs to n ,
,
“
,

Latin critic n o n um in annum p r e ma t ur And

,
”
.

be conducte d with more caution and j udgment , with reference to the same tendency a m odern ,

than in the case of an essay where the heart may , writer o f go od sense remarked : The attach
slumbe r while the intellect is engag ed in adj usting ment felt to the defects o f o ur style at the ,

the parts o f sentences But the fervour of feeling .

, moment o f their production is t o be ranked wi t h ,

which is indispensable in the compositions o f the the sort o f oblique taste manifested by idolaters
preacher is injured not so much by subsequent
, , who us ually mo s t reverence those idols which ,
”
correction as by the refrigerant proceeding t o o
, are most deformed This I apprehend is .
, ,

often adopted in the original di scussion o f a peculi arly true o f those faults which spring from '
,

subj e ct in which the writer forgets his m a in

, the heedle s s darings o f afl e ct a t i o n o r the sallies ,

bus iness to search for favour ite forms o f expres

, o f a wayward fancy Pride is always at hand to .

sion I cannot too often repeat the remark that

.
,
volunteer its approbation o r at least apology , ,

the only adequate remedy for this diffic ulty is t o , for o ur o w n defects After the assassination o f .

acquire such habits of correctness that propriety , C aesar when Brutus was about to mak e a S peech
,

of language shall be s pontaneous and cost no , in the Roman Senate some o f his friends urged ,

labour of reflection ; while the thoughts t o be Cicero to prepar e that speech for him Cicero .

communicated should engross the attention . repli ed ,No orator ever believed that another
But to form the s e habits in a young writer it , man co uld write better than hi mself .

is necessary that he should be accustomed care T hese principles especially the latter w hich , ,

fully t o revi s e after a proper interval every sober experience and even piety do not exter
n
, , , ,

production o f his o w n pen That this labour . minate from a y human bosom may be expected ,

does not o f course tend to destroy the spirit o f

, , t o operate with peculiar strength when combined ,

a sermon is evident from the fact that to this

, , with the a rdent temperament o f youth Accord .

very process we are indebted for the most ani i n g ly I have always obs erved in circles of minis
,

mated energetic and eloquent d iscourses that

, , ters that other things being equal the younge s t
, , ,

have ever issued from the press And t o the . men are least patient o f criticism In any one .

want o f this in a great measure w e may ascribe o f ingenuous and intell igent mind the desire of
n
, , ,

the superabundant supply o f those which de , impro vement is in proportion to his i tercourse
serve a di ff erent character . with men and books his knowledge o f himself , ,

But patience in revising o ur o w n composition ,

in a word his attainments in real wisdom In
,
.

is not all tha t is req uisite o n this subj ect ; because such a m an of course a partial attachment t o his
4 No m an
. how ever accurate o r however , ,
,

o wn
,

productio s and his o w n errors always n ,

,

desirous o f improvement can be so perfect a abates with the progress o f ye a rs ; but there is
n
,

critic o n himself as not t o need at least occa , danger o f its continuing to a unhappy extent , ,

s i o n al aid from the j u d gment o f others ti ll the best period o f i mprovement is past In
y
. .

The reasons o f thi s remark as applicable to , stea d o f shrinking from the scrutin o f j udi c i ous
the writer o f mature and well disciplined mind , criticism therefore he who understands his o w n
, ,

are chiefly two On e is the i mperceptible i n interest will invite it ; he will prize it as the
y
.
, ,

flue n ce o f habit It is not m purpose here t o .

,
invaluable indispe nsable auxiliary o f his o w n
,
 AND PREACHING .

e ff orts He will seek this ai d seasonably before provement He ought t o have comple t e evidence
t
.
. ,

his def ects acquir e ins uperable strength by i n of his from other s ourc es
t
.

d ulg e n ce And he will desire that such cri icism In the second plac e the unavoidable length of
t ,
.

s ho uld be impartial and thorough ; that it s hould he s e exercises when many engage i n them , ,

not s p are real ble mi shes though he hi m s elf makes it impossible to point o ut the beauties o f
t
mi gh regard them as minor defects o r even as
,

a good performance wi hout a tedi ous expen s e t

beauties No o n e in the forming age ought t o
.
,
,

,
of ime t .
,

be indifferent to small faults ; becaus e the care In the third pl a ce the chief purpose o f such
le s sness that overlooks these at twenty if un exercises does not require it hy for example
,

W
t
.
, , , ,

checked wi ll grow into intolerable blundering by

,
do you submi a sermon to the scrutiny o f others P
forty * In a sermon peculiarly no error o f Not that y o u may be told how excellent it is
t , ,

t
.

sen iment should be deemed t o o small for ani bu how you may make it better
L
.

mad v e r s i o n et the empiric tam p er with hi s

. In the fourth p lace when it is considered as a ,

patient s life by random prescriptions and b e

’

, ,
thing of course that p rai se mus t be admi niste r e d , ,

comparatively blameless but let not the pre a cher as a sa lvo t o criti cism it becomes extremely ,

tamper with the Bible and the souls of m e n The . di fficult to preserve the line o f di stinction betw i xt
error of o n e sentence from the pulpit may p r o j ust co mmendation and flattery be cause the fact
t
,

duce mischi ef through a century nay through ,

hat commendati on is cus tomary and is expe c t ed , ,

eternity . furnishes a temptation t o bestow it in cas es when ,

You perceive g entlemen th at thus far I have it i s n o t deserved

t
.
, ,

had Sp ecial respect to the benefit to be derived In the fif h plac e the good purpos e s alluded to ,

from the cr iticism o f your In s tructors The above may be accomplis hed wi th more utili ty
n
.
,

ob servatio s which follow will in clude al s o the an d with more de licacy by i mpli ed approbation ,

advanta ge you ma receive from the critical than by that which is expressed i n direc t terms , ,

remarks o f o n e anot er . especially when it is avowedly expressed as part

On this whole subj ect it is a funda mental , o f a s ystem Children and p ersons o f un cult i
.

ma xim that benevolen ce and candour are

, v a t e d minds will relish pra i se without much ,

essential to true critici sm It has been well r e . scruple as to the shap e in which it comes But .

marked that Taste is discri minating sensibility the man o f piety the man o f ma t ur i t and
,

it is sen s ib i lity di scip lined by experience which refinement will swallow wi h more culty
,

t
by a kind o f extempore j udgment is instanta e
”
,
,

n , ,

what he con s iders as his share o f a nece

,

o us in its decisions In confo rmity with this medicine dealt o ut t o all Indeed the man o f
n t
.
.
,

defi i tion I w o uld say that artificial aste is cold mere ambition if he i s posses s e d o f good sense
n ,

tech ical fas tidious Wi h a microscopic eye it

, . t ,
,

though he may be pleas e d with praise given in

, ,

sees only blemishes and these chiefly o f the , this manner wi ll be ashamed t o have it known
,

mi nuter s ort Genuine taste is always associated

. that he fee ls such gratificatio n an d w ill s e cretly ,

with kindne s s ingenuous ness and good w i ll It , , . despise himself for indulging i t .

se e s and feels beauties where they exist ; b e , If you ask what I S meant by the implied a p
caus e i t is more di s p osed to see the excellence o f probation t o which I j ust alluded I will explain ,

a performance than its defects Its censures .

, myself by an example You present a sermon .

though when the ease requires it they are frank

, , , for criticism knowing that it is t o be t he subj ect
,

or even severe are not o ffered with asperity o f , o f remark as t o matte r sentiment method style
, , , , ,

manner but with delicacy and decorum and s pirit You are aware that o n s i milar occa
n
. .
, .

It is a question that deserves some considera sions it has be e custom

,
t o point o ut a variety
tion to what extent in our critical re marks it i s
, , , of fa ults in o n e or more o the above particulars .

be s t to notice good quali ties as well as defects Your o w n s ermon passes the ordeal and e scapes
n
.
, ,

In almo s t every perf ormance we may find some , with very slight animadversio Do you need .

thi ng to commend ; and commendation it is , other te s timony that it is received with a p p r o b a ,

sai d where it can be given with truth prepares

, , tion ? And does n o t this tacit approba tion b ette r
the subj ect of criticism to receive its more un , accord with the deli cacy o f your fee lings tha n ,

g rateful les s on s Some respect certainly must that which i s expressed in the naked form o f
‘

be had to circumstances in this case Where the , . di rect prai s e ?

mind through excess of modesty is predispo sed But sup p ose the other course is a dopted and
t
, , ,

t o a despon d ing estimate o f its o w n e ff or s , the usage is t o point o ut both the good and the
s p e cial c are must be taken not to si n k it into bad qualiti e s o f your performance ; and just in
irretrievable d iscouragement by improper sever , proportion as the former o r the latter are sup
ity o f remark S uch a mind oft en needs to be posed to prevail y o u are t o feel encouragement
t
.
,

sustained by s imulants and soothed by le n itiv e s or despondence — what i s the re s ult ? By an

rather than to be s ung by corrosives t ,

.
,

in s tantaneous pro ce s s you compar e both classes

But in exerc i s es expressly devoted to cri t ical of remarks together you subtract the less
remarks among Chri st ian brethre n and students amount from the greater a d fin d your residue n
y
, , ,

in theolog the expediency o f going into com o f cens ure o r of praise with arithmetical pre
t
, ,

m e n da t o r y observa ions at length and o f set , , ci s i o n Now so far as a man s pride is concern ed
.
,
’
,

pur pose is at least questionable

, . and pride rather than piety it must he conf es s ed
In the fir st place such observations should , is at the bottom of thi s dif ficulty the above pro ,

never be con s idered as nece s sary to co nvin ce o n e c ess is attended with this infelicity when beauties
w ho is the s ubj ect of criticism that we are his and defects are both definitely marked and
t
, ,

frien ds and feel a fraternal interest in his i m m ar ked wi h integrity by t he critic ; the writer
g
,

Hen nu ae s e r i a d uc n t ( H o n Ar s Po ) e . . .
of neces s ity in many cases strikes the balance
, ,
 L EC TURES ON H O MI E TIC S L
aga inst himself But when the commendation is .
when offered as they frequently are from good , ,

only implied he is at libe rty to magnify its ,

motives should never be received with a resent
,

amount till the balance will be in his o w n favour

,
. ful o r peevi s h spirit O n the contrary it mu s t .
,

In addressing such considerations to those commonly be o ur o w n fault if from such ,

who are soon to be employed in t he most remarks w e do n o t derive some advantag e

, .
*

elevated o ffice o n earth I am almost ready to My second caution is — see that the habit o f
n
, ,

apologize f o r tur ing aside to d iscuss a que s tion ,

criticism does n o t withdraw your attention from
which I cannot but think is o f easy solution if ,
the great end o f preaching There i s no nec o s .

its decision were left to o ur Christian magna sit y , I must say again that this consequence ,

n i m i t y without the aid o f other principles

,
. shoul d follow from attention even to minute
T he sum o f my meaning is this in the inter accuracy And yet there is a tendency to thi s
.

course o f private friendship it is often safe and resul t which in minds o f a certain cast ought to
t , , , , ,

of en expedient to tell a man frankly your ,

be guarded against with unceasing vigilance .

whole heart a s to excellences which he pos

,
Gro s s blunders in language are inexcusable in
sesses but which y o u could not properly men
,
a scholar ; but it is a thousand tim es better to
tion in a public exercise But even in such . violate grammar and rhetoric and preach the ,

an exercise a stif f and studied caution is n o t

,
gospel clearly and powerfully than to be an ,

nece s sary Sometimes y o u cannot point o ut the

.
accurate dry uninstructive phlegmatic preacher
, , , .

blemishes o f a performance without alluding to ,

Be careful e s pecially that critical exercises shall
its beauties o r to important qu alities o f mind
,
not impair your spirit o f piety Much judgment .

which the writer exhibits and which he should ,

is necessary in mingling these with exercises of
’
be encouraged to cultivate This involves very . devotion Remar ks for example o n another s
.
, ,

little o f the di fficulty that attends a system o f performance in prayer if extended beyond a few ,

commendator y remarks which is to operate o n ,

general things are often more mischievous than ,

minds o f vari ous temperament and in circ um ,

useful . And even remarks o n preaching ,

stances o f en dless diversity . though peculiarly important in the early e fforts

I have only to subj oin two cautions growing o f the p ulpit to prevent t he formation o f bad
o ut o f thi s s ubj ect .
,

habits unless they are made with di s cre ion and

,
,

t
The firs t is — cultivate that manly self posses ,
-
skill are a p t to produce a mechanical preacher
. .

sion which will prepare you to receive either As far as possible the nece s s ity for such
,

censure or approbation from others with meek , remarks should be obviated by a horough
,

t
ness and dignity . attention to preparatory exercises These con .

There i s a solid reputation which is desirable , siderations are eminently practical to a co n

because it rests upon substantial worth o f gr e g a t i o n o f students accustomed to constant ,

character and is the instrument o f substantial

,
variety in the performances o f the pulpit and ,

usefulness There is an ephemeral reputation

. , called to be alternately both preachers and
which a man acquires by artificial means and , hearers O n thi s ground it ought to be a sacred
.
,

m a intains perhaps at a di s tance but loses just , rule o f co n s cience w ith every ma n not to carry ,

i n proportion as he is intimately known This . a spirit o f li terary censorsh i p into the Sabbath .

reputation is like factitiou s we alth The o h . If it cleaves to you in going to the house of
li qui t y o f the means by w hich it is gain ed God shake it o ff as Paul di d the viper The
t
, , , .

and the osten ation with which it is di s played , dignity and sanctity o f the place forbid its ,

subj ects its po s se s sor to constant apprehension intrus ion If y o u have no other way to subdue
W
.

of losing it ith regard to character as well

. this S pirit which is so hostile to the ends o f ,

as money an hone s t man will be sati s fied with

, reli gi ous worship adopt the precaution o f avoid ,

what is justly his own If he desires more ing altogether remarks o n the preachin g till
t n
.
, ,

respec let him deserve more This is Christian

, . the Sabbath is passed ; a d then limit your
integrity and Christian dignity And this c ures
, . observations to those things which cleav ed to
at once the silly vanity o f seeking compliments your memory at the time without any e ff ort of ,

from those around us and the sickly sen s ibili ty attention as a cr i t ic r ’

C l b tt th t t v ll t l
, , .

that mu s t be soothed and dandled ; that shrinks e ci s a y s It i s e e r a a ra e e r m e c a sur y

and pines at every touch and d i s quali fie s one to , p t t f ll wh td l t g q t g th w ll tl
im e r in e n e o to
A m e rc a n s a i i n i n
,

ire c h i m i n hi s w a y an t o
ue s o f a i n i a k e
o se ,
,

act the part o f a m a n among the rough elements

o f the world in which it was hi s i n felicity to be
,

h f
hi s w a y
a hi m r o m a n y m a n
l
m u c m o re e a s i y aw
.

t h
e a k ma n
dd w d
A mi n i s e r s o ul co n si e r ho w
ca n re a i s e ma n
.
,

thd bt thw ght d h lf t

,
a ,

born Dr Witherspoo n among hi s paternal i s e m a n ca n r e a i ms e Dr M a n o n n o

an a
p h d w ll b
. .
, .
,
“
.

ou re a c e e ca m e
counsels to his pupils says : Do as much as
you can to deserve prai s e and yet avoid as
,
ou
hi m b ft t d whd p b t fplt llh d lf bp v d
,
,
he h a d
o r e t he L o r
a n d i n s ruc e
e Ma y o r ; u he e
en a o o r ma n
e an d as
i m s e re r o e
u e hi m y t he
,

ld d t d th g
, ,

much as possible the hearing o f it When you h i m he ha d un e rs o o

,

s le e i e
p l
an d t
w wh lt d n o in o f hi s
.
, o

co m e into public life not only guard against s e rm o n

,

A e le s w a s a i s e m a n e n b e a e re t he
fishing for applau s e and being inqui s itive after ,
,
hbl ppl t
s o e i n hi s
e r i n hi s
.

hh td e ar
bbl
i c ure o n t he i n o f t he co er T he co b
,
,

what people think o r say o f y o u but avoid

knowing it as much as you decently can My
,
tTh h v gg tll w d lt flf p g l w h p
e s e su
a ce w a s t o b e
e s i o n s r e su ro m e x e ri e n ce Fo r ma n y
y e ars I a e n o t o e my s i n t he re u a r o rs i o f
.

t hS bb th t h v d v d a e
.
,

Go d t o e a r s e rm o n s a s a cr i i c ; b ut a e a i m e t o a o i
reas on for his is that whether you w ill o r not
you will hear as much of he sl a nder s o f your
, ,

t , ,

th t ldgp g t t t d t th v
o n t he
a co u
a a v t
a ll co n p t g p h
e rs a i o n re s e c i n
p t
,
g re a c i n
ro m o e i n m ys e lf o r o e rs a cr i t i ci s i n g S i i
,

enemies a s you will bear with patience and as

,

much of t he flattery of your friends as you will

I n a co n r e a i o n o f s u e n s a n d e e n o f
t d dt lgth th p b bl
s u en s e re a r e
Ch
pt ll l ht b dt f l t
ro a y s o me s e ci a e n e n ci e s t o
ri s i a n ,
,
r .

wt ,
B ut s i t he a i o f r e e y
,

t he i n u e n c o f
dh v g d l t t d ff i s sp m t
”
bear i h humility To this sage advice I w i ll e .

i s cu s i n t he m e r i s o r e e ct s f a se r m o n so s o o n a s w e
.

only add that o fli ci o us and even impertinent

remarks upon o ur performances or conduct
,

f t t p p
a e ce a s e
s
p
t o ru s r a e t h e ro e r i n flue n ce o f t he
lp
t o i s e n t o i t r o m t het d pt d
u i is so a a e
S bb th th t th
a a a eo
o

,
,

, ,
 LECTUR ES ON H O MILETICS

s cribe the sacred rite s o f pagan nations Egypt .

,
title indeed was of en appli ed in ear ly times to
, , t , ,

Carthage and Pers i a ha d prie s ts who were

, , , the deacon who called to order at t he com
,

s econd in rank and wealth only to their kings m e n ce me n t of public worship The preacher
t
. .

I was doubtles s on account of the veneration in was be s ides often called Bt dd o ica k o g t r a ct a t o r '

, ,

which they w ere held as possessing superior ,

learning and as understandi ng the mysteries o f

, The address whi ch he deli vered was called ,

the sacred books and o f d ivine wor s hip that , , by the Greeks Op i At a that is a fa miliar d i s , ,

J o so p h exempted their lands from the as s essment cour s e adapted to common people from ap n o g
laid upon all the other subj ects o f Pharaoh .
,

an a s sembly a multitude The atin s called it

, . L , ,

Among the s acred orders o f those nations the t r a ct a t us d isp ut a t i o lo cut i o s e r mo and c o n c i o
,

t , , ,

t ,
,

Magi of Per s ia were mo s t distin g ui shed ; and accordi ng to he subject and s train o f he d i s
the second Z oroaster migh perhaps with p r o t course It is evident that L a i cs as they were
.
,

p r i e t y be called the first M a ho me t By his inter called that is men of distingui shed attai nments
, ,

t
.
,

cour s e with the Jews i n their cap ti v ity he became ,

who were certainly no more than candida es for
acquainted with their scriptures by the help of ordination did preach Eusebius s ays that O ri “ .
, ,

which he compiled hi s Z e n d a v e s t a In this he . gen preached in this manner at C ae sarea And .

in s erted many Ps alms o f David — the history o f ,

when Demetrius of Alexan d ria obj ected to this
Adam and Eve of the creation and deluge of , ,
as an innovation the bishop o f Jeru s alem wrote ,

Mo s es Abraham and the patriarchs hi m a letter saying I know not how you came
t
, , .
,
”
The o fficial services o f the priests among the so evidently to m i srepre s ent the tru h He
t
.

Per s ian s consisted i n gi ving instructions to the ad d s that his was so far from being a new
,

people as to their duties t o the gods and in con thi ng that unordained bre hr en w ho were foun d t
t t
, , , ,

duc ing their s uperstitious and sangui nary ri es qualified should preach that it had been done
, ,

o f sacrifice These rites were performed in the in many cases some of which he repeats This
V
.
, .
,

arro thinks that performing them however was done only in case o f such as were
,

in temples as was afterwards done by the Greeks

, regularly called to it by those who were them ,

and Romans had a great tendency t o corrupt , selves authoriz ed pre a cher s .

When the stated preacher was sick i t w as ,

ministry o f John the Baptist o f ,

cu s tomary for the deacons to read the homilies
Christ and the apostles is so minutely de s cribed , o f the fathers Indeed it is evident that Stephen
.

in the New Testament as to require no di s tinct , and Philip two o f the seven deacon s in the
,

notice in this sketch The grand characteri s tics . apostolic church were preacher s ; ! and from ,

o f their preaching as to doctrine and manner several passages in Paul s e p i s t le s I as well as in ’

, , ,

will be consider e d in another place I will only . the primitive fathers it seems probable that the ,

say here that o ur Saviour as did his apostles

, , o ffice o f deacon was in many cases regarded as , ,

a fter him and as all missionaries mu s t do in

, preparatory to the ministry ; though it di d not
,

spreading a new religion taught hi s hearers , o f itself imply authority to preach .

wherever they happened to assemble sometimes The duties o f deacone s s es in the early Chr is
from the deck o f a ship at others from the sum tian church like those o f prophetes s es in the
,

mit of a mountain ; in a private house ; in the Jewish were limited to o ffices o f piety and
,

synagogue ; in the temple ; just as the circum charity and to the private instruction o f their
t
s ances o f the time made i convenient The t . own sex
,

The publi c preaching of women

.
,

s ermons delivered on these occasions exhibit a which was so strictly prohibited by Paul w as ,

combination of s implicity and maj e s ty o f s u ,

di s allowed in all the orthodox churches o f
p e r i o r i t y to the applause and o f fervent zeal f o r , antiquity Accordingly the council o f Carthage
.

the s alvation of men which render them the best , adopted this as o n e of its canons ; Mulier ,

models of public instruction .

q u a m v i s docta e t sancta viros in co n ven tu , ,
”
When they who planted the primitive churches docere non p r ae sum a t .

ceas ed from their labours the noble simplicity

which di s tingui shed their preaching began to E E L DE F UBL IC W
,
S I G N RA OR R O P OR H P .

decline Many o f the early Chris ian Fathers

.
P lum — To the Jews Chri s t often preached t ,

, ,

however were burning and shining lights who in the syn ago gue and so did the apo s tles
t
, ,
.
, ,

by the purity o f heir doctrines the fervour of Among the early Chri s tian s religious as s emblie s
t
their pie y the fidelity and efficacy o f their minis
, often convened in the streets o r field s ; but
,

t r a t i o n s were great blessings to the world more commonly in the houses o f private per
t
, .

the s ate of the p ulpit during the few first cen sons e s pecially during seasons o f per s ecution
t
.
,
t ur i e s of the Chri s ian church is to be collected In process o f time places o f meeting w ere pro , ,

chiefly from sources di ffic ult of access to most v i d e d which became common property and , ,

persons it may be proper t o class the remainder took the name of churches ! by a figure derived
,
,

of my remarks under di stinct heads with some from the assemblies which convened in them
t
, , .

enlargement on each What sort o f bui ldings these were in t he ime o f

.
,

I begin with the names by which the preacher Diocletian Eusebius informs us in de s cribing
and his o ffice were anciently desi g ated O ne the wonderful prosperity of the church which n , ,

t ,
.

of he s e titles was xfip v é a crier ; borrowed was suddenly das hed by the strife for pre
from the bu iness o f one who as ora or o f emi ence among i t s ministers
s “
,

But now
,
”
,
t n .
,

heathen gods or princes made proclamation in says he “how s hould any o n e be able to de
t
public places wi h a loud voice Under this scribe those multitudes who throughout
,

.
,

, ,
allu s ion Paul calls himself xfiv ica l d w o c r o k o g
t
,

and Pe er calls No ah duca t o mi v n g rcfip v é This Li b v i ca p 1 9 f A c s i i i 5— 26 ’

, . . . . t vn . v .
, .

I 1 Tim iii 13
'
E z )t 1m .
. . .
’
z 9 ac
 A ND PREACHING .

city flocked t o embrace he fai h of Chri s t and t t t hat was lighting the lamps The Apostolical
Consti tu t ion peaking f t he Chri tian Sabbat h
.
,

tho s e famous as s embli e s i n the churche s ? For s, S o s

t
,

which reason hey were no longer contented say O n which d y we deliver three ermon a s s

t i n commemorat ion of him h ro e again aft er

, , ,

wi h the o ld edifices but erected S pacious w o s

t The cu tom of modern Pro t es t ant

,
”
churche s from the very foun dations hroughout three days s

t t t t
.

all he ci ie s “ And he churches erec ed by

,

ch rches throughout Chri tendom except in

u s

t t very high latit de or very scattered populat ion

. , ,

Con s antine “were richly adorned wi h pic u s,

requires two ervices on each Sabbat h

, ,

ture s and i mages and bore a s triking re s em The s

t t
.
,

blance o the pagan temples bo h i n their o ut eccle ia tical canons of Scotland require three
s s
in the summer and two in t he winter t hough
,
”
ward and inward form . , ;
P ulp i t — The preacher ad dressed the people general u s age di s penses with o n e of these i n
t
, ,

in he s e ancient as s emblie s s ometimes from the each division o f the year

t
.
,

episcopal s ea and sometimes especially when It ne e d only be mentioned on this particular

t t
, , , ,

bap i s m w as t o be admini s ered fr om the steps o f that in the Romi sh church at di ff erent periods
t , , , ,

he al t ar The common place o f the pre a cher preaching except rarely on occas ion o f s ome
, ,

t
.

however to give him a full view of his auditor s public fe s tival was en irely su s pended for ages
y
, , ,

and to denote the dignit and authority o f hi s together as it has been i n some branches of the
o ffice w a s a s ort of ro s trum called t r i bun a l s ug Greek church
t
.
, , ,

ge s t um a mbo and other names correspo ndin g wi h R U AN ONN H P R A H NG

t ,

he different purposes for which it was d e s 1 gn e d

,
CI C M ST CE S C E CTE D WI T E C I .

t t
.

A very usual a ppella ion of his pulpit among P os t ur e of t he P r e a che r Ancient authorities
t t t
-
.

he fa hers was “ he preacher s throne Thus ’

are divided o n the question whether the common
t
.
,

Gregory Na zi a n ze n say s “ I seemed to myself po s ture of the preacher was s itting or s anding
t w
.
,
”
to be placed on an elevated hrone ; upon lo er The scribes and Pharisees s a t in Mose s s eat ’

t t t
.

sea s o n each side sat presbyters but he O ur Saviour having read a pass a ge from he”
deacons in white ve s men s s ood s preading
,

t t t prophet Isaiah s a t do w n to
,

each the people t

t
, , , .

”
aro und them an angeli c s plendour And Chry . He s a t do w n and taught the people o ut of he
s o s t o m call s the p ulpit S p o v o fi fit ti a o xa ld xo v
”
ship He s a t and taught his di s ciples in
t
.

The form o f these pulpits was that of a ro s trum mountain —and o hi s enemies he s aid I sa t
elevated and somewhat extended ; but hey seem t ,

daily with you teaching in the temple ”

,

t tt
.
,

not to have been on the same model as hose o f It is certain that si ing to preach was the
many churche s of modern I aly where the whole t t t
a ti ude adopted frequently by Augu stine
t
, ,

person of the preacher is expo s ed to the view of commonly by Jus in O rigen Athan a s iu s , , ,

his audi ence . Chrysostom It was probably the prevailing .

TI ME O F P R A H NG E C I .
usage of ancient preachers though often de
t
par ed from by Chri s t and b y the early fathers
,

t
.
,

In populous ci ies where a s semblies could ,

P os t ur e of he a r e rs — Just 1 n Martyr s ays in
ea s ily convene for devotional purpo s es it was his s econd Apology that when the s ermon was
t
of en cu s tom a ry t o min gle preaching dai ly wi h
,

t fini s hed in the church of Rome the people all

,

public prayers O ri gen and Augustine preached

,

ro s e up to pray — implying that they heard he

,

t
t
.

in this manner ; and hence the frequent allu s ions sermon s itting and uni ed in the prayer stand
t t , ,

o f he la ter to sermons which he delivered , ing This w as the general custom in the churches
.

“heri ” and “he st e r n o These things were

di e
, . o f Italy at that period and in many churches of
di fferently determined according to circum the East But in the African churches the i n
t , ,

t t
.

s ance s i n different place s But the celebration d ulg e n ce of s itting to hear s ermon s was s ric ly
t
, .
,

of public wor ship on the firs t day of the week prohibited except to he aged and infirm ; and
was in the primitive churches a universal cus
, ,
standing was the more prevailing custom o f
tom founded o n the example and express Chri s tian as semblies for a long period
t
, .

appo in ment of the Apo stles Eusebius say s that when he preached in the
t t
.
,

T he numbe r o f service s on the Lord s day

’
r

pal a ce of Cons a n ine the Great the emperor

was one two o r t hree accordi ng to the di s p o s i
, , , s tood with the other auditor s during
,
he whole ,
,

t
tion o f the pre a cher o r the zeal or convenience , di s cour s e And w hen he entreated him to s i t
.

of the hearers Bas il commonly preached twice down o n hi s throne which was near he refused
t
.
, , ,

o n he Christian Sabbath Augus tine in the saying that ea s e and remis s ne s s was unbecoming
t t t
.

af ernoon of en allude s to his morn ing di s course in hearers o f he divine W Q Z QJ and that standing
t
‘

, .

Chryso tom yles one of h s homilies

s s i “ an ex in such a case was only a id e ce n t re s pect to -

t t , t
,

horta ion to hos e who were a sh a med t o come religion

t
.

to s ermon af ter dinner In hi s enth homily ”

b — I n ancient Chri s
C l ifi t i f
t
e r

t
. a s s ca o n o e a r s

to the people of An ioch he commends them for tian assemblie s di stinct portions of he church
t he full as s emblie s which convened for public
,

were allott e d to diff erent clas s es o f per s on s

,

t t
,

worship in he af ernoon It i s probable that .

,
designated by rai lings of wood ; s o that males
he d i d at leas t occasionally preach a third time
, , ,
were s eparated from females and married from ,

n the same sabbath for he certainly di d s ome the unmarri e d

o
t i me s preach in the evening ; as appears from The faces of hearers were generally turned
t
11 1 8 four h homily o n Gene s is in which by an toward s the east e i t he r from an in s ensible habit
eloquent digre s sion he reproved his hearers for
t ur mn g their eyes away from himself to the man
,
,

of conformi y to he usages of pagans who wor t ,

t ,

shipped the ri s ing sun or more probably from a

mi s construction of o ur Saviour s language in ’

v h
,

Eus e b li b . . iii . ca p . 1 an d Mo s ei m, i . 383 .

which he was suppo s ed to say that hi s coming
 LEC TURES ON H O MI ETICS L
would be from the east As the lightning lesson ; at other s from s e ve r a l le ss ons Bas il , in
t
. , .

ho mi he s ,
.

come h out o f the east and shineth even unto one o f 111 8 a lludes to t hr e e , and in
t
the we s so s hall the coming of the Son o f man
,
,

be ;
”
that is sudden and unexpected The ,
. the Bible o f .

mention o f east is circumstantial merely ; as the fact that

the s ame thought would have been expressed the preachi ng o f the Fathers ha d so much of he
,

t
by allu s ion to a flas h o f lightning from any hortato ry and discursive character and so li tle t
t
o her quarter The same s upersti ion for it . t ,
unity o f subj ect and e ff ect .
,

hardly admits a better name still determines the ,

position of dead bodies in the grave as a general , ,

cu stom o f Christendom He y li n in his S pleen ,

L ECT URE III

.

against the English Puritans accuses them o f ,

.

mi schievous designs because when repairing a

place o f worship in ondon they took down the L
, , H ORY O F P UL P
I ST THE I T.
,

old pulpit and set up a new o n e in such a po s i ,

S ubj e c ts of S e r mo n sUnder this head I might .
—
,

tion a s to turn the people s faces to the north

,
’
, greatly extend my remarks as a proper survey
which in all primitive churches had been turned o f the subj ects discussed by preachers of di ff erent

to the east . ages would form a history o f the p ulpi far more
, t ,

P r a ye r s — The regular prayers o f the ancient accurate and complete than any whi ch has been
t
.

churches were o ff ered af er the sermon w as given t o the world .

closed Fe r r a r i us however informs us that b e

.
, , , , Among the early fathers se r mons were a d ,

fore the preacher began hi s discourse he always , apted to t w o general clas ses o f hearers the ,

invoked divine aid i n a short prayer sim i lar in , ca t e chume n s and the f a i t hful ( or as they were , ,

kind and length to those occ as ional supplica sometimes called ) i mp e r i t i and i n i t i a t i In , .

tions which he off ered in the current o f his

,
addressing the latter abstru s e doctrines and the , ,

sermon when a n y point o f unusual di f ficul ty

,
sacred mysteries of r e li gi o n w e r e often di scus s ed ; ,

came to be di s cus s ed In the more set prayers . while the preacher in in str ucting the catechu ,

at the conclusion o f public worship the people mens passed over these entirely o r touched them
n t t
, , , ,

having been silent to the close united i the very lightly dwelling o n tho s e s imple ru hs and
t
, ,

audible re s ponse —Amen ,

. duti es which were adapted to heir circum
,

That each minister chose his o w n language in stances Concerning the preaching o f the
.

prayer w ithout the form of a liturgy is clear I second cent ury Mos heim says The Chri s tian
t , , , , ,

hink without mentioning other proof from the system as it was hitherto taught pre s erved its
n t
, , , ,

fact that they generally prayed with their hands ative and beautiful simplici y and w as com
t
lif ed up and their eyes closed during the first
, ,
prehended in a small number o f articles The
,

es . public teachers inc ul cated no other doctrine s

R e a d i n g t he S cr ip t ur e s — The read i ng o f the than thos e that are contained in what is com
Scripture s either by the preacher o r some o n e m o n ly called the Ap os t le s C r e e d ; and in the ’

in his stead always was the first exercise o f

,

,
,

method o f i llustrating them all vain sub ilties , t ,

p ublic wor s hip The subj ect o f the sermon was . all mysterious researches beyond the reach o f
usu a lly t a ken from the passage read and where common capacitie s were ca reful ly avoided This
t
, , .

t he read er was a di fferen person from the will not appear surprising to those who consider
preacher it of en happened hat a fort uitous t t that at this time there was n o t the leas t contro
,

t
, , ,

selection o f the passage at the time required , v e r s y about those capi al doctrines of Christianity ,

from the preacher an extempore eff ort in the which were af terwards so keenl y debated i n the
exposition This pas s ag e inde e d was commonly
t
.
, ,

de ermined by previous arrangement . In the third century the same h i storian says , ,

The S a lut a t i o n P a s: vo bi s — To secure the a t The principal doctrines o f Christian ity were
t t
.
,

ten ion o f the people at the commencement o f explained to the people in their na ive purity
wor ship the deacons commanded silence ; the
,
and simplicity But the Chri s ian teachers who . t ,

preachers a ddres s ed them with an aff ectionate had appli e d themselves t o the s tudy o f letters
salutation and benediction ; peace be with and philo s ophy soon abandoned the frequented ,

you — ( the people answering

.
”
and with thy , paths and s truck out into the devious wilds o f
,

s pirit ; and at t he moment of commencing hi s fancy O rigen was at the head of this specula
.

sermon he signifie d b y his look and the move

, , tive tribe and though he handled thi s matter
ment o f hi s right ha n d that he expected them .
, with modesty and caution his disciples breaking , ,

to give audi e n ce to what he was about to from the limits fixed by their master interpreted
deliver Th i s si g al of his right hand ucan
. n , L in the most licentious manner the divine truths
,

says Julius C ae s ar employed when about to o f religion according to the tenor o f the Platonic
,

addre s s t h e multitude It was common wi h .

,

t philosophy
,

ancient o r ators heathen and Christian O n such Gregory Na zi a n ze n in enumerating the sub
n
, .
,
“
occasio s Peter be ckoned with hi s hand ; ”
j ects commonly discu s sed in the pul pit mention s
, , ,

a n d s o did Paul repeate d ly , . The universal providence o f God the creation , ,

Te xt — Ancient preachers di d not selec t a text , fall and restoration o f man ; the incarnation
, ,

exactly in the modern manner Sometimes the . passion and second coming o f Christ ; the r e
,

t heme of di scourse was de duced from a short surrection j udg ment and final sta te o f rewards
, ,

clau s e of the le s s on read which w as announced and punishments ; and above all he says the
at or near he commencement of the s ermon At t , , , ,

l t
.

other times thi s theme was taken fr om a w ho le , E cc . Hi s . 1 . 1 80 .

 A ND PREACHING .

doc trine of t he bles s ed Trinity which w a s the

principal ar icle of he Chri s ian fai h t
Chry t t ,

t .
N RPR A ON O F
I TE R P UR ETR ON TI T HE SC I T ES IN SE M S.

so s t o m in hi s preaching to plain hearers s elect ed I have adverted to h influence of O rigen in t e

corrup t ing t he primi t ive simplici t y of religion
, ,

s uch subj ects a s the s e ; The benefit of ali li o

t ions not s eekin g to know all thi ngs i s supreme Guide d not by a sober judgmen t but by a way
.

w t w ard fancy he lai d down t he broad principle

, , ,

i sdom ; he reproach of thi s world is glory ;

t
dea h is better than life ; it is be ter to s uff er t b urd as i t is b ld t ha t t he Scripture are of
a s
, ,

w t li tt le to those who under tand them as they

o , s
”
than to inflict injury In his t enty four h -
us e
t
s

Hence he main t ained that t he

.

homily o n the bapti s m o f Chri s he remind s are written

Bible i t o b interpreted as t he Platoni t ex
, ,

his hearer s that the s cope of his preaching ha d s e

plained the hi t ory f their god not accordi ng
, s s
“
been concerning immortality heaven and hell s o s
t o the common accep t ation f the word but
, ,

the long s uffering o f God pardon repentance

t
o s,

accordi ng t o a hi dden sen e Thi hidden ense

-
, , ,
”
true fai h my s tery here s y
t
s s
he divided into moral and my t ic l and the
, ,
. . s
I need no trace the regular and lamentable
t
s

l tt er he subd ivided into the inferior or allego

a ;
degeneracy of he pulpit from thi s time onward a
t t celes t ial ense
,

to he Refo r mation Fe rr a r i us hough when he i l ense and the uperi or

r ca s s o r

This m chinery when pu t in full operation and

.
, , s .

wrote the day of better things had dawned de a

t
, , ,

s cribed s ome preacher s who during he darker , , r e commended by the genius and learning of
periods of the church di s cus s ed the most frivol Origen degraded the Bible at once from its
t t
, ,

o us questi ons such a s Wh ether Abel w as slain paramount authori y as the standard of fai h
t
wi h a club and of what species of wood P— from
,
, ,

and made it s ubservient to the dream s of every

, ,

what sort of tree w as Mo s es rod taken P— was ’

vi s ionary interpreter Under the cover of this
t t
.

the gold which the Magi o fie r e d to Chri s my s ical meaning little ingenuity was neces s ary
t t t t
, ,
”
coined or in mass ? Ho tinger s ays hat in a to elici from the Scrip ure s s upport for any
O
, , ,

collection of sermons compo s ed by the theologi pinion however repugnant to Christianity and
t
cal facul y o f ienna A D 1 4 3 0 a regular V ,

common sen s e *
,

t
. .
, .

hi s tory i s given of t he hirty pieces which Judas Among the Greeks Gregory Na zi a n ze n and
had for betraying his mas ter The s e piece s t
Augus ine among he a ins became zealous t Lt , ,

t t
.
,

were s aid to be coined by Tera h fat her of suppor ers of s cholas ic theology ; combining in
t t
,

Abraham ; and having pas s ed hrough a s uc a mo s t incon g r uous union the doc rine s of the
ces s ion of hands too ridiculous to be n a med go s pel with ho s e of he Pla onic philo s ophy ; t t t ,

they came in o pos s e s sion of the irgin Mary t ,

V ,

w
and dra ing conclus ion s oo abs urd to have been t
as a pre s ent from t he Magi and wen into he t t ,

thought of by Chri s t or Plato Every coincidence

t ,

wt
.

emple as an o ff ering for her purification At of phras eology w a s fraught i h important mean
t
.

the same period Fe rra r i us complai n s that s ome ing Augu s ine regards the plague s of Egypt as
t t
.
,

preachers made a great osten ation o f their a mo s t poin ed testimony again s t the s ins of the
t
acquain ance with ancient languages vers ions t
Egyp ians because he ten plagues corre s pond t
p a raphras es a n d manu s cripts Fo r a con s ider
, ,

t ,

exac ly in n umber with the en commandmen t s t

t tt
, .

able period before the Reformation the prev a il which hey had broken No doub he o ommen
t t t t t t
. ~
, .

ing topics of he p ulpit were he au ho ri ty of ta or forgot that hese ten commandmen s were
t t
,

the mo her church ; the meri ts and in erce s s ion given long af ter the plagues ; and not given to
t
of depar ed s aints ; the dignity o f the bles s e d t
Egyp ian s but Jews
V ,

t
.

irgin the e fli ca cy of reli es and above all the If I were to indulge a s ingle reflec ion here it
terrors o f purgatory and the utili y o f i n d ul
”
,
,

t ,

t
would be hi s that he whole superstructure of , t ,

g e n ce s Sermons con s i s ted o f quibbles fable s doctri nal and practical reli gi on depends o n the
t t t
.
, ,

and prodigies ; and religion con s i s e d of external principles adop ed in interpretin g he Scripture s .

ceremonies A n d be it remembered f o r ever Origen and a few other di st i n g u1 she d men were
t t t
.
;

that thi s pro s titu ion o f the pulpi w a s followed respo nsible for all the ab s urdi ie s of t r a n s ub st a n
by the reproba ion of heaven on a church which t ,

t tt
t i a t i o n and all he fooleries o f s uper s i ion that
for centuries has been gasping under the hand
, ,

t t
deluged the church ages af er hey were dead
,

t t t , .

o f dea h . From the s ix h to the twelf h century public ,

The meridi an S plendour of that light which instruction con s i s ted o f arguments and a ut ho r i
t
shone at he Reformation was s oon ob s cured in
,

F dl m pl f f l t p t t
fpur ph h d h hp vg g r b rk gd pll dt ur l u y
m
,
ro t he en e ss e i n e r re a io n
xa es o f a n ci u
diff erent countries by the combin ed influence of , n is e i n t h e a e s o f O i e n , I s e e c b ut o n e T he .

worldly policy and religi ous controver s y When

H b w w l th t pp h g
e t Isa i a a in t he s e n o a n d ux r

t
, . ro , e u e

the Baxters and Howes of he Engli s h pulpit

were denounced in he days of Charle s he Se t t h lvy w uld hlwftuld v f ml ul ght Th ll tt th t
o f t he e re
a o c o f w a r , s uc
o m e n , de c a r e s ,

o be t he s a
a i n t he a ro ac in

e r o f ma e s, a

t
cond i s glory departed The r i ch and fervid
,

po n
d r d p
on e o
h l
be e
b y w ul d
t o se e n e a es e se a e r, t o .

w d t w dl k r g l g l
, .
e s ca e t he ea r e ro a c o f ce i a c , o b e g f o r t he
m
in s truction s of the preceding a g e ere super
s e d e d by dry and s pecula ive di s qui s i ions and t ,

t ph lvd l g m y thg t w ll v w m b h dll t k

me re n a
ri i e e s
e a n d cr e i o f
“A n d i n a
e o c ,
d a y se e n
e n o un ci n
o
a ll i t s e a
en S a a e

t
.

w t k w y pp r pl l h ll d by th pl
,
o of on e an , sa in w e i e a t o ur o w n re a , an d
the cardinal doctrine s of he go s pel by the pre , e a r o ur o w n a
,

a r e , o n y le t us b e ca e t hy n a m e ,
ce p t s of a cold and decent morali t y And be it
v v d d pt g r t p bl l m ty m t
”
. to a e a a o ur e ro ac L e t us s e e h o w is ain .

remembered again that when real Chri s tianity

was thus s upplanted in the pulpi by a s purious
,

t m
Th
an d
b
v y mg
i i

w
o r p ho s e d
g h
e s cr i
t he dd
io n o f a
a ic o f a
ea

v i
p
u i c ca a
e n se n se
i , is

“s e e n o e a
e a

and s ecular heology the door w a s opened a t ,

t t D v m
e se s e
Sp t
en o
p t w
e n , O ri e n s a ys

dm
r are .

which entered the v ar ious form s of Arian a n d

, ,

t ll g f u l
i o n s o f t he

L d
t
i in e
u k wl dg p ty
th
i r i : v iz , a s iri o f
i n e i e n ce , o f co n ci o f v i r e , o f
t k h ld
n o e .
is o
e , o f
,

ie
of

,
.

J u Ch t th t m t k w wh h
S o cinian error and finally o f t he mo s t unqual i fied a n d t he e a r o f t he m or
”
T he an ey a e o o f is

t
.

w ld h p up t l g
,
es s ri s , a he ay a e a a y t he l e p r o ae h ic
infideli y .
t he or ea s on r ue r e i i o n .
 L ECTURES ON H O MI E TICS L
ties drawn not from the Bible but from the to the indi s putable fact that s ome s kilful wri er t
writings o f the fa her s
,

So servile w a s the t ,

t
of en composed homilie s w hi ch o her preacher s t
t t
,
.
,

venera ion for tho s e infallible guides that it w as and even di gnitaries in he church delivered a s
deemed impious not to submit implicitly in
,

their o w n F e r r a r i us allude s o di s cour s e s a s t ,

t
.
, ,

every article o f fai h to their deci s ions In the s till extant which were written by E n n o d i us f o r

t ,
.
, ,

twelf h centur y Chri s tian teachers were divided the us e o f others

t
.
,

in o two clas s e s The former were called bi bli ci This practice Augustin e not only recognize s
t
. , ,

and do gma t ici or ex p o s itory and didac ic divines but formally j ustifies in behalf o f tho s e who are
t t
.
, ,

The s e professed g reat reverence for the Bible de s itute of inven ion but can s peak well ; pro
t
, ,

and gave in s ipid explication s o f what they called v i de d they select well writ en di scours es o f
”
its intern al j uice and m a rro w The latter
,
. another man and commit them to memory for , ,

were called s cho la s t i ci and avowedly subj ected ,

the instruction o f their hearers .

all a rticles of faith to the deci s ion s of philo s ophy . In di ff erent countries and p er iods there has ,

The grand point o f religion howev er through been considerable di versity in the cus tom o f pre
the s e dark age s to t he ime of uther w as t o t ,

L
,

p ar ing s ermons Before he civil wars i n Eng t

t
.
, , ,

know the deci s ion o f the s overeign Pontiff and , la nd preachi ng without no es had become com
,

then to believe and act without examination . mon . During those commotions when each ,

R A ON NG E S I IN SE R ONM S .
p ulpit was surrounded with spies and e a ch word
of the preacher liable to be he ground o f civil t ,

Chrysostom in his treatise H e p i I sp a c ii v e g ,

‘
-
, indictment personal s afety required hi m to write
,

requires the Chr i s tian preacher to be skilful in and read hi s sermons with care Hence the sin
t
.

dialectic s The utili y of thi s he shows at some

. ,
gular o fficial order o f Charles the Second ad ,

lengt h from the argumentative powers o f P a uL

,
dres s e d to the Univers ity of Cambridge forbid ,

T he reas oning of this father though it i s some ,

ding absolutely that sermons s hould b e r e a d
, ,

times per s picuous and cogent to a high degree and requiring that they should be delivered by
t t
,

i s rather of the rhetorical kind han the logical memory wi hout book and that the name of
t t
,

in o her words it is characteri s ed rather by the ,

every preacher di s regarding this requi si ion ,

vivid illustrations of oratory than by the re gular s hould be fort hwith report ed to hi s Majesty

t t
.

induc ion s of argument But with the excep ion . The fact however was at that time and since , , ,

o f Chry s ostom and a few others very little that ,

Mr Addi son recommended the practice is s till
.
,

deserve s the name of reasoning is to be found more common that the s ermons o f many Engli s h
t
, ,

among the fa hers They were not accu s tomed clergy men whether delivered from memory or
t
,

t
.

to define terms and ana omise the subj ect by from manu s cript have to a considerable ex ent
t t
, , , ,

inve s igating elemen ary principles Their been borrowed from bo oks o r from the more
t ,
.

sermon s even w hen rich in thought were private compo s itions of o her men The influence
t
.
, ,

commonly destitute of precision and skilful o f this prac ice on t he English pulpit will r e ,

arrangement ; and too oft en what were call ed quire s ome remarks in another lecture
t
.
,

demonstra ions con s i sted o f incoherent allego There can be no doubt that sermons am ong
ries and concei s more adapted to amus e the
,

t ,
t
the fa hers were generally precompose d and , ,

fancy than to convinc e the j udgment

,
. delivered sometim es with but more commonly
, ,

PR PARA ON O F R ON M
without t he aid of written notes .

LO U N O F R ON
E TI SE S.

How far the practice o f preaching extemporar y E Q E CE SE M S .

di s cours es prevailed among the fathers cannot The two mo s t distinguished ancient treati s es on
t
, ,

be determined wi h certai nty O rigen is sup this subj ect were that of Chryso s tom — De Sacer
t
.
,

pos ed o be the first who introduced this metho d ,

. doto and o f Augustine De Doctrina C hr i s t i a n a fi
, ,
‘

Thi s however he did not attempt as Eusebius from whi ch we learn that these luminaries o f the
t
, , ,

af firms till he was more than s ix y ye a rs o f age

, , Greek and Latin church had exalted views o f ,

and had ac quired by experience great freedom sacred eloquence Their s ermons t o o e s pecially
t
.
, , , ,

in the pulpit That Augustine did s ome imes those o f Chrysostom furni s h many examples of
t t
. ,

preach wi hout any prepar a tion is unque s ion an elegant fervent and even sublime oratory
t t t t
, , , .

able ; for in o n e instance he tel ls us hat he

, ,
His accurate acquaintance wi h he human heart ,

reader instead of reading the p a s s age o f s crip his varied learning and vivid fancy furni shed
t t t
, , ,

ture prescribed as the s ubj ect of he s ermon him wi h inexhau s ible s tore s of argument and
t
, ,

gave o ut another by mi s take ; which compelled illus tra ion Yet he did n o t s eek to appear .

him to change his purpo s e and preach without learned ; and never de s cended from his noble
tt
premedi a ion Fe r r a r ius quotes S ui d a s as s a y
,

s implici y t
to adopt tho s e aff ected beauties o f
t t
.
, ,

ing hat Chryso s tom had a tongue f lowing like s tyle which some imes debas ed the eloquence of
,

the Nile which enabled him to deliver his pane

,
Augustine .

gy r i cs o n the m ar tyrs extempore The versa ,

. Among the Latin fathers Jerome of the fourt h ,

t i li t y of power s posses s ed by this great preacher , century might be mentioned as one o f the mo s t
,

appears from innumerable instance s in which he disti n guished for learning and eloquence Dur
t
,

t
.

dropped the main subj ect and wi h the utmost ing his education at Rome he d evo ed himself to
t
per inence and fluency of language pur s ued any
,

,
the art o f oratory hat he migh succesfully ,
t ,

t
accidental thought s ugge s ted at the moment defend Christianity —Era s mus pronounces him
t t t
. .

But though here were in the primi ive ages the greatest s cholar the grea est orator and
t , , , ,
”
many excep ions it s eem s plainly to have been the greate s t divine that the church had produced
t , , ,

he general u s age that sermons were written ,

.

No other proof o f this is necessary if we advert , Li b I V . .

 A ND PREACHING .

including his p r edec es s ors o f the hree centuries t hour hour of sermon & c which may de
t t
, , .

before His writings are valuable not only for note merely hat there w as a sta ed time of publi c
,

t
.

vigour and elegance of style but for bib lical wors hip Nor can it be known from the prin e d
t w
.
,

lea r ni n g s ermo n s of he day for t o reason s O ne i s

t t t , ,
. .

La ct a n t i us of the same century though les s ha when he same audience was addre s s ed by
s ound as a heologian was eminen as a a in t ,

t Lt s everal preachers in immedi at e s ucce ssion a s

t
wri er He w as a profe s sed rhe ori c ian The
,

t w as frequen ly he fact sermon s ould of cour s e t t ,

w ,

t t t ,

t ,
. .

beau y and eloquence of his wri ings acquired be more brief han when he whole time was a p
t tt
him he i le of ”
he Chri s ian Cicero and i a t t
,

p r o p r i a t e d to one man The o her reas on i s he

,

t t
t
.
, ,

d uce d he Emperor Con s tantine to choose hi m impo ss ibility of distingui shing homilies pre s erved
t t
,

eacher o hi s son by the original manu s cripts of preachers from

t t t
as .
,

Among he Greek fathers the homili e s of Basil hos e taken down by S hort hand w r i er s called
t
while hey are preferred by s ome compe t en
,

t
,

r a x y p a pm by he Greeks and n o t a r n by he t ,

t
L t
v

t
f
, ,

judge s to ho s e of Chrysostom in clas s ica l purity atins The cu s tom which Chrysos om applauds
t t t t ,
.
, ,

o f s yle are s econd only to his in point of elo of repea ing sermon s in familie s af er hey r e
que n ce and he two Gregorie s occupy the next t ,

turned from church introduced the prac ice of

,

t
rank That hes e men pos s e s sed real eloquence t t
no e taking These note s of hearer s ere s ome
,

w
t t t
-
.
, .
,

might be inferred from he e ffec o f their preach imes publi s hed af ter a revi s ion by the preacher
ing o n the hearers When Chrysos tom was ban a n d sometimes without hi s conse n In thi s way
,

t ,

t t
. .

i she d the people sai d wi h o n e voice “ it were many homilie s tran s mit ed to us are mere s crap s
t ,

tt
bet er tha he s un shoul d cease t o shine than
, ,

of t w
hose hich were actually delivered For ex
,

t t t ,

L
.

hat his mou h shoul d be shut and hi s not ample ; C hr y s o s t o m s firs t s ermon on azarus ’

w t
iths andi ng he o ft en bore down on hi s hearers
,

m us t have occupied near S ix y minute s in delivery t ,

t t t t
.
,

in a orrent of bold and poin ed reproof such as Whereas o hers as hey appear in his printed
i s s eldom heard from any modern pulpit Tak e
,

work s and the s ame i s true concerning ho s e of

,

t
t t t
.
, ,

an example from his reprehension o f hose who Augus ine w ould have requi red s carcely a ten h
were averse to reading the scrip ure s bu zealo s t t t t
par of thi s time On he whole it is evident
,

t
,

t
.

for hearing s ermon s and who demanded novel y that s ermons as delivered by Chri s t and the
a n d po mp in he pulpit “ ”
Te ll me said he t ,

t
apo s les and the pri mitive fathers varied in
,

t t t
.
, , , ,

wi h what pomp o f words did S Paul pre a ch P length wi h circum s tances — that a ft er Origen s ’

t
.

ye he converted the world Wha t pomp did the time they became longer less de s ultory and
t t t t
.
, , ,

illi era e Pe er us e ? Yo u say we cannot under more co n formed t o he rules of Grecian eloquence ;
s tandt t he hings that are wri en in the go s pel tt
,

tt
bu hat in C hr y s o st o m s day hey must have ’
t
t Lt ,

t t
.
,

Why so ? Are hey S poken in Hebrew or a in ? bee n le s s han an hour in len gt h as this was he
t
— are hey not spoken in Greek to o u who
,

c ustomary time of the whole religious service “

,

y ,

k
.

understand Greek ? But they are s poken dar ly

How darkly ? Are t he hi s orie s ob s cure ? There t
.

E FF E CT O F S E R ON M S

are a thous and hi s tories in he Bible : tell me o n e t The ilence and order which decency de
s

t
of hem You cannot tell one Oh but he t mand s in a mod ern Chri s tian as s embly did not
t tt
. .
,

reading o f the scrip ure s i s a mere repe i ion of prevail i n the ancient church To prevent
t t
.

he s ame things ! And are not he s ame things pa s s ing in and o ut during s ermon d i fferent
re p eated at he theatre and at the hors e race ? t meas ure s w ere adopted ; such as severe church
,

t t
-
,

Doe s not he s ame sun ri s e ever y morning ? Do censure s placing o fficers at he entrance of the
t
you no eat the same s ort of food every day ? If church and sometimes locking the doors
,
,

we as k why do you not remember o ur s ermon s ?

, The best preachers often reproved their
—you answer how s hould we seeing they hearers for talking and j esting in time of
al
w t t
, , ,

way s change and we hear them but once If orship In imi ta ion o f he pagan theatre it
t
-
, .
,

we as k Why do y o u not remember the s crip ures ? became an exten s ive custom for hearers to ex
w t t
,

You an s er they are alway s he same The s e pre s s their approba ion o f a sermon by tumul
t t
, .
,
”
are no hing bu preten ces for idlenes s I had t uo us applau s e s s uch as stamping clapping
t t t t t
.
, , ,

selec ed an ex ract from he s ame fa her on the waving of handkerchiefs and loud acclama ion s
t , .
,

a dvan age s of eloquence in a pre a cher but my Thus the heare r s o f Cyril cried o ut in the mid s t
hm i t s forbid its inser ion t ’
,

of t he sermon o r t hodo x Cyril ! And Chr y s o s

,

t
.
,

NG H R ON tom s in ano her ca s e exclaimed Thou art

’

L t
, , ,
E T OF SE M S. ”
he t hir t e e n t h Ap os t le ! The s e applause s w ere
Cicero and Pliny allude to an in s tr ument called in many cases mere matter o f form and were
cle s dr a
p g/ u s ed by Greek and Roman orators to uttered wi hout any intelligen t apprehen s ion o f t , ,

tt
,

meas ure time by drop s of water F e r r a r i us wha he preacher had delivered Thu s Augu s
t t t t
, . .

s ays hat I alian preachers o f hi s day us ed an ine reproved hi s hearers in one in s ance for
hour glas s with s and s for he same purpose
-
t ,

interrup ing him wi h their acclama ion s hent t ,

t w ,

t t t t
, ,

though here is no certain y that any s uch u s age he had only begun o s peak but had no ex
t
exi s ed among the fa her s He affirms however t pre s s ed a s ingle though But many o her t ,

t
t
. .
, ,

upon what I hink inadequate evidence that the preachers encouraged these disorders from
t
, , ,

cu s tomary length of heir s ermons was about

one ho ur In
t u d
w uld m th t wh t
mu t h v b
so me g v
dl d
ca s e s , it o se e a a is i en to

T i s point
h cannot be determined from the ex
us

P lm
as
v l t l g
o n e

mu
co n in e se r mo n , s a e een e i ve r e

fi m d dt p b
a t se e ra i me s . T he s e rm o n o f Er a s s, o n t he IV .

common in preaching allotted r

pre ss n w s so
bl yurt k P md lt b dwty rd thh tv byb wh hmb vd dl t
sa
oo
, is
t he
as o n

sa
as
e i
ve

er
o

as
e rn se
a
mo n s .

ic
E i
se
o rs
e ra
ro
d is
a

Se e W rk o s, v o l . 1
. p . 4 08 .
co
a co n t u d tr t
se s

in
o f
e
r e si
ea i se
e n

.
E a s a e e en e o ie in o
 LECTURES ON H O MI ETICS L
t
mo ive s of vain glory They had their reward the sentiment be comes only a secondar consider
.
, y
while the illus trious men who s e simple aim at1 on
t
- .

w a s to feed their hearer s with he bread of life In point of fact doubtles s every wise preacher
,

saw their fai thful minis rations blest to the t

often fixes o n some prominent do ctri e or duty ,
, ,

n ,

savi ng convers ion o f many souls which he wishes to discuss and then go e s to the .
,

The sketch which I had de s igned to give o f Bible to as certain what it teaches o n this subj ect
t
,

the modern pulpit in Great Bri ai n o n the co n selecting some single passage as a text that is , ,

t i n e n t of Europe and in t he Greek church must e s pecially pertinent to his purpos e This I pre
t
.
, , ,

be omitted except so far as it will be incorporated

,
sume is he common process o f prepara tion where , ,

o f course into the various topics o f subsequent a sermon i s to be adapted to any special cir cum
lectures .
stance or o ccasion The ordina ion o f a minis . t
ter for example requires a di scourse o n an a p , ,

p r o p r i a t e subj ect ; and t he selection o f a text

L E C T U R E IV ad apted to such a subj ect implies no di s respect to .

C I CE F T E XT S the HO O
Bible for the occasion i t self and all the i a
s t r uct i o n s which it demands are founded on the
.

,
,

T H E practice o f expounding parts o f the sacred authority o f this s a cred book Or when there .
,

Scripture s in public wor s hip as I have stated in is some S p ecial reason for the preacher t o dis cuss
, ,

the precedi ng lectures w as common in the Jewi s h the doc trine o f atonement o r o f progressive
,

synagogue and i n the early Chr is ian churches s a n ct ifica t i o n he a dopts the same process in
,
t .
,
,

From this origin is derived the usage which f o r choo s ing a text , .

ages has prevailed in Christendom of selecting

, But here is a danger to be guarded against , ,

from the Bible a few words o r sentences called much more seriou s than the o n e mentioned by
, ,

a text from which the pre a cher deduces the Dr Campbe ll on the other hand Suppose y o u
, .
, .

subj ect o f his discourse It can be no vali d fix o n your subj ect and arrange your matter and .
, ,
obj ection to the propriety o f this custom in the even write your serm on as has oft en been done , , ,

pulpit that nothing analogous to it is found in and then go to the Bible in search of a text
, .

the modern senate o r forum n o r among the Probably your text will either not contain your , ,

great fathers of ancient eloquence It i s not the subj ect ; o r contain it only by inference o r remote .

province o f secular oratory as Dr Campbell has analo g y ; or combine with it other subj ects which
t
.
, ,

properly remarke d to expound any inf alli ble must en irely be neglec ted I do not say that
, .

code of doctrines or laws But a sermon pur there can be no c a se in which it is admi s sible t o .

ports to be a pers picuous and persuasive e xhi b i arrange the plan o f a sermon and even exe ,

tion of some tr uth or duty as taught in the cute i t without havin g determined on a text , , .

w ord o f Go d It i s therefore with great pro.

But from the s pecimens o f motto preaching which ,
-

p r i e t y founded o n ,
some spec i fic passage o f this have fallen under my observation I cannot doubt ,

s a cred book .
that the tendency o f the abo ve process is t o s ink
The principles w hich ought to be observed in the reverence due to the Bible and hence it too
the choice of texts ma be incl uded perhaps often happens in po int o f fact that in what ar e
, y , , , ,

in the following c a ll e d polite sermons there is nothing but the

R
,

U L ES t e xt to remind the hearers that there i s a Bible

. , .

The text is obviously cho s en from respect rather

1 A t e xt s ho uld n e ve r be cho s e n a s t he me r e
,
.
to the usage of the pulpit than to the authority o f ,
M O T T O of a sermon This is not sufficiently the divine word and it would better accord with
.

;
re s pectful to the Bible ; o ur authority to preach t he ends o f the preacher in such a c a se t o choose
, ,
at a ll is derived from the same sacred book no text o r like him whom M e la n ct ho n heard
,
; ,
wh i ch prescribes what we shall preach It is preach in Par i s to choose o n e from the Ethics o f .

,
not enough that what we S peak is truth ; it Ari s totle .

mu s t be truth taught in the Bible ; o r el s e the 2 I n t he c ho i c e of a t e s t t he r e s ho uld be N O

FF C A N U AR
.
,
declaration o f it deserves not the name o f a A E T T I O o r PE C L I I T Y Som preachers
e .

C hri s tian sermon I do not say that elaborate have endeavoured to awaken the curiosity o f
.

explication or any explication is invariably their hearers by n arti fice o f this sort alto
,
a , ,
necessary to Show that the subj ect o f discourse is gether unbecoming the di gnity o f the p ul pit .

contained in the text When this is so obvious They select perhaps from a passage a scrap .

as to be seen by every hearer ; especially when o r a s i n le w or d hat vulgar min ds may a dmire
g
it is obvious without recurrence to the con the sagacity which can elicit so much mean , t ,

n e xi o n of the context o r when there is no ing from a text in w hich they perceive n o ,
,
such connexion explanatory remarks are s uper meaning and in which there truly is none
,
.
,
fluo us This point wi ll be resumed in another man of this trifling chara ct er preached from the
.

,
place .

words Not so another from Jehovah “

,
There is a question which demands some J ir e h another from Z a hn a t h aa n e a another
p p
-

attention here as to the or de r to be ob s erved in from he monosyllable B ut

,

choo s ing a subj ect and a t e xt Dr Campbell * train o f eleven di scourses from the i n t e r e c ; and another a , t ,

j
. ‘
.

lays down the broad po s ition that “ the text tion 0 , ,

.

ought to be chosen for the subj ect and not the this rate a preacher might scarcely find ,
,
subj ect for the text His reas on i s that in t he
t t in a mini s try of twenty years to explain
.
,
,
Oppo s i e cours e he preacher is tempted to de ,
the pulpit as many vers es from the sacre d ,
scant upon wor d s and phrase s o f a text whi le volume If he must find mountains o f meaning ,
’

t lp t l t
.
,

L c u r e s o n P u i E o qu n ce e in every word an d let er o f the Bible and mus t e .

,
 LEC TURES ON H O MI ETIC S L
a word or tw o , whi ch suggest no subj ect what tion of a sermon the words hat s oever is not W
ever o f fai h t
is sin ; and without e xamining the
, ,

CO t
. ,

4 A Te xt s ho uld e xp r e s s
-
A M PL E TE S E N SE connexion m ake this your doc rine that n o t hi n g
N P R D WR R f
. , , ,

O F T HE I S I E I TE ,
ro m w ho m i t is t a he n . i s t r ue o be di e n c e w hi ch doe s n o t r e s ult f r o m a p r i n
Thi s it may do though it is but a single clause ,
cip le of fa i t h Thi s false sense o f the pas s age
.
, ,

selected from the members o f a compound sen the authority of Augustine made the classical one
”
tence ; as Rej oice with trembling The for a long peri o d Doubtle s s this s entiment is
t
.
, , ,
”
time is short Awake thou that sleepest , ,
. taught in the Bible and s eem s to be taugh in ,

Such a clause however by being s evered from this text ; but examining the s cope o f the whole
its connexion is ften wre s ted from its true
,

O ,

pas sage you perceive the Apos le s affirmation to t ’

t
, ,

meaning You might t ak e for example as a .

, , be simply thi s Wh atsoever is done wi hout a
text this complete and independent proposition convi ction o f its lawfuln ess is s inful — a con
,

There i s no God ”
But you would use a .
,

elus ion from his preceding remarks abou con

,

t
liberty forbidden by all establi sh e d laws o f lan s ci e n t i o us scruples a s t o meat s and drinks .

guage you would make the Bible contradi ct I have heard the text Ps a xlix 8 The
t
, . .
,
”
i s elf unless you al s o take t he previous clause redemption o f the soul is precious & c — mad e
t , , .
,

The fool hath said in his hear There is no to furnish the doctrine that the salvation o f “
, ,
”
God John the Baptist was risen from the man is procured at great expen s e ; — and this
t t
.
,

dead — is a distinct proposi ion But it does illustrated by various topic s exhibiting he
O
.
, ,

not express the s ense f the inspired writer and worth of the soul and t he love of God This is
t t
, , .

“ all true — and it is truth of en taught in the

i s not true wi hout including more words : And
King Herod heard Of him and he said that John
”
, , t
Bible ; but he primary and obvious s ense o f the ,

the Baptist w as risen from the dead . text as the whole connexion s how s is overlook
, ,

A text is not to be hung upon a sermon as an ed by a mi s understanding o f the word s o ul

t
, ,

amulet ; nor like the no s trum Of an empiric is , , which in thi s place mean s the l i fe o f he bo dy .

it to be taken up and applied at random It . Cecil s ays “ The me a n i n g o f the Bible is t he

, ,
”
s ho ul d always express the true sense and as far , ,
Bible .

’
as possible the complete sense o f the sacred Dr Blair s sermon o n the duties belonging t o
W
.
,

middl e age has thi s text “ hen I becam e a

writer
PA R CU LA W
.
, ,
”
5 Thi s s ho uld be t he TI R SE N
gE man I put away childi s h things as it then
N U U BJ
. , .

WHI C H O ST I T T E S T HE S ECT COF DI S the de s ign o f the apo s tle to inc ulcate the duties
C UR
O SE so that he text is pertinent to the s ub t of the middle age ? Not at all He merely said .
,

jcet ; in other words the subj ect shoul d be ,

by way of ill ustration that as the sen s es o f full , ,

di rectly expressed o r fairly suggested by the , , m an hood s urpass the feeble comprehen s ion of a
unperverted meaning Of the text . child ; so the grand concerns o f the heavenly
Now this rule is violated in three ways It state transcend o ur dark conceptions in this
t
.

excludes in the first place all those te xt s which

, , , world In the next ver s e the sam e sentimen is
.
,

are chosen from some fanciful connexion Of expre s sed by another figure No w w e s e e
”
s o un d with the occasion o r subj ect in hand . through a glass darkly but then face to face , .

Archbishop Fen elon censures a sermon de ,

Every o n e perceive s how ab s urd in thi s cas e it , ,

livered o n A s h Wednesday from the words I would be to pass over the t hi n g i llus t r a t e d and fix
t
-
, , ,

have eaten a s he s li ke bread Here the corres on the i llus t r a t ion as a subj ec o f di s course
t
.
, .

p o n d e n ce be ween the text and the subj ect lie s ,

I am aware that t he be s t o f men have some
not at all in the s e n s e but in the s o un d of a s i n gle times taken great freedom with the plain
w o r d which the preacher perceived t o be related
,

meaning of the Bible under he li cen s e o f what t

,

to the ceremony Of the day . they call accommodation Thus Dr Ha ker from
,

. . w
The same sort Of taste was discovered by the the words Speak to the children o f I s rael that
, ,

preacher who being called to Ofii ci a t e before the

, ,
they go forward preached o n the doctrine o f ,

Engli sh judges cho s e for his text Judge not progre s sive s a n ct ifica t i o n And the lan guage
t
.
, , ,

that ye be not j udged . poetically ascribed t o Si s e r a s mo her waiting ’

Still le s s excu s e i s there in t he second place , ,

the return o f her heathen son Why i s hi s ,
”
for that aff ected eccentricity which lights o n a chariot so long in coming ? has often been m ade
text by accident w ithout any connexion o f , to expre s s the aspirations of a dying saint for ,

either s ound o r sense with the point to be dis the perfect vi s ion o f his Saviour How much
t
.
,

cus s ed It is said Of Latimer that in his a d

.
,
more appropriate i n the former case is he , ,

v a n ce d age he had a text which served for any simple language of the New Testament : Grow
W
,

subj ect ; hat s oever things were wri ten afore in grace and in the latter I desire to depart
time were written f o r o ur learning ”
An Eng n
a d to be wi h Christ ”
t , ,

L
, . .

lish preacher at t he Bi shop o f incoln s vi s ita ’

It i s not enough that the chief sentiment of a
t
‘
, ,

tion in 1 8 1 8 chose for his text Glory t o God sermon is true nor that i i s important nor that
t
, , , , ,

in the highe s t o n eart h peace good will towards , ,

it is contained in the Bible it mu s t be con ained
”
men and af ter hi s exordium proposed as t he
, , , ,
in the text o r properly deduced from it There
, .

subj ect o f discours e T O examine the doctrines ,

i s I adm it a justifi able accommodation if you
, , ,
”
Of Calvin as laid down in hi s Institutes please to give it that name where a scriptural
O t
, .
,

I bserve again in the third place that a text , ,

declar ation o r precept or fact S pecial and limi ed , ,

1 8 not pertinent when so di sj oined from its con

, in its ori ginal application is made the basi s of ,

n e xmn that its app ar ent meaning though i t is general instruction Son of man I have made
t
, , .
,
”
truth and revealed truth is n o t the re al meaning
, ,
hee a watchm an to the house of Israel was an ,

o f the passage Suppo s e you tak e as the f o un d a . address to Ezekiel as a minister of Go d in the
, , ,
 A ND PREACHING .

ancient ch urch But there is no v iolence in f e r e n t periods I have already remark e d hat t
t t t t t
. , ,

considering he s olemn charge to ha prophe this s ingle article the s ubj ec s of sermons would
a s applicable to t
he mini s ers of the C hri s ian furn i s h ma er f o r a more comple e hi s tory of t t
,

tt ,

t ,

di s pen s a ion t
I h ave nouri shed and brought preaching han any which has been g iven t o t
t ,

t
.

”
up children and hey have rebelled again s t me the world Indeed s uch i s he influence of the
t
— hough s poken of he Jew s would b e a pro er
,

p t
pulpit on public s en iment and s uch t he re a c ion
,

t
,

t
t ext f o r a s ermon o n he general subj ec of i n t
of public s en iment on the pulpi hat in the
,

t t ,

t t
tt ,

gra i ude So a pas s age of s acred hi s ory ex mo s t impor ant re s pects he s ate of he church t t t t t ,

t t ,

t ,

t
.
,

hi b i t i n g t he charac er or obli ga ions o f man he in any given period may be de ermined from the
t
perfec ion s o f God or he principle s of hi s prevalent s train of preac hing during ha period t , ,

t t
t n ,

t t
.

governmen fur i she s in s ruction profitable and Were we to make hi s principle the ground of
t t
per inen to men of wha ever age or country
,

t
a general e s imate and di vide the his tory of the
,

t
t
.
,

6 The o n ly r e ma i n i n g q ua li ty w hi ch I w o uld church since the Chris ian era into four periods
Y , ,

t
.
,

r e co mme n d i n t he c ho i c e of a t e x t is S I M PL I C I T we might perhaps denominate he first S imple

t t
.
, ,

The i mpor ance of hi s i s implied in the remarks and evangelical ; the second allegorical and
already made ; but i may be more apparent by my s tical ; he third controvers ial ; and the fourth t t ,

s ome di s inc illus t ra ion s t t t

mixed The fir s t period may perhap s be con
, ,

t t t
. .

The simplici y to which I ref er is violated in s i d e r e d as extendi ng about to he ime o f Origen ;

t t
the firs plac e by he choice of a ex s o ob s cure he s econd to he Ref orma ion ; he h i rd to the t t
, ,

t t t t t
as to requ i re a long cri ical commentary
,

o pre commencement o f the eighteen h century ; andt t ,

t ,

t t
pare he way for he s ubj ect I i s cer ainly not he las t to this time I scarcely need be r e
,

t t ,

t t
t t t
.
, .

my de s ign o condemn s uch cri i cal remark s as marked hat this would be correct only as a
wholly inexpedient i n he pulpit The judicious very general clas s ification admi ing many ex t , ,

tt ,

t t t ,
.

expo s i ion o f a paragraph or chap er at sta ed ce p t i o n s in each pe r iod T he third I d e n o mi

t
.
,

time s is an invaluable method of enligh ening a nate controvers ial as embracing not merely the
,

t t t t t t
,

congregation as to he con en s of he sacred mighty s ruggle between he Romi s h and the

t t t
,

oracle s and i is to be lamen ed hat thi s reformed churches but al so the intolerant and
ancient us age is so far fallen in o desue ude in of en san g uinar conte s ts among Pro e s tants of t t t y ,

t ,

t he churche s of modern Chri s tendom But in different s ects During this lamentable s eason . .
,

the s e exercises the s teps of a philological i n v e s whi le the p ulpit w as the theatre o f acrimoniou s
t i g a t i o n are by no mean s o be exhibi ed b efore
,

a ack and recri mina ion the greate s t que s tion t t tt t

t t t t , .

common audi ors Much le s s is hi s proper in a tha ha s ever agi ated the church namely whe
t t t t
.
, ,

sermon where men sho uld be called o contem her he Bible is o r i s not he s upreme s ta ndard
t ,

t
pla e a n intere s i ng s ubj ect wi hout having been of fai h may be considered as finally put to re s t t t , .

fir s t led through a chilli ng and perplexi ng maze The fourt h period I called mi xe d becau s e at
t
of cri ical s pec ula ion O n he s ame principl e t
di f f erent time s and places i has exhibi ed an t ,

t ,

t ,

t t t
.
,

Simplici y i s viola ed in the second place by endle s s varie y in the chara cte r o f s ermon s from
t t
he choice of a tex which promi s e s great e f for s the extreme of fanatical declamation o that o f
, ,

t t ,

t
in he preacher Thi s is e s p ecially he cas e wi h he fri gid and cour ly essay t t t t ,

t t
. .

such pas s ages as pre s ent images di s inguished The s election of subjec s which any preacher
t
for vivaci y and sublimity O f hi s sor are he wi ll mak e for his public di s cours es will corre t t t ,

w w t t
.
,

follo ing He bo ed he heaven s als o and s p o n d wi h hi s principal end in preaching If

w
.

came do n and darkne s s was under hi s feet thi s i s personal emolument o r fame hi s s ermons
,

tt
.
,

And he rode upon a cherub and did fly yea he will be modelled in ma er and spirit according
t t t t
, , , ,

did fly upon he wings of he wind I beheld to the prevailing tas e of the time Hi s objec
w t t t t
. .

a great hi te hrone and him hat s a t on i from may be to e s abli s h s ome po int o f technical o r
t
whose pre s ence he ear h and he heavens fled t ho d o xy o r to confu e s ome here s y ; o r to e luci
,

t t ,

t
a ayw ”
However g rand or awful your subj ect date s ome doubtful text from the re s ource s of
t t
.

may be if y o u would not di s appoint your cri ici s m or t o promo e good moral s by e n f o r c
,

hearers introduce it wi h a s imple text When ing s ome du y or reproba ing s ome vice ; o r t t t ,

t
,

t t t t
.

ever hi s con ain s a figure explain i if nece s s ary ; finally to amu s e his audience by he exhibi ion
and then as a general rul e drop it that you of an eleva ed tas e or a s plendid ora ory If
, , ,

t t ,

t
t t t
, , , , .

may confine your at en ion to the hought It the pre a cher s end is to glorify Go d and s ave ’

w t t t t ,

t
.

ill seldom be proper to follow a figure hrough hi s hearers he peculiar ru h s and du ie s of the
t
,

your s ermon and never to run it down into a go s pel will con s itute the principal topics of hi s
t hous and fanciful points of resemblance *
,

public di s course s . .

The pulpit like all other things in which ,

human agency is concerne d has always been ,

more or le s s s ubj ect to the influence of local and

L V ECTURE temporary caus e s At one ime all its power s t
t t
. .
,

HO O C I CE F S UB JE C T S have been direc ed perhaps for half a cen ury ,

t ,

G N ORA NA
PR N P H A OH R R A O OR A ORY according to an impuls e given by a few celebra ed
.

E E L I C I LE S — F U C A S E S F S UB JE C T S
L E T IC L I S IC L H T models of
.

preaching At ano her time an over

L Q Z
t
O
.
,
D CT R I TO T
,
whelming cur rent of public feeling and p i nion
, .
,

WE proceed now to con s ider the choice of W e n a e x i s r y o n h t t v l g th v t

en e ry s o
i s m a y b e i n co n e n i e n ;
u e e ss ry I t ma y b e s o e r
ru e f t he e a c e r t o d o i s i c s
wh g v l h lt p h b
th t h w v r ,
e
n n c a
,

. e , e ,

In giving a brief survey of the p ulpit at dif

Ch t b v
ri s i a n O e r e r v o l v re co mm s
a a e e a
h i s a a r e t a t he e re r s e x c it P ro y
d wh t whw l w wl h t ,
h p
wh t t tb bl s
e re
n
e
r , or r
a e .
, n ase
a
The
ll g d p t
I t ca s t he o , o ld ra c i ce o f a n n o u n ci n
o ex
a
i ce
it u d b e l t o d i t i n a ll ca se s
mo r a e n
s , e r e t he x is o f
. .
,

g t t twa d t l gth
en ,

.
o

e
e
e .
o e
 LECTURES ON H O MI ETICS L
has been occa s ioned by s ome great subj ect o f o f the doctrines above alluded to ha ve been
t
du y o r danger involving the common intere s s t denominated e s s e n t i a l o r f un da me n t a l By hi s
,

t
t ,

t L t
.
,
’
of he church Fo r a hundred years af er uther s it is not meant merely that hey are taught with
t ,

t
.

ime s carcely a sermon was delivered in any so much di s tinctness in the Bible that o deny
t t
,

Pro e s ant pul pit wi hout alluding to the usurp ,

t them is to call in question the au hority of this
, t ,

a t i o n s of the papal hierarchy book as a divine revelation ; but al so that they

t
.
, ,

But aside from caprice and pas s ion and the are constituent par s o f an entire s y s tem none of
t
, ,

occasional excitement of great emergencies in the which can be taken away without he virtual
religious world there mus t be circumstances in ,
t
renuncia ion o f the whole O n this ground it .
,

the view o f every j udicious preacher af fecting , is maintained that the deliberate denial o f the s e ,

to some extent his o w n choice of subj ects for the,

doctrines by any o n e who understands them i s
, ,

pulpit He will take into v iew the capacity and incon s istent with love to the truth and therefore
t
.
,

cultivation o f his hearers ; heir attainments in inconsi s tent with s alvation

n
.

religious knowledge their prej udices and their It is foreig from my present purpose to ,

intellectual and moral habits He will have examine the views o f tho s e who di scard the
t
.

regard als o t o time and occasion By this I do di s inction betw een e s sential and une ss ential
t t O
.
,

no chiefly mean the periodical solemnities o f tru hs ; and allege that error of pinion i s not ,

religion such as the chri s tian sacraments days in any ca s e either criminal o r fatal I shall only
t
, , , .

of fa sting or o f thank s giving nor o her s pecial , remark in pas sing that to say there are no e s ,

public occas ions which u sually pre s cribe their s e n t i al principles in theolo y while we adm it
, g ,

own limits to the preacher But I refer to that . such principles in all those sciences which are ,

general coincidence o f things which may render ,

s econdary and subservient to thi s is absurd To , .

the di s cus s ion o f a particul ar subj ect more or less say that error in Opinion i s never owing to obli
sea s onable at any o n e time o r place .
qui t y o f mor al temper is to contradi c all ex , t
The wise s t preacher too will have some regard , , p e r i e n ce And to a ffirm that while the Bible i s
.
,

to hi s own talents and taste and age in d e t e r m i n , , ,

o ur only guide to salvation we may yet be s a v e d , ,

ing upon the topics to be discus s ed in his public though we rej ect the mo s t important truths which
t
instruc ions I mention a ge because a sermon
.
,
it reveals is t o charge absur d ity o n its contents
, ,

de s i gned to investigate s ome ab s truse point in and folly on its author .

religi on o r to arrai g n s ome vice which calls for

, ,
T aking it for granted then that the Bible r e , ,

the reprehen s ion of t he pulpit will be much more veals truths e s sential to be unders tood and be
likely to meet a favourable recep ion from the
,

t li e v e d it is clear that the preacher who is wise and

t
,

hearers if t he pre a cher i s suppo s ed to po s sess faithful will Often make he s e truth s the topics o f
t , ,

hat maturity o f j udgment and extensive know ,

his public di scourse Indeed the s e are the grand .
,

ledge o f his s ubject which nothing but e xp e r i ,

bas es of all profitable in s truction The character of .

ence in hi s sacred work can give The relation God the character of man the way Of salvation by
t
.
, ,

which the preacher sus tain s to the hearers is , Chri s t and he kindred doctrine s involved by n e
,

connected with a di s tinct clas s o f circum s tances ,

ce s s a r
y connexion with these are subj ects which ,

which good sense will not fail to take into the o ur hearers mu s t be brought to under s tand o r they ,

account That may be a fit di s course for a stated

. ar e taught n o t hi n
g to any valuable purpose The .

p a stor which would be very inappropriate if di s man who avoids these doctrines in his s ermon s
t
, , ,

cu s sed by a stranger ; and that which might from a perver ed tas te or a false delicacy o r a
s eem a fl e ct a t i o n of z eal or learning or or ho t s ervile complai s ance to the prejudices o f o hers
,

t
,

doxy in a s ingle sermon from an i inerant might

,

t ,

forgets the chief end for which the chri s tian

,

t
, ,

be unexceptionable as connected with a se r ies o f mini s try was in s titu ed The sword o f t he
t L
.

addres s e s o the same audience . Spirit is the word o f God et the doctrines .

There is one kind o f public discourse called preached by Christ and the apo s tles t he doc
t
Expo si ion or ecture which is di s tingui s hed L ,
,

t rines which con s titute the glory the e ffic a cy ,

,

rat her b i t s f qr mt han i t s s ubj e ct a n d t he i m the essence of the Gospel be generally excluded
t
por ance o f which claims for it a di s inct con
h
h ,

t fl

from the p ulpit for one half century and the

,

sideration in ano her place The subj ects o f ser t . night o f pagani s m would again s pread i s gloomy t
,

mon s in the more appropriate sense of this word

, , shade s over Chri s tendom The ma n n e r in which .

may perhaps be included in the following general these doctrines are to be preached will claim o ur ,

classe s attention here a fter I have only to add here

C R NA
.
,

DO T I L —This head comprises that that this clas s including the primary and the s ub
t
.
,

whole circle of truths which appertain to the , ordinate tru hs Of revelation aff ord the preacher ,

system o f revealed religion A sermon which . a rich va r i e ty o f subj ects for di scussion in the
discusses o n e or more of these truths a s its prin , pulpit .

ci p al subj ect is called a do ct r i n a l sermon Its 2 The n e xt cla s s of s ubj e c t s t o be n o t i ce d ma y

H A
, . .
,

professed obj ect is to enlighten the understand be c a lle d E T I C L — I prefer this term to the
ing confirm the faith and obviate t he mi s takes
, , more common one s p r a c t i ca l and mo r a l not on , ,

of the hearers O f cours e it is in the didactic .

, account o f any primary di ff erence in the sense of
strain ; as it is intended to exhibit explain and , , the term s but because these latter are wont to be
,

establi s h the views which the preacher entertains associated with views o f Christian duty very
on the point in que s ion The absolute import t . indefinite and Often erroneous In re s pect to the
,
.
,

ance which he w ill attach to this class o f sub

, motives the consolations and indeed all the
, ,

j e ct s collectively and the relative importance of essential char acteri s t i cs o f a truly religious m a n
t t
, , ,

each compared with the rest will be according , he doctrine s of he B i ble are eminently p r a ct i ca l .

to hi s genera l sy s tem o f religious opinions Some . To give o n e exam p le o f my m eaning Any .

 AND PRE ACHING .

mini s ter o f experience in hi s work know s that pensable necessity of a good life ; as commanded
t t
the direc e s way t o administer con s ola ion to a
,

t by God ; as e s s ential to he re la ions s ubs i s ting t t

pious hus band mourning for t he dea h of his ,
t among moral beings ; and as he only proper t
wife should be to dwell o n the holy perf ection of
,
fruit and evidence Of a holy tem p er .

Go d and of hi s providential government *

No 3 A n o t he r c la ss of s ubj ec ts f o r s er mo n s i s t he
t t H R CA t
. .
, ,

s ys em of morals indeed tha i s not founded on I ST O I L This include s a sta t ement of fac s
the s e wi ll receive any coun t enance from the
, ,

which is limi ed to the chara cter of the indi t ,

t
mini s rations of a public teacher Who under
,

vidual ; or which relates to some par icular t

t
s ands and love s he go s pel He cannot for a t ,

pe riod o r to s ome communi y of men In the t

t
.
, .

moment sanction the S purious morali y which former case it i s the obj ect Of the preacher to
t
at aches mora l quali ie s to actions independent t
,

t
exhi bi the traits o f some di s ingui s hed char ac
,

t
t
,

of the t emper and mo ive s of the agent It may t e r good or ba d as the basis of prac t ical i n s t r uc
t
.
, ,

be s aid and s ai d truly perhap s tha t no res p ect tion Such descrip ions so far a s the p ulpit i s
t t
.
, , ,

able man does avowedly plead for a principle so concerned have commonl y b een restric ed o the
t t
, ,

repugnant to s ound philosophy and to common charac t er of pe rs ons deceas ed and o heir ex
s en s e But unque s ionably hous ands o f ser
. t , t ce lle n ce s rather han their defects ; according
“
t ,

mons are every year delivered in Christendom to the long rec eive d maxim : De m o r t ui s nil
which contain no more recogn i ion of thi s o h t ,

ni s i bonum To t hi s maxim in i t s full ex en

.
, t t
,

v i o us principle than if it were s elf evident that I can by no means accede If it is understood
t
-

t , .
,

the hear has no connexion with the conduct but t o imply merely hat death impo s es an awe o n
t
,

is al ogether exempt from the claims of the di the licentiou s ne s s of the tongue becaus e it ex
vine law Such s ermons pervert and pro s itu e t t t i n gui s he s tho s e lit t le antipa hies which of en t ,

t
t t
.
,

the firs t principles of Chris ian morality They . aff ec our e s timate of living pers on s ; no e n
set up cus tom convenience o r expedi ency as li ghtened mind will question i t s correctnes s
t , ,

t ,

t
.

the s andard o f human duty ; and s ubs i tute But if the meaning is hat when men die their
mere external conformi y to d ivine commands t errors and faults ceas e to be the occasion of
, ,

t
for hat love whi ch i s the essence o f a ll accept ,
,

war ning or instr uction to the living ; and tha t

able obe d ience Though such morality may in all s uch cases where we cannot truly s peak
t
.
,

ass ume the name of religion it is a religion whi ch good we mu s t o f co urse S peak no hing o r fal s e
t t
, ,

the Bible di s o w ns It i s completely a variance hood ; he principle has no sanction from reason
t w t t
.
,

with the go s pel and with he law hich i is he none from the Bible and it wi ll have none from
t
grea de s ign of he go spel to honour and fulfil
,

t ,

. the scrut i ny a d the retributions o f the final n ,

Accordi ngly it de s erv e s t o be remembered t hat j udgment

t t
.
,

the sys tem whi ch is hus ermed morality i n S hall the pre a cher then revolt the sen s ibilities
t
,

variably fails of itse lf to make men mor a l When o f his hearers by exactly po ur rayin g the imper

tt t
.
,

thi s cons i u t e s the preval ent s rai n of pre a chi ng f cct i o n s o f departed friends —I answer no
t t , .
,

i s influence fall s far below the proper e ff ec t o f But he is no t o escape this difficulty by in dis
Chri s tian instruction 1 .
’
criminate panegyric Did we know the man .

With these thi ngs in view I need only add that who s e char acter is represented as pe r fect ? O f
the clas s of subj ects denomin a ted e t hi ca l w hi ch t he
,

,
,

co ur s e we know hat it is overdrawn for he i s t ,

preacher is called to di s cus s in s ermon s include s n o t perfect Was he a stranger to us ? Still

t t t
.
,

all ho s e ex ernal du ies which man i s required we know from revelation and from analo g y
t t
, ,

to pe rform re s ul ing from hi s rela ions to other, that he w as not perfect In general therefore .
,

beings e s pecially to hi s fellow men It includes unmingled e ulo gy o f the dead however it may
t t t t
.
, ,

prayer Observance of Chri s tian in s itu ions gra ify the par ial sympathies o f friends hip o r
t ,

fide li y charity & c to our neighbour When

,

promote the interes o f the preacher is benea h t ,

t
t
,

t t
. .
, ,

ever hes e subj ects ar e to be brought into the he inte g ri y and dignity whi ch belong to hi s
t
pulpi three hing s at leas t ought o be remem t t sacred o fli ce His true course then is to avoid
t t t
.
, , ,

b ered O ne i s hat the precep s of Chri s ianity describing the character o f pers ons recently
t
.
,

require the s ame conduct as tho s e of he moral deceased except in a few cases o f con s picuous
t t
,

law ex ended indeed to greater particular ity in and acknowledged excellence And while he s e
t t t
.
, , ,

de ail and enforced by s ricter requisi ion s as to are draw n in colours not too bright to pre s ent
,

moral temper and grea er eleva ion Of motive ; t t t he likene ss o f a n y human being the quali ie s t
t
while bo h po s s e s s in all the s e re s pects a v ast
,

of an eminently good and useful man exhibited

,

t t
, , ,

s uperiori y o eve r y human s ystem o f moral s i n o n e consi s tent view furni s h to others very
t t t w t t
.
, ,

Ano her hing i s hat good works however um po erful mo ive s to imi ate an example s o
t
excep ionable in character can never be the
, ,

t
attrac ive So much it seemed proper to say on
t
.
,

ground of j us t ifica ion before God s o as to a subj ect which occasionally claim s the con
supersede the dependence of a sinner o n the
,

t
s idera ion of every preacher : and more I pre ,

atonement and grace of Chri s t The las t thing s ume need not be said s ince modern us age
t
.
, ,

is that while we cannot admit morality wi hout excludes from the pulpit the extravagant pane
t t
, ,

piety to be acceptable obedi ence nor wi h pie y gy r i cs of former days At this period even in
t t
, , ,
.
,

to be meri orious ; we s ho uld in s ist o n the indis Catholi c countries i would h a rdl y be admi tted ,

as an apology for such ser v ile flattery as that

Dp r t l u
O n t he
p C r t
a c i ca i n fl e n ddg t r ce o f h is ia n oc in e s, se e exhibited by Bo ss uet in s ome o f his Funeral
rk
Ch t M try
E s in e s
’

ri s ia n
u
i s co r se s , 1 7 98 ,
in is
. 54, a n d Bri es on t he
t
Ora ions that i was addr es s ed to the ears of
, t ,

b tt llud tr t Ch thl m rt p dd th t h v p vpl r roy al ty

.

t
.

t The es i s a io n o f is o ic a I a e e e
Bu under the head of hi s torical subj ects the
lm y is i n Dr
’
se e n , co n ai n e . a e s a re ss t o t he eo e ,

o f Ki an . Bible af fords an ample range free from all the ,

 L EC T URES ON H O MI ETIC S L
above dif ficul tie s From individual characters striking in its ef f ect Hence too a s a ement tt
t t t t t
.
.
, ,

here delineated and from facts exhibi ing the o f facts delinea in g human charac er and racing
, , ,

providence o f God and the agency of man in human pas sions and principle s in their variou s
t ,

he history o f communities the pre a cher may opera ions invariably commands the a en ion of
,

t tt t
t t
, ,

derive the most interesting topic s for sermon s common hearer s e s pecially o f he y oung I .
, .

As the s e have been very much overlooked in accords with the manner in which they are a o
preparation s f o r the pulpit it may be useful to cus omed to receive instruc ion from he book of
,
,

t t t
inquire whether they are attended with any providence and o f creation around them We
t
, .

peculiar inconvenience or advantage There are readily feel the difference between the descri p ion
t t
.

cer ainly s ome inconveniences of a man s person and the S ight of hi s pic ure .
’

The common method adopted in describing a or between the s ight o f hi s picture and that o f
character an event o r a s eries o f events i s to his li ving face Analogou s to hi s a s to vivacity
, , ,
. t ,
,

follow a chronological order and relate occur o f impre s sion is the di ff erence between i n s rr uc , ,

renees as they stand connected in time Here tion o f doctrine o r precept and the instruction of
t W O
.
, ,

the first difficulty ari s e s from a tendency ei her facts hen the ba s eness of envy o r the bliga
t t
.
,

t o undue brevity o r proli xity in the narra ive tion o f filial affection and religiou s integri y i s ,

t
.
,

It is peculiarly the province o f good taste to fix set before us in the fo rm Of di dactic represen a
the medium between a nak ed outline and tion we readily as sent to i t s correc ne s s But
,

t
t
on , , .

that particularity o f detail which disgu s ts by how different is the thr illing interest wi h which
,

excessive minuteness we contemplate the same things in the s imple

t
.

Another and g reater difficulty arises from the s t ory of Joseph ? We are convinced by he
miscellaneous train o f remark s commonly sug logic al discussion which proves he vani y of ,
t t
ge s ted by an hi s torical subj ect In some cases I earthly di s tinctions and the certain of an y
t
.
, ,

know a single point may be selected for dis

,
eternal retribution But we are impresse arrest .

cus s i o n ; but a sermon founded on facts almost ed agitated with awful emotion when we View
t
, , ,

of course takes into view various reflections these truths in the parable o f he rich man and
,

resulting from the nar rative Though this the beggar In what way do w e form the most
t
. .

sacrifice o f unity is not consi s tent with the striking apprehension o f fai h repentance de , ,

highest e ff ect o f a sermon it is in my Opinion v o t i o n ? Not by viewing the s e in the light of

, , ,

fully justified o n proper occasions by the a dv a n precept o r reas oning ; but as they are seen in
n
,

tages with which it is attended What the the example o f Abraham Off ering up I s aac ; o f .
”

are these advantages ? Peter weeping bitterly for the denial o f his
L
,

The firs t is the fami li ar ity and precision ,

ord ; Of Daniel braving the terrors o f the lions ,
’

which atten d s the evidence o f facts Men i n den And the excellence of humility we per . .

s t a n t ly understand reasoning o f this sort It ce i v e not so s trongly from an abstract dis s erta .
,

corre s ponds with their custom ar y modes o f con tion o n the greatness o f God o r the meanness
ce p t i o n W
hen an argument depends o n the and guilt o f man ; as w hen we see the publican
,

t
.

inve s tigation o f criticism or the deductions o f smiting on his breas t ; or the Saviour in he
, ,

logic few pos s e s s that intellectual discipline maj esty o f condescension rising and girding
, , , ,

and patience of thought which are nece s s ary himself and wa shing the feet o f his disciples
, , .

clearly to perceive its force But a plain hi s t o r i In these remarks I cannot be understood to
.
, ,

cal statement if the facts are unque stionable is recommend that historical subj ects should super
,

t t
,

a k i n d o f argument which it i s as easy to com sede o hers in the pulpi My meaning is that
t
.
, ,

prehend as it is to breat he or to look It is on this class of s ubj ec s has some pec ul iar a d v a n
, .

this account probably that the instructions o f tages which have not been duly considered by
, , ,

the Bible are so much thrown into t he form o f public teachers .

narrative And it is e s pecially to o ur purpose 4 The r e i s o n e mo r e c la s s of s ubj e ct s w hi ch

R R
. .

here to remark that the public di s cours es o f o ught t o be me n t i o n e d n a me ly t he H O T A T O Y

L
, , , , .

o ur ord more particul arly his parables which Upon this head there is no occasion that I
, , ,

are only a peculiar S pecies Of narrative are s hould enlarge though the topics which it i n , ,

adapted to this common principle of the human eludes are endles s in var iety and extent of i h ,

mind Hence this kind o f evidence more readi ly t e r e s t Among these are to be reckoned all the
. .

commands assent in common minds than any points o n which the preacher considers hi s hearers
other In its po er it i s complex though with
. w
both to know and acknowledge the truth in ,
,

,
o ut Obscurity With a felicity peculiar to itself speculation ; while they neither feel nor obey it
.
, .

it unites the eviden ce of sense of experience T he defect which is far more common than , , ,

and o f te s timony ; while the combined influence any other in the hortatory di s course consi s t s in ,

o f these is strengthened by the simple light in a reliance o n the subj ect itself to produce i m ,

which this evidence is presented to the under pre s s ion while it is exhibited only in the feeble ,

standi ng . dress o f commonplace illustration Upon a sub .

Of course a second advantage is the vivacity j e ct w hich demands deep emotion the preacher
, , ,
o f Impres s ion with which this s pecies o f discourse
, perhaps displays an artificial animation ; and
I s attended Every preacher knows how di fli cult decl ai ms merely where he o ught to spea k “in
.
,
t 1 8 to keep up the interest of a common a s s embly demon s tration o f the spirit and with power
”
I .

m the discussion o f an abstract subj ect Their Conviction is the basi s o f per suas ion ; and to
t t t
.

f eelings demand something of hat variety in addre s s men wi h epi hets of terror to assume
l
I lustr a tion which atten ds he concer
,n s of real t
the attitude and aspect o f denunciatio i n point
,

n ,
l i fe Hence it is that a metaphor or compari s on ing the thunderbolt s of heaven when no light
O
.
, ,

foun ded o n some familiar bj ect o f sen s e is so has been presented to the understanding though , ,
 A ND PREACHING .

a very common def ect of comminat ory sermon s O

the bj ects o f a novel or new s pa per than those of
t t t
, ,

i s o n e of he mo s t unprofitable e ff or s in which a a Chri s tian s ermon The inciden al allu sion to

t t
.

mini s ter of Chri s can emplo y hi s powers To such opics by way of illus tration i s by no means
t t t t t
.
,

preach he ru h o n s ome s ubj ects and to some improper but hey cannot b e made he chief
t
d e scrip ion s of men is unavoidably to pre a ch
, ,

t
subj ec s o f di s cours e without wre s ing the pulpit t
terror But if we foll ow he example of Chri s t
,

t “
from the s ober us e of i s legitima e peculiar
,

t t
t t t
.
,
”
and he ap o s tles the terror will con s i s in the powers Insist said he venerable Arch
t t
.
, ,

thought ra her han the language They never bi s hop Us her in hi s directions to y oung mini s
t
, ,

t
.
,

indeed avoided the us e of figures he mo s t awful ters in s i s t mo s t on those poin s that tend to
t w t
, , , ,

nor of such words a s damna ion hell & c hen produce sound beli ef s incere love o God repent
t t
, , .
, , ,
”
necessary to expre s s he s entimen they wi s hed ance for sin and a lif e o f holines s
t t
, .

to u ter ; nor did hey ever em loy the s e forms 3 That preacher who is perplexed through
t
.

of expre s s ion unnece s sarily he contrary w a nt of s ubj ects for s e r mo n s s ho uld s uspect that
t ,

t
.
,
.

wi hout u s ing them at all they sometimes preac h s ome hing i s wrong in himself ; at leas t that he
, ,

ed the go s pel in the mo s t alarming m a nner It i s very imperfectly quali fied for his o f fice His
t t t
. .

deserves to be remember e d ha s uch w as the religion furni s he s opics inexhaus tible in variety
t
, , ,

fa ct with Peter s sermon on the day of Pentecos ’

and beyond all comparison s uperior in richne s s
t he most pungent and po w erful one hat ever was t ,

t
eleva ion and sublimi y to those which any other
, t ,
, ,

delivered The sermon of Pre s ident Edwards public s peaker i s called to discuss In the cha
t ,

t t
. .

enti led Sinners in the hands o f an angry r a c t e r of God he con emplates all hat is profound
”
,

God was o n e of he mo s t awful exhibi ion s of t t w

in i s dom awful in holine s s and attractive in
,

t t t t t
, , ,

tru h as o bo h s en iment and langua ge that has mercy In the chara c er of man he sees a co m
t t t
.
, , ,

been made in the modern p ulpi I t s e ff ect o n . bina ion o f digni y and mi s ery ; the di gnity o f
the audience as to deep and s olemn impression an immo r tal s oul polluted and degraded by sin
t
, , , .

w as perhaps greater han that of any other s e r He sees maj esty and meekness glory and i g n o
mon that can be named wi hin a cen ury p as t t t miny strangely united in t he character and
,

t t
.
,

But terri fic phras eology w as us ed no far her han s ui f e r i n g s of Chri s t He sees in the go s pe l pro
w
.
,

as neces sary to expre s s the thoughts v i d e d for fallen man at infinite expen s e a re s cue

t
.
, ,

Whitefield of en employed words and figures from his ruin a remedy for his ma ladies and a
t t
, ,
”
of terror ; b ut he did hi s wi h tenderne ss rule for his guidance He sees heaven with all
t t t t
.
,

of en wi h tears —instead of hat unfee ling i t s bles s ednes s invi ing t o a life of piety and hell
severity of denunciation s o f en wi ne ss e d Ot t with all its mi s eries awaiting the ungodly Is it
,

t t
.

When we choose a subj ect from this clas s po ss ible hat wi h a field before him absolutely
ought t o do it wi h the full convic ion that our t t boundless a man can want subj ects for s ermon s ?
,

t
, ,

succe s s s o f ar as it depends on ours elve s depends In selec ing among the s e o n e that shall be most
t t t t
, , ,

almos entirely on tha sort of e hereal simplici y , appropriate in given circum s tances I allow he ,

sinceri ty affection and fervour in the s pirit and may hesitate But with the profus ion o f interest
t t
.
, , , ,

execution which commend the tru h to he hearts ing matter d i s played in every page of the Bible
of t
he hearers
, ,

if he is perplexed o find any topic o f dis course t ,

L L
.
,

Three remarks will close this ecture . he has mi s taken his bu s iness et him go to the .

1 In selecting s ubj ects for s ermon s the Chri s

.
, farm or to the shop The fact that he wants a .

tian teacher s hould aim at variety To preach s ubject is demonstration that he wants either the

t
.
,

month af er month on a s ingle s ubj ect or a con , , understanding o r the heart o f a minister .

tracted circle of s ubj ect s i s to depart from the

grand m o del of in s truction a s con ained in the
,

t
book of revelation and the book of providence
t VI
.
,

Diversity in the cours e of events in he condition , , LECTURE .

tas te and attainments of di f f erent hearers and of

the s ame hearers in d i ff erent circumstances de
,
R U U R O F R ON ST CT E SE M S.

mands a corre s pondent diversity in the i n s t r uc

,

PR LN NARY R P AR
E I MI N
OU P R Y O F OU N —U G
PR A H R EM KS — ECESSI T S D J D

L t
.
,
ME T, AND A I S S I IT IN A E C E EX
tions of the pul pit et the preacher hen s eize .

L
.
O R DI U M .

upon occas ions as they rise et him follow pro , .

v i d e n ce and a lwa y s turn to goo d account every OUR attention will be directed through several
t t
i n e re s ing occurrence among hi s flock Yet following lectures to the Structure of Sermons ”
,

t t
.
, , .

2 Th e preacher shoul d never to gratify a vain In entering upon hi s large clas s o f opics som e
t t
.
.
,

love of novel y and amu s ement s ink hi s minis preliminary s ugge s ion s seem to be required
t t ,

t t
.

t r a t i o n s to he rank of a dr am a ic exhibition He The composi ion o f a sermon calls in o exercise

t t t
.

s ho uld never forget hat he i s an ambas s ador o f both he in ell ect and the heart A s a work o f
t t
.

Chri s ; and tha his main busine s s i s to turn , intellect the preacher s s ucce s s in s electing and
,
’

the sinner from darkne ss to li ght ; and to build arranging hi s materia l s depends in no s mall
t
up he believer in hi s mo s t holy faith The measure o n the s oundness of his j udgment
,

t t t
. .

exact limi s wi hin which he shall keep c a nnot Through an infelici y of taste or habit s ome men
indeed b e pre s cribed Bu when he descends as . t ,

, treat all sorts of s ubj ec t s in one prec i s e meth o d

,

s ome teacher s of our time have done to di s course They have just s o many principal head s ju s t so
upon vaccination ”
upon he popular dread t ,

many subdivision s and s o many inferences in

,

of appari ions t
the beau ie s of a New England ”
,

t each discours e follo ing in exac t succe s s ion like

,

w
t t t
, , ,

au umn and he charm s of i t s Indian summer the s roke s of the clock which mark the hours
t t t t
, ,

it is n o great s tretch of precis ene ss to say ha , of he day The hearers eas ily anticipate he .

he occupies gro un d which be tter accords with , par t ic ul ars of this unvarying roun d Now this ,
 LEC TURES ON H O MI E TIC S L
rigid uniformity I s no applicable to any import t refer n o t to a useful and pleasant vari e y re s ult t
t
an bus ine s s depending Ou the agency of mind ing from diff erence o f taste and temperament
,

t
.
, ,

What shoul d we t hink o f a general who should and giving to each man somethi ng hat i s cha
plan a battle o r a siege according to book s with
,

, r a ct e r i s t i c in hi s o w n manner of
, hinking and t
o ut regardi ng the character O f his troop s the ,
writi ng I refer to that studied aim at peculi
.

circum s tances o f his position or the strength o f ,

a r i t y which 1 s often connected with genius but
, ,

his enemy ? He might spend the time o f a commonly with genius o f secondary rank and ,

campaign in drawing lines o f cir c umvallation o r that under the influence of pride The writer o f .

contravallation and with all his mathematical ,

a sermon with such feelings perhaps sits down , ,

exactness he might prove a harmle s s enemy to

,
to his work in hi s study with deliberate calcul a ,

tho s e who would have trembled at the prompt tion to avoid at a ll events the customary method
,

use o f bayonets and heavy arti llery Sho ul d the . o f treating a subj ect
,

But in gratifying a fas i .

,

t
lawyer treat all causes of his clients o r the phy ,
dions humour and in avoiding the fault of a rigid ,

s i ci an all diseases of hi s patients in o n e technical exactness he may fall into another of ten times
t , ,

method wi hout regardi ng the endle s s variety of

,
greater magnitude the affectation o f originality , .

circum s tances what should we say of their skill ,

Pride chooses to err rather than not to be sin g u ,

in their several profe s s ions ? Certainly a mode lar : but the wise man wi ll not gro p e his way
of proceeding which is ab s urd in a ll other cases through thickets merely because the hi gh road
is not le s s absurd in the pulpit
,

.
,

is so common The preacher more tha any .

,

, n
But the reasonable disgust whi ch we feel at a other man needs a sober judgment , .

mechani cal unif ormity s houl d not push us into ,

This lead s to another remark viz o n the , .
,

the Opposite extreme O ratory like other arts necessity o f pious feeling The preacher s suc ’

t
.
.
, ,

has se tled pr i nciples The solicitor when he . cess in composing a sermon depends pre emi ,
-

s peaks has some end in view ; and applies his n en tl o n the st a te o f heart with which he comes
, y
powers to attain it not at random but according to the work Suppose he engages in it with t he
t
.
, ,

to s ome plan adapted to his purpose He states ,

. same frigid calcula ion with which a mechanic ,

facts adduces testimony cites authority reasons sits down to the construction o f a clock Hi s
O
.
, , , ,

obviates prejudices rous es emotion To gain his bj ect is to amuse his hearers : to make an
n
.
,

cau s e he combines more o r fewer sources o f

,
advantageous display o f his o w n geni us o r lear ,

argument and di rects hi s e ff orts to a given point ing o r eloquence With this view he chooses
t , , .
,

o f a tack or defence as a versatil e invention and , , hi s subj ect and his method ; adopts some novel
a skilful j udgment may di ctate He adopts a . interpretation o f his text becomi ng a man o f ,

particular course not by accident but because , , erudition ; calls t o his aid all the reso urces o f
his knowledge o f men and o f his profession i n profound theologic al research ; adju sts all hi s
duces him t o prefer this as most li ely t o be
,

,
k ,

topics o f arg ument and of address to the passions ,

succe s sful . accor ding to the best canons o f taste — and

The wise preacher too will proceed accordin g when the sermon is finished w hat 1 5 it —a body
n
!
, , ,

to the subj ect and de s ign o f his discourse ; and w ith fai r proportions elega t splendid perhaps , , , ,

will n o t be so af raid o f rul es as to establish the , in its decorations but a body without a soul , .

rul e that a sermon should have no subj ect nor One sentence o f simple Puritan eloquence is
W
,

design ithout u s ing j udgment every rul e

.
, , w o r th a thousand such sermons .

indeed will be unavailing even to teach him

, , But let the preacher comm ence his prepara
the meaning of his text Does it therefore fol . tion for the pulpit with the heart o f a devout
low that the system Of sacred interpretation can Christian ; a heart that regards as the great end
give him no ai d in understand ing the Bible — o r o f preachi ng the glor of God and the salvation
,
y
that he is to ascert ain the sense o f a single text o f man ; a heart that feels the w orth o f so ul s ,

only by chance without any principles to guide glows with holy aff ection to the Redeemer and
him ? No more does i follow because mere rules
,

t , anticipates with trembling hope the day when ,

,

cannot enable him to compo s e a go o d sermon , he shall come to be glorified in them that
that therefore he can never hOp e t o make such believe ; and this spirit will di fl us e a savour o f ‘
'

a sermon except by chance , The thought .

, go dline s s through the sermon that will warm , ,

the method and the expression all demand , , and impress and penetrate his hearers Luther s
, .
’

pai ns and skill Writing is a fine art and .

, maxim Bene orass e est bene s t ud ui s se should
, ,

has elementary principles Accident might as . be graven o n the memory Of every preacher .

well produce the Me s siah o f Handel as the Pa None but God can eff ectually teach us how to
L
rad ise o s t ; might as well guide the chisel o f
,

teach others A heart devoted t o him in the .

Praxiteles o r the pencil o f Raf faelle as the pen study will stamp i t s own character of sanctity
y
, , ,

o f Addison . and energ o n every preparation f o r the pulpit .

I am aware that a random ef f ort In the pul pit And let it never be forgotten by the students o f
is sometimes successful But when it is so if it .
, this seminary that no fund o f knowledge no , ,

was occasioned by affected peculiarity o r care , rhetorical skill i n the selection o f matter o r in ,

le s s neglect o f regu lar prep ar ation i t requires , the arrangement o r embe llishment o f a discourse ,

apology rather than commendation . can make it in any measure what a Chri s tian
It 1 5 to be expecte d that the tendency to imita sermon should be if it wants that vital impulse , ,

tion and the insensible influence o f habit In a which can i mpart but a S pirit o f fervent
“
, ,

seminary like this w ill produce to some extent piety nothing

!
,

W
, , .

unif ormity In public exerc i ses But 1 n the com . ith these general remarks in view we may ,

position o f sermons there 1 s if I mi s tak e not a

try
, , ,

countera cting tendency of great strength I , . See E rs k i n e ’

s Di s co ur s e s on t he Mi n i s , Se r . i .
 LEC TURES ON H O MILETICS
“Do
quake , be ga n a s ermon thus : you see the to the s ubj ect in hand is void o f interest becaus e
w
po er o f God ? DO y o u see the benignity o f it recurs in formal routine o n every sabbath It
, ,

n , .

God —Power because the firm world he has con s i s ts i a strain o f indefinite remarks b e
”
,

shaken ; benignit because t he falli ng world he y , S peaki ng attention to what sha ll be delivered on
,

has sustained And Fle chi e r commenced a account o f its immense importance and the mo
n
.
,

funera l disco ur se thus With what design mento ns co s equences c onnected with the man
'

sirs are you assembl e d here ?

, hat view have W ,

ner in whi ch it sh all be receive d

you of my ministry ? Am I come to dazzle y o u Those Introductions which cast a preparatory
’

with the glory o f terrestrial honours ? light o n the subj ect from the context may eas ily ,

But tho s e abrupt exordi ums which denote a unite the advantages o f simplicity and pertinence .

studied eccentricity in the pre acher are without ,

And there is a peculi a r f elicity in this connexion ,

a logy The most faulty examples o f thi s kind

.
, where it Can be exhibited in the form o f nar ra
t t I have seen are in the sermons ( as they tive
n CC
.
, ,

are called ) of Sterne O the text His co m

, .
, In the thir d place DE L I A Y is another indi s ,

m a n d me n t s are not grievous hg b e gi n s No pensable quality o f a good exordi um

y
.
fl ,

g rievous my dear zfii d i t o r s

— they are not ”
There is a becoming congruit be t ween the
, .

A ft er the text “ For we trust that we have a preacher s work and the air o f religious sensibi
’
, ,

good conscience he exclaims Trust l— t r us t , llty and reverence with whi ch he s hould engag e
we have a good conscience O n the text ,
in its appropriate duties When he enters the .

It i s better to go to the house o f mourning than place con s ecrated to Jehovah the reflection , ,

the house o f feasting ; his first sentence is ,

This is none other than the house o f God an d ,
”
That I deny The first of th e s e examples is
. this is the gate o f heaven should repress all ,

tolerable ; but the others espe cially the last is , ,

feelings that do not accord with the dignity a n d
a puerile e ffort at wittici s m which a man o f good ,
sanctity Of his busin ess The same Luther who .

taste might exc use in the tavern o r circus but ,

braved the anathemas o f the Roman Pontiff ,

which he mus t reprobate in the house o f God . always ascended the pulpit with trembling knees .

In the second place another quality req uisite in But besides this aspect o f reli gi ous awe which a
R C
, ,

an exordium is P E T I N E N E It should corre

, . deep feeling Of di v ine things will certainly i m
spond with the subj ect and the occasion Writers , . part to the preacher there is a decorum of man ,

o n oratory have oft en adverted t o the fact that n e r which will arise from a proper respect to his

both Demosthenes and Cicero were accustomed

, ,

hearers W
here this is wanting they will not
.

t o compose intr o ductions beforehand from which ,

fa i l t o pe rceive it and to be in s ti nctively pre ,

they might mak e a selection in cas e o f an emer possessed against what he sha ll d e li v e r ‘
.

geney The reason assigned for thi s is the i m

. ,
But we must not mistak e the character of that
portance and at the s ame time the difficulty o f
, ,
modesty which is becoming in a preacher It is .

be ginning well an a ddres s when there had be en ,

not a timid trem ulous manner o f s aying things
, ,

little opportunity for preparation and while ‘

which seems to imply that he does but h alf b e

neither the S p eaker nor the hearers have as yet lieve his o w n sentiments The Divine com .

become deeply interested in the subj ect Um mission to Jeremi ah w as : Arise and S pe ak unto
t y
.

q ue s ionably the se great masters Of orator the people all that I command thee —b e not
might devise a few sentences adapt e d to the afraid of the i r faces And Paul bes ought his
t
.
,

general state o f a fla i rs which might be made the

’
brethren to pray for hi m that he migh spe a k
preface to the discussion o f almost any topic
,

. boldly as he ought to speak Certai ly no c o m

,

. n
But the preacher is seldom called to an un p r e m e n d a t i o n is due to that mod e sty in a preacher ,
“
which makes hi m ashamed o f the Gos pel o f
meditated effort ; and so constant is the repeti
”
tion o f hi s public servi ces that he would soon Christ
y
.
,

find an expedient like the o n e ju s t mentioned Nor do es real mod est any more require those
utterly fallacious It is an indispensable qual ity
.
,

formal apologies wi h which sermons are Often ,

t
o f an exordium that it S ho uld be en gaging This int roduced When a preacher compliments an
t
.

it cannot be if it consists only o f though s which

,
assembly with the ass urance that he considers ,

are trite or trivi al The preacher may begin by .

them as very enlightened and respec table ; that
descanting on some such point as — the va n i ty of ,
through the weakness o f hi s powers o r the want ,

t he w o r ld — the br e v i t y of huma n lif e — the w or t h o f preparation in the present case he is conscious

“

t
, ,
,

o
f t h e s o ul — the ca la mi t i e s of
,
t he f a ll but it re hat what he shall deliver wi ll be un w orthy o f
quires no common skill and vi vacity to gi ve their attention ; it may seem t o result from an
interest to an assembly in that which they have amiable self difhde n ce But judicious hearers
t
-
.
,

heard a thousand times repeated will suspect and o f en suspect truly that pride
y
. , ,

Now pertinence promotes v ar iet The i m .

is s p e ak m g under the cloak of hum i lity .

portant di fference as to variety between general At the bar o r in the senate the public Sp eaker
, ,

subj ects and those which are particular is this : may with happy eff ect sometimes allude by way
t
, , ,
,

the former are few obvious and to all men who o f apology for himself to his want o f heal h or
W n
, ,
, ,

reflect at all familiar ,

h ile p ar ticular subjects .
wa t o f time for preparation t o the inexperience ,

are as variou s as the endless divers ity that exists o f youth o r the imbecility o f ag e
,
But t he s ame .

in the properties and relations o f things So far .

indulgence is by no means allowed to the Chris
then as interest depends on var iety we have only ,
tian preacher The e xhi bition o f himself in any . ,

to select various subj ects for sermons and t o ,

form is so inconsistent with the sacred delicacy
,

make the exordium o f each appropriate and the ,

and elevation o f hi s work that it rarely fai ls t o ,

end is ac compli she d I am aware that there is excite disgust .

o n e kind o f introduction which though limited , ,

Before I di s miss the article o f d e l1 ca cy as a
 AND PRE ACHING .

becoming property of an in roduction allow me t Tw o hints founded as I think o n careful Oh

t t t t
, ,

to say tha it absolutely forbids an angry au s tere

, , ,
serva ion will clo s e hi s lecture O n e i s hat
, .
,

or querulo us manner o f address He knows but young writers of s ermons are extremely apt to
t
.

lit le of men who does not know that harsh and dila te all t he first thoughts of a sermon from an
acri monious language is ad apted o p roduce un
,

t apprehension that the 1 r s tock o f ma erials to t ,

s anctified re s entment ra her than e vangelic al , t complete it will be too soon exhaus ted The , .

repentance He may imagine that fid e l1 t y to the

'

other is that a similar di fl us e n e s s may be ex

t
. ,

tr u h requires hi m to as s ume a frown i ng front ; p e c t e d when a man i s t o o indolent or un s ki lful

to arraign hi s hearers with a ma gi st e n a l a n and

.

,
,

to look through hi s subj ec and arrange its parts t , ,

bid defiance to the sentiments they may entertai n before he begins to write In this case hi s i a
t
.
,

Of hi m and hi s doc rines But while they may be . t r o d uct i o n will almo s t of course be i nappropriate ,

s ati s fied perhap s that hi s religion has mad e him

, ,

fear le s s and honest they will hardly be persuaded ,

that it has m ade him either a lovely man or a ,

wise preacher Love and gentleness win upon

the a ffe ctions whi le asperity and threatening
.

,
V II LEC T URE .

fortify the heart agains t p ersuas ion Depend

upon i t a sermon however excellent in other
, ,
.

EX PL IC A ON O F ON X PROPO
TI HR GONN RA L TI
TE
S .
T
-
.
—T EE
SITI
E
.
E P R E C AU

re s pects will be los t to the hearers if it assai ls

,

them wi h an an g ry comm encement t As the subj ect i s the basis o f a sermon this
t t t
.
,

In the fourth place an exordium should be o ught in he first place to be very dis inc ly
JU DI C I O S A s T o L E G T H U N , ,

apprehende d by he preacher before he can be t ,

t ,
.

I say j udi c i o us because what is proper in each prepared to s ate it clearly to enforce it by ar
t t
, ,

case must be de ermin e d by the subject and the

, g u m e n t and to a pply it wi h power to t he con
,

cir cum s tance s Many of the old d ivines ex t ended . s cience It ought al s o to be fairly conta ined in
.

thi s part of their di scours es to a tedi ous proli xi ty ; the pas s age from which it is profe ss e d ly deduced ,

while others in modern time s bo th among the as I have s hown at some length in discu s sing
Engli s h and the French have adopted the oppo
,

,
,

choice Of texts It is his unque s ionable princi . t t

s ite extreme and have pas s ed from the t ext t o ple that the subj ect o f a Christian s ermon ought
the d iscus s ion wi h only a sentence or two o f
,

t ,

t o be derived from the oracles o f God which

t
in t roduc ion This matter however should be
,

o f t en makes the explication Of the text nece s sary

,

t ,
.
,

regulated by sober principles and not by caprice before he s ubj ect of di scourse is announced A s
t
. .
,

The wi s e traveller will adjus t the rapidity of hi s very few remark s will b e requi s i e o n that part
firs t movements and the leng h of hi s s ages to t t of a sermon which we call proposi ion I shall t
t t
, , , ,

the extent of his whole journey If he s ubj ect . defer hese till I have considered what i s proper
to be dis cu s s ed by the preacher is very COp i o us in explai ning a text when this is required
t
.
, ,

the exord ium Should be brief to make room for It ought then to be taken for gran ed that no
t , ,

the sub s equent mat er If the sermon o n the man will attempt t o di s cu s s a text in public while
t t t
.
, ,

o her hand is o contain but few thoughts it is a he does not suppose him s elf o be po s s es s ed of
t t t
, ,

very inadequate remedy for the defect to post its true meaning No that ab s olu e cer ainty
t , .

p one the consideration Of he s e by an attenuated concern ing every pas s age i s es s ential or attain
t wt
, ,

introduction I have sometimes been pain e d at . able A man o f he clearest conceptions

. ih ,

t he want of skill whi ch le a ds a man to s elect a the be s t aids which learning can fur ni sh may
t
, ,

subject exten s ive enough for five sermons and sometimes be in doubt among the diff eren sense s
then to occupy i n loo s e prefatory remarks o n e
,

that have been a ached to a passage which i s tt ,

third of the time allo ed to hi s discour s e The tt the true o n e But in s tead of ob ruding hi s doub s t
,

t
t t
. .

most common characteri s tic of such i n t r o d uc on his hea rers profes s ing t o enligh en heir ,

tions i s sterile and languid declamation The

, . minds while his o w n gropes in darkne s s Chris
,
‘

pre a cher begins perhaps with the charms o f , , tian discretion prescribes a shorter cours e namely , ,

Eden the primitive innocence and feli city o f to let that passage alone in the pulpit — a t leas t
t
,

man hi s fatal seduction by t he sub lety o f the not to make it a subj ect o f a s ermo n A man ”

t t
, .
,

te mp er hi s apostacy and his expulsio n from

, , s ays Claude who needs to be told hat he ought ,

Paradi s e Then follow in regular gradation the not to preach on a text before he unders tands it
t
.
, , ,

miseries of the fa ll and the wonderful plan of , needs at the same time to be informe d hat he is ,

redemption Beside s the di s proportionate length.

fitter for any other profes s ion than that o f the
to which these tame exordiums ar e apt to be ex mini s try .

t e n d e d t he y are too miscellaneous and t o o tr ite , , But when there is no real difficulty in the sense
O

to awaken intere s t The preacher is so much at . o f a passage it is Of ten useful to notice the occa ,

lei s ure tha t every trifle by the way side attracts

,
-
sion and circum s tan ces with which it is connected ,

hi s attention ; and his subj ect i f indeed he has , for the s ake o f a more vivid impression When .

one is forgotten In this case no congruity o f

, .
, this is done by all usion to the context especially ,

parts is maintained no regard to the maxim , when a simple statement of facts is a ll that is
Primo me medium medio n e di s cr e p e t imum , . required such an explanation of the ,

The fault inde e d is not so much that suha c properly falls into the exordium I .

quent matter i s inconsistent with what ha d pre that in much the greater number o f
cede d as that he sermon is a dull repe ition of
, t t familiar preparation to announce the s ubject o f
thoughts anticipated i n the introduction s ome of di s cours e i s the best that can be adopted There
,

n n
.
,

which mi ght have been vi vid and interesti g i mus t however be instances in which a regular
their proper place and order .
, ,

explanation o f the text is necessary to show he

, ,

, t
 LEC T URES ON H O MILE TICS

hearers that it contains the sent i ment which the n i ca lnor philosophical but more fami liar than ,

preacher deduce s from i t In such a cas e he . that of any other book ancient o r modern It , .

mus t re s ort to those laws of sacred criticism , was written chi efly by plain men unaccustomed ,

by which as an interpreter o f the Bible and a

, , t o the abstract phraseology o f science It was .

theologian his inquiries should be guided To

,
. written for the use o f p lai n men such as have ,

give instruction in these i s n o t the business o f ,

always constituted and always must constitute ,

s acred rhetoric The students o f this semi . the great maj ority o f o ur race It was written .
,

nary however are presumed t o be well grounded too for purposes equally impo rtant t o the illiterate
t , , ,

in he s e principles by the very able course o f ,

as to the lear ned namely to be the foundation o f ,

in s truction which regularly precedes their e u,

their faith and hope and the directo o f their ,

trance upon the composition Of sermons But . conduct as can dida tes for eternity
, rom the .

a s the great end o f s acred philology is the e luci benevolence o f God then in giving thi s book t o ,

dation o f di vine truth and that for the benefit , men and from the design for which he gave it
, ,

of common understan di ngs the critic and the , it would be reasonable t o pr e sume that in its , ,

preacher must to some extent b e combined ; and g ran d characteristics as a gui de to heaven all
t t
i of en becomes a question how far the literar , y who read it with humi lity integrity ahd com , ,
,

habits of the former ar e to be modi fied by the mon intelligence as t o its principal contents , ,

practical wi s dom o f the latter Yo u sit down at . must be able t o understand its meaning Accord .

your s tudy table t o investigate an interesting i n gly we find that the bod y o f pla i n pious men , ,

pas s age of Scriptur e with a view to bring forth ,

whose minds are un p erverted by prejudice have ,

its real import in a sermon But there is an i m . correctly understood the great outlines of reli gious
portant di f f erence between the process by whi ch truth contained in the Bible In respect to the s e .
,

you examine that text to ascert a in its meaning , , the coincidence o f views expressed in their for
a n d that by which you are to exhibit that mean m ular i e s o f faith dr awn up in ages and countri es ,

ing to plain hearers In the first case you act as .

, remote from each other woul d be an absolute ,

an etymolo g i s t and a critic ; in the other as a , , miracle o n any oth e r supposition than that one
, ,

teacher of babes It wo ul d seem if we j udge .

, leading system o f truth is s t amped in char acters
from fac ts that there are extremes o n diff erent o f light o n the s a cred pages That such coin
t , , .

side s of hi s subj ect ; and to guard the young ci d e n ce o f views has existed is a fact placed ,

preacher against these by suggesting a few plain , beyond all question by the evidence o f h1 s t o r y .

principles of common sen s e is a ll that is required , The general correctness of these views is n o t
by the plan o f these lectures . invali dated but confirm e d by the profoundest
, ,

I The p r e a c he r ma y e r r by t a k i n g i t f o r g r a n t e d investigations o f criticism

R D FF CU
.
.
,

t ha t s ome G E A T I I L T Y is to be encountered And why should we expect it to be otherwise ?

in every passage ith this spirit he will come . W The great Teacher who came from God was ,

to the Bible as the empiric do es t o his patient , , p redicted as o n e anointed to preach the gospel
”
re s olved at all events t o find occasion f o r the
, , to the p oo r In the best sense o f the word he
.
,

di s play of his professional skill He will mag . was pre eminently a popular preacher
- “ The .

”
n if
y di f ficulties when they exi s t and create them common people heard him gladl y because hi s
n
, ,

when they do not The medical student must . instructions were S O simple a d familiar that ,

make it his business to investigate human di s they easily unde r stood him But I need not .

eases — s hall he therefore presum e that every enl a rge o n this topic It is preposterous for the .

man he meets is sick ? No more must the b i b li preacher to treat plain decl a rations o f the Bible
cal student take it for granted that ever part o f y as though he considered them t o be i n volved in
,

the sacred oracles is full o f mystery because my s t e Yet -

y
y éhe p r e a che r ma y e r r by ta k in g i t f o r
.
, ,

critical research is necessar t o elucida te pas 2

U
.
, ,

sages that are really ob s cure In all points that gr a n t e d t ha t t he mo s t O B V I O S s e n s e of a t e x t i s

RU S
‘

.
, ,

are essential to salvation the Bible is a plain , ALW AY S T HE T E E N S E A little reflection .

book Should we a d mit that as to its great pur

.
, w i ll satisfy any o n e that this could not be rea
s o n ab l
pose s i t is s o obscure that its meaning cannot be
, y expected The diversity o f language .

under s tood by common men till it is explained contained in the Bible must be s omewhat cor
t , ,

by cri ics and commentators and that these are respondent with the divers ity o f in di vidual tas te
t
en itled to exact from the unlearned an implicit
,

and manner among its writers Its matter oo .

,
t ,

confidence then the grand principle o f Protest ,

consisting o f history poetr y prophecy b i o gr a , , ,

auti s m that the Bible i s the only rule of faith

, , phy precept and doctrine neces s arily occasions
, ,

applies merely to the initiated few —that is the , great variety in its phraseology The frequent .

Bible is the rule to critics and critics the rule to , allusions especiall y in the O ld Testament t o
, ,

common men What advantage then has the P r o . local usages to customs of di ff erent ages and , ,

te s tant over the Catholic ? If unlearned neither , such as were p eculiar to eastern countrie s ; the
has any Bible From o n e it is locked up in the .
, metaphors taken from such local usages o r from ,

arcana of criticism —from the other in the local obj ects o r facts present many points of
arc ana of the unknown tongue ; and to bo h their
,

t , difficulty to those who read the Bible in countries

,

authori s ed teachers are lords o f their conscience and periods remote from those in which it w a s
t t
.

As Protestants herefore we mus maintain that , written I would by no means intimate that
.

the Bible in its great outlines is intelli gible to scriptural figures are o f course obscure So far .

plain men in whatever tran s lation provided that

, , from thi s is the fact that when they are tak en ,

s uch tran s lation i s a faithful o n e ; and provided from fam i liar obj ects and expressed in S imple
t
also that i is s tudi ed with a candid devout spirit terms the meaning conveyed is in s tantaneou s ly
,

n
.
, ,

The la guage o f thi s sacred boo k is not tech and forcibly impres s ed o n the mind Sti ll it is cer .
 A ND PREACHI NG .

tain t hat no figures merel y but allusions to t is servant of the mo s t high G od to S how “a
,

oriental cus toms are s o me t 1me s unin elligible u to men the way of salvation ?
,
, ,

t , n ”
,

except t o men o f reading T o m nti on o n e

e No tran s la t ion o r commentary is t o be regarded .

brief example in which a phrase according t o ,

as exempt from the scrutiny o f criticism ; nor ,

the obvi ous i mport o f its words expresses no nee d we scruple t o say on an y pro p er occas ion
meaning at all Moses says to Israel : The “ that the received Engli s h vers 1 on o f he Bible has
.
, ,

t ,

land whither thou goest in t o possess it is not as many inaccuracies and defects Yet to a s s ail , .

the land of Egypt whence ye came o ut where this version from the p ulpit o n all occasions
t t
, , , ,

thou s owedst hy se e d and w a t er e ds t i t w i t h t hy and thus t o invalidate its authori y with common
fo o t ; but the land whither ye go is a land of minds while we admit its correctne s s as to he , , , t
h i lls and valleys an d d rinketh water of the rain g reat outlines Of d ivine truth is a mi s take
, , ,
”
o f heaven Any plain man might se e that here
. which no preacher o f good sense will commit .

a difference is alluded to between two countries Besides in thi s case it is oftener pedantry than
in one of which the gro un d is watered by s ome lear i ng tha t is displayed O ne o f tho s e vener
.
,

n ,

artificial proce s s and in the other by rain But able men who assi s t ed i n forming thi s vers ion
t ,
.
, ,

he wo uld attach no meaning t o the phrase being afterwards o n a j ourney heard i s defects
t
, ,

watereds t it with hy foot ; un less he hap po i nted o ut t o an ill iterate congregation by a .

pened to know tha t on the borders o f the Nile very young preacher who in o n e in s tance as
, , , ,

large cistern s were provided that the roots o f signed three re asons why a word S hould have
vegetables might be refres h e d by water which been di ff erently tran s lated In he evening the
,

t
n
, ,

lear ed divine said to the young man : You “

was di str ibuted from these cisterns through
t
small renches ; and to which the gardener might have preached a more useful s ermon to
,

gave a new direction at any time by turning the the s e poor hearers The king s translator s con ,
.
’

earth a ai nst it with his foo t

g s i d e r e d well the t hr ee re a sons which you have .

In some cas es where n o figure is used the sugge s ted for another rendering of tha t word ;
Obvious li teral sense o f a pass age is not its true
,
but they were induced by t hir t een weigh ier ,
,

t
sense ; at least as it mus t be understood by ,
reasons t o prefer the renderin g that w as ,

modern readers generally For example ; o ur adopted

t
. .

Saviour says When thou faste s t anoint hine ,

O n this point I am happy t o express my o w n , ,

v iews in the language o f Dr

”
head and wash thy face It is a simple i a Campbe ll who w as
t
.
, .
,

j unc ion that his disciples o u such occas ion s at once an enlightened scholar and a j ud icious , ,

S hould appear in the usual manner ; in d is t i n c preacher “ ”

Particular care says he “ Ought .
, ,

tion fr om hypocri tes who as a S ignal o f special t o be taken i n expounding the Scriptures not
, , , ,

devotion covered their heads o r wore ashes o n

, to appear over learned and over critic al There ,
-
,
-
.

their faces that their sanctity might attract o b is no occasion t o obtrude o n an audi e nce as
servation But here there i s n o such co mmon
.
,

w
some do all the j arring interpretations given by ,
,

custom as anointing the head a literal conformity di ff erent commentators for this knowledge can
t o th i s precept would be a viola ion o f its s pirit ; serve no other purpose than to distra ct their
,

t
because the man who is keeping a private fast thoughts Before you begin to bui ld it is n e ce s , .
,

wo ul d proclaim this to his neighbours by an sary t o remove such impediments as lie directly
external sig ; the ver thi ng which Christ n in your w ay ; but you co uld not account him y ,

other than a ve r y foo li s h builder w ho should ,

These examples are selected not as presenting firs t collect a deal o f rubbish which was not i n
O t
, ,

d ifli cult i e s to the critic but as famili arly illus t r a t hi s way and could not have bs ructed his work
t
ing the principle hat we mus t often look beyond that he might have the pleasure and merit o f
, , ,

t ,

he phras eology of a text to ascer ain its meaning removing it And do the fantastic absurd and t . .
, ,

Of cours e the preacher cannot take it for granted contradictor y glosses o f commentators deserve a
,

that the common inter pretation is right A better name than rubbi s h ? No surely Where .
, .

general and S pontaneous concurrence of opin ions a fa ls e gloss cannot be reasonably supposed t o ,

as to the meani n g o f a passage in the Bible o r be either known o r thought o f by the au d ience , ,

in any other book would be presumptive e v i it is in the preacher worse than being idly
,

dence that such Opinion is correct The weight o s tentatious Of his learning t o i ntroduce such .
,
”
of thi s evidence however wo uld be gr eat o r erroneous gloss o r comment ,

n n
.

small accordi ng t o circumsta ces in a given

, We must always remember too the di ffere ce , ,

cas e And in no case can it be suf ficient t o betw een a church and a college In most Chris
n
.
.

supersede a personal examination i o n e w ho i s tian congregations there are very few if any
t
, ,

a professed interpreter of the sacred orac les linguists I do not say that we ought never o . .

Still it Should be said mention the original Justice to the p a s sage we

, .

3 Tha t i t mus t n o t be his a i m t o fin d a N E W s en s e explain may sometimes require it Nor i s it

t
. .
,

t o hi s t e xt Whatever da nger results from a tame nece s s ary hat o ur translators S hould be deemed
t t
.

submission t o authority on thi s subj ec the a t infallible But then o n the other hand i is , .
, ,

tractions o f novelty are still more dangerous to neither mode s t nor prudent in the preacher ,

a man of sprightly genius not matured by ex especi ally if a young man to be at eve r y turn , ,

p e r i e n ce and judg ment To exhibit the points cen s uring the translators and pretending to
w t t
.
,

of d iff erence bet een his Opinions and hose of mend their vers ion It is not mode s t ; a s hey
t
.

o hers gives Opport unity t o di s play at once the over whom the corrector as sum es a superiority
t
, , ,

extent of hi s readi ng and he s upe r iority o f hi s are allowed on all hands to have been men o f
d iscernment B ut how doe s such puerile o s en
,

eminent talents and erudi ion And i i s no t ,

t t t
t O t
.
.

t a t i o n accord with he dignity of his f fice who p r udent as this practice never fails o produce , , ,
 LEC TURES ON H O MIL ETIC S

in the minds o f the people a want of confidence , di scuss the science o f biblical criticism o r even ,

in their Bible Inde e d in regard to every thing .

, to give the briefest outline of thi s scienc e .

whi ch may be introduc ed either in the way o f Writers o f sermons who are s till m embers o f
t , ,

cri ici s m o r comment it is not enough that s uch , thi s sacred seminar y may avai l themselv e s o f ,

an ob s ervation is just that such an interpretation ,

the am ple system o f instruction in this depart
has been actually given or that such an Opinion , ment which belongs t o their regular theological
,

has been maintained ; the previous inquiry which cour s e O ther young preachers who have not
.
,

the preac her ought t o mak e by himself is enj oye d the s e o r S imilar advantages may eas ily
t
, ,

whether it be o f a n y con s equenc e o the people find access to books which w i ll gi v e i mportant ,

to be informed of the ob s ervation comment o r aid to their investigation s In the ab s en ce of all

t tt
.
, ,

Opinion If o n other occ as ions more e s pecially

.
, others he li le m anual o f Er n e s t i entitled
, ,

o n this the apo s tolical a dm onition ought to be “Elements o f Interpretation translated with
, ,

sacre d ly ob s erved that nothing proc eed o ut of notes by Professor Stuart w ill b e found an i n
t y
, ,

the spe ak er s mouth but hat which is g ood to ’

, valuable treasury o f elementar principle s .

the use o f edifying that it may minister grace , Having remarked at so much length o n the
to the he a rers . practical pri nciples t o be Observed by t he preacher
O n the literary vanity which employs an ex in explaining a text when its meaning is doubt
,

t
,

cess o f criticism in the pulpit I add o n e more , , f ul I shall be brief in noticing he other topic
, ,

remark that it has n o countenance from the which belongs to this lec ture ; namely the p r o
,

highest o f all example s that o f our ord and his L position o f the subj ec t
,

l
, .

a p o st es The great body o f primitive Christians

.
“
The term proposition as u se d in logic is , ,

had access to the Hebrew Scriptures chiefly applicable only to an as s emblage of words in
through a translation ; and o n e less perfect un , which something is af firme d As us ed by writers
questionably than the common version in o ur o n oratory it is not re s tricted t o this sense but
language Yet he first preachers o f Christianity
.
,

t , applies to any form Of expres s ion in which the

,

qualified as they certainly were to correct all , subj ect o f a di s course is announced Thus if ,

mistakes by gifts more adequate than those o f my text w ere There is not a j ust man upon
t
, ,
”
scholarship never perplexed their hearers with ,
earth that doeth good and sinneth not I migh
, ,
”
vario us readi ngs and various renderings . say we are call e d to consider as the subj ect of
,

You may say perhaps o f what value to m e as , , this discourse the universal sinfulness of men ,

a Chri stian teacher o r to my hearers is my , , or I might reduce it to a logical affirm ation and
, ,

critic al knowledge if I am n o t to use it ? I say the doctrine of the text is “ that all men
, , ,
”
answer of the same value with any other know
, are sinners Either form amounts to what
.

ledge i f y o u have not di scretion to us e it ari ght

, rheto ricians mean by a proposition o f the subj ect ;
that is of n o value at all Y o u may have a know
, . though I would n o t say that in all circumstances , ,

ledge Of grammar and m ak e it subservient to the either form is equally good If you ta ke t he
t
.
,

great bus iness o f the pulpit wi hout givi n g yo ur , former m ethod y o u have inde e d a subj ect before ,

hearers in every sermon a disquis ition upon y o u but you feel at liberty t o treat it in the w a y
,

etymolo g y and syntax Your logic m a y be made o f discursive remarks If you t ak e the logical
t
. .

the instrument o f instruction and conviction to proposi ion y o u are pledged to one course : y o u
,

S inners without acqu ai nti n g them with the ten must prove the thi n g affirm ed before you mak e it
,

categories o f Aristotle o r the diff erence between , the subj ect o f inference o r exhorta ion A ser t .

abstract and concrete term s Your eloquence mon written under such a n ec essity is more
t
.
,

may mel your hearers while they know n o t that likely to possess unity and to combine to the
t t
, ,

you have read Qui n ct i li an o r Longinus and .

be s t advan age instruc ion with impre s s ion .

care not whether th e figure that thrilled their Fo r reasons that are Obvious to every mind ,

bo soms has been called me t on ymy o r ap os t r op he the doctrine or duty to be discuss e d in the ser
t ,
,

in echnical rhetoric Just so y o u may use your mon Should be announced in the propo si tion
w n
.

kno ledge o f s a cred criticism without abu s ing , with as much brevity and clear e s s as po s sible .

it From its s tore s humility and good s ense may T w o circum s tances in this connexion de s erve
t
.
, , ,

draw he richest in s truction f o r your hearers , som e regard O ne is that when y o u are pre .
,

without ostentation o n your part o r perplexity , pared t o state your subj ect the form o f expres s ion ,

on theirs . employed S hould be such as t o give the hearers a

Thus far the way before us has seemed to be momentary premonition that you are about to
obvious That the preacher may announce the
.

true meaning o f his text as the subj ect o f dis , example : The doctrine which is taught
Fo r
course he mu s t first ascertain this m eaning In
, . in the text and which I Shall endeavour to e s ta
,

doing thi s he must not presume that the true, blish in the following d i scours e is this that the , ,

s ense o f the pa s s age is wrapped up in mystery ; only possibility o f human salvation con s istent
t
,

nor hat it is o f course so pl a in as to render ex with the character and government o f God is
t
,
”
amina ion supe r fluous nor when it is plain , , suspended o n the atonement o f Chris t No w .
,

that he is at libe rty to display his ingenuity o r if languag e like this is employed every intelligent
t
,

learning by inventing some novel interpreta ion

, . hearer w ill perceive that y o u are about to a h
But it may be sai d the chief inquiry s till r e nounce your subj ect before you have done it ;
m ains by what process is he t o determine for
,
and accordingly that sentence o f your sermon .

himself that he m a y exhibit to his hearers the

, which it is more im portant for him to remember
true m eaning o f his text Were I competent t o than any other he will be more likely to remem
t t
-
.

the under aking it would be prepo s terous t o t urn ‘

ber But many preachers would reverse he

t O
.
,

as ide from he proper bj ect of these lectures t o ,

order Of members in the example given above , ,
 A ND PRE AC HING .

and consequently the hearers being t old i n the scen e which presents nothing but o n e immen s e
n
,
, ,

end o f a complex s ente nce that the s ubj ect of the unv a rying unmeani g uniformi ty ? Suppo s e
sermon was s a ed at the beginning of it may tt , ,

now you sa i l do n a maj estic river ; here o n i s w t

t t
, ,

reca ll he statement if hey can banks a flo uri s hing village mee ts your eye ;
,

t t
.
,

The other circ umstance i s that the terms em there a rugged cli ff ; there cul iva ed fields ;
t , , ,

ployed in stati ng the s ubj ec s hould be such if and there a tributary stream rus hes down from
ossible not to call for explanation after t he
,

the neighbo uri g mountains O r s uppo s e you

,

n
p a s
t
.

propos ition is announced .

travel a g reat road le a ding through a fer ile ,

country inters persed with meadows and fore s ts

,

with the s plendour o f w ea l h and t he s impli city t ,

o f rus t ic life In these cas e s the unity of the ,

t
.

L EC T URE VIII river o r t he road is as s ociated with an intere s ing

UN IT Y
.

variety Yo u glance at the changi g sc enery a s

. n
o u p ass o n a n d feel t he vivacity wh i ch it
.

WHE N the preacher has asc ertai ne d the sense

y ,

o f m s p ir e s without be ing at all di verted from your

hi s t
tex and after a proper exordi um has plac
, , , chief obj ect
,

his subj ect distinctly before hi s hearers he must No w t o apply these illus trations t o the purpose
n t
, ,

proc eed in some method t o elucidate a d apply in hand There i s a kind of uni y in a s e r mon
t t n t t
,
.

his subj ect The next hi g t hat comes regula rly which indeed is in no da nger o f di s trac ing he
n t t t t
.
, ,

t o be consider e d i the structure o f s ermons is atten ion of hearers by he mul iplici y of obj ec t s
t
,

divi s ion But you are aware gentlemen that pre s ented It consi s ts in a con s tan recurrence
t
. , , .

many obj ect to divisions e specially to regular , of the same thought at enuated and repeated ,

and exp licit divisions in a sermon ; because as with undeviating uniformity The hearers pa s s
t
, , .

it is said t hey are inconsistent with unity This o n wi t h the preacher not from o n e branch of he
t
.
, ,

obj ection i s not merely the off s p r ing of a fas ti discours e t o ano her delighted with the richne s s
di o us or fanciful taste it has been made by men tt
of ma er and variety of illustration ; but from
,

o f respectable name The Archbi shop o f Cam o n e t opic presen t ed ag ain w i h s ome trifling t
t t
.
, ,

bray whose judgment is enti led t o high regard changes o f repres enta ion The above sort o f
n n
, , .

says : There remai s no true u i ty a fter such tas te inde ed does n o t always deign in this las t
t , , ,

di visions ; seeing they m a ke t w o or three dis par icular to humour the caprice of hearers It
n n
.
,

cou r ses which are j oi ed into o n e only by a gives them over and over the same favourite
n
,
”
arbitrary connexion And Bishop Burnet hi m .
, thoughts i the same favourite expre s s ion s ;
,

self e u excellent preacher recommends tha t a and often very con s istently completes i t s clai m s
t
,
“
sermon should have o n e head and o n ly o n e , , t o their atten ion by a favourite monotony i n
”
well stated and fully set out . delive r y Nor i s this samene s s limited to a
.

The canons of rhetoric invari ably re quire unity , single di scour s e o f the preacher ; it extends ,

n o t only in dramatic and epic poetry but als o in , perhaps through the whole range of his instruo
,

oratory And every o n e w ho has learn e d his t ion s so that whatever reason the hearers may
t t t
.
,

firs lessons in sacred eloquence admits wi hou have to expect a new text they have the a d v a n
t n t t
, , ,

doub ing that unity is a e s sential at ribu e of a tage o f foreseeing e s sentially what the sermon
,

goo d sermon No w hough he same precision .

, t t will be from sabbath to s abbath Now if this
,
, ,

.
,

o f language is n o t demanded here as i n the i s the indispensable quality in sermons which

t t
abs rac sc i ences it is perfec ly obvious tha men ,
t t we call unity it i s o n e as all will agree in which , , ,

of good s en s e seem to di ffer on thi s subj ect , it is the provin ce o f dul ne s s to excel But to .

because they have been accus tomed t o attach n o sup p ose that o ur hearers are benefited by such a
definite meaning to their words It beco mes sameness in the pulpit is to suppose that when
W
.
, ,

nece ss ary then t o examine the que s tion hat is they enter a place o f worshi p they cease to be
t t
,

uni y in a sermon ? and he importan ce o f thi s men Correct views o n this subj ect are to be
.

p oint to our main business requi res that the acquired only by studying the human mind in
examination s hall be extended through th i s Lec its general operation s That acute and able .

t ure writer the late Professor Brown in analy s ing

t
.
, ,

In entering o n this subj ect let me say I do the philosophy o f emo ions has the following
t , ,
,

n o t mean by unity hat sameness w hi ch excludes remarks which I quote with pleasure as strength
t , ,
“
all intere s tin g variety o f hought and illustration e n i n g the illustrations already given Even .

in a dis cou r s e If twenty pieces of coin s tamped obj ects tha t origin ally excited the highe s t i n
t
.
,

wi h the same die are S pread before y o u ea ch is t e r e st i f long continued ceased to interest
,

t
, , , ,

so perfectly like the rest that though you turn and soon became p a i n f uL Who that is no a h
them over a n d over you s e e the s ame obj ect s i ll
,

t s o lut e l deaf co uld sit for a w ho le day m a mu s ic

,

t
wi hout varie y If you travel ac ro ss an extended t , y
room if t he same ai r without vari a ion e1 e
,

t w
t t
.
, , ,

plain o f arid s and stre ching around you in a , ,

be gun again in the very instant of i t s la s t no e ?
wide unchan gi ng scene of barrennes s there t o o The mo s t beautiful couplet o f the most beautiful
,

you ha ve onen e ss without varie y But how , t .

,

poem if repea ed to us without in ermi s s ion for

,
t t ,

soon do you long for a hi ll a rivul et a cottage a very few m i nutes would excite more un e a s i
t n t
, , , ,

a ree o r even a shrub to re lieve you from thi s ness tha co ul d have be en fel from the s ingle
t
,

in olerable unity o f pro s pe ct ? If y o u s tand o n

,

recitation o f the d ullest stanza of he mo s t sopo t

the deck of a s hip in mid ocean on he morning ,
-
, t r i fic inditer o f rhymes How weary are we of .

of a calm summer s day y o u contempl a t e thi s ’

, many o f the lines of our be st poets which are ,

v a st expanse of waters with emotions of s ublimi ty quoted t o us for ever by tho s e who read only wh a t
t
.

B ut how soon doe s the eye become weary of a o hers quote What we ad mired when w e read .
 LE C T URES ON H O MILE T IC S
i t first fatigues and di sap p oints us when we meet tion and Of a gross superstition found e d o n a
t
,
, ,
wi h it so often and the author appears to us verbal m i stake ; the former sho uld be taken for
n
,

almost trite and common in hi s most original gra ted and the latter noticed in the briefest ,
im a ges merely b e e a us e those images are so b eau
, manner pos sible while explaining the terms Of
tiful as to have become some o f the common the text .

place s o f rhetorical selection There is another way i n which the above prin
y
.

Notwithstandi ng o ur certaint that a road ci p le is viola ted The preacher from an a p p r e

t
.
,
without one turn must lead us to o ur j ourney s he n s i o n o f falli ng short i n mat er or from a ’

,
end it would be to o ur mind and thus indi rectly false notion that his hearers will be e d i fie d in
y n
, ,
,
to o ur body also which is soon wear when the proportion to the ra ge Of topics in each ser
y
,

mi nd i s weary the most fatiguing Of all road s mo n contrives to bring before them ever sab
,

y t
.
,

A very long avenue is sufficiently wear ing ba h the whole system o f reli gi on Every sub , , .

even when we see the house that is at the end o f j cet which has any aff i nity to the o n e in hand
n
, ,
it But what patience could travel for a whole comes i for i t s s har e of attention Thus in
n W
.
.

day along o n e endless avenue with pe rfect considering the ques tio o f Pilate hat i s
O
, ,
,
parallelism f the two strai ght lines and with truth ? the hearers are gravely told that all
”
,
,
trees of the same species and height succeedi ng truths have a common foundation and a common ,

each other exactly at the same intervals ? In a connexion o n e with another ; and hence it comes
j ourney like this there would be the same com fairly within the compas s o f the sermon to
for t i n being blind as there would be in a little speak o f ever thing whi ch i s true In rega rd y .
,

temporary deafness in the case before imag ined t o the violation o f unity by such a het erogeneous
of the same unvaried melody en dlessly repeated assembl age o f matter the preacher might often ,

i n the music room The un i formity Of similar receive admonition by attempting t o fix o n a

.
,

trees at s i milar di stances woul d itself be most brief title to hi s di scourse ; o r even by sear ch
, ,

wearisome ; but what w e sho ul d feel with far ing f o r a psalm o r hymn appropri a t e to hi s sub
more uneasiness would be the constant di s a p j e ct
pointment o f o ur expectation that the last tree I n t he s e co n d p la ce un i ty r e quir es t ha t a se r mo n
n DS
, ,

which we beheld in the di sta ce would be the last s hould be ONE I N E I GN .

that wo uld rise upon us when tree after tree as T he wis e preacher will tr o p o s e t o himself ,

in mockery o f o ur patience itself w ould sti ll some chief e ff ect which he hope s t o produ ce by , ,

present the same dismal continuity o f line every discourse T his is a distinct thing from . .

I need not be more particular in applying these the subj ect o f discourse ; j ust as the same end ,
illu s trations As men are constitut e d they demand i n other cases may b e sought by various means
.
, .

variety in intellectual subj ects as w ell as in mate T hus if you wo uld m ake sinners fe el their guilt
t
, ,

rial ; and the preacher o f go o d sense w i ll never yo ur direc subj ect may b e either their obligations
be anxious to attain that unity i his public o r their transgressions If y o u would console a n
n
.

instructions which excludes a proper variety go o d man i affliction your subj ect may be t he
W
.
, ,

hat then is the unity so important pe rfe ction o f God s providence o r the benefit Of ’

observed in the composition o f a sermon ? I afflictions If y o u woul d inculcate the obli ga .

answer it requires that the sermon sho uld be tion o f children to love the i r parents y o u may do
,

I n t he fir s t p la ce O N E I N S B E T UJC
t his by preaching o n fili al af f ection as a di rect
,
.
, ,

It will be unnecessary t o dwell o n this point subj ect o r o n the character o f Jos eph as an , , ,

farther than to explain my meaning indirect o n e The g ood to be accompli s hed by . .

preacher may have but o n e chief subj ect i n his a sermon what ever is its subj ect must depend , ,

eye and yet manage so un sk i lq y as by way of very much o n its adaptedness to leave on the
t
, ,

preparatory remark o suggest a number o f dis hearers minds some S pecific and p red ominant ’

W
,

tinct subj ects which will pre occupy the atten impression
,
hether it bears upon i n s en s ibili ty
-
.
,

tion Of his hearers and leave a divided impression o r error o r vice whether it is designed to
, ,

o n their minds Thi s is especially liable to be alarm the careless sinner or to strengthen the
.
,

the c a s e when a sermon commences with critical wavering Christian its bearing sho uld be di s ,

discu s s ions extended to some length As an t i n ct ly seen and felt This requires not only
,
. .

’
example of this fault I mention Claude s plan o n that the sermon should have a definite subj ect
,
“ .
,

the text Acts ii 2 7 Thou wilt not leave my and a definite desig but that these S hould be
,
“
n ,

soul i n hell neither wilt thou suff er thine Holy constantly in the preacher s eye
,
It is a f a ’
.

O ne to see corruption The subj ect is the v o ur it e method with me sa i d Cecil to reduce
”
.
, , ,

resurrection o f Chr ist Before entering o n this the text to some point o f d o ctrine O n that
.
, .

however he would discuss t w o other points In topic I enl a rge and then apply it 1 like t o ask
W
. .
, ,

the first place he would sho w that the language myself W hat are you doing P—
,
hat is your ,
”
of the P s almist quoted in the text w as cor rectly aim ?
,
This leads me t o remark , ,

understood by Peter as referring to Christ In I n t he t hir d p la ce t ha t un i ty r e quir es a s er mo n

t DJU NT AR
.
, ,

the second place he would refute he Opin i on t o be O N E I N T H E A OF IT S P

.

S T ME TS To
,

of the Romish Church respecting Christ s descent T HE P I N I PAL E N D AN D T o E C H O T E

”
’
R C , A H R .

into what they call li mbus p a t r um as grounded And here I lay it down as an elementary prin
,

on the word he ll in the text which in this case cip le Of great importance that a discourse should
, ,

means t he state o f the de a d But with whatever be ada pted t o produce an e ff ect as a whole This
t
. .

propriety these several topics might be embraced principle was sub s tantially s tated above bu is here ,

i n a n expo s itory lecture a sermon o n the resur varied in form for the sake of a more exten d ed
, ,

rection of Chri s t would evidently be ruined by a illustration It is n o t enough that there is a suc .

formal preparatory d iscussion o f Peter s inspira

,
cession of good words or o f s triking sentences or ’

, ,
 LEC T URES ON H O MILE TIC S

mention n o other examples Qui n ct i li a n TO

LECT URE IX says “ divisions may be t oo man but ought
”
.
, y
,

not as some think t o be li mi ted t o three SO

DI V I S I much for an Obj ection drawn from a n iquity ON .
, ,

, t
.

O ON Y N R
,

B JE C T I S U T I L I T K I DS UL E S
— — — against that method in a discour s e which con

s ituted so import ant a part Of both theory and

.

t ,

T HE O
bj ection that divi sions in a sermon are practice in ancient eloquence , .

inconsi s tent with unity rendered it pro per to We proceed now to consider t he uti lity o f
,

con s ider at length in my last lecture this m o st divisions the different kinds that have been
, , , ,
-

important principle in the sacr e d work o f the employed and t he r ul es by which they sho uld ,

preacher Two other obj ections require a brief be conducted

. .

notice at this time In re marking on the utility o f method let it

.
,

It is sometimes said that divi sions give a stiff be Obs erved that I mean t o recommend a method
, ,

and mechanical appearance to a di s cours e ; that which is obvious t o the hearers and in general
to announce its chief parts beforehand is to ta e one tha t is announced by the preacher in enter , k ,
,

from it the charm o f novelty and to destroy the ing o n the discus s ion o f his subj ect Though , .

pleasure which a n intelligent hearer would deri ve his plan o f thought may be distinctly mark ed in
from discovering your method for himself his o w n min d and though every sen t ence he .
,

But you must remember that o f those t o utters may be intelli gible the sermon if the
t
, , ,

whom he gospel is preached only a S mall part method is studiously concealed w i ll have only , ,

are S O intelligent as to perceive that which 1 8 the aspect and e fle c t o f a smooth essay He
, .

not very easily perceived T O adopt an occult who aims to save rather than amuse hi s hearers .
,

method becau s e this is supposed to be mo s t w ill not scruple t o interrupt the po li shed flow o f
t
,

consistent with the rul es o f elegance or because his compo s ition by di viding it into separa e , ,

some Obscurity furnishes exerci s e to the i n heads Not that these should Of cours e be
t
.
, ,

e n ui t y of hearers i s a doubtful ex edient even named numerica l ly at he Opening o f the ser

g p , ,

i n re s pect to cultivated minds but i n respect t o mon It i s n o t always be st that s o formal a .

plai n men such as con s titute the body o f every di stribution by first s econd third & c should
, , , , , .

congregation it is to say the least a great error announc e the main head s beforehand ; and
t
, , , ,

in j udgment If such hearers might be able to s eldom can this be properly done wi h the s ub
t
.

analy s e an Obscure train o f thought in a ordinate ones In regard t o these latter he , .

,

pr i nted discour s e this is not to be expected i n spe ak er as he passes o n may if he chooses t o

t
, , ,

one that is S poken where they have no Op p o r omit the numerical di stribu ion mark them
t
, ,

t un i t y to examine and compare diff erent parts s u f ficiently by pauses by antithetic di stinc ion .
,

The other obj ection i s that divi s ions are a Of word s by change o f quantity and pitch Of
scholastic device unknow n i n the be s t da s o f voice o r by simple emphasis *
,
,

y ,
,

ancient oratory Dr D o ddridge advises that mo r e prominence

t
. .

That the cel e b rated orators o f o ld w e re l e ss s till S hall be given t o divisions by he manner
formal i n this re s pect than has been more com of an oun c i ng them Thus his o w n pra c ice n ,

t
t ,

n n
.

mon in he modern sermon is certain ; and was to mentio the ge e ral heads twice be fore , , ,

perhaps a s ufficient rea s on for this appears in hand At the Opening of each head if it w a s t o .
,

the obj ect Of their orations and the character have subdi visions he announced these before , ,

of those to whom they were addressed But the hand ; and in conclusion he briefly recapitulated
t
.
,

most celebrated o f those ora ions have m ethod all his topic s principal and subordinate S o , , .

and s ome Of them method very di stinctly ex rigid exactne s s as a universal habit Of a p r e a che r
,

pre s s ed Cicero i n his ora ion f o r he M a n ili a n seem s to me unde s irable ; yet he wi ll be com t t , ,

t t
.
,

la w has hree divi s ions ; the na ure Of t he p e lle d to study lucid arrangement by a freq uent
,

Mithri datic war ; he greatne s s o f it ; and the resort to such a practice t .

,

choice of a proper general The fir s t o f the s e Among the a dvantages o f an obvious method
t
.
,
he a ds is di scus s ed under four minor heads —the I remark that perspicui y is promot e d by it
t t t
, .

honour of the sta e ; the safe y o f their allies ; The understanding is a faculty that deligh s in
the public revenue and the interests o f private order It contemplat e s with ease and pleasure
, .
,

citizens The third head too has four minor things that ar e placed before it in t he light o f
.
, ,

heads . Pompey i s recommended as a co n a j ust arrangement Hence Horace p r operly .

s ummate general for his military ski ll ; his calls such arrangement “lucidus ordo
, Hence , .

courage ; his authority ; and his success T he again .

,
same orator in his seventh Phi lippic dissuades B e a uty is promoted by order Aside from
the s enate from making peace wi h Mark An
,

tho s e laws of mind agreeably to w hi ch me hod t , .

t
O
,

tony by three he a ds Of argument showing the faci itates o ur perception f relation amo n g l

O
, ,

meas ure t o be base to be dangerous and t o be thin g s ; accordi ng to o ur principles f emotion

, , ,

impractica ble In his oration for Mur aena t he good taste is di s gusted with confus ion A fine
t
.
, .

division has been all o wed by some critics to be library promiscuou s ly jumbled together wi hout
perfect “ The whole accusation O Judges may re g ard to connexion o f volume s o r di s in ct
, ,

t
t t
.
, , ,

be reduced to three hea ds ; o n e consists in Oh works would o ff end the eye j u s t in propor ion o ,

j e ct i o n s against his life ; the second relates to the intrin s ic worth o r the elegant appear a nce o f
the dignity of his O ffice ; the t hird includes the the several books The same emotio o f i n co n
”
. n
corrupti on with which he i s charged
l D f h g d p tt
.

Hi s oration again s t Cecili us has two and that J a y s a mi y i s co urs e s urn i s a o o a e rn f o F

t bd v
’
, i
f o r Publius Qui n ct i us three ge n eral divis ions s ho r s u i i si o n s , . .

thoughts o r expressions
°
is excited i
ty
o w e v e r bril liant v ich have no connexion
B r e vi ty is promoted by order The poet above
alluded to says T his will be the excellence
,
and beauty Of method tha it w i ll enable the
writer j ust now to say what j ust now ought to
”
be said an d t o omit every thing else He w ho
t
,
classes hi s houghts o n a subj ect will see what to
us e and what to refu s e among he general mas s
t t
of ma ter related t o hat subj ect Besides co n
O n
fus ion f thought leads to repeti tion ; a d repeti
tion leads to undue le n gth
E n e r gy is prompted by order in t w o ways ;
the first is by concentra ion The power of a
di s cours e t o i mpress the mind depends n o t o n
the separate imp uls e of its parts but o n the co m
b i n e d e ff ect of the whole And Oft en a argu
ment de r ives all its strength fr om its standing
in proper co nnexion with other arguments The
united strength o f five men might eas ily raise a
weight which the s eparate e ff orts o f t he five
would be unable t o stir The regular phalanx
di s pos ed in order o f battle so that e a ch i n di v i
dual may support the whole line is irresistible
i n its outset But the undi s cip lined rabble is
. .
harmless in its movements if n o t contemptible
The other way i which order contributes t o
strength is by promo ing vivacity Give t o the
traveller who is to pass through a strange coun
,
try a chart pointing o ut beforehand hi s ro ad
t
, ,
W i h the chief Obj ects that will demand his atten
ti on and he pursues his way with increa s ed
, Wi herspoon says Suppose I desire a person
S pi r it Even the la nguor Of a single day s j our
.
ney is reli eved by hi s being able Of en t o as ce r
tain what progress he has mad e and what i s the
distance to the next stage SO division relieve s
heaviness in a d iscourse Qui n ct ilia n supposes
his orator to say “ I w i ll t e h yo u what facts
occurred before this transaction what at the
” ”
time and what afterwards This he says
, .
wi ll seem to be three short narra ions instead
Of a single long one The hearer is refre s hed as
he pe r ceive s the end Of the last division and
”
prepare s hi mself as t o a new beginning The
advantage of s uch tra sitions Cicero we ll under
”
stood Hitherto Caesar said he hav ing a d
.
v a n ce d one stage in his defence Hitherto
L
C ae s ar igarius appears t o be free from fault
, ,
a n d then commences a other branch o f his argu
ment Finally .
,
M e mo r y is as s isted by order It were easy t o
S how how important this consideration is t o the
preacher him s elf if he wishes to be able in any
cas e to address hi s fellow men without t he
,
,
most servi le dependence on a ma nu s cript But
I refer especially to the memory o f hearers
W
hat is memory ? It i s that reflex Operation o f
the mind by whi ch it recalls its past thoughts
The capacity Of doing thi s in a given case o her
things being equal depends o n the s rength Of
original impre s s ions an d the circumstances
t
whi ch fa cili ate the voluntar y repetition Of hose
impressions A succes s ion o f ide as mus be
.
unders tood before it can be rem e mbered ; and
pers picuou s method is the vivid light by which
t he mind clearly perceives and deeply feels what
i s pre s ented before it But as few origin al i m
pres s ion s are s o deeply imprinted as to fix them
s elves i n the adult mind wi hout repe ition the
A ND PREACHING .
eco llecti on o f its thoughts depen d s much o n its
z
,
r
,
. power t o renew them at pleasure And thi s .
. again depends o n the association s by whi ch they
a r e connected For example suppose you were
t t
.
,
t o enter f o r the first time a city wi h parallel
, ,
, streets in o n e di rection marked a c cording t o
, ,
the ordinals first second third ; and the inter
.
, , ,
se ct i n g parallel streets mark e d with the names
t
,
o f the United States i n their usual order How
n t
.
,
eas ily wo ul d you remember the pla of this ci y
t
.
,
compared wi h that o f another where the streets
are laid o ut at random are crooked irregular
n ,
.
, ,
and desig at ed perhaps by n am es which you
t
, , ,
. never heard before Suppose y o u were intro .
d uce d t o ten strangers w ho shoul d keep their ,
seats in the same order till you ha d recall ed a
n t
,
. f e w times the nam e of eac h succe s sively ; wi h
ho w much more cas e could y o u re collect them
. t
than if hey had been all this time p as sing about
the r oom ? The reason why famili ar things are
not forgotten i s that frequent recurrence stamps
.
,
impression The i mporta nce o f me hod to
.
,
t
memor y theref ore as an as s ociating principle
t t t
, , , ,
lie s chiefly in he fact that me hod is he medium
n n
, ,
o f S pontaneous and in s ta ta eous reflection The
t
incidents in he sto r y o f Joseph for example are
n
.
, , ,
so connected that o n e readi ng fixes them in the
t . memory of even a child But that must be a .
mirac ulous memory which could repeat in the ,
same manner the genealogical lists Of names in
, ,
the Chronicles
t
.
,
’
going to a city to do several thi ngs for me as t o
t t
deliver a let er to o n e man to visit a friend of
, mine and bring me notice how he is to buy a
,
. boo k f o r me and see whether any ship i s t o
. sail for Britain soo n It i s very possible he may .
remember some Of them and forget the others
, , .
, But if I desire him t o buy me a dozen Of S ilver
spoons t o carry them to an engraver that my
t
, , ,
,
name may be put o n them and to procure a case ,
. for them ; if he remembers o n e article it is l i kely
”
he will remember all
n
.
,
In view o f the foregoing illus tratio s I will
n
.
only add that the importance of method by
, ,
which I mean obvious method i n a sermon is
t
, , , , ,
S O unques ionable that to a fli r m it is only say
, , ,
”
ing in other words that the sermon of which
n
, ,
the hear ers remember nothing is useless The .
principle involved in this cas e may be tried by , ,
. o n e simple practical test The custom of taking
, .
notes o f se r mons as they are delivered was com , ,
mon in the ancient church and to some extent
-
,
it prevails in many congregation s at his day
, ,
, t ,
. Suppos e then a sermon t o be immethodical and
in coherent I do n o t ask whether an expert
.
,
steno g rapher can record every word of it from
the mouth o f the S peaker but can an intelligent
t ,
.
hearer commit to paper a brief outline o f the
,
t ,
chief thoughts in s uch an arrangement hat the t
,
t
review o f he s e will enable him to recollect the
,
t sub s tance Of the whole sermon ? If not an ele
t O
,
menta ry principle f preachi ng has been dis
t
regarded in the composi ion of the sermon
O
.
The appeal may al s o be made to teachers f
schools and to Christian parents who are s till in
. the good Old practice of cal ling their children to
repeat sermon s what sort o f sermons are those
t t , of which they can give the best accou t ? With n
 L EC T U RES ON H O MILE TIC S

out a s ingle exception the answer will be those , ,

the text The name o f the Lord i s a strong
,
”
sermons which are constructed o n a simple Oh , tower the righ t eous runneth into it and is safe
, , ,

vions train o f thought ; not those in whi ch there has this method
is an occult method o r no metho d Let the ,
1 What we are t o understand by the n a me o f
.

teacher of babes condescend to be taught by the Lord

n
.

babes i this thi ng 2 What by its being a strong tower

W
. . .

3 hat is t he safety it af fords

W n
. .

4 ho are the perso s that partake o f this

.

But carry the same tas te into a deliberative

LE CT URE X .

oration o n th i s topic f o r example “ the con

ON
,

DI V I SI .
n e xi o n between knowl e dge and liberty among a
”
people and let the orator announce his method
WE are consider next the diff erent IN
to Of K DS t hus
,

I shall consider first what we are t o

\
, ,

method These are the t e xt ua l the t op ica l an d understand by knowledge ; secondly w hat b y
t
.
, , , ,

the s cho la s t i c liberty ; and third ly how the o n e is connec ed

k t
.
,

l The textual o r verbal division is ta en from

. wi h the other and I n e ed not say how tame
the words Of the text An example Of this sort . and puerile this discours e wo uld appear Yet so .

we have in the exhortation o f the apostle Add , strong is the tendency to this artificial structure ,

t o your faith virtue and to vi rtue knowled g e , ,

in sermonizing that one can h a rdly l o ok any ,
”
and t o knowledge temperance & c where the where without fin d ing examples o f it
U S
. .
, ,

preacher follows these particul ars in a separate , It remains that I mention some R L E by
consideration o f each w ord as fai th virtue , , ,
which divisions shoul d be conducted And they
knowledge & c , . should be ,

2 The topical di vision dro p s the phraseology

. 1 N ece s s a r y
. The subj ect S hould not only .

Of the text and is grounded o n its sense as ex, ,

allow but should seem to require them It is
, .

pressed in some di s tinct proposition A sermon . the prov i nce o f a barren invention as I have ,

o f this sort on the text j ust mentioned instead , , before remarked to give every s e r mon just so ,

Of treating five o r S i x subj ects would illustrate , many heads as t o corres p ond with the habits Of
“
perhaps this o n e theme that all the graces o f the preacher without inq uiring whether the
, ,

the gospel are united in the ch ar acter o f the con topics t o be di scussed are d istinct or not And .

”
sistent Christian The words of Christ to the . where this mechanical taste p r e v a i ls i t commonly ,

malefactor o n the cro s s T O day shalt thou b e ,

-
happens that the r equi site number o f parts is
”
with me in Paradise the textual preacher would m ade o ut by forcing as under things which really
t
,

d ivide thus — Consider firs the person t o whom belong to the same class o r rather by a tedious ,

this promise was made “ ”

Thou the penitent repetition o f the same things under the most
, ,

thief Secondly the matter o f the promise

.
, ,
in s ipid form o f variety a mere diff erence of ,
“ shalt be with me in Para ise ” Third ly the numerical distribution
d
ARRA
.
.
,

time o f its accomplishment To day ”

The ,
-
. 2 D i v is i on s s ho uld be W EL L
. NGE D The .

topical preac her would perhap s divide thus connexion between them S hould not only exist
First the death Of believers introd uces them
, in the preacher s mind but should be apparent ’

immediately t o eternal happiness Secon dly to the hearers The chief principles o f arrange
W n
. .
,

God sometimes prepares men f o r this happiness ment I s hall notice briefly he the dif ferent .

”
in the last moments of life . topics will allo w it the relation o f series should ,

O n such a text as this What doth the Lord be Observed Each preceding particular S hould
w
.
,

require o f thee but to do j ustly to love mercy , , ,

”
and to walk humbly with thy God P no better
divi s ion perhaps can b e adopted than that sug
gested by the w ords But in general this is the
prepare the way for the foll o ing and lead it in ,
by an easy transition o f thought ; this principle
is violated when the first head supposes the second
.
, , t o be already understood by the hearers In .

favourite method of only dry and d i ffu s e preachers . most subj ects o f argument the logical order is
3 The schol a stic di vision consisting o f sub
.
, more o r less to be obse r ved ; thus when we ,

j ect predi cate and copula may be more o r less

, , , reason from causes t o eff ects o r from e ff ects to ,

related to either of the preceding Suppose the . cause s o r when things are stated accor di ng to
,

text is He that believeth S hall be saved and order Of time an obvious relation exists whi ch
W
, , ,

the plan Of discourse is to S how first hat it determines the proper arrangement There are
n
.
, , ,

is to believe ; secondly what it is to be saved ; , indeed some ca s e s i which the order is nearly
,

and thirdly the certainty that all who believe , arbitrary If I w ere discu s s i ng Christian o be
.

shall be saved the method would accord with di e n ce I might say with Tillots on that it is S i n
, ,

what is probably the prevailing ta s te o f the pul cere univers al and constant ; o r I might give
, ,

pit .A sermon Of an English preacher published , these characteri s tics in a rever s ed order without
lately has this text , The j u s t shall live by , inj uring the entire discussion but if I were con
”
faith NO thought could be more S imple than
. s i d e r i n g t he fall and rest oration o f Peter the ,
'

the o n e here subj ected ; but the scheme o f dis two parts Of the subj ect can not be i n di fle r e n t ly
course is the following — “ I propose first to transposed It would be preposterous t o describe
, , .

S how the meaning of the term j ust as used in the repentance o f this apostle before I had de
,

t he text Secondly to explain the nature o f scribed his sin

t
.
, .

fai h And thirdl y in what manner it is that

.

”
, O n the same general princi ple it would not ,

the jus t may be sai d to live by faith be proper to mingle i n a consecutive series
t
.
, ,

Ano her Engli sh sermon publi shed 1 8 2 6 o n , ,

things which belong to di fferent classes If I .
 A ND P REACHI NG .

1 The consideration o f t he authority o f

.

Go d under whi ch we are a ll equally placed not

t
, ,

wi t hstanding t he variety i n o ur condi ions

ought t o tea ch us a implicit acquiescence in the n ,

duties and in the lo t assig ed us n

t
, .

2 O ur obligations t o cul ivate the blessin gs

belong t o external an d the second to interna l ,
we have received and the consequences o f the i r ,

e v idences Nor is it proper to confound what.

perversion are exactly the s ame whatever may , ,

lo g icians call the genus and the species If I be o ur portion Of advantages and
t
.
,

were illustra ing the dignity Of man from his 3 The sentence which shall at last be p r o
t
.

facul ies it would not be pro p er to consider n o un ce d o n o ur cond uct at the tribunal o f God ,
,

first his rea on

,
s secon d ly h i s will
soul ; fourthly his conscience ; becaus e the third
; th i rdl y hi s
, , w i ll have a spec ial rela tion t o the advantages
which have been given or have bee n denied us
t t n
,
,

comprehends a ll he r est The same incongruity .

and to the condi ion i w hi ch every indivi dual
would be seen by a child if it were carried into has served Go d o r has sinned against hi m ”
, .

eographica l di visions ; as 1 Maine ; 2 New No w if the preacher sho uld re p eat this anti
,
g
. .

Hamp s hire ; 3 New England ; 4 Massachus etts ; .

.
thetic lumber Of phrases and members a thousand
5 the county Of Essex times not o n e of hi s hearers would remember it
C T
. , .
.

3 D i v is i o n s s hould be O MPL E E By this I But there would have been n o di ffic ulty had he
t
.
.

do no mean to say as a general rule that a ll ,

s aid
, I shall prove the duty of implici t a cqui e s
,

the topics which appertain t o a subj ect should be cence i n the allotments o f God first from his , ,

introduced into a d iscourse on that s ubj ect ; but a ut ho r i ty over us ; secon dl y from t he bles s i n s
g
t
,

hat when we profess to pre s ent it as a whole by , he confers upon us ; and thi rdly from o ur fin a l ,
”
its s everal parts we Should exhibit all tho s e a cco un t

t y
.
,

par s Thus if I were de s cribing light by the AS thi s principle is o f elementar importance
t
.

di s ribution of its rays into the principal colours

,
and is consta tly violated in the pulpit I will n ,

t
, ,

I mu s t not enumera e red orange yellow green add that concisenes s in the form o f heads de
t t
, , , , ,
,

and then s op ; b ut must go through he seven pends o n such a relation o f parts as t o dis pe nse
t t
.
,

If I were de s cribing Mas s achus et s by i s coun with the greate st number o f words by elli psis ;
t
,

ties I mus t not st e p af er naming Suff olk Essex a n d es p ecially t o di spense with all o r nament o r
,

Middlesex ; but mus t men ion he whole SO t t

, ,

n
expla a t ion in t he head itself
t
.
.
,

when a n in ellectual subj ec t is to be treated Take as an illus tration the following plan ,

according to di s tinct propertie s or parts the dis ,

o n the subj ect o f regeneration First I shall .
-
,

t r ib ut i o n s houl d not be partial but complete . con s ider i n what this c hange consists o r what is ,

4 D i v is i o n s s ho uld n o t w i t hs t a n di n g be FE W
. , , . its nature Secondly S how that wherever it
.
,

A map may exhibit geographical lines moun takes place it i s prod uced not by the e fficacy o f
t O O
, , ,

tain s rivers ci ies and a few bj ects f promi means but by the influence Of the Holy Spirit
t t t t
, .
, , ,

nen impor ance But a tempt to make it em .

And hird ly exhibit evidence tha t wherever , ,

brace m i nute things to represent private planta thi s change is produc ed by the Holy Spirit it is
t t
,
,

tions and dwellings and you frus rate i s design fo llo w e d by the fruits Of holiness o r a life o f
t t
.
, ,
”
The ey e is di s gus ted wi h this mul iplicity and ob edience See how this drape r y Of words is
t n
.

co n f us mn of hings ; so an excessive enumera dismis s ed by the ai d o f ellipsis suspendi g all

t
,

the heads o n o n e connecting term ; thus “ In

ion Of par ticulars in a s ermon di s tracts the minds
O t
,

f the hearers A preacher of he s even t eenth di s cus sing regeneration I shall con s ider 1 Its
century having employed thirty div i s ions i n
.

nature 2 I s Author And 3 Its fruits t , ,

t n
. .
,
.
, . .

exp lai ning his ext s ays I shall not shr e d the , ,
Re y b a z says A clear division is the ha dle ,

words into unne cessary part s and then adds of a vase ; in the tak i ng hold Of which every
fif t y s ix more divisions o explai the subj ect
- t n . thing it contains goes wi h it But if it has no , t .
,

Another of the same period whose sermon had

, ,
handle its contents are lost to us
, Of this clea r .

already exceed e d a hundred an d seventy parts , di v i s ion we have an example in the s i x par
,

gravely apologized for omitting sundry useful t i cula r s o f Father Bernard o n the text The , ,

points pitching only on tha t which comprehended Lord hi mself Shall descend from heaven with
,

the marrow and he sub s tance When I sit t . a s hout etc Quis v e n i a t ? Unde ? Quo ? .

”
under s uch preachi ng says Dr Watts I fancy Quando ? Quomodo ? Ad quid ? On this point
t ,
. ,

my s e lf brought in o the v al ley of Ezekiel s

’
I will only add two examples from a late ,
*
vi s ion ; it was full Of bones and behold there ‘
,
English pre a cher ; so brief and clear that a ,

were very many in the valley and 10 they were , , hearer might repeat them mentall y severa l ,

dw
’ 7,
times without lo s ing more than one sentence o f
N n
v e ’y . ,

5 D i v is io n s
ould be C O C I S E IN TE RM S sh the sermon The fir st is o n the repenta ce o f
t
. .
.

I mean that the words employed should be few Judas whi ch is shown t o di ff er from true repen
and when it is po s sible the chi ef hought S ho uld , t
,
“
ance i n four respects : It s origin ; its bj ect ; O
be expre s s e d in a single word The reason Of thi s its extent : and its res ult The next is O n
t
. .

rule i s hat in stating a head we simply inform

”
the wrath to come with five heads “ It i s
, , , , .

our hearers what i s the point to be discus sed ; divine wrath ; deserved wrath ; unmingled wrath ;
”
and the more s i mply and briefly we do this the , accum ulated wrath eternal wrath .

more easily is o ur di vis ion under s to od and

remembered We lw o o d o n the text Who Br dl y
t t
. , , a e .

”
maketh h e e t o di ff er from ano her ? has thi s
tedious round o f words in hi s di v i sion
 LEC TURES ON H O MILE TIC S

di s tract e d the church would ha ve bee n prevent e d

n
, ,

LEC T URE XI . had theologia ns employed the s a me care i

ARGU N ME T IN SE R ON M 8.
selecting and defining their terms which has
rendere d mathematical r e asoning so pers picuous
,

N
,

H AVI G stated some o f the general p rinciples and so powe r ful an instr ument of conviction
t
.

which should govern the preacher i n the choice But is mathema ical reas oning as well as moral , ,

and exposition o f his text — the annunciation ,

appropriate to the pulpit ? I answer no Demon , .

and the di vision Of hi s subj ect ; I am n o w t o s t r a t io n in the ex a ct us e o f the word belongs

, ,

consider the source s and rules o f argument ,

only to the science o f ab s trac t quantities ; and it
which fall under the head o f discussion .
would be no more absurd to mingle trope s with
I am aware that many s ubj ects must be intro terms o f geometry than to apply a mathematic a l
,

d uce d into the p ul pit which do n o t a dmit o f what argum ent t o a moral truth Still it is a vain
t
.
, ,

may strictly be called reasoning I am aware triumph in which infidelity has some imes
t
.
,

t o o that i n the Christian communi y an Op i nion

, ,
gloried tha t reli gion is a subj ect which cannot
,

is cherished by many and is countenanced by ,

admit o f certa in t y For in no subj ect of mere
.

the exam p le o f so me po p ular pre a chers that ,

science can o ur data b e more fixed or our con ,

reasoning i s never appropriate to the business o f elusions more unquestionable than in religio n
t
, .

the pulpi The secular orator it is said speaks

.
, ,
Many o f o ur first principles in theology and
to men o f cultivated minds who can comprehend ,
mor als have as much clearness of intuitive evi
,

a train o f discussion ; but to plain unl ettered ,

dence as mathematical axioms ; and w e rest in
,

men such as the preacher addresses every thing o ur deductions with all the confidence that
O
, ,

in the form f argument is dry and uninterest attends the most pe r fect demonstration .

ing Certainly plain men a r e not logicians but

.
,
But w hile it is only moral evidence that can
it does not follow that they ar e incapable Of be employed i n pre a ching this evidence arises ,

re a soning Even child ren i n their o w n depart

.
,
from d iff erent sources each o f which i s more o r ,

ment o f knowledge draw conclusions from ,

le s s applicable o n diff erent occasions The i m
, .

premises as well as the philosopher in his m edi ate end o f reasoning is to produce conviction ;
t
.
,

This tendency o f he human mind which appears ,

and this is t o be e ff ec ted in each particular case , ,

in its earliest operations ought to be cherished , .

by the power o f evidence that is adap t ed t o that ,

Persuasion and action ought t o depend o n con

v i ct i o n and conviction o n proo f
,
To substitute
declamation for reas oning in the pulpit is to
.
S OU R CE S O F ARG U N ME T.
,

give the preacher a loose and de sultory habit o f

thinking In this way t o o no stability of reli w hi ch is t o be
, ,

n
.

gio n s character can be produced in hearers ,

In respect to an im p orta t class of subj ect s no ,

except through implicit faith and blind prej udice , . other evidence can be relied o n What w e know .
,

The preacher who always declaims from the f o r example respecting the Trinity t he i n ca r
t
, , ,

supposition that his hearers are unable to co m nation and at onement o f Christ and jus ificati on
prehend argument gives the whole influence Of ,
by faith we know o ly from the sacred or ac les
, n ,

his labours and o f his o w n example agai nst the

, ,
The simple and only inquiry o n such subj ects is ,

use o f the rea soning powers in reli gi on He . what does the Bible teach ? And j ust so far as
takes the di rect way to make them bigots o n ,
we rely o n the S peculations o f philosophy where ,

the o n e hand o r on the other children liable to the truth lies beyond the research o f reason the
t
, , , ,
“
be tos s ed to and fro and carried about wi h light o f heaven ceases to shine o n o ur path and
, ,
”
every wind of doctrine Wherever such preach . we grope in darkness A want o f strict a dhe r .

ing prevail s for a peri o d long enough to produce

,
ence to this obvious principle has been the pro ,

its genuine influence that influence is certainly ,

lific occ as ion o f heresy a n d controversy in all ,

unfavourable to manly di s crimination and , ages But while on subj ects o f thi s s ort the
.
,

strength in Christian attainments The ques Bible is the sole standard o f faith and of duty
t
.
,

tion hen need s not to be discus s ed whether in our reason is o f cours e t o be employed in as o er
n
, , , ,

its proper place argument should be employed ,

taining what the Bible teaches ; a d also in
in s ermons but in what manner shoul d it be illustrating and applying t o a particular subj ect
t
,

employed ? the proof which i furnishes This is what Paul .

This lead us to consider t w o things the sources , meant by reasoning o ut o f the Scriptures It .

of a rgument and the principles on whi ch it is to,

i s s o to cla s s and exhibit o ur proof as to show ,

b e co n ducted . di s tinctly that God has declared as truth o r e n ,

My Obj ect in these remarks does not require j oined as duty some particular thing
, .

me to confirm o r to controvert the doctrines Of No w this mode o f reasoning if I mistake not , ,

mod ern writers o n pneumatology and moral as it is too commonly found i n sermons is not ,

philo s ophy n o r t o notice them at a ll in address

, , sufficiently explicit and direct In a cas e where .

ing tho s e w ho are alre a dy conversant with the s e the preacher does n o t doubt that t he ultimate
writers My simple business is t o inquire in
.
, appeal is exclusively to the Bible often a fas ,

what way religious truths ma y best be vindicated t i di o us delicacy o r a perverted taste prevent s
, ,

and enforced by arg ument in the p ulpit The . him from giving prominence to the divine
la w s o f intellectual philosophy indee d are directly testimony He thrust s forward his proof texts
t
.
,

auxiliary to this end Even the study of geo perhap s in a random and un s kilful way wi hout
t
.
,

me ry has i t s important u s e s to the p r e a che r as , proper regard to their bearing o n each other or ,

it gives hi m discipline of thought and precision , the end in view Or on the other hand he .
, ,

Of language Much of the controvers y which has , may as sume the fine rhetorician and shape the ,
 AND PRE ACHING .

declarations o f t he Bible into s uch a s ubserviency t

perfec ly decis ive where they apply to enf orc e
to the eas y flow of his o w n style tha t t he proof them by arguments from reason
,

here the s e w ,

i s diluted and humanized in his h ands and

,

, al s o are applicable i s to treat hem wi h honour , t ,

t ,

leaves no strong impression on the minds o f the not with di srespect Thi s holds true in practical .

”
hearers that thus hath the Lord S poken
,
. ill ustration and commentary as well as proof , .

Illustrations of this great defect might easily be For example I examine the chara cter which
given from the published di s courses of many w ho Paul gives o f the heat hen world in the first ,

are called elegant or polite pre a chers The ser chapter of Romans If I undertake to S how
t
. .

mon s o f Edwards o n the con rary furni s h an , ,

that the same character belongs t o the heathen
excellent example of simple and direct reasoning now my argument mus t be taken from human
,

from the Scriptures Hi s style indeed has many testimony SO if I take a passage in which the
t
.
.
, , ,

faults and his fo r mality in naming chapter and

,
do ct rine o f nat ive depravi y is as s erted concern ,

vers e when texts are cited is a ne e dless i n cum ing an individual o r a commun ity and I n u
n
, , , ,

brance except i strict argument when some

, ,
d e r t a k e t o show that the sacred writer intended
d i fli cult topic is in discus s ion But though his als o t o ass ert the same doctrine as applicable t o
t
.
,

habits o f hought were those of a metaphy s ician , all men my argument must proceed ac cord ing to
,

and though he never appea red as the critica l the la ws o f bibli cal interpretation But if my
t
.

commenta or i n the p ulpit he was eminently a ,

obj ect 1 8 merely t o S how that thi s doc trine I S tr ue
biblical preacher So constant was hi s reference .
i n reference t o all men it becomes a question o f ,

t o the Script ures tha t it i mparted an air o f ,

fact as well as of Scripture ; and may be proved
, ,

sacredness to hi s sermons and hi s hearers like like any other point Of thi s sort by experience
the trembling camp o f Israel at the foot o f Sinai
,

,
and te s imony t .
,

had their eye fixed on the authority and maj esty I have extended these rem arks sufficiently to
o f God and felt a deep impression o f awe as if
, ,
express my meaning that he Bible 1 3 the grand , t
approaching hi s judgment seat . storehouse o f argument to the preacher and yet ,

O n subj ects of pure revelation where the S imple that he must resort t o other kinds o f proo f
t t
.
,

poin in argument is what has God said in this ,

Among the s e colla e ral sources of evidence ,

t ha t w hi ch I w ould r a n k a s s ec o n d t o r e ve la t zo n i s
”
case ? no interest can be awakened in hearers
CN UN t n
, ,

strong or so salutary as that whi ch arises O SC I O S E S S The dis inctio be t ween this
t
so ,
.

from scriptural proofs properly conducted And and con s cience is hat the former respe cts gene
t y
.
,

when the preacher s ubs itutes for these solid rally the knowled ge which eve r one has of the
materials the s peculations of philosophy o r the exi s tence and O p erations o f his o w n mind ; the
embelli s hments o f fancy the apathy wi h which , t
,

latt er res p ects only its moral opera ions This t .

hi s sermon is commonly regarded by his audi is a kind Of evidence which commands absolute
ence is but a ju s t rebuke of his se lf compl a cency -
assent and that by an immedi ate appeal o our
,

t
t
,
.
,

There is however a large clas s o f subj ec t s , ,

o w n bosom In this way I know that here is
.

where the proo fs to be a dduced in reasoning are a t hinking e xistence within me that perceives
t
,

y
, ,

o f a mixed cha racter partly from revela ion loves and hates I know when I am hungr o r
,

t ,
.
, ,

and p ar tly from other so urce s in pain From this principle ac ing with me
t t
. .
,

If I were called t o di scuss a positive i n st i t u mory I know hat I began to exi s t ; and tha I am
L
,

ti on of Ch r i s tianity as bapti s m o r the ord s sup ’

the same indi vidual as I was yesterday I know
O
.
,

per my first bus i ness wo uld be to pen the Bible

,
that I deserve blame if I have done t o another ,

and see what it te a ches o n this subj ect But it . what it would have been wrong in him to do
might also be proper and i n some circumstances ,
towards myself ; and that I am innocent though ,

indi spen s able for me t o adduce collateral evidence ,

I may have done hi m an inj ury whi ch proceed e d ,

from the fathers to s how that the meaning whi ch ,

from no wrong int ention in me o r whi ch it was ,

I attach to the Scriptures is probably the true ,

n o t in my power to avoid .

o n e because it accords with the views o f those

,
Such elementary principles from which no ,

who s e sentiments and practice were derived i m one can di ssent are Of great value i n enforcing
mediately from the apos les So if I were t . many truths and duties o f religion ; especially
,

preachi ng o n the obligations o f men to worship in the removal o f perp lexities arising from
Go d or o n the relative duties o f parents and abstr use speculations A metaphy s ician may
t
.
,

children it would be proper for me to S how that

, , proceed wi h a train of reasoning which looks ,

reas on inculcates these duties as well as revela fair and incontrovertible till he brings o ut the
tion B ut hen in cases o f this sort t w o ex t ,

conclusion that men are machines ac ing under

,

t
,

t ,

t
.
, ,

tremes should be s hunned O ne is he tendency .

, a la w Of phy s ical nece s s i y ; and therefore n o t
of some men by the phraseo logy they adopt so accountable for their actions But any pl ain
t
, , .

to exalt the reasonableness o f he Bible as to , man while he cannot s how where the fall acy
,

make the imp r ession that no implicit fai th is lies l n this reas oning may bol dl y pronounce t l e ,

ever required in its declarations — o r in other , conclus ion fal s e It contr ad i cts his o w n co n .

w o rds that the testimony o f God does not of

,
s ci o us n e ss He knows that he is not a machine
.
,

itself demand o ur assent except as confirmed by but a voluntary accountable agent

t
, , .

the te s timony o f human reason The other The fai hful preacher who pre s ses truth o n
t
.

extr eme appears in the habit of cautious m i s g i v the conscience will oft en find some fas idious
t
ing wi h which some men admit the aid of rea
,

obj ector or some anxi o us sinner re s orting t o

t
, , ,

s o n a t a ll in Christi an argumenta tion lest hey refuges which a vain philo s ophy has invented
t
, , , ,

S hould invalidate w hile hey p rofes s edly confirm to escape the charge o f per s onal guilt There i s
t t O
, .

t he authori ty o f the Bible But while he de o la no way in which the pungent applica ion f
t
.

ra i ons o f thi s sacred book are independently and divi ne tr uth is S O li kely t o be parried by the self

excusing temper f the human heart as by some O ,
obj ection pre dicated on a denial that men po s s ess
the powers o f moral agency Such Obj ections
may be met with the ligh o f demonstration from
t
the Scrip ures and yet they are renewed with
,
unyielding pertinacity But let the appeal be
made at once to the consciousn e ss of the b e a r e r
whether he is not a free agent and hi s Obj ections
are n o t refuted merely they are eff ectually si
le n ce d in a moment
A t hi r d v e ry a mp le s o ur c e of e v i de n c e i s t ha t t o
w hi ch w r i te r s o n i n t e lle c t ua l p hilos op hy ha v e g i ve n
C N N
t he n a me of O MM O S E SE
This relate s to thi ngs which do not come
within the province o f consciousness but w hi ch
are so plain to every reasonable mind that they
cannot be questioned Fo r example proposi
tions such as these It is impossible that a
t hing S hould be and not be at the same time
“ Every e ffect must have a cause ”
Things
which I see do exist strike the mind with the
clearne s s of intuition They are accounted self
evident as not admitting o f proo f o n the o n e
, ,
hand o r o f doubt on the o ther While it a p p e r
, ,
tain s to the p r oce s s of reason to draw conclusions
from s uch premises it is the province o f common
sense to j udge o f these conclusions Should a
s peculating visionary lay down axioms from
which he s hould fancy himself to prove that all
the present modes o f travelling will become o h
solete ; that men will soon navigate the interior
o f the earth with sa i ls and oars or traverse the
a i r with wings any man without claiming to be
, ,
a philosopher might smile at the conclu s ion and
, ,
o n the authority o f common sense pronounce it
ridiculous . are the doub t s with which a n xious sinners are
Now t o S how how this sort Of evidence may be
applied in the pulpit it is sufficient to Show by an
example how it has been applied Archbishop
,
T i llotson in refuting the abs ur d hypothesis that
, ,
the world sprung from chance proceeds thus ;
Will chance fit means to ends and that in ten
thousand instances and not fai l in o n e ? How
often might a man after he had j umbled a set f
,
letters i n a bag i ng them o ut upon the ground,
fl ,
before they would fall into an exact poem P— yea
or so much as make a good discourse in prose ?
And may not a little bo ok be as e as i l m ade as
this great volume Of the world ? {lo w lon g
might one S prinkle colours upon canvas w ith a
carele s s hand before they would make the exact
, Adam di d six thousand years ago and on he
picture o f a man ? And is a man eas ier to be
made by chance than the picture ? Ho w long , o n e Of a fall en race de scended from Adam he is
might twenty thou s and blind men who should
be sent o ut from the remote parts Of England
wander up and down before they would a ll meet
upon Salisbury plain and fall into rank and
file in the exact order o f an army ? And yet
, ,
this is much more easy to be imagined than
how the innumerable bli nd parts o f matter
sho uld rendezvous themselves into a world A
man who sees Henry the Seventh s chapel at
t
Wes minster might with as good reason main
, ,
,
ta in yea and much bet er con s idering the vast
di fference between that little structure and the
huge fabric o f the world that it was never con
t r i v e d or built by any man but that the stones
did by chance grow into those curiou s figures
into which we s e e them to have been cut and
LEC T URES ON H O MI ETICS L
graven ; and that the materials o f that building ,
the stone mortar timber iron lead and glass
, , , , , ,
happily met together and ranged themselves
t
. ,
into that delicate order in which we see them
now S O clo s ely compacted that it m ust be a very ,
. great chance that parts them again What .
wo ul d the world think Of a man that sho ul d
,
,
advance such a opinion as thi s and w ri t e a n ,
,
b o ok for it ? If they wo ul d do hi m right they ,
.
ought t o look upo n him as ma d But y e t he .
,
might maintain this Opinion with a li ttle more ,
reason than any man can have t o say that the
, ,
. world was m a de by chance or that the first men ,
”
grew o ut Of the earth as plants d o now , .
,
Here is no process Of mathematic al demon
, s t r a t i o n to refute the atheistical sentiment that
, ,
.
,
matter is eternal ; and that this world as s umed
its pre s ent order and be auty without the agency
”
,
. o f an intelligent Creator But if such demon .
. s t r a t i o n ha d been adapted t o the subj ect and the
hearers in thi s cas e who does not feel that it
n
, , ,
. wo ul d have been far less convincing tha this
skilful appeal t o common sense ? Such an appeal
. is felt at once in all its power Without that , .
,
steady appli cation o f thought which abstr use ,
,
reas oning demand s without any e f f ort indee d , ,
. even t o uncultivated minds conviction finds its ,
, o w n way to the understandi ng like li ght to the ,
, eye . Hence this sort o f evidence is peculiarly
valuable to the preacher in repelli ng sophistry
n , ,
and in a swering obj ections that cannot be ,
, e ff ectually met in any other way Such are the .
cavils with which infidelity has oft en assailed
Christia n doctrines especi a lly as clothed i n the ,
, obscure terms o f scholas tic theology And such .
di s tressed in seasons o f revival
, Every o n e .
,
who has had experience in the ministry knows
t
, , ,
. how deeply such perplexi ies take hold o n com
mon minds ; and how dif ficult it is to obviate
them in the best manner Fo r example the
t
, .
,
, doctrine o f s rict i mputation o f Adam s sin as it ’
has been Often represented seems to such minds
O and with good reas on t o be plainly incon s istent
, ,
, t
wi h the principles Of j ust moral government
,
, It is an axiom of common sense that no o n e is ,
criminal for an action committed before he was
born or committe d in any cas e by another man
, , , , .
Of course n o argument however specious ca n
, , ,
convince a man that he i s to be blamed for what
t
,
, ,
other S ide of the globe But te ll him that as .
,
, ,
, accountable for his o w n sins and he sees nothing ,
, unreasonable in the s t atement And though .
, the forc e o f prejudice may have led him blin d ly
“
to say I have indeed a s i nful heart but it is
, , ,
o n e with which I was born and whi ch my
n
, Creator desig ed me to pos s ess and therefore it ,
i s not my faul t ; appeal to his c o mm o n s ense
.
and he sees how fu il e i s this Obj ection He t .
,
’
knows that he would not allow the weight o f a
feather to such an apolo g y from he man who t
t , had assaulte d his person o r robbed him o f hi s ,
,
property He knows that no father excu s e s a
t
.
, stubbo rn s o n because he has be en s ubbo rn
,
from hi s infancy ; and that no court o f j ustice
deems a hardened tra sgressor guiltless because n
n
, ,
he has always had a evi l heart The same .
 LE C T URES ON H O MILE TICS

rity is briefly this If the di sciples of the Kora they may be s uggested in the form o f hints n
n
.
,
should generally a fli r m some particular doctrine rather than Of extended discussio
UN R A
.

to be taught in that bo ok though I had n ever First ; T HE PE RVE T E D M E NI NG OF T HE

,

seen it I should believe the fac t w i thout e xa mi

, B I B L E mus t c le a r ly s up p or t t he p o in t t o be p r oved , .

nation unless I could see some strong reason f o r

, All Protestants unhesitatingly adm it that o ur ,

calling it in question O n the same ground a faith is to be conformed to the Bible and n o t
.
, ,

reasonable man though he had never seen the ,

the Bible t o o ur faith Yet thi s plain principle .

Bible wo uld believe that it te a ches a doctrine

,
is Oft en violated even among good men by un , ,

which nine tenths o f those who have read it

-
warrantable liberties of straining the word o f
ag ree i n affirming that it does teach The dissent Go d into a sense corresponding with Opinions .
,

o f the other tenth would n o t hinder this conclu which have been formed independent o f its
sion especi ally if he could explai n thi s di ssent
,
authori ty In all case s some allowance is to be .
,

by the influence o f some strong and Obvious pre made for innocent mistake resulting from the ,

u di ce The establi s hed laws o f evidence f or imperfection o f human knowledge The hee d
j . , .

ex a mple would requi re such a man to believe

,
less darings o f ignorance and empiricism in ,

that t he Bible teaches the nity o f Go d a n d U

interpreting the Bible mus t not be encouraged , ,

forbids malice and mur der And o n the same by any indulgence o f o ur charity o n the one
.

evidence he must be satisfied that it teaches the hand and o n the other will not be re s trained by
n
, ,

atonement o f Christ an d the k i dr ed doctrines any severities Of o ur animadversion But b e

, .

o f grace Accordi ngly I have said in a former

. yond this there lies a fault in men of piety and , , ,

lecture that the coincidence which we see in the

,
conscience and learn ing which ought t o be , , ,

confessions o f faith drawn up by evan gelical and may be corrected Such a man is not w ar
t
.
,

churches in diff erent ages a n d countries and

,
ranted carelessly and without examina ion t o , , , ,

professedly grounded o n the Bible would be an ad d q am ong his unquestionable proofs a text , ,

absolute miracle o n the su pposition that these Of doubtful import barely becau se some have
, ,

doctrines are n o t contained i n the Bible hence classed it in the same manner No r may he do .

it has always been deemed good collateral rea
soning in support o f any doctrinal opinion t o
thi s because he is aware that his hearers w i ll
receive it as proo f Nor should he o f d e sig n
n n y
.
, ,

S how that this opinion has bee entertai ed b give t o a doubtful passage a greater weight o f
n ! ,

the greatest a d be st men evidence o n other minds than it really has o n

k
.
,

In sermons I now this sort o f reasoning is

,
his o w n All deliberate strai ning and wire .

but o f seconda ry importance but there are Occa drawing o f texts t o make them fit o ur argu
y
, ,

sio n s when it ma be applied with great e ff ect ment besides being consistent neither with
y
.
,

honest nor reverence f o r the Scriptures is

U LE S F UME T R O ARG N
ad apted t o awake sus picion and t o inj ure the . n ,
,

cause it is designed to promote It is a kind Of

W
.

e proc e e d t o consider the principles accord sacrilege that involves its o w n punishment
n n
.

ing to which reaso i ng i the pulpit should be The eagle in t he fable that stole consecrate d ,

conducted . flesh from the altar though it w as to feed her ,

NO o n e will understand me to intimate that young carri e d home with the flesh a coal o f ,

any artificial process can confer o n a man the fire that consum ed her o w n nest I n eed not , .

power o f carrying conviction to the minds Of dw ell o n the en dl ess mischiefs which the vital
others T his m ust depend primarily o n the interests o f truth have sustained from the un
. , , ,

strength of hi s invention the clearness o f his w arrantable li berties o f allegorising interpreters

, ,

perceptions the accuracy with which he com who make n o scruple t o find any sense in a pas
,

bines things that are analogous a d sep a rates sage which suits their purpos e though it be o n e n
n
things that di ffer a d the precision and energy never intended by the Holy Ghost It is a
,

t , .

wi h which he employs language to expre s his maxim w orthy o f being repeated here
s “ The ,

thoughts Technical logic can no more mak e a me a n i n g o f the Bible is the Bible The fore
n
. .

reasoner tha technic al rhetoric can m ak e an going remarks apply t o the reprehensible prae
orator Still both reasoning and elocution must t ice o f throwing together in a careless o r designed
.
,

conform to those pri nciples which genius has a malgamation diff erent passages di ssevered from
O y
, ,

prescribed to its o w n operations ; these principles their connexion and ften from their primar ,

are substantially t he same in sermons as in any signification ; while the profe s sed obj ect i s to
other department o f public spe ak ing In con exhibit proof Of somethi ng from the word o f .
,

formity with this remark I here mention the fact ,

that an eminent lawyer and judge o f my acquaint Augus tine says No n valet — h aec ego dico , , ,

ance whose son a fter a publi c education was hse c tu d i ci s h aec ille dicit ; sed h a ze dicit
, , , ,

destined t o the bar requested a preacher w ho Dominus ,

The loose manner in which the .

po s sessed great strength in argumentation to testimony o f the Bible is Often intr oduc e d in t o
take charge o f the young gentleman and endea sermons may be owing in some cases to the , , , ,

v o ur to teach him that S kill i n reasoni n g by very i mperfect acquaintance o f the preacher with
which the preacher himself was distingui shed its sacred contents T his consideration led
t
~
. .

As argument i n sermons mus t depend primarily Matthew Henry to say t o young minis ers ;
on evidence drawn from revelation we may Especially make the Bible your study There
t t
.
, ,

begin wi h he principles to be Observed in regard is no knowledge which I am more desirous to ,

to proofs derived from the Bible Important as increase in than that Men get wisdom by .
, .

these are to every preacher yet to those who books but wisdom towards Go d is to be gotten
y
, ,
’
have en j oyed the advantages of this semin a r o ut o f God s book ; and that by d igg i n g Most , .
 AND PREACHING .

t
men do bu walk over the s urface o f it and pick ,
me n t s , dr a w n f om w h t
r a eve r so ur e ,c is , t ha t i n
up here and there a flower Few dig into it r ea s o n i n g we hould t k i t o
s a e n a cco un t , t he IN

FLU N ,

P A O N AN D P R JU C
. .

Read other books to help you t o unders tand E CE OF S SI E D I E O N DE

L F
,

t ha t book Fetch your prayers and sermon s IE

t t
.
.

from hen ce The volume o f inspira ion is a.

The weight o f evidence in pro ducing con ,

full fountain always overflowing and hath v i ct i o n is relative according to the s cale s in
t , , , ,

always some hing new which it is weighed That may be light as a

t
.
.

B ut where here is no perversion Of sense the fea ther in the estimation Of one man which ha s
t t
, ,

strength o f o ur reas oning from the Scriptures the power o f demons ration to ano her With
t
.

may be injured by bad managemen We may o ut attempting here to analyse the reasons of a

t
.

adopt he dull prac t ice of a ccumula t m g quota fact S O wonderful and yet so unquestionable
0

t ion s from the Bible t o fill up the time and n o man whose business it is to urge the ru h
,

t t ,

t t
, ,

s upply the lack of ma ter There i s a tri e and on others should forget that the affections and
t
.
,

heavy way of do i ng this which Is he oppos 1 te habits have a strong ascendancy over the j udg
t t t
,

ex reme to hat s ud i e d elegance o f manner ment Solomon had his eye o n this principle
t t
, .
,

before men ioned that stri p s a ext o f half its ,

when he represented the slothf ul man as say ing ,

meaning by the drape ry thrown around it O n There is a lion in the way I shall be slam in
t
,
.
,
”
a subject s o plainly revealed as t o preclude a ll the s reets And Sha k s p e ar e the philosopher
t
.
,

doub s uch as the holiness Of God it may still o f poets whose knowledge o f men seems next to

t
, , ,

be prope r o a dduce s criptural declarations for in s p iration thus describes the partiality with
t
,

he s ake o f impre ssion ; but it were absurd in W t h worldly favour regards the same a ction ,

s uch a cas e to cite fifty pas s ages O n the con in di ff erent circumstances
t t
.
,

t r ar y in proving a con rove r ed point though t w th Pl

t r gl j u t h urtl b a e sin i g o ld ,
, ,

o n e clear declaration of the Bible is decisive in r k

t
reali y it i s not commonly so convincing in
,

m Ar p gmy tr w d th p r
A n d t he s o n
i t i n r a ys , 3
a n ce o
i
f
’
s s
s i ce
a o
e ss
ie ce
ea
it
s
”
;

t
.
,

prac tical effect as a g rea er n umber But in

t Prejudi ce i a complex term by which we
.
, s
signa t e the t ate Of a man s mi nd which is
.

cases Of s tr ict argumen o n a di sputed subj ect a , ,

s
’
,
bare ci t ation o f texts is n o t s ufli cie n t without ,
favourable conviction arising from intere t to s

habit previous Opinion pride or o t her pas ion

, ,
more o r less o f commentary t o show how they , s s

We never tru t t he j udgment of any one in hi

, , , .

apply to the cas e in hand For example in .

,
s s
proving the entire an d universal depravity o f own cause o r in that of a near friend Urge the .
*
’ ,
men it i s di rectly to the purpose t o quote Paul s
,
timid man to an ac t of courage or the proud man ,
language in the third cha pter of Romans But
t O n to an act o f condescension o r the covetous man
.

,
he force f this pas s age is so much i creased ,
to an act o f genero s ity and his heart will furnish ,
by loo k ing at the 1 4 th and 5 3 d Ps alms to whi ch ,
an answer to all your arguments O r if yo u carry .

it refers and at some o f the terms employed that

, ,
the point with him by assault the victory is but ,
a few pertinent remarks on the connexion an d on ,
momentary —the next day he could defy your
the language o f the apostle may give it double
weight in he minds of he hearers A s rong t t ,

. t reasoning accordi ng to the adage ,

CH v i n ce a m a n a a i n s hi s i gp t t wl ll
,

proof o f the same doctrine o f depravity is ,

o n

sa me o i n i o n s i l
’
e s o f t he
fur n i s hed by the words Of John He that loveth ,

is born of God ”
But among co mmon hearers The application of the s e principles t o the work
O
.
,

not o n e in ten will see the full force f thi s pas o f the preac her is easy It is not enough in any .
,

sage as applicable t o thi s subj ec t unless besides cas e that his proof is good ; it must b e adapted
,

repeating it you sho w ho w it do es apply I ,

, ,

.
,

t o circumstances ; t o the ime and the s t a e of t , t

scarcely need say however that the explanatory the hear ers If they are already settled in an
O
.
, ,

remarks which I reco mmend s houl d seldom be , pinion whi ch it i s his Obj ect to overthrow
,

o f the critical and ph i lological cast ; at least they e s pecially if that Opinion is fort i fied by i g n o r
should never depend on dis tinctions t o o nice for ance o r inter e st o r education o r party s piri
,
,

, ,
-
t ,

t he apprehens ion of common minds . he mus t proce e d with caution and wi sdom S uch .

O ne more suggestion may be nece ssary on the , a case calls not for the bold Onset the language ,

management of scriptural argument ; it re s pects of denunciation o r severity o r even for great , ,

cas e s in which the proof lies not on the face o f earnestness particularly at the commencement
t
.
, ,

one text o r more but is made out by compar ison The s e b ar the door that would still be lef open
and induction The duty f da i ly devo ion i n .
,

O t to a more di screet and gentle approach There

,

famili es is an in s tance We cannot cite chapter a r e s ubj ects o n which w e may know that o ur
t
, .

and verse where thi s is expres s ly commanded ; hearers are s trongly prej udiced agai n s t he truth
O t
.

and yet the bliga ion is so clearly deduced In discus s ing the s e there are S pecial advantage s
t
,

from the general current o f the Bible as t o in the analy ic method by which the point to be
t t
jus ify his strong declaration of Tillo s on ; The t ,

proved is concealed at firs t ; cert ain undeniable

,

princip a l part of family religion is prayer every , principles ar e made prominent the ascent to
morning and evening and readi ng some portion these step by step is rendered unavoidable till
o f Scrip ure t
And his is so nece s sary o keep
. t ,

t ,

the re s ult we w is h to establi sh comes out with a

,

alive a sense o f God and reli gion in the minds clearne s s of evidence which cannot be questioned
t
, .

of men that where it is neglected I do not see The s e hin s I know are capable only of a li mited
t t
, ,

how any fa mily can in re as on be esteemed a applica ion but for wan o f judgment in a da pt
n
,

family Of Chris tians or indeed have any religion , ing ourselves to circumsta ces the be s t tal ents ,

A second g e n er a l r ule , w hich a p p li es t o a r gu Q uo d vo lumus . f l

ac i e cr e d i mus .
"
 LEC T URE S ON H O MILE TIC S

may be employed in a fruitless e ff ort Power I first princ i ples and delights to puzzle rather
t
.
, , ,

repeat is relative A child may undermine a tha n instruct is as far from he true spirit o f the
n
.
, ,

rock w hi ch n o gi a t could heave from its base

, . pulpit as the vapouring Of declamation o r the ,

raving of fanaticism Speculation may be ca lled .

instructive preachi ng ; but whom does it i n

‘

struct ? and in what ? It cannot build men up

in the most holy faith It cannot interest them .

LEC T U R E XIII . till the mind is new modelled A man o f di stin -

.

R U L O F ARG U N
ES ME T .
“
guished common sense said : I honour meta
physicians logicians critics — i n their place s
T D
, , , .

A HI R r ule r e sp e ct in g ar
gume n ts i s , t ha t t hey be But I dare not tell most academical logi cal
S IM PL E , N OT CO M PL I CA T E D A ND RE FN D I E frigid men how little I account o f their opinion
, ,

t
. ,

I r efe rnot here t o abstract terms nor to dark concerning the true method o f preaching to he
construction o f sentences nor to style in any r e ,
,

popular ear they are Often great men fir s t ra e ,

- t
s pect but to sentiment
,
Systematic thinking . men in their class and S phere but it is not their
, ,
”
implies a mental labour to which most men are S phere to manage the world

t
.

lit le accustomed We cannot expect that they It comes directly within the design o f this head
n
.

will follo w a tr ain o f argument derived from ,

t o comp a re the abs tract a d dialectical kind o f
such sources and consisting o f so many parts as , , reasoning with the analo gi cal and rhetorical
, .

to demand a discriminating and close attention ,

O n this subj ect however at whi ch I have r e , ,

for any long time Hence the cumulative form . p e a t e dly glanced already there is room here but ,

of argument when so conducted that the train f o r a few additional remarks

t , .

of hought is complex and S O that the hearer ,

Ho w then d o men spontaneously think and
mu s t fail o f reaching o ur conclusion if he lose a reason o n common subj ects ? In the abstract
,

single step o f our process is t o o refined for com , mode ? No t at a ll From the consti t ution Of .

mon understan di ngs . man the langu a ge written o r spoken by which

, , ,

To this reluctance and this incapacity t o think , he expresses his f eeli n gs is prim a rily a sort o f ,

intensely must be ascribed in some degree at , , painting It is a representation o f emotions

.
,

le as t that general feeling Of dissatis faction ex

, arising within himself o r suggested from the ,

cited by what i s called meta physical discu s sion external world Hence every language in i t s .
, ,

i n sermons To some extent doubtless this is infancy is necessarily a s pecies o f poetry No t

y
.
, , , .

a mere preju di ce ver improperly encoura ged by , rhyme n o r metre which are only artificial and
, ,

those preachers who s e compliant practice seems circumstantial appendages o f poetry but poetr y
to allow that no subj ect befits the p ulpit which
, in essence that i s imagery and meta phor T o , , .

requires thinking from thems elves o r thei r hear t he mere philologist as well as to the man o f ,

ers Thi s would set as ide the most importan t

. refined taste it wo ul d be a subj ect o f curious ,

doctrines o f revelation . interest should he asc ertai n to what extent lan

, ,

In the indefinite reproaches cast on me t a p hy guage is originally formed by figures taken

y
sics a ver plain distinction seems to be forgotten from Obj ects o f sight But the ear a n d the other
n
.
, .
,

In o n e re s pect o r more a truth may be i n co m , se ses are mad e auxiliary to this mode o f con
,

prehensible and yet the proo f that it is a truth ce p t i o n ; thus w e sa Conscience will s pe ak to
, y ,

be perfectly plain Fo r example — that God is . the guilty in accents Of thunder ”

When w e .

etern al— that he created the world— that man compare r a ge to a storm and benevolence to t he
acts under di v i ne influence and yet is free a d , n gentle z ephyr w e speak a language perfectly ,
,

ac countable — that a sinner to be qualified f o r , simple and significant and much more energetic , ,

he aven mus t be renewed by the Holy Ghost ar e

, , than when we e m ploy more words which are ,

points that I can prove at once from the Bible ; totally unmeaning except as arbitrary S i gns In .

and every child can understand the proof though , this manner we transfer the attributes o f mind to
the subj ec t s are in themselves deep and m y s t e r i matter o r o f matter t o mind — w e S peak o f a
,

o us S O far I am o n pl a in ground
. But if I ,
. broken heart a load o f sorrow a proud monu , ,

undertak e to expla in the eternity o f God ; o r to ment Does an y o n e doubt the utility o f employ
.

tell how matter could be creat e d o r modified by ing in the serv i ce of Go d this language which
, , ,

a spirit ; or ho w the will o f man though free is is only a mode Of an al ogic al reasoning ? Let
y
, ,

controlled by motives ; o r how the Holy Ghost him tell why God has made men s o that the
Operates in renewing the heart my reasoning
,

, s pe ak and feel this language rather than any ,

must be Obscure and useless because I attempt t o , other Let him tell why God himself speaks
.

go be yond the province of argum ent . and reasons in this manner in the Bible The .

Now while it is clear to me that the preacher parable o f the sower Of the barren fig tree o f
t
, , ,
should be co nversant with the science Of meta he wise and the foolish virgi ns to name n o ,
physics so far as t o understand the powers Of the
, more examples are beautiful and powerful spe ,

human min d and the principles of logical ana ,

ci m e n s of analogic al reasoning T he preacher .

lys i s it is equally clear that this kind of know

, , then will generally succeed best in di s cus s ion ,

ledge as w ell as every other should be under the

, , whose arguments are arrows pointe d with truth , ,

guidance Of good sen s e in the pulpit He who and sped to their mar k by a lively and fervid
t
.

engages in the ministry with the w eak ambition illus tra ion But I cannot enlarge on the a d v a n .

Of being reputed a profound thinker wi ll probably tages o f the rhetorical over the ab s tract mode
O
, ,

acquire the habit f choosing abstru s e subj ects of reasoning .

for hi s sermons or Of render ing plain ones a h A fourth r ule is t ha t a r gume n t s s ho uld n o t be
s tr use The love of paradox that controver s
.
,

, t T OO M AN Y .
,
 A ND PREACHING .

In probable reasoning it is indeed true as tha t even in a step so des p erate he ca find no n
t t
Reid has s ai d ha we must rely upon t he co m reli e f unles s he will rej ect reason t o o ; for hat
, ,

t
b i n e d for ce of di fferen argumen s which l e ad
,

t
the doc rine o f eternal p urpose s belongs to na t ,
,

t
to the s ame conclus ion S uch evidence may tural as we ll as revealed religion being i n
. ,
-

be compared t o a rope m ade up o f many slender separable from the acknowledgment o f an i n t e lli
t ,

filamen s twi s ted together The rope li as strength gent and immutable God ; and therefore that
t t t t t , ,
.
,

o bear he stress hough no o n e o f the filamen s i can be denied only by an atheis t

,
.

would be suf ficient for this purpose But t he So if the proposition t o be proved is that
t
.
, ,
”
analogy holds only t o a certai n ex ent beyond men are accountable for their religious opinions
t
, ,

which he parts ad ded to argument produce — d irect te s timony from the Bible may properly
w eakness The maxims o f ancient cri ic i sm take the lead in your argument ; but becau se
. t ,

Ne q uid n i In is and Omne s up e r v acuum thi s testimony i s re ceived with o n ly a he s itati ng

”
pleno de pecto r e manat are founded in good assent by men Of lax speculations these m en,
-
, ,

sense A plain b e a r er w ho listens t o a r apid should be made to see that experience and co m
,

t
.

succ e ssion o f various pro ofs especially if they mo n sense equa lly wi h revelation teac h the , , ,

are novel and incongruou s is much in the con criminality o f essential erro r in religious Opinion :
t t
, ,

di ion o f a r us ic stranger w ho is hurri e d through since they most clearly teach that the heart is
the stree t s o f a crowded cit where a thousand he moral man a d that obli quity o f heart p e r
,

y t n ,

O bjec t s strike his eye not o n e o f which lea ves verts the understa ding
, ,

n
t n n
.
,

any dis inct and permanent impressio o n his The amount Of my mea ing is that when col ,

mind O r t o change the illustration the p r eacher lateral a rguments are drawn fr om di ff erent
O
.
, ,

ft en needs the s ame caution which was given t o sources and when the subj ect is such that proofs
t
, ,

t he Hebrew cap ain when going with a motley from t he Bible will be received with a decisive
,

as s emblage o f soldiers t o attack Midian and au hority undiminished by the influence of pre t
n
,
”
Amalek The people are t o o many Cicero j udice to arra ge these proofs last in the serie s is
t
,
.
, ,

said Argumen s should be weighed rather t han most con s istent with rhetorical order and with
, , ,
”
numbered It i s c ertai n that the p reacher has due respect for the sacred oracles
. .

mi sjudged as t o the number o f his topics o r as

,
In some cas es we may hesi t ate be tween two ,

t o the proper tre atment o f them when the ser places in either Of which a particular to pic may
t t
, ,

mon he de livers is long enough f o r t w o be in roduced Fo r example ; if the pro posi ion
F FT TS
. .

A I H r ule is t ha t t he O RDE R o r A RG UME N I am discu s sing is that the human heart is na

U D SUC T T t t
, ,

S HO L BE H A s T o G I V E HE M T HE G RE A t ur a lly des itute o f holiness it is pert i nen to

FF T
,

E ST E EC introduce among my proofs t he doctrine o f r e

.
,

The principle o f arrangement by w hi ch the generation ; b ecause the necessity o f thi s change ,

rheto r ical art like the mi lita ry as signs the implies the previo us destitution o f holines s
n n
, , .

first rank to the begi nning a d the second But it is equally proper a d Often more so as to
y
, , ,

t o the close demands so much regard at leas t practical e ff ect t o set this topic b f o r the close
n n
, , , , ,

as t o keep us from attenuating o ur concluding to be i troduced as a inference

n
.

topics till they become feeble and tedi ous In

,
‘
In general when there is a y fixed principle .
,

s ome re s pects t o o the order o f arguments in o f relation running through di fferent t opics
, ,

sermons must be influenced by the sources such as order o f time o r o f cause an d eff ec t that
, ,

whence they are dr aw n O ur strongest proof I n order must be observed Common minds follow
t t n
. .

general is aken from the Bible ; but when this a s peaker wi h pleasure if he leads them in a ,

is mingled with a series of other proof s there is eas y trai n o f thought so that they see the con , ,

a valid obj ection to placing it first I know it is n e xi o n o f things But if he passes by fit s and . .
,

common in preaching to prove a point from the leaps from o n e point t o another these detached
t
, , ,

word of God and then add arguments from ex parts of hi s discourse produce nothing o f hat
p e r i e n ce o r consciousness or some o her source
,

concentrated impres s ion whi ch results from t

t t
.
, , ,

Bu to my mind there is at least an apparent dis con inuous and connected reasoni ng These
t
.

re s p e ct to the declarations Of Go d when we a d sugges ions I need n o t extend as they coincide

t t ny n
, ,

duce hese as proof o f a point and hen proc ee d with remarks already made o n u it a d o n , , ,
by a rguments Of a diff erent kind t o corroborate divi s ion in sermons
t
, .

t h i s proof as hough it were not o f its elf dec isive

, The frequent pra ctice o f opening a discussion .

In general when such a rguments are i n d e p e n d by a set o f negative con s iderations in my Op i nion
t ,

en o f s criptural authori y hey should b e ar is n o t expedient except whe n so me di sputed t t ,

ranged no af er but before it t t

hen they are truth is t o be guar ded agai nst mistake In
,

. W ,

adduced to answer obj ections agai n s t the scrip general we S how s uf ficiently what a thi ng is not
t ural proof or to render i t s meaun more clear and by showing clearly what it is Still the negative
, ,

t
.

impre s s ive hey must o f course follow it in order form o f argument at the beginning o f a se r mon
, .
, ,
There ar e many cas es in which prejudi ce and in p a rticular subj ects is the best way o f o b v i a t
w ayw a rdne s s give only a reserved doub ing ing d if fic ulties O ne o f the most instructive , t .
,

as s ent to the pr o of from t he Bible For example ; preachers whom I have known in discoursing .
,

s uppose you have establis hed by an ample li s t o n the text Venge an ce is mine & c made this
t
, , , .

of t exts the doctrine o f God s eternal purpos es his proposi ion ; Go d wi ll punish the wicked ” ’

t
.
, .

A the close o f t his proof y o u may easily con Instead o f answering obj ections at the close o f
ce i v e t
he mind o f some hearer t o be in a state his di scus s ion in the comm on way he met hem
,

t
t
s o scep ical as vir ually if no avowedly to r e t
at he threshold in three negative par icular s t t , ,

t
j cet the Bible rather han admit this doc ri n e
,

t
We mus t not suppo s e tha God will fail to
,
, ,

t .
,

t ,

It is proper then to go on and S how thi s b e ar e r p uni s h the wicked either first o n account o f , , , ,
 L EC T URES ON H O MI ETICS L
hi s goodness ; nor secondly o n account o f his , last co urs e is adopte d it requires the following ,

havi n g provided an atonement ; n o r thirdly o n , precautions

”
account of his forbearance Then he proceeded . 1 State n o obj ections that are t o o trivial to
.

to prove his proposition that God will punish , deserve notice We may w aste o ur time by .

”
the wicked in t w o ways from what God has , , refuting what needs n o refutation as we ll as by ,

said and from what he ha s done

, . proving what needs n o pro o f .

The antithetic form o f re as on i ng is attended 2 If obj ection s are reall weighty n ever treat
n
.
,

with d i fficulties as it is Often carried o n in pairs , them as insignifica t i t ho ut evasion w i .

,

of contra s ted particulars through a sermon o ut d istortion state them fairly and fully ; give
,

n
.
,

This is a tas k which few are able to sustai . them all the weight t o which they are entitled .

’
For this reason I think Bi shop Taylor s method 3 Take care that y our answers be complete
W
.

o n the text hall shall it profit a man & c ”

and deci s ive so as n o t t o leave the i mme s s i o n
n y
, , .
, , ,

where he makes a general contrast o f two parts , that you have rais e d a adversar whom you
the value of the world o n o n e s ide and the value have not strength t o withstand
t
, .

o f he s oul on the other is decidedl y preferable , 4 State no obj ections in which your hearers
.

to that o f B o ur d alo ue o n the text Great is , , ar e n ot interested Though weighty a n d .

,

your reward in heaven where he br e aks his capable of complete refutation if they are such
n n
,

contrast into parts by considering the reward o f as are never likely t o be k ow without your
holine s s as better tha that o f sin because the
,

n , help it is worse than trifling t o discuss them

, .

former is certain the latter precarious ; the , The physician deserves n o praise f o r hi s skill
fo r mer great the latter worthless ; the former in devisin g an antidote f o r poison which his
,

n y W
,

o w n temerity had adm ini stered

*
eternal the latter tra s itor hat preacher
n n n
. .
,

In reasoning from authority whe we quote , would repeat the la guage o f obscene a d pro
the views of another for the confirmation o f o ur fane men wi th a V iew t o condemn it ? NO
ow n it should be in hi s o w n words and often
,
,

,
,

more does Christia propriety allow us to state n

the mention o f his name when that is known artful and blasphemous cavils against religion
W
, ,

and re s pected gives additional weight hen , . for the same end Even when such cavils are .

the subj ect o r length Of the quotation gives it decent in m anner they sho uld n o t b e obtruded ,

importance the habit o f noting author and page on common minds without urgent necessity
n
, , , .

in the margin may save us trouble a fterwards Such minds may understa nd a Obj ec t ion and
y
.
, ,

And let me say in passing that the careless remember it when t he forc e o f a repl is not
n
, ,

mode practised by some go o d me n o f adopting

, , seen o r is forgotten
,
It is from the lear ed ,

long pas sages from books w ithout reference o r labo urs o f Christian advocates for the truth not
n
, ,

notice Of any sort if it can be reconciled with , from their o w n investigatio s that sceptics have ,

integrity is very indiscreet T 0 0 often for the

, .

G l d th r blu t d h ft
cr e di t o f the m in is t r y has this been demonstrated
in posthumous sermons committed t o the press
, ,
An dh t th ms oh ld truth g n e
e an e
at t he s
e
ie
i
o f
n e S
a
a
ai
s,
.
”

Avoid acrimony as both un christian

,

from a hasty partiality t o their deceas ed authors .

5. and ,

The sixth a n d la s t r ule I s ha ll me n t ion i s t ha t unwise Meet an obj ec to r with ingenuous ness
WE SH U
O L D E DE V O R T o AV O I A O N R O N A U D C T , .

and kindness Take no advantage Of verbal

V E R S I AL S T I N o r RE A O I G RA SNN inadvertence
.

or charge o n hi m consequences n
y y
.
,

The same apos t olic precept and example that as intentionall admit t e d b him which he dis
require us to contend earnes ly f o r essential t ,

avows
,

y
.

truths require us t o avoid all di sputes that e m

, 6 Never oppose s e cts b name
. .

gender strife and mar the S pirit o f go dl iness .

Points on which good men honestly dif fer when ,

discu s sed in the pulpit as they someti mes must ,

be de mand S pecial candour and gentleness And

, .

in general it may be said that a worse habit can LEC T URE XIV .

hardly b e i magined in a preac her tha that o f

,

, n C ON C LU SI ON O F S E B M ON S .
always crea ting t o himself an adversary in the
pulpit and as s uming o n ever subj ect the air y ’
1 HE close Of a regular di s course has bee de s i g n
n
,

and spirit Of a di sputant . n a t e d by di ff erent terms T he a cients called it .

T here are three ways o f refuting Obj ections .

p e r or a t i on , and required that it should co nsist o f

T he fir s t a n d when the case adm its it the bes t

, , two parts , recapitulation and addr ess t o the
i s to aim only at a full and clear exhibition o f p ass ions
n
, .

the truth The next is to interweave Obj ec tions

.
, , Supposing an argum ent to have bee so co n
and answer them indi rectly and without f o r ducted that a brief revi ew o f its chief par ts
m a li t y The last is to sta t e them in form and will present them i n a strong and concentrated
y n W
.
, ,

refute them b di sti ct argum ents hen this . light before t he hearers this prepares them t o ,

a dm it an appeal to their feelings T he practica

Wh r d h r t ru t u h
.

rm b ih t y Of s uch a review as w i ll answer this pur

wh
a pl h an ,
en
an d
I

xh b t d
t
ea
co n s i s g t th
r u r u
t or
t p
in p
ea
or f
a se
ani
on
e
,

ic
co n s
i cs , t he
o ai
c ed o n s
s o
c
f pose depends o u the degree o f p erspicuous
,

m d m fp md l rd llu ltrb tur r tt mgptr vg

ic i i in e g la s cc e s s i o n , i t o f t e n
are e e t e
arrangement which has prevailed i n the d i s
ubj t m
in s e if so a i ia an i s a i o n o n SO a e a
,
course The admirable skill with w hi ch Cicero
s
g ec ay
wh l bth w b k ftp ll d thr rll
be one Of a e a e in to .
ar , a o
m wrought up his materials I n his defence o f Milo
hp t d tan a e two ee a rr o s , b ut co m e e to o on e a

t
-
, ,

s or

dkptll d
is
r o ce s s i s
a n ce
so l pb uh g thh t vy r whq
a
. an d
o rio bmv ll t ur t
s an
en
d
go
ea
ac

,
a
en
er t he o
t he a o
e
e co
. T he
se
prepared he way f o r a powerful peroration
And it will not be deemed o ut o f pla ce for me
.

is in
dr tr t g in it ui r e s n o s a le n
n
,
a o e re a c , a e a
an d s i to re n e it in e es in .
to refer agai n t o this great pleader as a patte r ,
 A ND PREACHING .

of rhe t orical m e h od worthy to be s ud i ed by t , t into five infe r ences Then comes the use o f ex .

t he Chri s tian orator who wi s he s his disco urs e hortation first t o believers i n clud i n fo ur heads
t , , ,

o make a di s tinct and s trong impres s ion o n the of coun sel then t o unbelievers inc udi ng eight ,

hearers But s uppo s ing a di scourse to have minor heads the firs t of these a gain s plit into
t ,

k
.

been loo s e and di ffus e wi hout any l ucid order three parts ma i ng twenty four di visions in the -

t t , ,

of hought a ll a tempts at recapitulation must conclu s ion A sermo n of the same preacher o n
w
.
, ,

be orse than us eles s In the s ecular oratory the evidences o f grace closes with a us e of i n f o r
t
.
,

of A hens where direct address t o t he pas s ions

,
mation containing nine inf erences ; a use o f ex
,

was forbidden by law recapitulation w as the usual hortation containing s i x motives a use of dirce
O
, ,

form Of conclus ion in which f course much , , , tion containing ten rul e s the las t o f thes e divid
,

ski ll was employed t o give rhetorical eff ect . ed into eight meditations and a use o f examina
In s a cred eloquen ce the clos e of a di scourse i s tion with thirteen minor hea ds In the las t place
t t
.
,

some ime s called applica ion ; sometim e s r e fle c the preacher says It remains that I shut up all
t ions o r inf erenc e s and sometimes in thi s , t ”
wi h a us e o f consolation which contains five
.
,

c ountry and in Scotland though not a ccording ,

part s mak ing fif t y S i x divi s ions in the concl us ion
,
-
.

to the bes t usage it is called improvement * Aft er the restoration o f Charles II the i n flu
O
.
,
.
,

Some prea chers are in t he habit Of inter ence f the court being di re c t ed in every po ss ible
mingling practical reflectio s with the di ff erent n way to discre dit puri ta ism the fashion o f the n ,

topics di s cu ss ed throughout a sermon ins tead o f ulpit was chan ged in this as in other re s pects
pn the English church since the time of Jeremy
, , .

bringing the s e together at the close There may .

,

be cases in which thi s is the best course Claude Taylor and Tillots on the conclusion o f sermons
n t
.
, ,

i his es s ay recommends that s ome texts should has been much less formal than before S ill
n
.
, ,

be treated in the way o f continued application ; the scholastic ma ner has been retained by many
and give s an example in a long sermon o n the distinguished preachers o f the past age and the
pas s age “ Work o ut your o w n salvation & c ”
,

present The sermon o f Pre s ident Ed ards w

n
. .
, , ,
”
His de s ign is to give a specimen o f that preaching entitled Me God s enemies has six infer ’

n n y
, , ,

which i s carried on in the strai ofdi rect addre s s . e n ce s under which are six t ee primar and
,

It may perhaps be con s idered as a general r ule seconda subdi visions His se rmon o n The
t n
.
,

that in propor ion as a subj ect is treated argu

, justice 0 God i the damnation o f sinners e n ”
,

m e n t a t i v e ly and on the pri nciples of strict unity ters o n the applicati on with two di vi s ions the
it deman ds a regular conclus ion ; and when a
, ,

seco nd o f whi ch bra ches into four subdivisions n ,

series Of independent points are disc u s sed it be , These four bran ch out agai n into thirteen di
comes more proper for the preacher t o apply each visions o f the third degree o f affinity six o f the
t
of hese as he goes o n But if this rule is j ust .
, fourth two o f the fift h two o f the sixth and two
, ,
,

it would seem to follow that in propo rtion as the o f the seventh — i n all thirty o n e Ferha s no -

n
, , , .

sermon has thi s miscellaneous character a d preacher o f o ur day goes t o this extreme et a
t n , .

ad mi s th i s runni g application it is the less , rigid formality runs through the applications o f
likely in general to pro duce a n y single an d
, , some men so that whate ver he the subj ect o r ,

strong impres sion o n the hearers . occasion the same round o f partic ulars i n the
, ,

As it is proper f o r us to derive instruction same phras eology is t o be expec ted , .

from the example Of others I shall direct your The desultory conclusion may arise either from
t
,
'

a tention t o some faul ts in the conclusion o f ser a fle ct a t i o n o r barrenness in the preacher In the .

mons as they appear both from the pre s s and the

, , former case the fault is commonly the Opposite Of ,

pulpit These so far as they demand o ur pre that just de s cribed A succe ss w n o f rambling
t
. .
, ,

sen notice may be included in the formal man , incoherent remarks is adopted from a fals e , ,

ner t he de s ultory an d the dry tas te which would shun at all events the imputa
W
, , .
,

The formal conclusion vari es with the vogue , tion o f formality h en thi s loose manner is .

o f the pulpit at di fie r e n t periods It was more, . occasioned by sterility o f thought it is commonly ,

cus tomary than it has been at an y other time because the preacher having worked up his
t
af er the Reformation when scholastic di visions
,

materials and yet feeling it necessary to proceed

,

n
, , ,

generally were carried to a great extreme T o falls i to a strain o f indefinite remark o r exhort
t W
.

wha extent this taste prevailed in the English ation . hether he doe s this from abs olute
pulpit may be seen from the sermons o f the want o f matter o r partly from want o f method
n t
, , ,

Puri t a s and from Bi s hop Wilkin s Ecclesiastes

,
’
,
o r bo h the attention Of intelligent hearers is
,

a book which was for a considerable time r e , , certai nly lo s t the moment they perceive him to ,

garded as a s tandard work o n preaching The . be merely filli n g up the time with observations
u s ual mode o f concluding a sermon was by a w hi ch have no Impo rtant relation to each other
series o f many he ad s called uses subdi vide d i to , ,
n o r t o the subj ect
“
Augustine in hi s precepts o n .
,

minor parts As a specimen o f this manner we .

, preachi ng says When it is manifest that the
, ,

may take the eleventh sermon o f the pious Fla v e l audi ence under s tand what is said the s peaker
t
enti led England s Duty After more than sixty ’
.
,

should close his discourse o r pass o n t o o her t o ,

,

t
heads in the body of this sermon the application , pics As that orator awaken s interest who re
.

begins with a us e Of information which is thrown , moves obs curity from what is to be made known
p p th z d gl h th
,

s o he is te d ious who dilates and repeats things

t o m ke b tter t
The ri ci al a u o ri e E n i s us e o f t i mp r o e i s
n

e r se n se i n
o v ,
ha t are known An applica ion may be rich t
wh h a

ll yb mpl y d h
T m k g d u e f is an o
e o a e o o s o

t
.
.
, ,

Gr t t m r th t t instructive and powe r ful in impressio n hough

ic i t ha s o cca s i o n a een e o e e re an d in
ury t
, ,

gb dmd r l mm nl Thrm th l th r k wd d
be r e
ea Br i a i n , f o r
ar e
o e
a s c a s s i ca .
an
is
a. ce n
o ccas i o n a
, and y e t i t ca n n o
us e o f t h e or
very formal in i t s par s as any one may s e e in
the s ermons o f Ed ards But that vacuity o f w ,

wr t g
has e e n o e co o in se on s an in o e in s o f .

i in . thought Of which I am speaki n g is nece s sarily

 LEC T URES ON H O MILE TIC S

void of interest Be t he number or order of parts . ledge in applying truth is most import a n In t .

what they may call them inferences reflections the moral world as well as the physical like
W
, , , , ,
o r any other name if they are o f that general causes produce lik e e ff ects e can never cal
y
, .

cast that might as well be attached t o another

, culate with certai nty on an end t o be attain ed
subj ect as the one in hand the character o f bar , unless w e know the principles t o be operated o n ,

r e n n e s s runs through the whol e All a mp lifica . and the means to be applied for t he attainment
tion in such a case is the mere turning over o f
, , o f that end But the laws o f mind are as settled
.
,

tr ite remarks which had constituted the body of , as uniform and as easily appli ed to practical
,

his sermon So straitened is this sort o f preacher purpo s es as the laws o f matter In either case
n
.
.
,
in his resource s that he ofte makes the same t he principles mo s t important in real life are not
t
,

thing stand as an inf erence which had before such as demand ski ll in he abstract and profound
st o od as his main propo siti on o r o n e o f his chief r e searches o f s cience but such as are obvious to
y
, ,

the eye o f common sense It was great accurac

y n
.

The dr conclusion as I shall call it for wa t o f j udgment grounded o n a thorough knowledge

t
, ,

o f a bet er term consists not s o much in tame , o f history and a careful analy s is o f intellectu a l
and h ackneyed thoughts nor in technical ar and moral causes operatin g at t he time which
t
, , ,

inanimate outline o f enabled a distinguished Bri ish state s man o f the

perhaps as results , las t century t o foretell wi h almost p r Op he t i c ,
t
These though they exactnes s the res ults o f the French revolution
n
, , .

may be j ust and such as a warm hearted sk i lful ,

-
It is according to laws which gover in t el
preacher might amplify so as to produce a vivid lectu al operations and only according to these
t
, , ,

impres s ion o n he hearers awaken n o lively i a that we explain the po wer o f o n e mind to act
t e r e s t becaus e they are only mentioned wi h the
,

t upon another Why have moder ages u ited i n n n

,

ty
, .

same fr i gi d brevi as his corollaries are stated a tribute o f admiration t o the genius o f Shak
by a mathematical lecturer .
speare ? How is it that in his J ulius C aesar every ,

We proceed now to consider in what consists m a n feels the hand o f the poet searching his o w n
the excellence o f a conclus ion ; it being under bosom ? How is it that in O hello we are alter t
stood as pre requisi e in all cas es that he sub -
t t n at e l
y melted to tears thrilled with surprise and
,

t
, , , , ,

j e ct o f di s course be important and such as a d racked wi h horror ? O ne single thing accounts

n w t
,

mits an interesting applicatio To succeed in . for this magi c po er o f the dramatis — he had
this part o f his work the preacher should studied the human heart He kne w infallibly
AT RAC CA FF C ,

y
, .

1 AI M P T I L E E T T he ver i n ho w t o direct the movements o f his hand ; he

n
. .

s t i t ut i o n o f the Christia ministry supposes that knew ho w and when to touch any string as he
the great purpose o f reve al ed religion is to pro intended and what note it would respond
, .

mote the reformation and salvation o f men In . Surely the principles o n which this power de
this view only is all Scripture profitable that , pends lie equally open to the eye o f the preacher
the man o f God may be perfect thoroughly , as that o f the poet and if they are important to
”
furnished to every good work All that gives . be applied where the chief obj ect is amusement ,

value to knowledge and to correctness o f belief , , how much more so where the immort al interests
is their tendency to sanctify the hear t and life . o f men are concerned ?

O n this principle Christ proceeded in his preach Light reflected from a mirror resembles the
t
, ,

i ng O n the same principle the apostles pro

. truth as exhibi ed i n the Bible Though that
, .

ce e d e d and by this standard the worth of every mirror was n o t made for me in partic ular yet ,

s ermon is to be estimated Just so far as it . if I s tand before it with my eyes open I see n o t , ,

is adapted to m ake the hearers feel the power a general representation o f every thing but
t
, ,

and cheri s h the spirit and obey the precepts o f exac ly my o w n image That mirror may be
t n
, .

the go s pel it is what a Chris ia sermon should covered or placed in the dark so as to reflect
,

be And that sermon which doe s ot reach the n ,

nothing ; but if it speaks at all it Speaks tru h

,

t
t
.
, .

hearers as individuals which is not felt to bear I must not look at i if I would not see my own
n
,

distinctly o n their i g norance or error o r moral , , face or if I dislike the image may I complain
, ,

defects as individual s an s wers no good end

, ,
o f him w ho m ade the mirror nor o f him who ,

whatever But n o such e ff ect will be produced placed it before me

n
. .

unless it is the preacher s design that his serm on

’
In applying truth to t he conscie ce however , ,

shall bear in this manner If he studiously avoids there is a di fference between personality and
t n
.

making a clo s e application o f the truth no clo s e individuality Tha s p ecial desig ation o f men
t t
.
,

applica ion of it wi ll be made If he does no . by name which was practised by the prophets
,

mean to press the conscience most certainly he and Chri s t is not proper for any o n e posses s ing
t
, ,

will not press the conscience Paul doubtless i n . no more than the au hority or knowl e dge o f an
“
tended when he reasoned o f righteous ne s s uninspired teacher Nor is it g enerally safe i n
t
.
, , ,

temperance and j udgment to come to mak e our preparations for the pulpit o tr ust ours elves
t , , ,

j ust hat impression o n Felix which he did make in a s pecific aim at individuals since the de sign
t
.
, ,

Peter intended that his hearers o n the day o f to be e f fectual must be qui e apparent and
“
Pentecost should be pricked in their hearts
,
“
”
,

. S ince the motive hough it be good in us ( of

,

, t ,

Stephen intended that his hearers s hould be cut which by the way we m ust take care ) is alway s ,

to the heart ”
And j ust so any preacher liable to su s picion a n d m i s take But the m ore
t
.
.
,

he can mak e his hearers feel deeply must in end completely truth is so exhibited that conscience
to make them feel
,

is compelled to do i t s o w n work in making he

,

t
U DU RT D R C t
.

2 HE S H O L NDE S AN T HE P I N I PL E S application to individuals the stronger a n d he

U
. ,

o r T HE H M AN MI N D The a i d o f thi s know . better is the impression produced ; just as t e n

 L EC T URES ON H O MILE TIC S

aside that it may become more prominent in

,
wrought up the p assio s leave them Some n , .
”

the close . times however the heart may be touched for a

, ,

I w i ll add under this head that when a ser , , moment at several successive intervals whi le at , ,

mo n is argum entative whether do ctrinal o r prae , each time i t s sensibilities start into action more
,

tical it may o ft en be closed with inferences ; readi ly as it retains the so ft eni n g influence Of
,

these should always be scriptural results from p ast emo t ion h ereas if t he sam e note is
. W ,

scriptural premises Neither false deductions . sounded t o o long at once feeli ng flags and di es , ,

from Christian premises nor true deductions ,

away into fatigue .

from premises not in the Bible deserve any b e t , A fourth remark is that in all addr e ss es t o ,

ter name than a vain display o f ingenuit y ; b ut the passions moral p a inting is indispensable The .

there are several advantages in a conclu s i on by two chief reasons are that the senses are the ,

inferences when well conducted and pertinent

,
primary inlet Of ideas and that remoteness Of ,

to the subj ect They exhibit the truths o f reli Obj ects diminishes their power Of impression
y
. .

gi on connectedl ; they Oft en exhibit di sput e d Painting ann i hi lates abs ence an d dis tance and ,

truths unexpectedly and undeniably Wh ere embodies Obj ec ts before the eye a s they are seen
t
.
,

the premises would have been rej ec ed had the , in life o r o n canvass ; it thrills t he heart where
deduction been foreseen it comes by surprise , , mere description would leave it cold From this .

and compels assent And what is most import . principle arises the awful interest Often awakened ,

ant as a grand principle in preaching is that

, , , by t he delineations Of the Bible ; such for exam ,

such inferences make men active hearers and ple as the transactions Of the last j udgment
y
, , .

not passive like hortator address e s , . We see the Judge en t hroned the retinue o f ,

4 Th e success o f a conclusion depends much angel s the books Ope n the heavens passing
AR C A AS
.
, ,

on the W MT H W I T H W HI H I T PP E L T O away the dead small and g reat standi ng be fore

RT
,

T HE H E A
”
T O this part says Qui n ct i li a n
.
, ,
God We forget intervening ages The scenery
. .

“the highest powers Of address should be r e is all present ; w e feel ourselves encompassed
served Here if ever it is proper to ope all n with the dread realities Of that occasion
n
. .
, ,

the fountains o f eloquence Here if w e have T he painting t o the fa cy whi ch belongs to

,

y ,
.

succeeded in other parts w e may take possession ,

pas t oral poetr has little use in the pathetic Of ,

o f o ur hearers minds Having w eathered the ’

the pulpit ; o ur business is with the heart which
y
.
,

sh allows and break ers we may spread full sai l ,

a bj ures amplification and d ra per and embelli s h , ,

and according t o the chief design o f a perora ment The most moving scene o f the pulpit the
t
.
, ,

tion we may give free scope t o magn ificence in

, death Of Christ is often so overdr awn wi h p o m ,
”
sentiment and language ous decoration as to chi ll the hearers with
.
p ,

T o this part o f a discourse the best institutes I ndi f ference ; yet a skilful pleader will give life

y
Of orator assign the pathetic o n which how , ,
t o the exhibition Of a common murder You .

ever my limits here allow only a few s ugg e s

,
see the assailant springing from his ambus h his ,

tions My firs t remark is that all attempts t o

.
,
victim calling for help ; y ou see the blow given ,

move the passions will fail without simpli city in the man falling hear his groan s e e his gu shing , ,

thought and language T he precepts o f books . blood his convulsive agonies in death It i s
, .

o n this subject except a few leading principles , ,

lamentable that t he power whi ch in poetry an d ,

are by far t o o artificial f o r the pulpit ; the devices romance Often seizes the heart with resistless
,

by which popular orators Of Old sought to move grasp i s so seldom brought to bear o n the feel
their hearers would be condemned by the O ,

ings f men from the p ul pit .

Of this age as unsuitable in any case and espe A fifth remark is that though high powers Of
n H
, ,

ci a lly in Christian eloquence nor c a any mere execution are wanting to any pre a cher T I S I s
RA HUD U
,

study of the passions enable a man t o reach them NO E S O N W HY HE S O L B E D LL A N D C O L D .

with succe s s There is a power in genius com The most carele s s hearers know too well the
t
.
,

b i n e d with sensibili y to which the throbbings weight o f o ur bus ine s s to be sa tisfied when we
n t O
,

o f the heart respond but which art ca not i mi aim no strokes at he he a rt The keen sting f
t
.
,

tate o r explain . conscience they dread but the thri ll o f emo ion ,

A second remark is that n o t all kinds Of emo they certainly prefer to the listlessne s s Of i n d i f
tion nor even f high emotion fall under the
, O ,

,
ference The love o f excitement i s instinc ive
. t
head o f pathetic Animation vehemence o r and universal Suppose that y o u lack what i n
t
.
.
, , ,

what is o f en termed fire produce strong emotion deed few possess the power Of taking the heart
O , , , ,

but it is f a diff erent sort Grand and sublime . by as saul t yet you must awaken feeling espe
, ,

representations awaken sentiments Of awe o r ci a lly in the close o f your discourse o r o u come
y
a dmiration and perhaps overwhelm with their
,
t
u terly short o f the great end of preaching A
,

maj esty But the pathetic is distinguished by

. frigid t e mp e r a m e n t i s no excu s e in this case '
.

its gentle insinuating melt i ng influence which

, , ,
Whose fault is it that his heart is cold w ho
silently wins upon the heart and makes it yi eld ,
speaks o n a subj ect w hi ch fills heaven with
itself to the power th at so irresistibly and yet emotion ? He has proved a great d o ctrine Of the
t
so deligh ful ly controls its aff ections
,

gospel to be true perhaps by clear argum ent

t
.
, .
,

A third remark is the pathe ic cannot be pro ,

What then ? Shall that doc trine be left o n t he
tracted Strong pas s ion is nece s s arily short in
. same footing with a mathematic al axiom ? Shall
”
c ontinuance Nothing s ays Qui n ct i li a n quot
.
, ,
the he a rers re s t in mere as sent t o its truth when ,

ing Cicero nothing dries up sooner than tears ;

,
its truth is the very thing that cu t s them o ff
the auditor shortly becomes weary o f w eeping from hope and heaven ? Look on an assembly Of
and relapses into tranquillity We must not let .
,

immortal beings sinki g down to death under ,

n ,

t his work grow cold o n our hands but having ,

an accumulation o f unpardoned gui lt ; think o f
 A ND PREACHING .

the un s peakable love and agoni es whi ch procured Chri s tian theology must be dis ingui s hed in this t
for them forgiveness ; an icipate your meeting t resp ect from Mahometan and Pagan s stem s of
,

t
,

wi h these same hearers at the judgment and the r e hg i o n If the wri t ers o f the New e s t a m e n t
t t n
.
,

cer ainty hat e ach o e of them w ho die s i mp e n i mu s t have been ri gidly tied down to classical
ten t wi ll b e an etern al outcast from Go d ; and usage they could have had no words t o express
t n
,

then if y o u fe el n o s irri gs Of a mighty emotion

,
thos e thoughts which w ere peculiar to t he gos
in your o w n bosom where is your com assion ,
Plato and Xenophon had n o such thoughts ;
for dying men ? Where is your love t o bri s t ? the primary clas sical import o f the words ,

Ta lk n o t Of a piety that can o ff er apolog y for which they e mp lo ed could n o t theref ore expre s s
t O t
,

such a sta te o f heart ; mourn f o r it ra her as your meaning f aul o n opic s peculiar t o the
t
,

sin Go t o God wi h that heart before y o u

. , style he must us e in preaching the g ospel Strike .

bring it to the pulpit and be g hi m t o make it o ut from t he language of the pulpit the w ords

t
wha the heart Of a mi nis t er should be I know
,

s i n holi ess Redeemer atonemen n regeneration t ,

t t
.
, , , , , ,

Gen lemen from ex p erience so me t hi ng o f the grace covenant j us ti fication s alva ion and others
t n
, , , , , ,

mag ni ude and t he di fficulti es o f the work before o f s imilar im port a d what would become o f
t
,

you And I know t o o well my o w n defects t o the di s tinctive charac ter o f Christiani y ? The
w y
. ,

i s h that my example and n o t m precepts , , preacher i n this case must either not exhibit the
, ,

s hould be your gui de o n thi s subj ec t Fo r many truths o f t he go spel at all o r exhibit them under
n
.
,

years my animal frame has seldom been able t o
s us tai n t ha degree o f emotion whi ch I think is
Ot
all the di sadvantag e s Of a endle s s and needle s s
t circumlocution In either case hi s mini s trations
.
, ,

f en desirable in the pulpit and a sens e of duty , whatever literary merit they might po s se s s would ,

has requi red me t o re s trai n those feelings o n have little tendency t o in s truct and s ave hi s
which the sati s faction a d suc cess o f a preacher s n ’
hearers Before he can submit t o the requisitions
.

labo urs gr e a t l depend Fo r whatever is faulty o f a ta s te s o perverted he mu s t have forgotten

O n
.
,

in the share 0 influence which my ffici al stand the s acred digni ty o f hi s o ffice as a ambas sador ,

ing and labo urs may have o n y o u I expect to o f Chri s t

t
.
,

give account to Go d And I tremble t o hink My other remark is that with the above ex
t
.
, ,

ha t I am called to aid in sha ping the characte r ce p t i o n the general character o f style in sermons
,

and the ministrations o f thos e who se influence should be s uch as is proper in di s cussing any
may extend around the globe and must extend elevated and interes ing subj ect The reas ons t
O t
, , .

in consequences f awful moment beyond he are Obvious If we would impress religious truth
t
, .

grave Wi h these consequenc e s in full view let on the hearts o f m e n it must be done through the
t
. , ,

me say t o each take care of your heart S hun medium Of he understan ding We must addr ess
t t
-
, , .

w i h unwavering vigilance whatever te nds t o , them herefore in language to which they are
, ,

deaden your Chri s tian aff ections ; fix your eye a ccustomed After the example o f o ur Saviour
n
.
,

on the great ends o f preaching ; c ul t ivate a deep we should employ words a d figures which accord
s ense Of yo ur dependence o n God ; and then in with the fam iliar conceptions o f our hearers By
n
, .

humble reliance o n his grac e you will speak i thi s means t o o we may avoid any repulsive asso
n t
, , ,

demonstration Of the Sp i rit a d with power , . ci a t i o n s which would o herwi s e prevent the
,

access o f truth to the mind If he who S peaks .

o n religion assumes the as pect and tones of sad

ness he makes the impression o n the minds of

t
,

U LEC T R E XV . the irreli gion s that piety is inconsistent wi h ,

STY L O F Y LP U LP —R G ONN RA
E L
OP ST
R
— X LL N
AR — F AU L
T HE
E IN
IT
SE
.

M
E E
S E CE
EM
E
KS
CE S
. TS
cheerfulness An eff ec t not less favourable is
produced b y a corre s pondent p eculi arity o f lan
.

guage Besides a strong and V i vid repre s entation

. .

! Th L tur f ll w g w r wr t n p rt
.
,

o f any s ubj ec t cannot be m ade when t h e terms

a co
gur
d w l
rt g
t u
d St
is
yl
u d
s e Of m r g n r l pr
th
ec

t u
pl
e c
e an d t he
re s o n e
in
Th e
o
.
o e
o e
e
e
i te
e a
as
i n ci e s
a o f
employed are inappropri ate o r indefinite
,

Auth r d rm d l p ubl h h r a t r
.

o f oo i in , as i sc s se in a co r s e , i t i s t he
2 We are pre p ared in the next p lace t o glance
y u g pr h r !
is e e f e , fo r
’
e s i gn t o an d t o
.
o s e o e , ,

t he us e o f o n e ac e s at those peculi arities most common in the style

Of sermons which must be accounted faults
I CO to Off er ome remark s
.

ME now the p s on a The theological dialect as di s tingui s hed from

p p rO i style Of the
r at e pulpit The Opinion t hat what may be called classical sty le res ul s in
,

t
t
.
, ,

the Christian preacher when he S peak s on reli a con s iderable measure from a d e s xg n e d imi ation
gion mus t as sume a countenance a tone and a
,

of Scripture languag e I s a y imi a ion for un

,

tt
t , , , .
,

s yle such as a r e adapted t o no other subj ect has questionably di rec t quotation from the Bible i s
t t
, ,

been grea ly prejudicial to the interes s o f piety . not o n l y nece ss ary in adducing proo fs from this ,

1 O ur firs t inquiry is how far may the preach

.
, standard o f reli gi ous be lief and practice but is ,

er s s tyle b e profes s ional and peculiar The view s

’
required by good taste for pur pose s of illustration
O t
.
,

which I entertain as t o the pec uliarity f diction and i mp r e ss mn Such quota ions if made w ith
n
.
,

allowable in sermo s may be expres sed under judgment give weight and authority to a sermon
tt
, , .

two general rem a rks Bu he defect I am de s cribing lie s in the un

O
.
,

On e is that religion must have terms call them skilful am algamation f sacred and common
t
, ,

technical if you please but terms appropriate phras eology This tak es place s ome imes in
t
.
, ,

t o i s elf The arts and the phy s ical science s s ingle words as peradventure us ed for perhap s ;

t
.
, , , ,

requi re words and phra s es which cannot be used tribulation for af fliction o r di s re s s ; s en s uality
in heology t For t he s ame reas on theology t
and carnali y for sinful aff ec ions ; and e d i fica t
w t
. , ,

mu s t have to a certai n extent its o n expres tion for ins ruction o r improvement So a phrase
Ot
, , , .

s ions ad apted t o its own pec ul iar s ubj ects

,
And . is f en employed in a manner which requi res a
 LE C TU RES ON H O MI E TI CS L
commentar t o give it si g ificance i current y n n chief qualities which it ought to possess I ca n .

language ; as when licentiou s conduct is c alled not here advert to general pri nciples alre ad y
chambering and wantonness ”
. di scussed in my Lectures o n Taste and S yle
,

t .

Sometimes this peculi ar cast Of style arises Taking it for gr anted that perspicuity strength
from us ing familiar terms in an abstract or mys ,
and a proper degree o f ornament are es s en ial ,
,

t ,

tical sen s e as walk and conversation for actions

, ,
attributes Of all good writing and t herefore ,

o r deportment Sometimes a peculiar combina never t o be neglected by the preacher I shall

t
.
,

tion o f words makes a s ort o f S piritual phrase ; consider certain properties o f s yle whi ch he is
as mind the will o f God a sense f divine
,

O under peculiar Obli gations to cul ivate t ,

n
.
,

things a d when intensive expres s ion is meces The first Of these which I S hall m ention is , ,

sar y ,
a realizing s ense Of divine thi n gs is ”
, SI M PL I CI T Y .

extremely common in the pulpit dialect In This as I have alread y observed is required
t
.
, ,

some portions o f o ur country and at some ,

by the principles of good aste But it is more to .

periods a great fondness has prevailed f o r co m

,
my purpo s e at pre s ent to Show that it is required , ,

pound words such as God provoking heaven ,

-
, o f the Chri s tian preacher by the principles o f ,

Ofl e n d i n g Christ despi s ing land d e fili n g

‘

,
Some -
,
-
. religion He is appointed to instruct men in the
.

Of the s e awkward anglo ecclesia s tical combina ,

- way Of salvation ; to instruct those many of ,

tions have struggled hard for a standing in go od

,
whom are ignorant T o instr uct them in that .

style both here and in Great Britai n : such as

,
go s pel o f which it was a remarkable charac ter
,

i s t i c at its first publication “ that it w as preached

unspeakableness worl d ly mindedness spiritual ,
-
, , ,
”
mindedness Men o f correct taste will a thou . to the poor In this re s pect o ur Saviour was a
.

sand times rather dispense with all the a d v a n perfect pattern — accommodating his in s tructions
t
,

tages Of these terms than mar their native ,

to the weak and illiterate in di s inction from the ,

tongue b m ul tiplying such unseemly co m Jewish teachers and t he heathen philosophers

po unds y ,

i b ere is the more need o f guarding

.
‘
who delivered their discourses only to a f e w
, ,

against such terms because if they are formed ,

sel e ct disciples .

from words which belong to the langu a ge they T he simplicity o f languag e which a preacher
O
,

escape the reproach f barbarism ; and therefore should adopt requires him t o choo s e such words
N
,

may be multiplied without end if the tendency ,

as are I T E LL I G I B L E to his hearers I say not .

of writers to these combinations shall be subj ect '

that he should adopt the extravag ant principle ,

to no control but the dictates o f caprice o r a fle c sometimes laid down never to us e a word which , ,

t a t io n The man who has the command o f lan

. is n o t familiar to every child This would for .

guage may easily find other words equivalent

, , bid him to preach at all o n the s implest topics , ,

in sense o r sufficiently so to substitute for such

, ,
without such a constant explanation o f terms ,

complex phrases In s tead o f worldly minded -

as would render his di scourses tedious a n d unin
O
.

ness he may say attachment to the world In

,
. t e r e s t i n g to the greater part f every as sembly .

stead o f spiritual mindedness a spirit o f devotion -

, , But the proper rule o f conduct in thi s case lies , ,

o r a spirit o f habitual piety . in a narrow compass .

’
The same general fault in the preacher s style We should take care then never to us e a hard
may be increased by his necessary familiarity , word when a plain one would express o ur mean
,

with theological writers Of pa s t times The ex ing The sense to be expressed is the main
O
. .
,

ce lle n t sentiments which these Often contain , point and l a nguage is only the vehicle f com
,

expressed perhaps in quaint and antiquated mun i ca t i o n

‘

The a fie ct a t i o n which leads a man

.

phraseology imperceptibly give a c ast to his , to sacrifice the Obj ect for which he s peaks to ,

o w n diction resembling in i t s influence o n other , , the reputation o f being an erudite o r elegant

m inds the sti ff ness and peculiarity which would
, speaker is altogether beneath the di gnity o f the
,

appear in his garb if it w ere conformed to the sacred o ce fli *

W ho would expect a te a cher Of b abes t o

.
,

fashion o f the sixteenth century .

,

O ne more source o f the defect I am condemn ransack the resource s o f ety mology and to speak
“ ”
,

ing deserves to be mentioned ; I mean the i n

,
o f the lapsed state of man and the moral ,
’
flue n ce o f the colloquial dialect o n the preacher s adaptation o f things when his proper bu s iness ,

s tyle The daily intercourse with common peo

. is to discuss the great and simple truths of the
ple which as a m a n and a mini s ter o f reli gion
, , , , gospel in the plainest manner ? It is a fami liar
,

he i s called to maintain inclines him to adopt , , anecdote o f the distingui shed Prelate Arch ,

in hi s public di s courses the languag e with which , bishop Tillotson that before he delivered hi s ,

he add re s ses his hearers and with which they , sermons he sometimes read them to an i lli terate
,

address each other in ordin ar y cases In this , . Old lady o f good sense that by the aid Of he r ,

way probably a class o f w ords some o f which , , remarks he might reduce his style to the level
,

are peculiar to his country found their way into , of common capacities .

s ermons — such as approbate m i s s i o n a t e gospel , , It was quite another kind o f me n to w hom

ize variate ha p p if y i n g bestowment b e t r us t m e n t
,

enga gedne s s These words indeed are much

, , , , th p qd lt d th v t w th thph
W e rs o o n ri i cu e s i s a n i y i n a n o e r p r o f s
i

I w a s a c ua i n e s a y s he y i ci a n
e

less frequently seen in written di s courses than

.
,

,
si o n
tt g .

w th l d
dw b d M dD mt th y t h l tg d h ld
w ho
a ske
si, in i a h
a y i n he r o w n b
i
g
o us e
a
an d
y he r o c o r a r a r i c o k e s o o f r c i e n i
ei
e
, ,

o
,
s

n
,

certain others o f the same description which , , r

u l t tr b d d d t d l
,
an s e re
t , fla t ule n t o f a ll t he
a a , e are he e as
are as common in English as in American ser r y
t t u d t d w d wh t h v d
’
i e
’
e sc en
‘
In e e , oc o , sa i t he
. ad , I do
mons such as preventa ive profani y require
d f
uh t t
’
n o t n e r s a n a o r o a y u a e sa i
o

n , , , .

mm m
m d l p t t t tl d p ul r
me t and solemnize in the s en s e Of m ak e solemn B ut i f co on s e n s e co n e n s s c a ff e c a i o n i n a
r
.

g t hm l pht rr l lvgy mu h m u b m
, ,
e i ca r a c i i o n e , w ho i s e n i e to ec i a i n d ul
Having s ugge s ted these hints on the defects , e n ce f o r e c n i ca a se o o , ho w c o re n e co
Of pulpit style I proceed to state some of the , in g is it in a i n i s e Of s a a t i o n ?
 A ND PREACHING .

Echard referred wi h s ome severity in his book t his ability to grasp a wide and t o unravel a co m
tt t O O
, , ,
”
en i led Con empt f the clergy There plex subj ect to apprec i ate the force f arguments
O
,

t t
.
, ,
”
is said he a sort f di vines who if they do and t o keep up his attention wi hout fa i gue
, ,

but happen o f an unlucky hard word all the

, ,

during a long and arduous investiga ion ; the s e t ,

w eek think themselves no careful o f their flock t ,

advantages place him at a di s tance from nucul

n
, ,

if they lay it not up a d bestow it among them t i v a t e d minds But when i n addition to the dif
nt
.
, ,
”
i heir next sermon . ficult i e s he must encounter from the s e cau s es he ,

Another caution t o b e Observed is that com speak s a languag e widely di f ferent from that o f
t t
,

mon words should no b e used in an uncommon the mass o f his hearers i n its copious ness i s
t
, , ,

abstract or phi lo s ophical sense I was we ll arrangement i s i mage s and its very term s he
t t t
.
, , ,
”
acquainted says Wi her s poon ,
wit h a divine , will ev i den ly be In grea danger Of being gene
many y ears ago who began a prayer I n hi s con ,
rally obscure and frequently almost un i n t e lli gi , ,

r e g a t i o n by addressing Jehovah as the S i mplest ble to them The words Of Latin and Of French
g , .

o f a ll beings which incensed his hearer s t o derivation in o ur language are extremely nu

n
,

such a degree that they accused him Of having , m e ro us and a large propo rtio o f them are
spoken blasphemy ; whereas the man only meant completely naturalized among men of educa tion , .

to say that God is philosophic a lly simple and They are s o perfectly familiar to the ear o f a
n ,

u com p ounded al together dif ferent fr om the , scholar that he has no conception before he
,

grossne s s and divisibility or as it is sometimes makes the trial ho w many of them are never
n t O
, ,

more lear edly called t he discerptibili y of mat , found in the vocabulary f the lower clas s e s .

ter ”
. The wresting of a plain word from its When a young man therefore accustomed t o the , ,

common ac ceptation to one that is scientific or , language o f erudition laden with school and ,

abstract i s much more improper in prayer than academic honours finds himself the pastor of a
,

t
,

i n preaching ; becaus e in a devotional exerci s e country congrega ion what is his duty ? Not
t , ,

all explanations o f erms i s inadmi s sible and all indeed to adopt a barbarous and vulgar p hr a s e o
di splay of erudi ion i s intolerable But s uch a t ,

logy t
bu l i ke a mi ss ionary lately arrived in a
O
-
.
,

us e f words is a sermon in altogether imp r oper new reg ion o r like an inhabitant o f another
except in s ome case of special necessity s uch
,

planet dr opped i t o a village he must study he

,

n t
t O
, ,

as will rarely or never occur to a wise preacher . habi s f mind and the language Of those among ,

There is a sort of metaphy s ical obscurity in whom he is pl a ced before he can prosecute his ,

term s borrowed fr om a recent nomenclature Of ”

, ministerial labours with e ffect .

polemic theology and employed to some extent , The e ff o r t required in this case well becomes ,

in s ermons Preachers who fall into it cannot one whose honour it is for Christ s s ake to ’

t
.
, , ,

for example us e the plain s crip ural word heart be the servant Of all Concerning the simple
t t
, , , .

”
but ins ead o f i say generic volition pre , , rhymes composed by the great reformer for the ,
”
dominant purpose & c The ob s curity of meta sake Of the vulgar it has been w ell remarked ;
L
.
, ,

phy s ical periphra s is i s attended with no imagi n Fo r these ball a d s uther may receive a greater
able advantage i n preaching unle s s it be that it t
reward at he last day than for whole shelve s of
t V
, , ,

enables the preacher when hard pre s s ed wi h learn ed folios anity may make a man speak
t
, .

dif ficul ie s as he po s s ibly may be to make hi s and write learnedly ; but piety only can prevail
t
, ,

escape by saying to a roublesome inquirer y o u ,

o n a good scholar to s imp lify his speech for the ,
”
did n o t understand me . sake of the v ulg ar sf Such a preacher though ,

There is one more violation Of s implicity in his worth may be overlooked by t he undiscern
the s tyle of sermon s which he preacher sho uld t ing now will o n e day have a name that i s above
avoid ; I mean he d isplay of ex en s ive reading t ,

t .
,

every name whether it be philosopher poet , , ,

The practice of introducing s crap s Of quotations ora t or o r whatever is most revered among man
from clas sical authors i f carried beyond very ”
,

kind i As examples o f simplicity wi ho ut vul t

t ,

t ,
.

modera e lim its even in li erary compo s ition s is , ,

g a ri t y in t he pulpit I might name Fenelon , ,

so repul s ive to men o f taste that it is much less , Cecil Bra dley Payson and perhaps John
, , ,

prevalent now than it w a s in some former periods Robin s on

t t
. .

At this day pedan ry in he pulpit is much more The second quality requisite in the style Of
t t R UN
, ,

li kely to S how i s elf in exo ic phrases in far , Sermons i s S E I O S E S S , .

fetched rhetorical figures in citing the a p o In some depart ments of oratory ridicule may
t t
, ,
t he g ms of illu s trious men and e s p ecially in be emplo y ed wi h propriety and wi h great
t
ob ruding upon plai n hearers the names a n d the
,

t
e ffec t In he hands of the s ena or or pleader this
,

t
O t ,

t t t ,
.

pinion s Of learn e d wri ers To seek he a d mi r in s tr umen of en ha s a n irresistible e d ge when

t t
.
,

a ion Of others by s olving dif ficul ie s which we argument i s unavailing But the d i g n i t of the
t t
.

ours elve s ha v e crea ed i s an art ifice unwor hy pulpit rej ect s the aid o f this weapon do not
,

t t t
.

of any re s pectable m a n “ I is not d ifficult .

,
say hat s a ire in sermons i s never admi s s ible ;
says U sher to make easy things appear hard ; but it is always dangero us and almost always
t
, ,

but to render hard things eas y i s he hardest , mi s chievous .

part of a good orator and preacher ”

But when there i s no af fec ation Of this sort t

.
t f bl h t
I t m a y co rr e c a o i e m a y c a i s e
f f glt d
T he r e a k s o f a s hi o n r e u a e t he re s s
, s

t
t he habi s of a cultivated mind may deceive a ,
,

Chr t b rv r is i an O
,

preacher and he may imperceptibly to him s elf

Au gu t wh t v l g ld
se e

t t t
.

, ,
y u “ Of
t ak e i for gran ed hat hi s languag e is intelligible
to hi s hearers becau s e it i s so o him s elf The t ww lld p wh wt ll w hm l h thwh pturp h rm
f
i n o
s
t O en
in e sa s,
a w e is
a
— an
a
d
e is
a
a o
i s t he
en k e y,
a

t t t t bt wh t ld if i t i p is ?— sin
,
”
.
oo en o ne a cco is o se
ex en of his knowledge says a compe en judge k ,

t t
a ll w e is to a in to is co n ce a e

b Cl ud
, se e O a cce s s a .

on his s ubj ect the quickne s s of his percep ion ; , I Ro in so n o n a e .

 LEC T URES ON H O MILE TIC S

Wh t v
B ut wh r e e a re bl
bd d
it s s t
whph h f
u ue ? t d
u i m e r ro i s o un 1
e a r r e cla i m d
e
the pulpit the actor repli e d
, We speak o f fic
B yl r g Lurv wh l gh d t f
’
a i ce ha s it s o se
o m au i n o re o rm ? ti ons as if they w ere realities you speak Of
A as !
i o , o r

e ia a th ln ugh g m tr k h rd
i s n o t so t a
e
d
’
realities as if they were fictions Let a s tam .

TThurt f td r kpl dhumm t h d l

’
La ug h d a t , he a s a ain , an d s ic en a , mering peasant be put t o plead for his life and ,
n s t o t he s o e hi s a a an in e s ca e s ,
a e ar n o i sci i n e o f an an s .
” he is eloquent Let a minister o f the go s pel be
.

deeply impressed with the weight o f hi s business ,

If the graver sort o f irony employed for so be , and he will be eloquent He will make y o u un .

r p o se s can seldom be i ndu lged i n the pulpit

, , d e rs t a n d him for he understands himself He
.
, .

what shall we say o f that unmean i ng levi ty and will make y o u feel for he fe els himself The , .

witticism o f language which i s sometimes heard highest order o f p ulpit eloquence is nothing but
in sermons ? The preacher t ri fle S I n thi s ma ner
,

n , the flame o f enlightened piety uni ed with the t

under the pretence o f keeping up the attention flame o f genius Wh en thi s glows in the bosom.

of his hearers But what attention does he it sa n ct ifie s a n d c oncentrates all the powers o f
n
.

desire ; a d for what purpo s e ? No t the atten the mind It makes even the stripling warrior
.

tion o f the theatre o r the circus but the atten “ l ”

va iant in fight and enables hi m to cut o ff ,

tion o f immortal beings to a message from God , . the head o f Goliath with the sw ord wrested from
Let hi m not then degrade his o fii ce and hi mself hi s own hand
W
, .

by a preposterous levity S urely when mingl e d .

, ould y o u know the diff e r ence then betw e en , ,

with the most momentous and awful subj ects , the pulpit declaimer and the pulpit orator ? It is
there I s especial reason to say o f laughter it is , , this the former preaches for himself the lat t er ,

for God O ne seeks the applause o f his hearers

”
mad and Of mirt h what doeth it ?
n
, , .

But seriousness in the pulpit is inconsistent , the other their salvation O e di sp lays before
, .

not merely with sarcasm and witticism but with them the arts o f a fine speak er the other ass ai ls
n
,

that aff ected smartness Of expression and that , them with the lightning a d thunder o f truth .

exuberance o f sp arkling embellishment which O ne amus es the fancy ; the other agi t ates the
betray at once a puerile tas te an d a heart un a f conscience forces o p en the eyes o f the blind a d
, ,
n
f e ct e d with the great subj ects o f religion Bates . storms the citadel o f the hear t .

says Thi s i s like Nero s lading hi s galleys from

,
’
The style o f declamation may indeed b e per , ,

Egypt with sand for the wr estlers when Rome , s p i cuo us but its perspicuity di ff ers as much
”
was starving f o r want o f corn from that o f fervid eloquence as the t ra n sp a r e n
n
.
,

T his lead s me to notice a thi rd excellenc e i o f ice di ff ers from the glowing transp
the style o f sermons w hi ch i s E RN E S N E S , A T S . melted glass i ss ui g fro m the fur ace n n .

Let me n o t b e understood to recommend that

n
false a imation which characteris es ever species y
of artificial eloquence All that vain parade and
n
.

pomp Of el o cution i which the speaker s e ffort ’

U LEC T RE XVI
n n
.

is t o exhibit hi mself a d ot his subj ect is co n , ,

ST YL O F P UL P
E T HE I T— D I B E CT I O N S I N
t e mp t i b le in a lawyer but in a minister o f the
“ ”
,
F OR NG MI A ST YL E.
gospel it is unpardonable Sh all those says
k K
.
,

Fenelon who ought t o speak li e apostles S I LL In writing de p ends o n genius and di sci
n
, ,

gather up those flowers of rhet oric which Demos pline Without en i us i dustry an
W g
.
,

t he n e s Manlius and Brutus tram pled o n ? hat never r ai se a man s performance above the char ’
, ,

could we think Of a pre a cher who sho uld in the , acter o f elaborate dulness Without di scipli ne .
,

mo s t aff ected j ingle o f words S how sinners the , the best powers can never be brought t o act by
divine j udgment hanging over t heir head s and an uniform principles o r to any valuable end
yo r the benefit Of those who are still forming
, , .

hell under their feet ? There is a d e cency t o be

observ ed in o ur language as i n o ur cloth e s A their intellectual habits expecting to devote all
n
, .
,

di s consolate widow does not mourn i fri nges , the i r powers t o the holy and exalted work o f
ribands and embroide r y ; and an apo s to lical
,
preaching the gospel I sh a ll now o f fer some prae ,

minister ought not to preach the word Of God in tical suggestions as to the atta inment o f a good
a pompo us style full o f aff ected ornaments T he
, . style In doing this I shall keep in vi ew the
.

Pagans would not have endured to see even a principle ad vanced in my prec e di ng lecture that ,

comedy so ill acted I love a seri ous preacher .

, the primary purposes o f language are t he same
who s p eaks for my sake and not for his o w n t o a preacher as to other men Just like other
n
.

who seeks my salvation and not his o w n vai , men he needs light t o see and air to breathe ;
, ,

glory He best deserves to be heard who uses

. a n d when he speaks he needs words t o convey ,

speech only t o clothe his thoughts and hi s his mean i n g forcibly to those whom he addres ses
t t
, .

houghts only to promote truth and virtue A . A proper adaptation Of his language t o he mo
man who has a great and active soul nee ds never mentons importance o f the subj ects which he
fear the want o f expressions Hi s most ordinary . treats and to the capacity Of his hearers i s cer
, ,

discourses will have exqui site strokes o f oratory t a i n ly hi s duty but the elementary principles of
w hich the florid haranguers ca never imitate n ,

. a good style are the same t o hi m as to other men .

He is not a slave t o words but closely p ursues The present lecture l i ke the preceding as s umes
n
, , ,

the truth He knows that vehemence is as it

.
,
these pri ciples without repeating the views ,

were the so ul o f eloquence which I have heretofore express e d What I

W
. .
,

hen a prelate inquired Of Garrick why the shall now attempt is to give some practica l
n
, , ,

theatre exhi bited so much more eloquence tha directions for the attai n ment o f a good style
T T
.

The first o f these is — A lw a ys r e me mbe r H A

L e tt r Fr h A d my
e to en c ca e . T HE B A SI S O A G OO F
T YL E I S T H O G H T DS U .
 A ND PREACHING .

Lan guage i s but the in s rument o f mind ; to Thirdly — S DY T HE B E ST MO DE L t TU S

t w t t , .

study it on any o her principle i s t o make the To ha ex ent the ancien t cl a s sic writers
t
,

Obj ec t to be a t ained s ubo r dinat e to the mean s O f should be included in this direction as ad dressed
i ts attai nment A man who would form himself to t heological s udents and young mini s ters is t ,

t t ,
.

as a wri er mus t acquire he control o f hi s o w n a que s tion the formal di s cus s ion o f which
t
,

intellec ual po w ers He must b e capable Of fix wo ul d be inappro priate here If s ober men
t
. .

ing his mind with steady at ention to a single have good reason t o be di s gu s ted at the e xt r a v a
t ,

point hat he may compare and di s tingui s h the gant claims some im es advanc ed in behalf f
,

t O
t ,

rela ions o f different hings I never hought ”

clas s ical learning as certai nly they have s ill t t t
t
,

t ,

t
.
,
“
say s Baxter that I understood any thing ill I there is ano her ex reme The prevaili ng ten
t t t O t
.
,

could anatomize it and see he par s di s tinc ly deney f thi s age doub less i s to fix a very , , ,

and the union Of t he parts as they make up the inadequate esti mate o n the ancient clas s ic s as ,

whole Thi s mental dis cipline accounts for the models of tas te and eloquence An immense
”

t O
. .

clearne s s and vigour of his s yle A writer w ho field f knowledge is spread before o ur young
t t t
.

has not es abli s h e d habits o f pa ient exact think men in their raining for public life ; and a
t
, ,

ing w ill us e words wi h indeterminate meaning rapid superficial survey Of thi s field i s expecte d
O
, , ,

and un s kilful arran gement f them rather than the patient elementa ry pro .
,

But it is n o t enough for a writer t o thi nk cess o f study which is indi spensable t o thorough ,

clearly o n any single subj ect He may under scholars hip

t
. .

s and hi s Ow n meaning and y et have but little Con s idering however the infancy o f o ur
t
, , ,

meani n g ; he may be intelligible t o others and li terary insti utions the advanced ag e at which
t t
,

y et be barren That his s yle may be interes ing many o f o ur students unavoidably commence
t
.

i t must be rich in mat er it mu s t exhibit thos e their public ed ucation ; the embarras s ments
t
in ellectual qualitie s i n him s elf whi ch presuppo se under whi ch they pursue it ; and the urgent
good inven ive powers sharpened by much r e t demand for active service e s pecially Of preachers
t
, , ,

fle ct i o n and patient acqui s i ion o f knowledge it is not easy to fix on any definite attainmen t s .

As a result of the s e principles it mus t doubt in clas s ical learning which shoul d be required , ,

le s s follow that the man who sit s down t o write o f tho s e who are de s tined to the minis try That
t t
.
,

as he mere student Of style forget ing that lan s ome have been greatly ble s sed in th i s work , ,

guage ca n be s tudied with advantage only as the who ha d no pretensions to literary erudition it ,

vehi cle Of thought will be very li able to mi s s his w ere idle t o que s tion : and certainly no o n e can
,

aim So me obj ect he mu s t have in writing di s hope for usefulness in this holy calling without
n
.
, ,

tinct from the attai ment of a good style o r he hi gher endowments than those o f mere scholar
t
,

will not wri e well I know not that the style of sh i p It only remains for me then in the . .
,

Blair was formed in the method now condemned ; briefest manner to s uggest some reas ons why a
t t
, ,

but wi h all i s good qualities it posse s ses j us t thorough a cquaintanc e with the clas sics is i m
t , ,

ho s e defects which I should expect such a p r o portant to eve r y C hristian preacher by whom ,

cess to produce it is attainable

U UR US
. .

Secon dly — ST D Y Y O O WN G E N I ,
It is important because without this it is .
, , ,

As in a man s features and other exterior hardly probable that he will ever acquire a com
’

t
,

quali ie s Of person so in hi s structure o f mind p le t e acquaintance with the principles Of his,

and ha bits o f thinking and of course i n hi s o w n language I do not mean t o affirm that a
t t y
.
, ,

s yle here is an in d ividuali ty o f chara cter tolerable degree Of skill in English philolog
, .
,

Thi s appear s in what he writes with more or must n e cessarily presuppo se a knowledge o f
t
le s s di s inctne s s accordi ng to hi s native temper any other language But I ha ve no doubt that
,
,

ament and the influence o f circumstances by the degree Of sk i ll in o ur language which is

which thi s temperament is s trengthened or con requisi e f o r a public s peaker may be acquired
,

t ,

W t
, ,

trolled Or transformed hile every writer is wi h the least expen s e o f time by s tudying as a
w ,
, .
,

bound t o observe the establi shed la s o f gram preliminary the regular grammatical structure
mar and o f rhetoric t o o he is at liberty to con of he Latin and Greek t , ,

O
.
, ,

sult his own tas te as to the general charac t eri s tics For a still more bvio us reason clas s ical
of the style whi ch he shall adopt Accordingly lear ing may b e useful to the preacher in regard . n ,

we find among authors of the first rank a con t o the lexicography o f his o w n languag e He ,

t
.
,

s i d e r a ble diversity O ne is terse and sententious ; may comply exac ly with the laws of syntax
.
,

another copious and flowing ; another simple ; and yet may use unauthori s ed words or may us e
t
, , ,

another bold and me aphoric a l Now b y los ing good words without precision o f meaning or in
t O
.
, , , ,

sight Of hi s o w n capaci ies and cast f m i nd and a false meaning Pre s ent good us e is indeed the
t t ,

n
.

at empting to be some hing altogether di fferent only paramount s tandard o f lan g ua ge ; a d the
from what hi s Creator i ntended a man may not province of etymology is very liable to be over ,

only fai l of excellence but make himself ridic ulous rated But any one who con s ider s how im port , . .

Plato in his younger days ha d an inclination to ant i t is t o a speaker or writer that he s hould
,

poetry and m ade s ome a tempts i n trag e dy and us e words in their exact signification and con
, t , ,

epic ; but finding them unable to bear a compari s iders to how large an extent our words are Of

son with the ver s es Of Homer he threw them into clas sical origi n w i ll perceive at once how grea ly
,

t
the fire and a bj ur e d that sort o f wri ing In w hi ch a familiar acquaintance with the deriva ion of
,
,

t , ,

t
he was convinced that he must always remain an the s e words mus t contribute to precision and
inferior ”
Next to he nece s s i y of being well copiousne s s in language
. t t ,

acquainted with y our subj ect and yours elf I Clas s ical learning is important to the preacher
would say , becau s e it g ives him access to some of he best
,

t ,
 LEC TURES ON H O MILE TICS
example s which the world has produced in he mony of diction than has been p osse s s ed by a n y t
t
depar ment f taste and oratory
,

In all the O
o f o ur stan dar d writers except Pope The Paradi s e .
, ,

branches o f general knowledge the writings of Lost t o o has passages o f di stin g ui s hed b eauty , , , ,

Greece and Rome were Of course far more in respect t o mere di ction ; while in respect to
res t ricted as to range Of thought and richness o f as tonishing powers o f imagina ion it not only t
t
, , ,

matter than those o f modern times But as surp as ses but greatl surpa s ses every o her y
t
.
, , ,

models o f style and eloquence no competent human compos ition e t an y Chri s ian student , .

judge can doubt that the ancient classical works o f oratory go through a pat 1 ent analysis of the

t t
, , ,

s ill hold a rank pre eminent above a ll others Ili ad and the JEn e i d and compare these wi h the -

t
.
,

And though the thoughts Of their authors may great poem o f Mil on and he will not fail to see
n
,

be tolerably learned from a good translation he that the grand a d maj estic conceptions o f the ,

who would study these great masters with a latter were owing to the fact th a t his genius was ,

vie w to style must read them in their o w n trained to sublimity in the school o f the sacred
,

lan g uage . w riters ’ .

To these considerations may be added another Since the days Of Milton poems have been , ,

still of a more general character namely the

, multiplie d possessing various and some o f them , , , , ,

wide field o f improvement in theology and g reat merits in other re s pec ts but few o f them
criticism which is pened to the Christian stu ai ming at sublimity and none o f them reaching O ,

t
, ,

dent from famili arity with the labours o f the

, it with the excep ion Of here and there a bo ld ,

venerable dead paragraph o r a figure To nam e n o others

.
, .
,

N O wise man now w ill devote his life o r any The Night Thoughts and The Course Of , ,

large s hare o f it to s earching the endless tomes T ime in my Opinion may be read often and
t
, , ,

o f antiquity m any o f which are nearl y worthless with much advan ag e by young preachers who
, .
, ,

But there is another extreme Ant i qui ty had a are forming their style . .

few mas ter S pirit s who gave character to their In respect to English prose writers who de
, ,

o w n age and to ages foll owing ,

The influence serve to be read as model s my remark s must be .
,

they exerted o n public Opinion constitutes the brief If I were to fix o n any period as the
t W
.

chief elements o f his ory h at di d such men Engli sh Augus tan age it would be that includ .
,

as Augustine believe ? how did they write ? how i n g the latter division Of the sev enteenth and the
did they preach ? are questions which deserve at former Of the eighteen h century ; that is the t ,

lea s t some regard in a liberal education for the period from Charles II to George I inclu s ive
, . .
,

ministry ; questions o n which every Christian the middl e of which would be the time Of Anne .

scholar must have Opinions either tak en up at T o any one aiming at the c ul tivation of a simple , ,

second hand o r derived from original sources o f clas sical English s tyle I s hould of co urse r e co m
, ,

mend a good degree o f familiarity wi t h the

Under the general head Of Models I would w riters o f that peri od including Addison Pope , , , ,

certainly include a few o f the best poets This Swift Steele a n d Goldsmith to extend the list .
, , ,

selection s hould be made from tho s e whose work s no fart her .

are characterised by richnes s and vigour and But a remark o f elementary importance to be , ,

dignity both o f thought and lan gu age A great made in this connexion is that e s s ayists can be
,
.
,

poet is a moral p ai nter He knows the sources regarded only as models o f style generally but
O
.

Of emotion and all the S prings o f action in the n o t f that style which is specially ad a pted to
,

human bo s om The s ame graphic delineation popular impression The reasons Of th i s dis
.
,
.

the same glow and vivacity by which he rous es tinction are obvious The essay is a brief dis
t
.
,

the imagination and seizes the heart consti ute cuss i o n limited to a narrow range of thought
, , , ,

the power of eloquence In thi s view and this written to be read —written at lei s ure — de s igned .
, , ,

only the Christian student may derive a dv a n

,
chiefly to amuse o r instruct The writer wants .

tage from a judicious use o f Sha k s p e a r e as an t he scope the excitement the impelling motive
O
, , , ,
“ ”
an ato m ist f the human heart It has been s aid the vivida vis animi o f him who stands up to
t
.
,
“
that when thi s poet w as born na ure threw s peak in a public assembly with a thousand , ,

aw ay the mould in which his mind w a s formed ”

soul inspiring eyes meeting hi s o w n No m an -

O
. .

In re s pect to strong or i ginal conception and f common sense if he had a real point o f , , ,

exact de s cription probably nothing Of the kind business to carry with such an a s s e m b y would
,

has ever been written equal to the be s t pieces Of think of addres s ing hem in the s ta ely a n d t t ,

S ha k s p e ar e
”
w
Co per s Ta sk while its Obj ect elaborate periods Of Joh n s on s Rambler Nor
,
’ ’

t
.
, .

is not to exhibit a bold portraiture Of he passions is the style Of Juniu s with all its strength and
t
of en thrills the heart wi h touches o f exqui s ite pungen cy adapted to the ends Of public speak t ,

,
,

painting With a n ethereal delicacy and eleva ing The d iff erence bet w een the most studi ed
. .

tion of sentiment to which Sha k sp e a r e was a S peeches o f Burke and those Of Chatham illus , ,

stranger it combines a more perfect command o f trates what I mean The former scarcely r e
,
.

the English language as to copiousness and har ce i v e d attention from the hearers ; the latter
,

q u r g f rm t th rt th l g l
tt umd tlv m ght p rfhurm h by v y t m t mr p drt g t
In i in in io n f is i ca th ubj t th r mu h th r
thu m p g m D yd
a o so eo o is f t r ut h ,
ac o , On is s ec , e e as c o as e e is
s en s i e or a se r i ce , at o n ce i o an t o
f sias m i n t he f o llo w i o f
o en g e ra r en z

Th r p t th r d t t g b r
,

tA m l gt th dl trvp g fmr m t d w tht f pth l

he
ran s a
se
io n
e s an
o f
d t he
se e c
c c
a s sa
,

e s,
t he s
o
s e
t he
a ic
a n ci e n
ea in
a
an

e rs
d
.

G t l y
ee
gl d d o e s, in ee is an a es o n ,

p t th
o n
ll ut u t mp
e se
Jrm l e se e t o be e n io n e i s e ci a
fi tt lmft j ty th b ght
T he
r e e ce
in
,

th up
l
I

t da , an d En
in e ss
an
f
, di d a o rn .

Aug t Ch ry t m f rm d t gu h d
re s ec o se i s ri o s co n e o rari e s , e o e , Ba s i ,
rs o o o u s r a sse ;
—i n
l gus in
l tt
e
r
,

f v
an
d p w fu
d so s o ; t he t w o o er is i n is e
fm k th rtd juld d f thf rm r
T he
Th e
n ex in
o r ce o f
a e s o , t he as .

l qu an d l
fo r e e a n ce , a n d t he t w o a e fo r a er i o er n a ur e co n o ar er go ;
”
e o e n ce .
To a e a i ,
s he o in e t he o e tw o .
 LEC TURES ON H O MILETIC S

he is utterly de s titute o f skill to commu i cate Doub t less most men o f taste have observed an n
his knowledge to others important change in the general characteri s ics
. t
The capa city o f writing well is not gained by of Engli s h style s ince the tim e o f Addison O ne .

accident n o r by miracle li ke every other valu fact may g o far to account for this chan ge At .

able attainment i t is the result o f labour And that day readers w ere few and books were in .
,

he who acquires the habit o f yielding to his demand alm os t exclusively for the use o f intel
reluctance in this case to say the least greatly lectual men , No w all the world read ; and , .
,

impairs hi s prospect o f usefulness if he does not aut horship consulting the state o f the market
chain himself down to obscurit f o r life The accommodates itself to the taste o f all the world y ,

.
, ,

man who would become a writer must write ; if The fact that such a progress is going o n in the
hi s mind s lumbers if his deli cacy o r indolence diffusion o f knowledge among all classes is
n
, , ,

starts back he must apply the spur He must be o n e in whi ch every phi la thropist and especially
n
.
, ,

able to control his faculties and apply them t o every Chri sti a w ill rej oice But while it is , , .

hi s obj ect not by fits and intervals but w ith a re a sonable t o expect that a thous a nd fold more
, ,
-

steady patience and perseverance I would a d boo ks will be ushered into the world than in f o r .

vise every man w ho is destined to the mini stry mer age s the great mas s o f these probably wi ll
through his whole preparatory course and eve have but an ephemeral existence and after their , n , ,

after it frequently t o place him s elf under the brief day being written only for the moment
, , ,

pre s sure o f such an urgent necessity to write as will be forgotten It is probable t o o that among
n n
.
, ,

shall secure him from the da ger o f eglecting t hese there will be very few o r none o f tho s e
his pen great elementar y standard works which not
n
.
, , ,

The influence o f pr a ctice o n despatch i co m only survive the fluctuations o f caprice and o f
t
, ,

p o s ition deserves also t o be mentioned Sup

, occasional excitemen s but are held in growing .
,

po sing the general habit o f writing with f acility estimation from age to a g e This immortali ty o f
y
.

to be acquired the rate at which a man ma authorship depends n o t o n popular s ufir a g e but
t
, ,

proceed in a given case will ordinarily be acce

,
o n the j udgment o f the few w ho read wi h dis
,

le r a t e d in proportion to this facility Much will crim inating taste and whose award o f merit .
, ,

depend indeed o n familiarity with his subj ect always slowly pronounced is when distinctly
t , , , , ,

o n he kind o f subj ect he has in hand o n the pronounced always irreversible The pitiful sum
t
, , .

interest it awakens in himself and o n the sta e given for the ori ginal copyright o f Paradi se “
o f his animal and intellectual system The ”
,

ost is too familiarly known to be repeate d . L

operations o f mind in this cas e are governed by he n s ; and to this day that work has n o t been
t
, , , ,

laws which subj ect them to he same varieties and for most obvious reasons it n ever can be a
, , ,

as attend other operations in the physic al o r popular work in the s a me sense that many a ,

intellectual world As the speed o f a mariner work o f modern romance is pop ul ar Yet when
. .
,

depends o n wind and tide o r o f a traveller o n all these multifarious volum e s like successive , ,

the condi tion o f his road and the strength o f his swarms o f summer insects sh al l have been swept ,

limbs so the rapidity of a writer is much af fected away by the breath o f time thi s great work o f
, ,

by circumstances In this res pect t o o there is Milton will remain an imperishable monument
t
.
, , , ,
’
doub le s s a d ifference in the structure and habits o f its author s genius S o the writer o f the Iliad
, .
,

o f di ff erent minds though held in comp a ratively low esteem by his

.

Johnson has often been mentioned as an exam contemporar ies has been honoured through all
t
, ,

ple o f rapid writing In o n e day his biographer succeeding ages as the Father o f Poe ry
.
, , .

says he wrote twelve octavo pages and in

,

another day including part o f the night he wrote,

e en
ro u
ea y o n s co n e n f o r Ho m e r d a d
i c t he li v i n g Ho me r b e gg d h s re a ,
SThv ghw whlth ht w t d ’
e

i b d ,

forty eight pages And it is certai n that m any

-
.

o f his compositions which bear the marks o f But the Christian minister ought to look above
m
,
and beyond that literary i mortality which is
g reat labour were written in such haste as n o t ,
conferred o n the principles o f a merely un s a n ct i
even to be read over by him before they were
fi e d taste The day i s coming when the author
printed But it shoul d be remembered that Jo hn
.
.
'

sh i p The D a i ryman s Daughter will confer ’

of
s o n had trained his mind to a peculiar discipline .

His habit was to think aloud ; t o look through a reputation o f higher value than that of the
more S plendid effort s o f genius
“ The JE n e id
”
hi s subj ect and arran ge his thoughts and ex
, “ ”
,

pre s sions He made little use o f his pen till he and The Iliad What have these done to .
.
,

had form e d and polished large masses by con honour the true God o r to promote the immortal ,

tinned medi t a tion and wrote his productions interests o f men ? It by no means follows be
t
af er they were completed ”
Thus t he act o f cause,

Theb
Statius
ai s
”
and
employed
.

irgil wrote
twelve
his
years
heroic ,
o n

poem
hi s
at V
writing was l i ttle more than the transferring ,

the rate o f o n e line a day that the pen o f the

from his m emory to his paper a composition
already finished in his mind That the repu t a Christian preacher ough to be govern ed I do t ,

not say in all its movements but in any o f its

.

tion o f de s patch was n o t an obj ect o f ambition ,

t
wi h Johnson is evident from his very decided ,
movements by the same principles
Y o u will ask m e then can he a dopt an y rule
,
.

remarks o n this subj ect ; in which he says that

this ambition appears in no ancient writer o f as to t he proper degree o f rapidity i wri ting ? n , ,

any name excep Statius and that he as a can re m o t i n a se rm o n y i c he i s e t o ro uce a n d d ll g b wh h w h d p d

,

d i d a t e for lasting fame chose to have it known d i d r o u ce ,

o er u u i c i m re s i o n I n a n o e r cas e
,

pp dt h lf p w thf l p bl d g p v t g t th p p
e

, a
,

s .
,

that he emplo y ed twelve years on his he s n a a mo n i re a i

o f a si n
an d in e s i a io n e a
i n a s e r m o n ; y e t he
d
e
w t g
t g p hth g h gl h d wp thp t
n n , r

f v td v g y t o t he
t d
rat ri in e ea o r

A ri e n o f m i n e i n t he m i n i ry o f n o o r i n a ry ra n k co ul at a y ime re c a o o d s rm o n i o n e d a y a n d
p t th th w t g
s n a e

r i n a n d i n ca s o f m e r e n cy W o e o ur f o r r e a r a i o n
,
,

as t o in e n i e e i us s e n r e e mo n s ln n ,
i e e , i n .
 A ND PRE AC HIN G .

Keeping in view the remarks already mad e I ill on your o w n genius Nothi ng is denied to w ell w
t t
.
,

only add by way o f reply le him avoid the t w o directed labour nothing is t o be obtained wi h
t ,

ex reme s of over exactnes s a n d of heedless haste out it Impetuo s ity and i mpatience of regular
-
,

. .
,

There is a kind of mental paraly s i s which li n application is the reason why many students ,

gers around a subj ect in exce s s ive caution as to disappoint exp ec ta tion a n d being more than
t t
, ,
”
he choice and dispo s i ion o f words b u t aecom
boy s at sixteen become le s s th a n men at thirty
t t
, , .

p li she s no hing The writer who s its wi h his Gentlemen though I have alread y dwelt at so
t ,

L
.
,

eye s clo s ed or looks at the wall o f his s udy much length o n the di ff erent topics o f thi s ec
t t t t
, , ,

hour af er hour wai ing for the inspiration s o f ture I cannot close wi hout adverting to ano her
genius will never grea ly benefit o r harm the
,

t
as pect of the s ubj ect which presents in a strong
,

world by his produc ion s While your mind is t

light the obligation o f young ministers to aim .
,
,

warm in your subj ect and yo ur inventive powers at the attainment o f skill in writing I refer to
t ,

n
.

t horoughly awake he further you can drive the intelli g ent cast o f the age a d t o the in flu
your pen at one s i ing the better provided al ence o f the press
,

tt ,

t t , .

way s hat you kee p wi hin pro p er limits o f s afety It was always a truth o f importa nce but is
,

a s t o menta l o r an i mal exhaus ion If yo u he s i

more eminen t ly so now than in any past pe riod t ,

t
.
,

ate as to the choice o f a word never stop amid since the world began that s kill in wielding the , , ,

the full imp uls e of thought to consult your di c pen is moral power If used aright it i n v ar i a
t W
, .
,

t i o n ar y ; b ut mark that word t o be di spo sed o f bly confers respect on i s po sses sor hen we , .

at s ome moment of lei s ure see a perfect clock w e kno w that the maker
t
.
,

O n the con rary there is a kind o f hurry in acquired hi s skill by studying the theoretic
t , ,

writing which de s roys the balance o f the mind principles of his art and by much practice ; and , ,

and le a ds to the utterance o f half formed that the same man who made this can make -

thoughts or clothes impor ant thoughts in crude

, a other So when we see a finished composition t n .
,

and obscure language This may arise from a we know at once that it was produced by some
t t
.

real want of time to do what never hele s s mu s t gif ed mind accustomed to writing and able to , ,

be done and that within determinat e limi t s It

, write again So spontaneously do men judge in . .

may ari s e from an injudicious tasking o f the thi s manner that a very short piece like Gray s ’

t y
, ,

pen to fini s h so many pages by such an hour Elegy some imes co n fers a literar reputation
whe n the mat er in hand requires ten time s the t
o n i s author for ages
,

t ,

thought and caution that would be requi s it; o n B ut the respect which attaches t o the capacity
another subj ect ; o r it may ari s e from hat pride o f writing well and the-same is true of S peaking t , ,
o f despatch to w hi ch I have lately alluded and understood in the l a rge sen s e for the communi , ,

which Horace ridicules in the vain poet who cation o f thought is of a higher sort than that
“ t
boas ed how many verses he had made whi le
”
which belongs to any other e ff o r t of mind In
,

stan d ing o n one foot the imitative a rts as painting for example a
.
, ,
A s a n a p p e n da g e t o t he f or e go i n g he a d I w i ll
man may attain a good degree of celebrity with
a dd a fif h a n d t
fin a l di r ec t i o n L W Y S T E IT
li le more than he capacity o f cop ing well A A AK
,

tt t ,

FO R G RA HA
N T E D T T WH Y O U W RI TE I s AP Writing demands native resources t depends AT ,

C A .

B LE o r ME D M E T A N N o n talent and di s cipline A happy accident led

.
.
.

I do not mean that whatever you write to the dis covery of the mariner s compass and ’

,
through life mu s t be correc ted ; but that your the teles cope but no accident contri buted to
early habits of exactne s s ought to be and produce The Paradi se o s t ” which was in the
may be s o formed by proper industry as to strictest sense the result o f inventive genius
, L , ,

, , , .

supe r s ede the ne cessity o f all material co rr e c Hence the character of a nation depends e s
tions In forming such habit s respectable men s e n t i a lly o n her literary men ; because the ve r y
t
.
,

adopt di f f erent me h o ds O ne commits to paper exi stence of these implies maturity and di st i n c
t
.

a rough a n d rapid outline o f his houg hts always tion in other respects be cause the fame o f her
t
, ,

relying on his second draught for the completion o her great men her warriors for example must
of his work Ano her endeavours t o make the be perpetuated chi efly thr ough her writers and
. t , , ,

original copy of hi s thoughts as perfec t as po s s i becaus e her books are a truer standard o f intel
, t
ble wi h the intention o f revi s ing but not of r e lec ual greatn ess than her looms or commerce , t , , ,
composing it as a part o f the primary labour of or military achievements Sooner woul d Brita in
t
, .

his pen The former method has some a d v a n part wi h the fam e even o f her Marlborough or
t
.

tage s when here is a sufficient command o f Nelson than with that o f her Newton o r B a con
, , , ,
time and a call f o r great exactnes s but my o w n or M i lton
w
, .

experience ould lead me to prefer the latter as The application o f these general remarks is
t he permanent habit of o n e ho is presse d wi h eas y C hristian ministers now coming o n the w t
t t
.
,
he mul iplied engagements of the mini s try No stage should not only a cquire the power o f .
,

young man however s hould s hrink from the writing well but should us e thi s power for the
, , , ,
labo ur of r e writing his earli er compo s itions glory of God and the good o f men The com
-
, .

when he can unque s tionably make them better b i n e d influence of the pen and the pre s s is the
t
by he process Af er an interval has elaps ed most as toni shing moral machinery that ever was t ,

t
.
,
s u ff i cien t o e ff ace the partiality w hi ch he fee ls set at work in thi s world It is opening a new .

at first towards the phraseology that he has em aspect on all the aff airs o f men The question .

ploy e d to expre s s his thoughts he can revie w i s settled t o o that thi s m a chinery will be kept in
t he com p o s i ion and correct i t s faul s tactive operation for good o r for evil in eve r y
,

t .
,

,
,
Sir Jo shua Reynolds addres s ing young men civilized community Greece and Rome in , .

o n a kindred subj ect say s Have no dependence their glory had no press : and w hi le thi s fact ,
 L EC TURES ON H O MILETICS

certainly contributed to the perfection o f their and scientific m a nner aimi ng both in s entiment ,

public S peaking we cannot but wonder how and expres s ion to be simple seriou s and pra e
t
, , , ,

hey accomplish e d what they did without the , tical Inde e d the obj ect I have in vi ew requires
.

art of printing . me n o t so much t o discuss disputed principles

,

But the intercommunication o f thought is no relative to pre a chi ng as an art o r science as to , ,

longer restricted t o impressions to be m a de o n spread before your minds thos e pl ai n solemn ,

popul ar assemblies n o r t o oral addresses in any views o f this great work whi ch may as s ist each
y
, ,

form The i nfluence o f the press can reach o f you in his preparator eff orts to be come a
y
.
, ,

every man at his fire s ide and at ever hour o f ,

workman that needeth not t o be ashamed rightly ,
”
the day it can carry hOp e to the peasant s cot ’
dividi ng the word o f truth Debarred as I am .

tage o r thunder the note of al arm to the ear o f

,
from access to books o f reference except a very ,

princes As by the power o f enchantment it trans

.
, few that I have with m e from my o w n library * ,

fer s the thoughts of one mind to millions o f other I shall o f necessity give you the results o f my
, ,

mi n ds by a process silent and rapid as the winds o w n reflections rather than the theories o f others

t , , , .

tha sweep over a continent ; o r like the light o f The firs t cha r a c t e r is t i c of a go od s e r mo n o n ,

day whi ch traverses the nations by a succession w hich I a m a bo ut t o e n la r e i s T H A T I T S H O ULD

g
,

almost instantaneous The bo ok that w a s printed BE E VANG L E IC AL , ,

L
. .

last month in ondon is reprinted perhaps thi s , To do j ustice to my o w n vi ews o n this sub
month beyond the Alleghany Mountains
,
. j cet it will be proper to state what I mean by
Young men ! destined to act for God and the evangelical preaching and then to show that all ,

church in thi s wonde r ful day think on this sub preaching ought to possess this char a cter
, ,

HA AN C R ACH N
.

j cet Recollect that religious magazine s and I W T I S E V GE LI AL P E I G ? I

t
. .
,

quarterly j ournals and trac s o f various form , , answer it is the same as is sometimes called
,

will control the public sentiment o f the millions “preaching Christ a n expression by which
who shall be your contemporarie s and your suc the apo s tles meant not chiefly preac hing as
t
, ,

ce sso r s on thi s s t age of action for e ernity To . Christ hi mself did and as he comm anded minis ,

whose manage ment shall this vast moral ma ters to preach but especially preachi ng so as t o
t
,

chinery be intrusted if the educated son s of the , exhibi Christ in his true charac ter as the great
church the rising ministry of the age will shrink obj ect o f faith and love The same meaning is
t
.
, ,

from he labour and respo n sibility o f the mighty “

sometimes expressed by the phrase preachi ng ,
” ”
enterpri se ? Learn t o us e your pen and love to ,
the ‘ cross and preaching Chr ist cruci fied
, .

use it And in the great contest that is to usher

. The s i mple fact that Jesus o f Nazareth was cru
in the triumph o f the church — let it not be said ,
cifie d is but a small part o f this meaning ; t his

that you were t o o ti mid or indolent to he ar your fact w as unquestionable and could never have ,

been either a stumbling block o r foolis hness -

to Jews o r Greeks But as the apostles referred .

t o thi s fact it stood for a s y stem o f faith that

,

was repulsive to human pr i de As they used

n
.

LE CT URE XVII .

la guage Chri st crucified included all that i s

G N RA L HARA R
E E O F R ON C C TE I STI C S SE M S.
,

implied in s alvation by grace It is the sum of .

H Y HOU L V ANG L A L
T E S D BE E E IC .
Christianity Accordingly preaching the doc
”
.

trine s o f grace is another phras e equivalent t o

,

”
preceding course of Lectures o n Preaching preaching the cro s s .

comprises a brief view o f the History o f Every science is built o n elementa ry facts ,

Pulpit with such directions as I thought proper

,
which must go together and mus t be fully e xhi
to give respecting the choice o f texts and
,
bited to teach that science with success The .

subj ects ; the general principles to be observed gospel as a complete system o f tr uth has its
t
, ,

in the plan and execution of a regular di s co urse ; o w n e s sential principles ; and without he clear
t
toge her with some remarks o n the style o f the exhibition o f these the gospel cannot be preached
pulpit any more than geometry can be taught hile its w
t
.

But as an instructor o f those who ar e to be essen ial principles are denied or overlooked
t
instr uc ors o f others in the w a o f salvatio n y , W hatever propos ition in t his s cience you under
my work is by no means finished when I have take to prove you cannot proceed o n e step
pointed out the proportions the structure of p arts
,

except o n the admission o f he principle s o n

,

t
t
, ,

and he di s position o f materials which a s k i lful ,

which the science is built Just so in preaching .

preacher w i ll employ in the composition o f a S in the gospel Suppose the doctrine o f atonement
.

gle discourse There are ce r ta in great p r mci is your subj ect how are y o u to proceed ? O f
O

. ,

ples o f preaching which remain t o be discussed , , course y o u mu s t admit man t o be i n a state o f

and which open a wide field for o ur contem pla ruin ; rui n from which he need s redemption ;
tion To some of these great principles WhI Ch
. , ruin so de s p erate hat he could not redeem him t
are independent o f all the local and t emporary self If saved at all it must b e by the interpo s i
.
,

usag e s that human caprice ma y prescri be to the

,
tion o f a n all s uffici e n t vicarious sacrifice If -
,
.

pulpit in d iff erent countries and

,
j u s tified at all it must be freely by the grace , ,

pose now to c all your attention In exh i b i ti ng . o f God So it is with other s ubj ec t s The
. .

those general characteristics which I think Chri s doctrines of g race mus t go together ; you cannot
tian s ermons ought to po s sess and which I hope ,
t
con s i sten ly admit o n e wi thout going the leng h t
may be always predominant in the preach i ng of o f the whole syste m .

those train e d for the sacred o ffice in o ur Semi

y ,
,

nar I shall avoid every thing of the te chnical Wri tt en o n a so u th r t ur

e n o .
 A ND PREACHING .

Accord ing o he s e view s I need not take up t t There is o n e caution growing out of the s e
t ime in sho ing that s ermons in which t he doc w remarks which if I mi stake no is practically t
t t
, , ,

trine o f he atonement and o her e ss ential doctrines important to students of this semina in re s pect
t
of he go s pel are avowedly di s carded or decidedly to early eff orts in sermonizing he n e v e r I
'

t
.

overlooked come altoge h e r s hort o f evangeli cal - have obs e r ved a young m an from pride o f t a lent
preaching But i i s to my p ur p o s e t o remind t '

o r fastidious taste o r what is probably in mo s t

,

t
.
, ,

you in his connexion that even among minis cases the radical defect a low state o f pers onal
t ers who s e general view s of the gospel are cor
,

piety attempt to make what i s called a great

,
,

rect there is much preaching which cannot be

,
sermon ; I mean when the eff ort is by cecen , ,

called evangelical I would n o t say o r imply t r i ci t y o f subj ect o r matter to exhibit his own
t
. ,

hat every s ermon ought t o di s cus s i n set form genius o r erudition I have alway s obs erved that
t ,
, ,

s ome essential principle of Chri s tiani y ; but e f fort to be a failure and someti mes a grievous ,

every sermon ought to exhibit the spirit o f one And I have been ashamed and mortified
t t t
.

Chri s iani y and t o derive i s appeals to the ,

t o see the same principle exemplified in mini s ters
heart from the motives of Chri s tianity It is . of full age and I might add exemplified more
, ,

not enoug h that it inculcate what is bo th true t han once in my o w n experience So true is it
t
.
,

and important ; for thi s i may do and yet de , that when m in i s fe r s do not m ake it their simple
”
s erve not t he name of a Christian sermon My obj ect to preach the truth as it is in Jesu s Go d
t
.

meaning may be i llustra ed by familiar historic will withhold from them the ordinary tes timonies
examples Socrates taught the being of a God o f his ap robation
p and among these he con t
t
. , , ,

a n d the doctrine of immortali ty and e ernal retri scious s at i sfaction o f success in their labours
II We a r e t o cons id e r t he ma i n p os i t i o n of t his
.

b ut i o n Cicero taught tempe rance benevolence

C N U T
.
. , ,

trut h ju s tice & c Seneca enforced the sam e L ec t ur e n a me ly t ha t ALL P RE A HI G O G H T O

VA N G L CAL
, , .
, ,

dutie s by grave le s son s drawn from the dialectics BE E E I

t
.
,

of he schools Now suppose that you urge the .

, Several topics that might properly be intro
same topics in the same manner from the pulpit d uce d under this head will be reserved for
nt
.
, ,

Is it Chr i s tian preaching ? By no means The a o her place The considerations which I have
t
. .

hings taught are true and im p ortant ; but the now to suggest are chiefly two .

S p i rit the motive s the tendency are not Chris

, , , .1 Tha t e va n ge li ca l p r e a chi n g mig ht r e a s o n a bly
tian Yo u have delivered such a sermon as Paul be e xp e c t e d t o a ns w e r be t t e r t ha n a n y o t he r t he
w ,

W ,
.

could not have delivered con s i stently ith his gr ea t e n ds of p r e a c hi n g hat are these ends ?
t t
.
,
“
solemn purpose not o know any hi ng but The glory of God in the sa n ct ifica t i o n and salva
Jesus Chris t and him crucified ”
,
. tion o f s inners Ho w then are sinners to be .
, ,

Do I mean then t o find faul t with a mini s ter , ,

s anctified and sav e d ? By knowing and em
for preaching on the ex i stence o f Go d t he i m , bracing the sys t em o f truth which God has
mortality o f the soul or the dutie s o f temperance revealed in t he go s pel and commanded his min
t
, , ,

truth and justice ? Certainly not Bu I mean i s t e r s to publi s h And can it be that the system
t
. .
,

that he should preach these s ubj ects not as a which infini e wisdom has devised for a given ,

heathen philosopher ; preach them not as inde , purpo s e is no better adapted to promote that
,

pendent o f the Christian sy s tem but as parts o f purpo s e than an opposite system or no system
t hat sy s tem ; so that all his arguments and
,

,
at all ? Will men be induced to receive and love
,

motives and exho r tations s hall be drawn from

, , the doctrines o f g race by the influence of that
the authority and exhibit the S pirit of the gos , , pulpit whi ch never exhibits the s e doctrine s ?
pel The mini s ter who believes the divine all
. Will they be induced to flee for refuge to the
s u ff i ciency of Christ as a Saviour and the a b s o cro s s by preaching w hich never urges upo n them
l ute dependence o f sinners o n hi s atonement
,

t
Chris and hi m crucified ? ”

and the e fficacy o f the Hol Spirit for salvation y ,

,
L et us now glance at some of the principal
can hardly preach a s ermon on any occa s ion o r points of the evangelical s ystem and see why ,

s ubj ect without s howing that he does th us b e these are adapted to give special interest and
lieve O ne o f o ur venerable di vines * has well s uccess to preaching

t n
. .

s aid
“ Fai hful mini sters never preach mere Thi s system shows me that with God the
,

philosophy n o r mere meta physics nor mere heart and not as they are presumingly inclined
n
, , , ,

morality If they di scus s the being and p e r f e c

. t o suppo s e the external conduct is the sta dard
, ,

tions o f Go d the works o f creation and provi o f moral character

t ,

t
.

dence he powers and fac ul ties of he human It show s them that the heart o f the un s a n ct i
,

soul o r the social and relative duties they con

, ,
fie d ma n
is en irely sinful ; that it is his own t
s ider all these subj ects as branche s o f the one heart and he is per s onally re s pon s ible to God for
,

comprehen s ive system of the gospel Hence .

,
all its wrong aff ections that etern al death is the
when they preach u p on the i nw ard exerci s es o f ju s t desert of every sinner be cause the law which
the heart hey repre s ent love repentance hum i t “
he has broken is holy just and good and o n e ”
,

, , , ,

t
, ,

li t y s ubmis s io n sobriety & c not as mora l vir whi ch he is bound to obey perfectly an d wi h all
t L
, , , .
, ,

ue s but as C hri s tian grace s And when they

, . hi s heart et us pau s e here for a moment The
. .

di s course upon moral topic s they inculcate the above doctrine s if they are solemnly urged home
duties o f rulers and subj ects of paren s and t upon the conscience it is easy to see must make
,

children masters and servants by motives

,

t
men feel guil y and therefore feel unsafe They
, ,

t
, , .

dra wn from the precepts and sanctions o f the mu s t di s urb the deadly insen s ibility in which
go spel careless men love o repo s e and produce solici t
t t t
.
,

tude and alarm Bu let hem be a ught and let

t
.
,

E mm o n s . them embrace any s ystem o f lax heology which , ,

 L E C TURES ON H O MILETICS

allows them to deny their o w n depravity o r , tem i s attend e d with a salutary and sanctifying
ascribe it to Adam o r Satan or God ; let t hem , , e f fic a cy whi ch belongs to n o other system The
, .

become persuaded that sin is m e rely human que s tion bec omes o n e o f hi storic al v erity o n ,
”
infirmity and that s inners are but the fr ail and which the proo f is so ample and triumphant as
n
,
,
”
erring children of their heavenly Father for s o , greatly to exceed the limits that ca be allotted
m en have often been in s tructed from the pulpit t o it in this discussion
k
, .

and they feel no trembling apprehension o f the The ground which I ta e is that Go d has usua lly ,
”
fire that shall never be quenched no deep ,
-
attended the faithful preaching o f the go s pel with
”
solici t ude to flee from the wrath t o come a s ignal success through the influence of his own
t
.
,

But to proceed w ith o ur enumeration t he Spirit and tha he has thus set upon it the un
n
eva gelical system s how s men that fro m the , questionable and special s t amp of his own appro
fearful curse and condemnation which rest o n b a t io n In proof of this the recorded experience
.
,

every transgressor of the di vine law no o n e can , o f the church may be adduc ed in o n e accumulated ,

escape on the ground o f any satisfaction which and overwhelming testimon y If this cannot be
,

w
.

he him s elf is able to make It S ho s them . es tablished by an unbroken li ne o f facts from the ,

that Christ has interposed for the rescue o f ’

apo stles da ys no point can ever be proved by
t t
, ,

lost men from this desperate condi ion by the his o r y

W
, .

sacrifice of himself on the cross ; that repent hat w as it that occ as ion e d the first great de
ance and faith are now the indispensabl e and cle n s i o n fro m the spirit o f godl iness in the pri

imme d iate duty o f ever sinner t o whom the y m i t i v e church ? The simple gospel as it was ,

go s pel is know n ; but sti ll that the stubborn preached by Chri s t and the apostles w as obscured
t
hos ility of the carn al mind to thi s gospel I S such
,

, by adm ixtures of human speculations e s pecially

,

,
,

tha t no sinner will cordi ally embrace it except , the theories o f the Platonic philosophy Inste a d .

through the s overeign heart subduing and trans ,

-
, of Chri s t crucified the subtleties o f the schools ,

forming influence of the Holy Ghost . gradually came to occupy the pulpit Serm ons .

Take the foregoing particular s and follow them , were moulded o n the elaborate precepts o f Grecian
o ut in reference to the principle I am i llus t r a t
, oratory The spirit o f piety w as supplanted by
.

ing and suppose the combined influence o f these love o f novelty and by the vagrant dreaming of
t
,

tru hs to bear down upon the heart and co n

,

mystical theology founde d o n the gros s e s t per

W
,

science i n the w eekly ministrations o f the pul

, version o f the s a cred oracles hat w as the .

pit and it will be most ev i dent that the hearers

, , con s equence ? When this wide door was opened ,

o f s uch preaching can hardly remain in total i n Pelag ianism and Aria nism rus hed in lik e a flood
di ff erence to religion The direct tendenc y is t o .
, upon the church .

make them solemn and anxious ; t o S how them No w let any hones t man acquai nted with his
, ,

their dependence o n a j ustly o ff ended God and -

tory be put to an s wer the question Who were
, ,

to keep constantly before the mind the great the great moral luminaries that beamed upon the
question Am I in a state of s a lv a t i o n o r a state
, , world through seasons o f intervening da rkne s s ?
,

o f wrath ? Such e ffects may be reasonably ex and he cannot fail to nam e such champions o f
p e ct e d to result from preachin g w hich exhibits the evangelical fai th as Athanasius Ambrose
with power and pungency the holy strictness of Augustine Chrysostom af erwards Bernard
, t ,

,
,

t he la w the love o f a bleeding Saviour ; and

, ,
Hu s s Jerome o f P r ague Wickliff e and the con
, , ,

paradoxical as it may seem to unbelief the doc stellation o f illus t ri ous reform ers in the time o f
trine o f election o r t he ab s olute dependence o f
,

L uther
n
.
,

the sinner on sovereign mercy a truth which I , ,

am sorry to believe is o f late comparatively little
urged from o ur pulpits I say again let a mi a is
The sanctifying influence o f eva gelical senti
, ments is exhibited in the character o f the Engli s h
Puritans Neal in hi s history g ives the follow
t
. .
, , ,

ter build up his hearers in a half way religion ; -

ing strong tes imony : They were the mo s t r e
let him te a ch them that the law originally de ,
solved Prot e stants in the nation z ealous Calvin
manding perfect holine s s i s mod i fied now to suit ,
i s t s ; w arm and aff ectionate preachers They .

“
the lapsed condition o f sinners ; that to puni s h ”
were the m ost pious and devout people in the
them eternally for c asual aberrations would be
“unmerciful tyranny
land ; men o f prayer in secret a d in public as , n ,

that the go s pel is a s che me well as in their families T heir manner of devo .

o f commiseration which regar ds men as wretch ,

tion was fervent and solemn dependi ng o n the ,

ed rather than as guilty ; that God requires them ass is tance o f the Divine Spirit They had a pro
t
.
, ,

not to repent immediately bu in s tead o f imme ,

found reverence for the holy name of God and ,

diate repentance to use mean s and d o the best ,

were great enemies n o t only t o profane swearing .

they can in their helpless condition ; let him but to foolish talking and j e s ting They were .

teach them thus and they become environed with ,

strict observers o f the Lord s day spendi ng the ’

a triple wall o f bra ss to repel evangelical co n v i c ,

whole o f it in public and private devotion and
tion O h ho w dreadful must be his reckoning
.
, ,
char ity It was the di stinguishing mark o f a
.

when it shall appear that these immort al hearers Puritan in these times to see him going to church
, ,

may have followed every direction o f their S pirit t w ice a day with his Bible under his ar m ; and
,

ua l guide in e v ery punct ili o and yet be etern a lly

, ,
while others we r e at plays and interlude s at ,

shut out from hope and heaven ! revels o r walking in the field s o r at the diver
, ,

But we need not rest this argument on any a h sion s o f bowling fencing & c o n the eveni n g
t
.
, ,

stract tendency of evangelical preaching for ,

o f the Sabbath these wi h their families were
,

2 A n o t he r s o ur c e o f e v i de n c e r e ma i n s w hi ch i s employed in re a ding the Scriptures s inging

FC
.
, ,

de ci s i t e t he e v id e n c e o f
, A T S From this it a p .
p s alms repeating s ermons catechi s ing their
, ,

pears that the preaching o f the evangeli cal s y s

,
children and prayer ,
Nor w as this the work .
 A ND PR EACHING .

tence t o j udge o n the subj e ct no o n e can di s pute

n
, ,

say s , There are a great ma y places of wor

shi p i n this ki n gdom wh e re the Socinian and
n
Ari a doctrines have been taught till the con
,

g r e g a t i o n s are dwin d led away a n d here are ,

,

t
scarcely enough left to keep up the form o f

Similar results are witnessed on the conti nent

t he evangelical sy s te m o f Europe A traveller who re s ided for a time
tt n
. .

The s a e of the church in later periods co -P

at G o ttingen where lax theology has posse s s ion
t
,

firms the same sen iment A competent j udge .

, o f the pulpit says that where he attended , ,

though by no means parti al t o Whi t efield and chur ch there were almost no hear ers and the
t
his as s ocia e s said The revival of he doc r ines t t
,

doors were locked to prevent heir es cape t ,

t
, , , .

“
o f grace was the great obj ect o f
,
heir labours . There are here he adds seven churches , , ,

Their pre a ching had a mighty influence in turn o f which only o n e has a second service on t he

n t
,

ing many from the power o f Sata un o God, Sabbath ; a n d only one clergyman can be said t o
as well as in awakening a general attention to have a n audience In a venerable church near .
,

religious subj ects They were themselves dis . my abode I counted o n e Sunday about thirty ,

tingui s hed for the mo s t pa r t by pec uliar persons besides a sm a ll school of children O n
tt , , , .

sanc i y o f l i fe by superiority to the world ; by a dull sabbath my at t e ndan t told me he had

n
,

much integrity ; and by unwearied zeal a d b een at church ; I as ked how many people w ere
diligence in the i r profession Their conduct . there ? He said there were three be s ides him ,

still more than their doc trines served to r e self Accordingly the sabbath is a day o f
t
.
,

prove the whole body o f l ukewarm minis ers amusement and business Except in hours o f
t t
.

”
in he es ablishment A learn ed infidel says . worship shops a r e open as on other days Even
, , .

of the modern Calvinists and Janseni s ts that clergymen when the s ervice o f t he morning is
, ,

t
,

over consider that there is no far her bond o n

,

the i r conscience ; and common people are seen

rigid and re s pectable virtue s ; that they have dancing and drinking .

been an honour to their o w n age and the Facts o f the same bearing o n my mai n p oint
t t
, ,

best model f o r imita ion t o every age suc might be mul ipli ed without end ; I am however
ce e d i n g
”
Dr Pr iestley admi ts that hey“
t aware beloved pup ils that the detail is already
t
. . , ,

hold he doctrines o f grace have le s s apparent ,

more than wo uld be proper did I n o t wish to ,

conformity t o the world and more o f a principle ,

leave on your minds o n e strong practical i m ,
”
o f rea l religion than his o w n followers ; and pres s ion namely that God gives success t o no
t , , ,

that hey who “ from a principle o f religion other preac hing but that which exhibits the
t
, ,

ascribe more to God and less to man than o hers , plain S imple truths of his gospel such as the
, ,
”
have the g reat est elevation o f piety He . lost condition o f man by nature salvation by ,

ascribe s what he calls the cool and unbiassed grace only through the atoning blood of Chri s t , ,

temper o f Unitarians to their beco ming more and the s anctifying influence of the Holy Spirit
L
.
,
“
”
indi ff erent to religion in general in all its , So di d Knox atimer Howe O wen and , , , ,

modes and doctrines and a ccounts for the fact B a x t er preach Of the last Dr Bates says .
, .
,
”
that their s o cieties do not flourish by saying Kiddermi nster before hi s coming there was
t
, , , ,

tha “their members have b ut a slight attach like a piece o f dr and barren earth but by ,

ment to them and easily desert them ,

. the bles s ing o f caven o n hi s labours the ,

Job O rton in his o ld age warning a yo ung

, , face o f Paradise appeared there in all the frui ts ,
”
mini s ter against the loose moral s train o f pre a ch o f righteou s ness So did Edwards Bellamy
t
.
, , ,

ing s ays tha ministers who have adopte d this Davies and the Tennants pre a ch those lights of
t
, , , , ,
“
‘

have brought their congrega ions into a wretch the American church and instruments o f her
t
,

ed s ate In several o f this neighbourhood

. , glorious revivals of religion in the last century , .

there are not now as many scores as there were So have the fathers o f the New England
t
,
”
hun d reds i n their meeting place s fif y years ag o ,
. churches generally preached So may t he young .

“
But I never knew he adds an i nstance ”
hera lds of the cross train ed for their holy work
n n
, , , ,

where the minis ter was a pious serious eva in o ur beloved semi ary preach whi le t he s un
n
, , , ,

g e li ca l preacher but hi s cong r egation kept up , , a d moon end ure .

though death and removals had made many

breaches in i t .

P u th dr l
Ra i s e m e b ut
g v v ry h d w
h ll p
ba r n i n t he e
r h
i e m e a m a n , w ho s a
s a o o f St a .

u fi d w th th g rgy wh h
’
a l s ca e a , an d e ac
Bogue and Bennett in their History of Dis s o me
p g th
Chr 1 s t cr ci e ,
l ul t d
i
w in o f t he e n e i c t he
,

senters say that where a minister has been e m e i s ca c k

t h tll fv r p r r wd d l ttthrw r h g t p whl l
a ll i n s i r i n a e t o a a e n ; a n d yo u
-
, ,

an i evangelical “ his congregation has fallen s a s e e t he o me c o e wi a m e ar s , i e t he

t
-
,
“ m a i n s a n d e s e r s o f t he a e , i f t he o s e b e n o t
into decay hat where Ariani s m filled the
pulpit it invariably emptied he pews and that t pr ghthy ddth dr Jh ll h u t d
e ac e e e , s a
—
t tu
b e c a n e t o t he s a e s o f t he

t mi a me : S e r mo n bef o r e t he L o n d o n M i s
" ’
, ea
“where Socinianism found an en rance its
.

s zo n a r y S o ci e t y

t
, .

”
operations were quicker s ill often reducing ,

“ flourishi ng societies to a few families ”

and ,

sometimes tran sforming what had been the

hous e of prayer into an undisturbed abode o f the
t
,
”
S piders and he bats ,
.

Andrew Fuller whose candour and compe , ,

 L EC T URES ON L
H O MI E TICS

hould in eres t There perplex t hose w hom we s t .

LEC T RE XVIII
U is a great deal of dif ference between their ad mi r .

E E G N RA HARA R
LC CTE I STI CS F SE M S ing
mons
t he preacher and being e d ifie d by his ser
”
O R ON .

.
,

I N the foregoing Lectur e I endeavoured to 2 A s e r mo n t o be i n s t r uc t i v e mus t be P E R

t AN UA
, .
, ,
show hat from the nature o f the c ase and from S P I C UO U S I N M E TH O D AN D L G G E
, , ,
, .

the actual state o f facts in the hi s tory of t he O n the advantages and kinds o f divi s1 ons
t
,

church we have no reason t o expect the bless prope r in di s cours e s from the pulpit and he
,

i n g o f God o n any preaching bu that which is principles by which such divis ions should be t ,

distinctly evangelic a l But other things ar e c onducted I have expressed my views at large
t
.
,

requi s ite to con s titute a good sermon ; and I in discus s ing the s ructure o f sermons I w ill .

sh a ll now consider at some length only add in this connexion that t o g ive in s tru o
CN n
, ,
,

A S E O D ge n e r a l cha r a ct e r is t i c o f a go od s e r tion at lea s t to common mi d s without a good

mo n w hi ch i s T HA T I T M UST B E I ST
, ,
C T I VE degree of lucid arrangement in the things taught N RU .
, ,

,
For the sake o f method I Shall inquire is quite impos s ible That such ar rangement
HA N S US
, , .

.I W T T HI G A B E RE Q I I T E t o r e n de r a should prev a il in a sermon is jus t as i mport a nt , ,

s e r mo n i n s t r uc t i v e I mus t repeat as that the hearers should under
n
'
.
,

1 In the first lace the I say it must have stand tha t sermon and remember it Fo r as
.

p , , , .

a subj ect that i s i mportant ; a subj ect which sur e d ly unless they can follow the preacher
, , ,
spreads before the hearers some seri ous truth to step by step in som e intelligible train of thought , ,
be believed o r duty to be done o r danger to be they will understan d nothing and o f course r e
, , ,

avoided So obvious is this principle that to member nothin g t o any valuable purpose ; in
.
, ,

dwell o n it o r even to mention it would seem other words they w ill g a i n no instruction
, , , .

superfluous were it n o t that many a discour se

, That the language o f a sermon should be
has been pre ac hed in which it is apparently the intelligible is so plai nly essential to its being
t
, ,
obj ect o f he preacher n o t so much to enlighten instr uctive that n o enlargem ent o n this head is
, ,
his hearers as to any o n e thing to be believed called for except to refer you t o observations
, , ,
o r done or avoide d as to fill up the time allott e d which I have m ade o n style and t o thos e which
t n
, , ,

to a sermon I by no mea s follows that a ser I shall have occasion to mak e o n the indefinite
.

mon is a good o n e because you can state in a and the direct manner in preachi ng L i ke Paul
, .
,
word o r in a short sentence that it is o n the
, I would rather speak five words in the church , , ,
subj ect o f repentance o r faith o r humility ; but with my understanding that I might teach
n n
, , ,

it cert ainly follows that it is not a good o n e if others also than ten thousa d words i n a un
t
nei her they who hear it nor he who delivers it known tongue ”
, ,

UST
, , .

can tell conci s ely what is its subj ect I have
heretofore ad verted to the common mistake o f B E RI H I N M A E
3 Tha t a s e r mo n ma y be i n s t r uct i ve I T M
C TT R
. .
,
.

y ou n g pre a chers in selecting such general sub An important subj ect it may have and lucid
n
, ,
“ ” “
j e ct s as , the vanity o f t he world the uni arrangement o f plan a d p ersp i cui ty of d iction ; , ,
”
versal desire o f happines s & c o n which a man and yet it may amount to ht t le more than a tame , .

of genius and o f experience might indeed give t o and sterile succession o f remarks in which the ,

an as s embly many profitable instructions but to preacher seems to have writte n at great leisure , , ,

do which wo uld cost him three times as much such thoughts as happened t o come to him ; or
reflection as would be requisite to preach well el s e to have made copious transcripts from his ,

o n some specific point o f faith o r practice reference Bibl e ; presuming that such extracts
t
.

The apprehension that o n a subj ect o f the from the sacred pages whe her pertinent o r not , ,

latter kind the stoc k o f materials f o r a regul a r t o the case in hand must be profitable t o the
, , ,

di s course wo ul d be t o o soon exhaus ted often hearers It is truly lamentable that the liberty
, , .
,

leads him w ho has little skill in sermonizing t o of quotation from this treasury o f sacred know ,

select a subj ect o f so much scope that he might ledge should ever be so abused by the dulness o f , ,

nearly as well ha ve n o subj ect the preacher as to render even Scripture n o t .

,

But whether the subj ect be general o r specific profitable either f o r doctrine o r reproof o r i n , , , ,

it should be important For a man who is str uction in righteousness . .

commis s ioned to preach the everlasting gospel Want o f matter in a sermon from whatever
y
, ,

to pass over all thos e topics whi ch involve the cause the deficiency ma arise dimini shes its ,

highest interests o f hi s hearers and gravely to value t o the hearers in point o f instruction If
t n
, , .

instruct them from the pulpit o n points critical the difficul y arises from want o f ative talent in , ,

s peculative o r merely curious is , to prostitute the preacher i f he is destitute o f inventive , ,

”
his noble office Such topics m ay procure a power there is no rem e d y Precepts and study
.
, .

temporary reputation to himself while he only may do somethi ng ; but the stamp of barrenness
w
,

amuses his hearers at the expense of their souls ill be fixed o n a ll the labours o f such a mind
W t
. .
,

Bishop ilkins w ho was a j udicious adviser in If it arises n o t from want o f intellectual capaci y
these matters says
,

Avoid all subj ects that but o f intellectual cultiva ion in he preacher t t ,

v
, ,

would di ert the hearers without in structing in other words if his di scourse s are barren o f , ,

them Never consult your fancy in this case instruction because he has him s elf a scanty stock ,

w t
.
,

but the necessities o f your flock I would rather o f acquired kno ledge the remedy lie s in s udy
t t
.
.
,

send away the hearers smiting o n heir brea s ts A mind invigorated and replenished by habi s of ,

than please the mo s t learned audience with a reflection and reading will impart its o w n cha
t t
,

fine sermon By discussing useles s questions r a ct e r to all its e ff or s That he stream may be
t n
. .
,

and things above their capaci ies we t o o often abundant and unfaili g it m ust flo w from a , ,
 L E C TURES ON H O MILETIC S

t
great tru hs o f religion O n the contrary the usele s s So it i s in the sys t em of religious doc
t
. .
,

man w ho f r o m aff ectation o f c o nstant novelty

‘
trines any one of these di ss evered from i s con
t
, , ,

shoul d te a ch his hearers the doctrine Of atone n e xi o n wi h the res t for example the doctrine o f

ment for example but once in his life migh as

, , , t election m ay be so di storted hat it v i r t ua ll
,
,

,
t ,

well never have mentioned it at all . ceas es t o b e true It is true in the connexion in .

4 Tha t a ser mo n ma y be i n s t r uct i v e , IT S MA which the Bible has plac e d it ; but apart from
H O ULD GE N E RAL LY
.

T E RI A L S S BE H RO W N I N TO
T that connexion it is hable to b e misun d erstood
T HE F O R D CU O N
M OF IS S SI IN D I S TI N C TI O N FR O M and to have all the influence of fal s ehood
,

D UL O Y M ANN R
, .

T HE ES T R E . T o preach t he go s pel in s tructively then is to , ,

My remarks o n this topic will be brief as , preach a ll its parts es p ecially its essential parts ; ,

partly superseded by those already made o n and to preach them in their s ymmetrical relation
Argument in Sermons There is indeed a d r y .
, t o o n e harmonious connected scheme Of religion , .

technical mode o f discussing subj ects which “

This will prevent that inconsi s tency whi ch runs
,

gives a logical air t o a di s course but w hi ch , through the whole cours e o f so me men s preach ’

wea ries rather than instructs the hearers The . ing who not only contrad ict in o n e discours e
,

formality o f propositions and corollaries is not at , what they have s aid i n another but say and n u ,
”
all the thing that I am recommending But it say the same things in the s ame di s course The
O
. .

is incumbe nt o n the preacher to give his hearers amount f my meaning is that n o single truth Of
substantial reasons for that which he urges o n the go s pel can be adequately taught from the
,

them as a matter Of faith o r duty The senator

,
.
, pulpit without being taught in i t s connexions
,

o r the adv o cate at the bar when he speak s ai ms , , with the general scope o f revealed reli gion ; and
to esta bli s h some point by reasonin g Why . the res ul t is that p ar tial and supe rficial preachi ng
,

should a Christian discourse be a mere d e cla is not instructive preaching Men may hear ser .

m a t o r y harangue not aiming to establish the , mons through a w ho le lif e which inc ulcate no false
truth Of any thing o r to m ake any definite , hood but o n the contrary exhibit in a deta ched
, ,

impression ? Will it be said that in the elo , way o n e principle after another o f true religion
, ,

u f the senate and the forum a r um e n and yet these h e arers may never acquire an ade
q e n ce o g ,

t a t i o n is indispensable because men will not act ,

qua t e knowledge Of a n y one doctrine Of the Bible .

till they are enlightened and convinc e d ? but The foregoing a r e s ome of the principal quali
that in the sanctuary the main obj ect is t o
, ,
ties Of sermo s necess a ry to render them i n n
pr o duce excitement and warmth ? O f what str uctive .

v alue is that w armth which is produced by the ,

mere v o ciferation o f a declaimer and which ,

vani s hes when the sound Of his voice ceas es ?

,

I n my Opinion o n e Of the greatest calamities that

LEC TURE XI X .

n
ca befall a congregation is to sit u der the
,

, n C HARA R C TE I STI CS O F R ONSE M S.

ministry Of a man who never discusses any sub

j cet in a regular manner nor attempts t o prove , I S H AL
proceed now L ,

any thing from reason and Scripture ; but gives II To looh a t t he r e a s on s w hy i t o ug ht t o be a

.

his hearers declamation instead o f Chr i stian p r omi n e n t obj e c t w i t h a Chr is t i a n p r e a che r t o r e n de r
instruction Such sermons if strictly un p r e
.
, his mo n s I S T
ser CTI E N RU V .

medi tated are more li kely perhaps to have occa

, 1 T ha t t his is his d uty, ma y be i n f e r r e d r o m
. f
sioual flashes Of vigour and vivacity than if pre , t he co n s t i t ut io n of t he huma n mi n d The service .

composed in the extemporary and desultory which God requires Of men is a reasonable s e r
,

mode Of writing In either case they will utterl y vi ce All the laws o f hi s mo r al kingdom are
t
.
, .

fail o f instructing the hearers adapted to the condi ion o f intelli gent moral
O
.
,

5 Tha t s e r mon s ma y be i n s t r uc t i ve T H E Y M U S T agents This kingdom is a kingdom f motives ;

D C N S t
.
, .

E X HI BI T I V I N E T R UTH I N IT S O N E XI O N and no action can pos sess a moral na ure except

nk
.
,

Men in general spontaneously read and thi as it resul ts from intelligence and pur po s e in the
,

very little o n r eligious subj ects What they know

,

mind Of the a gent The unders a nding here t t

t
. .
,

o f the gospel they learn more from the pulpit ,

fore is that leading faculty o f the s oul o which
,

than from all other sources No o n e sermon can . motives ar e a ddressed and through which their ,

contai n the whole o f Christianity ; yet Chri s ti influence bears o n th e heart and con s cience and , ,

a n i t y is a connected con s i s tent Whole which , , aff ections Whatever emotion o r action can be
.

mu s t be exhibited in part s ; an d no p a rt can be produced without any intel ligent voluntary p ur

full y understood except i n its rela ions t o the ,
t pose i n the agent must be as de s titute of moral ,
,

rest In every art o r science as I have before

.
, qualities as ar e the actions o f a maniac o r the ,

r emarked there are fixed principles which are to ebbing and flowing o f the tide But if men are
t
, , .

be learned di stinctly but which are inseparably , so made as to be influenced by motive s and h i s ,

related to each other A knowledge of that art . influence can operate only through the medium
o r science is a knowledge o f each part and Of its , Of light and conviction addressed to the under
relative bearings o n other parts O ne principle . standing then the s ermon that communicates n o
,

of geometry detached from the re s t signifies i nstruction is useless not being adapted to the
n n
, , ,

nothing ; the whole taken together constitute a constitution o f the huma mi d .

perfect science The wheels Of a clock viewed 2 Tha t t he Chr i s t ia n p r ea che r s hould a i m t o
y
. , .

apart from the whole machiner wo ul d appar , r e n de r his s e r mo n s i n s t r uc t i v e is e vi de n t fr om t he ,

ently have no de s ign ; and any o n e of the s e wheels ,

n a t ur e o
f t he o
g ps el W h at is the gospel ? . It is
indeed if formed by the artist without regard to
,
a s ystem Of evangelical truth ; a stupendous
its adaptation t o the rest would be altogether ,
scheme of mercy the great design Of which 1 3 t o ,
 A ND PREACHING .

ancti fy men hrough the truth The sword f the t O all t he fundamental principles o f t he gospel A
w t
s . .

Spirit by hich only the enmi y Of the human

, re s pected Englis h prelate * in addressing the ,

hea rt is slain and the moral temper is ren o vated clergy Of the last century sai d We have long
t t t
, , , ,

is the wor d Of Go d Bu how can divine truth been attemp ing to reform the na ion by moral
n
.

O p erate s o as t o e nlighten the conscience and preaching With what effect ? None O the . .

sa nctify the h ea rt unless it is dist i n ctly pre , contra ry we have dexterously preached the
,

sented to the mind ? If evangelical belief might people into down right i nfidelity We must
t
.

exi st without a k n o w le d g e of God and he Savi change o ur voice ; we must preach Chr i s t and
our why shoul d the go s pel b e preached at all ?
,
him crucified nothing but the gospel is the
Most e v idently when Go d sa n ct i fie s a human power o f God unto salvation
t
.
,

heart it is through the truth and he truth so 3 Tha t t he Chr i s t ia n p r e a che r s ho uld a i m t o
n
.
,

presented to the mind as t o be p erceived a d un ren de r his s e r mo ns i n s t r uc t i v e, is e v i de n t f r om t he

d e rs t o o d be s t exa mp le s of p r e a chi n g And here I appeal
What is the g p l ?
. .

I say farther it is a sys OS e at once to the great Teacher w ho came from

tem Of prac tical truths t
,

; in o her words a sy stem ,

God , the perfect patt ern Of a ll other teache r s .

of truths o n which is predicated a s stem o f When he entered upon his mini st ry fal s e reli
duties The end of faith is practice
. ence the . gions had enveloped the world in darkne s s A .

Bible attaches importance t o each truth which it thous and errors had overspread even the Jewi s h
reveals jus t in proportion t o he influence which t church His great Obj ect was t o dissipate these
t
.
,

that truth i s adapted t o e xert over the heart and errors and to enligh en men in the knowled ge
,

life It exhi bits no single doctrine as a matter o f

. Of true religion Take his sermon on the mount .
,

dry spec ulation wi thout reference to its bearing ,

f o r example and it is a continued serie s o f i n ,

o n the af fections and the conduct But it is only . s t r uct i o n s given o n most important subj ects .

an in telligent vi ew Of truth that can exert the i n Take the whole current o f his public discours es ,

flue n ce o f whi ch I am speaking The gospel for a s recorded by the evan gelists and as the basis
W
.
, ,

example requires me to repent hy do I need o f them all y o u find the fundamental truth s O f

t n
.
,

in ellectual light for this ? What is it to repent ? the go s pe l inculcated Amo g these I can ba rely
t
.

It is t o hate my own sins as being the t r a n sgr e s ,

m en ion without enlargement the d i stinct per
, ,

sion Of a perfect law Ho w then can I repent s o n a li t y in unity o f the Father So n and Holy
t , , ,

t
.
, , , ,

without a knowledge of my own sins and o f he ,

Ghost ; hi s o w n real divinity ; the sovereign y o f
la w that I have broken ? The go s pel enj oins God and the personal election to eternal life o f
t
fai h in C hri s t as a di vi ne and all suffici e n t -
,

those who are eff ectually called ; the doctrine Of

Saviour But how can I believe in him without
. vi carious atonement as the only ground o f f o r
k n o wi n that I need a Sa viour and that he i s , g i v e n e ss the necessity t o all men Of regenera , ,

such a a v i o ur as I need ? The go s pel enjoins tion by the Spirit Of God o n a ccount o f their
prayer ; but how can I pray accep ably t o a God t entire moral depravity ; the nece s sity o f repent
,

of w
hose character and will I have no j ust con ance and faith as conditions o f salvation ; the
ce p t i o n s ? Ignorance may be the moth e r o f such certain perseverance in holi nes s Of a ll true b e
devotion as w as o ff ered t o Diana Of the Ep he li e v e r s and the eternal punishment o f final
,

sians or the Unknown God Of the Athenians ; unbelievers As Chri st committed nothing to
t t
, .

but he wors hip which the God Of the Bible will writing himself o n e o f two things i s unques ion ,

a ccept is rational and s piritual It requires that able ; w e must rely with absolute con fidence on
w
.

the understanding as ell a s the aff ections , ,

the men whom b e in s pir e d to preach and t o write
s houl d b e employed Short of thi s whatever has his gospel— o r we have no gos p el n o w If w e
t
.
.
, ,

the semblance of Chri s tian devo ion is as un do rely o n these men the proof from the Evan ,
~

meaning as the ablutions o f t he Hindoo o r the g e li s t s the Acts and the Epistles that Chri s t did
“
, , , ,

sacrifices at Mars Hill ’

preach the above doctri nes stands o n o n e and the
n
.

A di s ti nction has often bee made between same footin g o f authority and that proo f is co m
doctrinal and prac ical preaching which is meant t p le t e It is the evidence o f testimony the same
,

t
.
,

to imply that mini s ers who dwell o n the great by which w e know that the apo s tles them s elves
truths o f Christia ity neglect to i culcate its n n preached the sam e system o f truths That they .

moral duties whereas the direct reverse is true did so y o u may see in Peter s preaching on the ’

t
,

when doctrines are exhibited in a proper manner day o f Pentecost ; i n Paul s at Antioch a Athe n s ’

t
. , ,

The only end of re vealed truth I say again is at Corinth ; in short throughout he whole
t
du y ; hence with Paul in s tructive preachi ng , ,
, ,

cours e o f the i r ministra ions The very end for

,

t .

w as practical preaching SO it was with Ed w ards which they were commissi oned w as to teach all
t t t
.
,

and Bax er Both were di s inguis hed f o r strong na ions the religion o f Chri s t And in all sub
O t t
. .

powers f argumenta ion b ut their di s cours e s sequent ages those w ho have been wor hy s ucces
never termina ed in speculation They e forced t n t
so r s of he apostles have been instruc ive preach t
t
.

the practical duties o f the go s pel by motives ers In short if the g reat end Of the Chri s ian ,

t
.

dr awn from its doctrines and adapted to bear , ministry i s t o save sinners by bringing hem to ,

down with a mighty efficacy on the heart and embrace the truth then preachers Of every ag e
lif e In this re sp ect their preaching bo h as t o t who have sought to amu s e their hearer s by
,

t t t
.
,

i s spirit and i s fruits diff ered widely from that appeal s to the fancy or to excite hem by a ppeals
t
, ,

of moral preachers s o c alled who labour with t o the passions without in s tructing them in he
no succe s s to regula e the ex ern al conduct Of
,

t ,

t ,

great tr uths o f the gospel have ut erly failed in

,

t
t
, ,

their hear ers because they leave o ut o f s ight , heir duty as guides t o souls and ar e not fit to be ,

My S rme o n at in s t ll t
a a io n Of t he Re v . D Oi . l ph t an . B h p L v gt
is o a in on
 LEC T URES ON H O MI E TIC S L
reckoned as examples o f good pre a ching Thi s as is adapted to gi ve them the i r mos t appropriate
O
.

leads to my next topic o f remark , influence o n the hearts f men I say this with .

4 Tha t t he o bliga t ion of mi n i s t e r s t o be i n s t r uc t no di s re s pect t o the charac t er Of British preach

FF C
.

i v e i n t he i r s e r mon s i s e v i de n t fr o m t he be s t E E T S ers in Or o ut Of the E s tabli s hment In this age .

of p r e a c hi n g i n t he con v e r s i on of s i n n e r s It is a . of Christian enterpris e they have form ed the

fair inference from principles already establi s hed van in the armies Of Emmanuel and nobly led the
t , , ,

that any sys em Of prea ching which leaves men way in that system o f unexampled e f fort whi ch
unacquainted with the vital truths of the go s pel prom is es t o us her in the millenni al triumph Of the
leaves them without hOp e and without G od in church . W
h itefield and the We s leys were raised
the world I shall o f cour s e be unders tood to
.
, ,
up to begin a reformation which has since been ,

speak o f tho s e who are ignorant o f the above carried forward by other instrumentality But .

truths t o such a degree as i s inconsi s tent with these m en were g ifted rather as fervent pulpit
the exercise o f Christian graces and also o f orators than as able instructors a d guides in the n
n
,

those w ho have both capacity a d opportunity to church They were not the fixed lights Of the
t
.

receive in s truction in dis inction from the case ,

fir m am e n t but meteors rather shot across the
, ,

o f infants and idiot s and perha ps Of individual heavens t o startle a slumbering world
n
.
,

exceptions which sovereig grace may make

,
If I mi stake not t o o many B ritish sermons o f ,

among the heathen But in respect to men o f the last age and the preceding have been essen
n
.
, ,

full understanding in a Chri s tian la d I suppose , ,

t i ally deficient in re s pect t o instruction To a .

it is self evident that no o n e can be in a state Of

- great extent they have indeed been evangelical
,

salvati on without doing what the gospel requires in cast ; but there is about them a generality a
and that no o n e can do thi s without know in g what want Of distinctness and point and power i , , ,
n
the gospel requires Ignorance o f the gospel exhibiting the truths o f the gospel denoting a
n
. , ,

therefore t o the extent suppose d must be in , ,

s a d declensio from the high ground occupied
,

such a case criminal and fata l by those sons Of thunder and sons Of consola
n ,
.
,

A hum a statute —book that shoul d professedly tion ”

th e Howes and Baxters and Jeremy
n
, , ,

tolerate in subj ects a deliberate a d voluntary

, ,
Taylors o f a former age Among the li ving .

ignorance Of its o w n enactments would be , preachers Of that country it is but j ustice to say ,

stamped w ith absurdity T o suppose then that .

, ,
that there are many w ho are eminently piou s ,

God has given men the gospel with all the r e ,

and some in whom such piety is associated w ith
q u i s i t e means for understand i ng it correctly and , t al ent and eloquence o f the first order But Of .

y et that they may be innocent o r safe in utter those few who have o f late years stood pre
,

i gnorance Of the truths and duties it reveal s is , eminent above the rest in public estimation I ,

t o suppose that the great Lawgiver t r ifle s with sho uld say that so far as their printed sermons
,

the subj ects o f his moral government and e u , enable us t o judge Of their preaching it is not ,

courages them to trample o n a ll its Obligations . generally such as we should expect would be
But woe t o that man who as an ambassad or o f , , fo llowed with a revival o f reli gion With much .

Christ proc ee ds o n such an as sumption as this ! that is attractive in style and even elevated i n
W , ,

hi le he fai ls to give his hear e rs evangelical sentiment they are after a ll wanting in a full
n
, , ,

instruction the ef fect Of his ministrations is not

,
exhibition o f Christian doctrines ; a d especially
t o save but t o de s troy their souls Let him look . wantin g in that plain downright application Of ,

to it how he shall meet the reckoning that these doctrine s t o th e consciences o f men which
t
,

awai s him in the day o f final retribution . leaves them without excus e as sinners .
,

But in this case a s in others the tendency o f , , That preaching whi ch represents sin as a w o
moral cau s es is t o be estimated from the eff ects ful calamity and sinners as Obj ects of compas
,

which they actually produce O n this principle sion n o t Of bl a me —that preaching which does
t
.
, ,

let he question be Wh at s ort o f pre a ching does ,

n o t carry home t o the conscience the charge Of ,

God most frequently bless to the convers ion Of personal guilt and the obligation t o immediate,

sinners ? and the an s wer will be found most co n repe ntance and personal holine s s has n o tendency
y
, ,

elusively in the histor Of the church especi all y , to rouse the soul from its slumber Of death .

in revivals o f religion Wherever such preaching prevails it is a r e

t t
.
,

O n this subj ect facts speak a lan guage not to m arkable fact which canno be too Of en sta ted
O
, , ,

be misunderstood It has be come an inquiry Of . that no genuine revivals f religion are found .

deep and s olemn interest with British Chri s tians , I say genuine reviv al s ; for I am well aware that
why the S pecial influences Of the Spirit so Often popular excitements without doctrinal instru o
n
, ,

granted to the churches o f this country are not tion may be called revivals a d that zeal with
n
, ,

equally enj oyed a mong themselves While it o ut knowledge may glory i the multiplication
O t
.

becomes us to b o w to the sovereignty f that Of its converts But such excitemen s are n o
t
.

grace which s a n ct i fie s and saves wi hout too , bles s ing to the church Like the earthquake .

fastidi ously attempting t o explai n its Operations , and t he whirlwind they m a ke a mighty co n cus
we know that it ordinarily Operates by mean s sion but God is not in them ; and when the
t
. ,

A revival Of religion is nothing more han t he agi tation subsides all is wreck and confusion , .

Spi r it o f G od giving to the great and peculiar Anger and clamour and evil s peak ing prevail
, , , ,

doctrines Of the go s pel their proper e fficacy on instead o f the fruits o f the Spirit ; y o ut h a n d ‘

the hearts o f men Why then are n o t such .

, , ignorance vaunt themselves over ag e and e xp e
revivals common in the Briti s h churches ? I r i e n ce ; and fin ally the ecstasy o f fanaticism
say frankly that in my Opinion the great and
, ,
sinks away into a cold and Of en lon g protr a cted
,

,
t
peculiar doctrines o f the go s pel are not commonly apathy to all religion Such revivals are the .

preached in those churche s in any such manner trium ph of infidelity and the death o f piety , .
 A ND PREACHING .

their mini s ter Pers onal a tac hment to a minis

The min is ter Of Chris t who s e ex p e ri ence and t
t
.
,

s ucce s s in such seasons has been grea er than ter from hi s hearers depends o n many t hi ngs
t t
, , ,

that of an o her man in modern ime s observed which ca nnot be noticed here ; but it f un d a me n ,

t o me tally depends o u their re s pect to him as their

have seen churches r un down by r e
t d excitements i C hr is tian instruc or
n which there w as emotion The way for a te a cher o f t
t
p e a e ,
.

merely wi hout ins truction In the first stage

,
mere children to stand high l n the e s timation . ,
” “
of a revival said he while depravity is yet Of his pupils is to create in them an ardent
, , ,

asc endant and conscience asleep in a congrega thirs t for kn o wledge and then to instruct them
t
, , , .

tion I would preach the law with its awful

,
Even animals ins inctively gather around him ,

sanctions and its solemn clai ms on sinners t o be who gives them food ; and when t he hun gry“
,

holy a n d that immediately But when the first

,
sheep look up and are not f they h ave but
. ,

movements o f a revival are past and s inners ar e little regard for their shepherd If a minister
n
.
,

settli ng do w o n presumptuous co n fid e n ce s I wo uld maintai n the respect of his hearers it is a

n
, ,

would pre a ch election max im whi ch I have n o fear Of repeating t o o

Conscience is the .

roused eno h t o m ake a cord which sinners Often whatever else he does o r neglec ts to do , , ,

cannot bre he must preach well

The i r o w n convi ctions are o n
n
.

my side so tha t they ca not escape ; and I would But the union o f a well instructed people is
n
, ,

hold them fas t a d repeat my strokes under the n o t mere attachment t o the ir mi nister ; it is
n , ,
”
fire a d ham mer o f divine truth grounded on an intelligent coincidence o f views
t n
.

re s pectin g divine tru h Ig orance is the parent

Pre s ident Edwards in hi s lette r to Dr C o l ,
. .

man resp e cti ng the great revi val a t No r t ha mp

,
o f prejudi ce and prejudi ce o f mistake and m i s , ,

t o n s ays :
,
take Of mi s representation
No di scourses have been more r e Hence men Often .

mar kably blessed than those in which the doc dispute fiercely respecting doctrines taught in
,
'
trine Of God s abs olute sovereignty with regard the pulpit because they have n o t even knowledge , ,

to the salvation o f sinners and his j ust liberty enough to be instructed It was in this way ,
.
,

with regard to answering the prayers o r s uc that some o f Paul s hearers slanderously repo rted ,
’

a n d af firm ed that he said

“ Let us do evil that
ce e d i n g the pains o f mere natural men continu
n
, ,

ing such have been in s is ted o n I have ne v er good m ay come Ignorance i reli gion leads
n
. .
,

found so much i mmed iate saving fr uit o f any to controvers y It makes men sa guine censo , , .
,

rions querulous Knowledge le a ds to candour

di s cours e s I have o ff ered t o my congregation as , , .
,

some from those words Ro m i ii 1 9 that every sobriety docility a n d I may ad d t o unity o f
t , ,

O ,
.
, .
,

m o n t h may be stopped endeavouri ng t o show sen iment The bj ect o f knowledge is truth .

from them that it woul d be j ust with God f o r and truth being invariable is a gr ound so f ar , , ,

ever to cas t Off mere natural men as it is understood o f coincidence in Opinion .

, .

These remarks doubtless coincide with the Let a hundred men be perfectly instructed as to .

experience Of pious ministers generally who any given truth whether in mathematics o r his
n , , ,

have been conversa t with revivals N O lasting tory or religion and so far as intell ect is con .
, , ,

and salutary e ffects are to be expected from ex cern e d the i r views o f that truth wi ll perfectl y
ci t e m e n t s in which s ir and noise are substituted
, t
coincide Independently then o f any wayw ard
,

for the sub s tantial influence o f Chri stian truth

influence from passion and prej ud ice which
t
.
,

But they who are converted under a m i n i s t blind the unders andin g from the obliquitie s Of ,

o f light and cordi ally embrace the go s pel wit the heart good men W 1 11 be agreed in religion
t ,
, , ,

a full unders ta nding Of i s doctrines have a reli

j ust s o far as they ar e thoroughly enlightened , .

gion that will produce the so lid fruits o f right O n this ground it is rea s onable to look for doc
e o usn e ss and will abide the day o f trial In
, trinal di sputes and for all he mischiefs resul ting .
,
,

t
this view I do not scruple to say for it is my from a controversial spirit among a people who
t
, , ,

deliberate belief that since the apo s tle s days have ei her no religious instruction o r only such ’

there has been no communi y in which the

, ,

as is essentially incompetent ; and equally rea t ,

, ,

general strain o f pre aching for S O long a periodsonable t o look for harmony o f views under the
t
, , ,

t o s o great an extent and with so few exceptions ministration s Of an able and fai hful pastor
, , .

has been as well adapted to promote true religi on It i s o n this ground t o o that we may look for , ,

as in the evangeli cal churches of New England str ength in a church Why must a divided . .

And if I were to name any one preacher from church be a feeble o n e ? Because among its
whom a young minister might be s t learn some members there is n o t only a want o f cO opera ,
-

Of the chief elements o f u s ef ul s ermoni zing

tion but there i s countera tion Division i s , ,
c
.

that preacher with his many faults of s tyle and alway s weakness ; but the convers e i s n o t s o
manner would be the elder Edwards Whi le invariably true When we say hat union is t
,

t t
. .

hi s taste w as vitiated by familiarity wi h certain

strength meaning moral stren g h we refer to a
great men o f the 1 7 h century e s pecially Owen t
union predicated o n knowle d ge Super s tition
, ,

t t
, , .

as profound a theologian but as bad a writer as may mul iply its votaries wi hout any s ub st a n, ,

an y age has produced his sermons possesse d the ti al acce s sion to i t s moral po w er The p lague
L t t
, .

three grand requisites o f good preaching
weight o f ma ter lucid arrangement and evan
in ondon that S pread deat h hrough he s treets
t
o f that great and guilty metropoli s — the earth
, ,
, ,

g e li cal warmth quake i n Syria that shook down towers and

.
,

5 The r e is o n e mo r e co n s i de r a t ion fr o m w hi ch I
battlements and buried thousands under t he
w
.
,

w o uld ur ge o n mi n is t e r s t he i mp o r t a n c e
ruins o f their o n habita tions brought multi
of i n s t r uc t i v e

p r e a chi n g ; a n d t ha t is I T S T E D E C Y T o P O M T E
tude s to their knees to b e g for mercy w ho were N N R O ,

T H E U N I T Y A N D S T RE N GTH o r T H E C C
,

unaccustomed to pray and cro w ded he churche s HUR H ,

t ,

t
.

Its tendency i s to m a ke a people un ited in w i h trembling suppliants who sought a refuge ,

 LE C TURES ON H O MILE TICS

from the pangs o f con s cience The s e s p o n t a

tt
.

neo n s movement s o f the mul i ude however , LEC TURE XX .

general were but the imp ul s e o f a s up ers titious

,

terror resulting from no intelligent views f O G N RA L HARA R

E E C C TE I STI CS O F R ON SE M S.
,

duty and a ddi ng nothing to the general a mount

, ON the general requisites to render preaching
o f piety . instructive and the rea s ons why it ought to be ,

Bigotry builds its faith not on evidence but s o I have pu r po s ely dwelt at considerable length

t
, , , , .

o n au hority or accident It believes without . So fundamental how ever to the work Of the , ,

conde s cending to tell the rea s on why or p r e s um Christian preacher is the duty of communicating
t t t
, ,

ing to know he reason Such I S he condi ion instruction that the di s cus s ion o n whi ch I a m
t
.
,

Of the uninformed mul itude 1 n Catholic coun
trie s but here too union is not s rength The
next to enter will exhi bit not so much a distinct
, ,
t . subj ect as an amplification Of the foregoing o r
,
, ,

motley host o f Midian and Amal ek could not a presentation Of it under di fferent as p ects
t
.

s and b efore Gideon with his little chosen band p r o ce e d t he n t o a third ge n e r a l c ha r a c t e r is t ic

t R N
.
,

An army o f Phili s ine s were routed by o n e re

q ui r e d i n mo n , me ly, DI E CT E SS
L
a ser na .

Sam s on O ne uther and one Pascal with the

. , My meaning is that it should be explicit b o t h , ,

mighty re s ources o f argument which they , in doc t rine and execution It has been well .

wielded w ere more than a match in moral

, , said that A man w ho walks di rectly though
, ,

power for millions deb a sed by the ignorance slowly towards his j ourney s end will reach it ’

and vas s alage o f Roini s h bigotry

, , , ,

. sooner than his neighbour who ru n s into every ,

But in any community where union i n r e li gi , crooked turning o r loiters to gaze at t r i fle s o r , ,

”
ous belief 1 s founded o n knowledge it is strength , . t o gather flowers by the way side -
.

Christians in such a ca s e can gi ve a reason o f A gentleman Of my acquainta nce who went to

L
, ,
.
,

their faith and hope Instead of implicit co n fi . the chapel o f the Rev Rowland Hill in ondon .
, ,

dence in some human oracle or in some system though he could not re a ch the interior Of the
t
of heredi ary belief like the noble Bereans they ,
,

, house o n account Of the crowd but listened to

, ,

search the Scripture s Hence in times o f trial .

, , the sermon through a window said that he felt ,
“ ”
they are stedfast and unmovable like men ; but o n e pr e dominant impression during the
, ,
“
and not like children t ossed to and fro and whole namely “ He preaches to me ”
How
, , , , .

carried about with every wind o f doctrine
Such Christians were the fathers o f the New
England churches The solid piety grounded
on an intelligent belief o f evangelical doctrines
. w as this impre s sion produced ? T he preacher of
S urrey Chapel has been distinguished for the
.
, habit o f seizing some prominent point Of reli gious
, truth holding it up in a clear light steadily fix
, ,

was a burning and shining light to the world ing o n it the minds Of his hearers and then ,

around them Such I rej oice to say have been .

, , applying it to their consciences He is a direct .

their s ucce s s ors in many o f these churches t o , , preacher .

this day I could point to honourable example s

. I will consider what constitutes directness in
o f churches thoroughly taught the great truths , preaching and then inquire why preaching ,

Of the Bible who have stood the assaults o f Often fails of possessing this character
HA CN U R N
. .

error in i t s mo s t imposing forms s tood shoulder I W T O S T I T TE S D I E C T E S S I N

,

R AC
.
,

to s houlder like an army with banners and , ,

P E HI NG ? I t con s i s t s i n s uch a n e xhi bi t io n o f
maintained unbroken r a nk s while the fiercest a s ubj e c t t ha t t he hea r e r s n o t o n ly un d e r s t a n d i t
onset from the enemies Of truth coul d not shake
,

B UT P E RC
,

EI V E IT TO BE P E RT I N E NT AN D IM
,

their faith . PO R T AN T TO T HE M S E LV ES .

I coul d point to mournful examples o f an If I were to address a mixed a s sembly o n ,

Oppo s ite character —where a church has be en so some abstru s e topic in philo s ophy like the Eng
t t
, ,

unfortuna e as to live unde r a p as or who did ,

lish preacher who delivered a s ermon on the ,

but half preach the go s pel ; and when that pastor science o f Optic s would a plain he a rer feel any ,

die d perhap s even in his li fe has become a prey reason to say “ ”

He preache s to me P Or if I '

Lt
, , ,

to grievous wolve s entering i n to devour the ,

were to speak in a in though the truths uttered ,

flock Bitter animosities and ruinous di v i s ion s

. were ever so simple and s olemn would that ,

have arisen till a minority o f the church have hearer say “He preaches to m e ? ”
If a child
been compelled to withdraw from he s anctu a ry
,

t ,

w ere to hear a learn ed di s cus s ion of some recon

o f their fathers and t o set up the standard Of the ,
dite subj ect in metaphy s ics would he s uppo s e ,

gospel in another place . that d is cour s e de s igned for him s elf ? In any
The origin o f these mischiefs by which o ur ,
such case how coul d a hearer feel h im s elf to be
,

churches of late have been s o extensively threat addre s s e d when he knows and supposes the
, ,

ened lies at the door Of minis t ers who have

,
preacher to know that he is incapable o f com ,

failed to preach the grand truths Of the go s pel ; prehending o n e sentence that is uttered ?
not indeed themselves preaching error but pre ,
If I stretch my hand towards a man at a dis
paring the way for others to inculcate Unitarian tance no s ens ation is produced in him by the
,

and Uni v ersali s t here s ies with a fatal success , . movement for I have n o t reached him But if ,
.

Thirty years ago if I mistake not the capital , ,

I approach him a n d lay m y hand on him b e , ,

truths o f religion were preached much more ,

in s tantly perceives that he 1 s touched S O if I .

frequently and more distinctly than now The only preach towards a man without reaching
t
,
. ,

fact if it is o n e deserves the solemn atten ion of him he feel s nothing ; but if I bring divine
t
, , ,

mini s ters But as I cannot proceed wi h this

.
truth into direct contact with hi s mind he i n ,

branch of t he subj ect here I shall resume it in a s t a n t ly feel s the contact He i s a complex
t
.
,

s ub s eq uent lec ure . being He has an understanding has a con

.
,
 A ND PREACHING .

science ha s pas sions If the sermon bears o n t

No hing short o f o mni s cience o r at least i a
t
.
, ,

hi s unders t an d ing he feels it ; i f it bears o n hi s , spira ion could authorize any one t o use t hi s so rt
,

con s cience he feel s it i f it bears o n his pa s s ions

, , of di rectn e s s in addre s s ing men But still every .
,

he feels it Of course if it doe s n o t touch him preacher of good common sense a n d tolerable
,

n n t ,
.

any where he has no sponta eous fee li g that it a cquaintance wi h hum an character may if he
was meant f o r hi m
,

. ch o oses to d o so find direct access t o he hearts ,

,

t ,

Now in some import ant r e s pects all men are o f hi s hearers To th i s principle I ha ve b e
t
.
, ,

alike In s trengt h and cul ivation o f intellect fore adverted w hen considering the conclusion
t
. ,

there is indeed great di s parity but every man of s ermons by showing how he agency o f con
t
, , ,

has a con s cience emo ion s passion s A painting , ,

. science is to be employed in making the applica
o n canv as of one face would not b e an ex a ct like tion o f di vine truth It was involved t o o in
t
.
, ,

n e s s o f any o her face ; but a painting in lan discuss ing the special interes t excited by that
n
,

guag e o f o n e heart i s sub s ta ntially a likeness of preaching which is stri ctly e v a gelic al i n di s
,

t
every o her heart A hundred men therefore .
,

, , t
ti nc ion from hat which is not The principle t .
,

under the s a me s ermon may e a ch o n e feel t hat it implies you will observe that while no i n d i v i
t
, , ,

is as well adapted to his o w n c a se as though it dua l designation is made by the preacher he

were de s igned for him only But a sermon to t
exhibi ion o f truth is so sk il q y adapted to the
,

t ,
.

pro duce hi s impres s ion must do t w o things it ,

b e a r e r that he feels hi mself to be as really a d
,

mus t clearly present to the hearers s ome subj ect dre s sed as though he were called by name .

which they see to be true and important and O ne more illus tration of my meaning will be
t t
,

s ho w hem its adapta tion to their o w n case My . s u fficient Whi efield w as a direct pre a cher
. .

mea ning may be i llustrated by examples The look o f his eye and the pointing o f his
w
.
,

Chris t was a direct preacher It as j ust in finger while some awful truth o f the Bible was
t t t
.
,

the way above de s cribed that he humbling tru hs uttered often hrilled through a thousand hearts
t
,

conta ined in his sermon at Nazare h rous ed the at once like a stroke o f li ghtning Suppose your
, .

prejudices of the hearers s o that they were self t o have been o n e among a crowded audience
fill ed with wr a h and that his parable of the t ,

lis t eni ng t o a sermon from him o n the omni

,

vineyard in another case made the Jews angry

, , , presence of God The subj ect is a general o n e .

“
when they perceived that he had s poken the yet its exhi bition is such that the truth comes ,
”
parable again s t them How did they know that home to e a ch b e ar e r with a solemn intensity and
tt
.

he mean hem ? He had not named them had individua lity from which there is no escap e
n
, .

”
ot preferred any accu s ation against them Yet . God sees me is the o n e a ll absorbing thought , ,
-

he did mean them ; and purposely drew such a of each mind As the sermon proceeds it tears .
,

repre s entation that their consciences could not aw ay every covering and demoli shes every re ,

fail of making the application to the ir o w n case fuge of s i n The adulterer who locked his door
t
. .
,

Chri s knew what was in man He compelled “

and waited for the twilight saying No eye shall
t
.
, ,
”
hi s hearers to feel that wi h the eye of omni s e e me trembles when he comes to feel that
science he looked directly into every bo s om and
,

Go d w a s t he r e
,

The hi ef who said Surely

,

t
w , , .
, ,
”
saw hat was pas s ing there It was i mpo s s ible the d a rkne s s s hall cover me trembles when he
t
.
, ,

that they s hould not feel hus when he answered come s to think of that omniscient eye which
a s he of en did to their t ”
inward thought s while
,

beheld the deed o f guilt and t o hear tha voice t

t , , ,

hose thoughts had not been expressed at all in which seem s to echo from the j udgment seat
t
-
,

words Hence it w as that the woman o f Samaria

. Can any hi de hi mself in secret hat I shall not ,
”
s aid to her friends Come see a man who to ld see him ? The man who defrauded his neigh
me all things that ever I did ”
Hence the men
,

bour by direct falsehood o r s kilful decep ion ; t

t
.

who brought o Chri s t a woman al leging against the hy p ocrite who assumed the mask o f religion
her a heavy criminal accus a ion were s truck t ,

to further his purpo s es o f iniquity ; the votar y of

t
dumb wi h confus ion by a di rect appeal to their
,

avarice ambition or sen s uality w ho suppo s ed

t t
, , ,

o w n bo s oms He hat is wi hout sin among you that the lurking abominations o f his heart were
t
le hi m fir s t cast a s tone at her Silen ly hey t t ,

known only to hi mself ; each o f these as the

t
.
,

wi hdrew one by one bei n g convin ced by their, ,

preacher goes on to exhibit an omnipresent ,

o w n consc i ence . heart searo b ing God finds hi mself stripped of all
-
,

Hence al s o the oung man w ho was very rich di s guise and s tanding naked amid the all per
and who came to C t t
-
, , , ,

hr i s t inquiri ng Wha v ad ing light o f tru h Nay before the sermon

t t t
.
, ,

I do ha I may inheri eternal life w as thrown i s fini s hed the sound o f the last trump s oun ds in
t tt
in o agi a ion by the simple reply Sell all hat t his ears he is arrai gned at the bar of God ; the
t
thou has and give to the p o or and come follow
,

books are opened ; t he s ecrets o f all hearts are

me ”
,

Nor w as hi s a random stroke ; for the t ,

revealed ; the righteous are ad judged to e v e r la s t

t
.

bolt w as directed with unerring aim to smite ing lif e an d the wicked t o shame and everlas ing
t
down he reigning idol of his heart Nay this
,

t
con empt
,

t
.
.
,

grea t Teacher from God s ome imes as s aile d his Why i s it that under a s ermon skilfully con
hearers by forms of addre ss s i ll more explicit t ducted o n hi s general s ubj ec every hearer who t t ,

t t t
, , ,

and direct han any tha I have mentioned : Woe has a con science feels the hand of he preacher
t
un o y o u Scribes and Phari s ee s hypo crites p r e s s ing h e avily on him s elf ? Ju s t becau s e t he
,

Ye serp ents ! ye genera ion o f vipers ! how can t ,

s ubj ect i s one n o t o f empty S pecula ion but of t

ye e s cape the damna ion of hell ? So he s ome t ”
w
a ful and univers al interest ; and becaus e he
, ,

time s direct ly applied he language o f consola
“
tion : Son be of good cheer , Daughter go in
t
t ”
t tru h is so exhibi e d hat every o n e mus feel t t , t
, ,
i t s ada ptation to hi s o w n case Thi s is directness .

peace . in preachi ng .
 L ECT URES ON H O MI ETIC S L
The way is now prepared to inquire ,
o ne carri es to extreme his conformity to the
II Wha t a r e t he ca us e s w hic h p r od uce t he
.
world another his seclusion and aus terity
, .

i n defin i t e a n d i n di r e c t s or t of p r e a chi n g Among unconverted sinners too we find , ,

Among these causes I wo uld reckon the fol great diversity T o one the influence o f instruo
t
.

lowing ion and example in childhood has been salutary ,

1 Want o f intellectual preci s ion in the S peak

.
to another pernicious ; one has b een tra ined up
er When the native structure o f a man s mind
.
’
in the school o f Christ another in the school o f ,

is so heavy as to impart a character o f imbecility Satan ; o n e is orthod ox in belief another s ce p t i ,

to its movements a corresponding indistinctness ,

cal ; o n e is solemn and anxious another a care ,

attends all hi s mental Operation s As the sun . less neglecter or hardened despiser o f reli gion ;
behind a cloud is to be seen but occasionally and o n e is addicted to prodigality another to par s i ,

obscurely so the thought s of this man are want

,
mony o n e to a n ostentatious gai ety and gross
in g in di s ti n ctness and vividness o f i mp r e s s mn . ness of sinful indulgence another t o s ullen and ,

Or the di fficulty may lie in the habits o f his solitary wickedness .

mind when there is no fault in its structure If

,
he has not been accustomed to systematic thi nk
ing or if he undertak es to di s cu s s a particular
,
subj ect t o which he has given no time for read
ing and reflection his serm on as a copy o f his
. But the indefinite preaching which I condemn
am algam ates all impenitent men under o n e
sweeping term s i n n er s w i t ho ut any adapta ion of , t
truth t o the great variety exi s ting among these
, ,
as to age temper i tellect knowledge and con , , n , .

o w n mind will con v ey no distinct instruction to

,
v i ct i o n s It may undertake to describe the
.

the minds o f others . char a cter o f a sinner and draw the picture of a ,

Such a preacher will make no thorough d i scr i demon o r o n the other extreme may repre s ent
mination of characters He will deal in general . this sinner as po s sessing a great prepondera ce
, ,

n
positions whi ch all perhaps will adm it to be true o f moral excellences
L
, , .

but which no one w ill appropriate t o himself Sup et the same preacher attempt to describe a
t t
.

po s e he m ak es the bro ad s atement that all men sai nt by exhibi ing the separ ate gr aces o f the
,

are s inners and does this clearly Not one of his Christian char acter and here t o o all is loose
y
.
, , , ,

hearers perhaps disputes this and yet not o n e

, , , and declamator Does he speak of religious .

appli es it to hi s o w n charac ter The sermon . j oy ? it is ecstasy ; o f contrition ? it is melan

m ay go still farther and divide the hearers into , cho ly ; of deadne s s to the world ? it is monki s h
two general classes saints and sinners and yet , , austerity ; of submi s sion ? it is stoical apathy as
le ad no o n e to m ake the solemn inquiry T o , to temporal calamities ; and as to S piritual it is an ,
”
which class do I belong ? A single colo ur of arbitrary test o f character which puts asunder
the painter indiscriminately spread over canvas
, , what God has j oined together holine s s and hea ,

may be very proper for certai n purpo s es but no ven Every delineation o f a tr ue Christian
t n
, .

o n e mi s takes such a painting f o r the likene s s o f which he at empts is overdraw The standard
t
.

a human being So the se r mon that consists of . o f duty he confounds wi h the measure o f a ctual
generalities without any exact deli neation o f
, attainment ; and thus makes s a n ct i fica t i o n as it ,

character awak ens no vivid intere s t it lead s no exists in this life to imply perfect conformity t o
t
, ,
”
hearer to say that mean s me , . Go d He pai nts a C hris ian and it is the hk e
.
,

But suppose farther that the preacher besides , , , ne s s o f an angel rather tha n that o f any imper
t he general clas s ification o f his hearers into saints feet son o r daughter of A d am No real saint .
,

and sinner s goe s o n t o show that the former will

, certainly would pres ume to apply the character
,

be happy and the latter miserable while he to himself .

makes no intelligible discrimination between the Now all this confusion in ,

two clas s es will any conscience be disturbed by

, from want o f clear accurate habi t s of ,

that sermon ? The grand i nquiry remains , in the preacher .

What is a saint what is a sinner ? T o s a y -

that o n e loves God and the other does not is a

n
true a s wer but t o o general , Among re al .
,

Chri s tians there is great diversity of char a cter , LEC TURE XXI .

arising from diversity of doctrinal views i n t e lle c

tual tempe rament at ainment s and habits O ne t
,
HARA R C C TE I S T I CS OF
"

SE R ON M S.

t D F N p chi g
.
, ,

is inclined to ultra Calvinism ano her to the IN E I I TE r ea n ma y a r se, i c d ly se on in

f m FA L S A P R ACH
-
,

oppo s ite extreme O ne i s strong and clear in his .

p ar t, ro E T STE IN T HE E E R.

reas oning powers ; another feeble and obs cure . Under the foregoing head I referr e d to want
One has made much advance in knowledge ; of logical exactne s s ; here I refer to deficiency
t
ano her little O ne is j udicious another indis . in rhetorical skill The former faul t lie s i n he . t
cr e e t on e ardent another phlegmatic ; o n e thought the latter in the expression Paul
t
.
, ,

gentle another austere o n e scrupulous another

, ,
says And even things wi hout life giving ,

sang uine and rash . soun d whether pipe or harp except they give a
, ,

A n d there is a corresponding di ff erence in distinction in t he sounds ho w shall it be known

s piritu al characteristics O ne is a fervent watch .
,
what is piped o r harped ? For if he trumpet
,

t
f ul Christian another lukew a rm and negligent . give an uncert ain sound w ho shall prepare h i m ,
o

One is cheerful another melancholy ; o n e grow ,

self to the battle ? So li kewise ye except ye ,

ing another declining ; o n e looks only at the

, utter by the tongue words easy t o be unders tood ,

state o f the heart another is strenuous for names how S hall it be known what i s spoken ? for ye
and forms o n e has t o o much a religion o f Opi
,

shall s peak into the air There are i may be .

, t .

nion another t o o much a religion o f pas s ion ;

, so many kinds o f voices in the world and none ,
 L ECTURES ON H O MI E TIC S L
-
the latter
“
incorruptible truthfulness —the
,
“
truth which he clothes with so repuls ive a
, n
former he was indignant
, the latter a -
, as pect .

f eeling o f indignancy came over him —the for But there is another extreme T he pre a cher .
,

mer hi s he a rt was stung with remorse —the

, through an amiable delicacy o f temper may ,

latter ,wi th unutt erable pai n fulness the feeling shrink from the explicit dec laration o f truths
”
o f remorse came over hi m T here is it must which he apprehends would awaken inquietude
n n
.
,

be confessed in the faul t I am describing an, , in his hearers He is relucta t to i n fli ct pai o n .

apparent aim to depart from the customary others

n
.

phraseology o f the best writers ; but a fie ct a t i o n Perhaps n o bett er illus t ratio o f thi s point
‘

o f peculiar i ty is n o t the mai difficulty Instead n . can be given tha that which is found in the n
o f a clear terse compact style there i s in the late Bishop Porteus a man ad mitted by all to
y t
, , , , ,

formation o f sentences a loose generalit as t o have be en o n e Of the brightest ornaments o f he

words and members Instead o f a meaning
,

English church h ile he doubtle s s believed W

t
. .
, , ,

s pecific and obvious so expressed that

y o u see all he great tr uths o f the gospel he t o o much
t
, ,

instantly and exactly what it is y o u see it submerged them in the generali ies o f a popular
n O t
,

i ndi s tinctly as y o u see the moo through a

, th eology s o that a distinct recognition f hem
,

dense mist . w ill rarely be found in the perusal o f his d i s

Would the time permit I might pr ope rly , courses He dwelt o n the wi s dom the duty the
.
, ,

apply the foregoing principles t o the us e o f satisfaction Of a religious life where a direct ,

figures in style the purpose o f which is often ,

preacher woul d have said, without ho liness no ,
”
frus trated by indistinctness The painter would man shall see the Lord
n n
. .

deserve little credi t who should draw the li k e A very ca did a d able reviewer Of his life in ,

ness o f a man so as not to be distin guishable the Christian O bserver says : He supposed t o o
from that o f an elephant In languag e it is a .
, much in his hearers the exis tence Of the qualities ,

maxim o f universal application that vivacity o f , w hi ch the Bible labours to beget He spoke com .

impre ss ion depends o n the precis ion and sp e mo n ly in general terms ; dealt much in the imper
ci a li t y o f the terms emplo y ed Change Mi lton s .
’
sonal verb much in the third person The man
, .

descri ption o f Sata n s sh 1 eld which hung o n o f mild temper wi ll natur ally in addressing an
’
,

t
, ,

his shoulders like the moon to th s form it i “ audi ence take refuge in general terms abs ract
k , , , ,
”
hung o n his shoulders li e a luminous bo dy ,
truths impersonal verbs th i rd persons and the
, , ,

and the figure is ruined And the bold compari . mixture Of general applause to the mass with ,

son o f the prophet The mountai ns skipped ,

the meas ured condemnation o f individuals .

like rams and the little hills like lam bs wo ul d

,
”
, Nevertheless such mildness has no prototype in ,

be divested entirely o f its picturesque character the Scriptures n o r is it con s onant to the dictates
“
if transformed into they moved l i ke a im als ”
n ,

Of enlightened humanity
,

e do n o t warn the W
n
.
, .

A figure may be so general as to express no r e ma wh o se hous e is o n fire by the ab s tract assu

semblance t o any thi ng and therefore be much “
rance that fire is dangerous ; by introducing
, ,

less intensive than a p lain w ord “

a third person an d saying he is in danger ;
t
.
, ,

Such are the ways in whi ch the preacher ,

by a dverting to those noble public insti ution s ,

through bad taste may be so indefinite in ,

the fire insurance companies No r mus t the .

phraseology tha t while his sentim ents and spi delegated apostle o f Christianity fail t o di scr i
,

rit are altogether good he ma ma e n o disti ct

,

, y k n mi nate t o individualise t o stri e home to draw

, , k ,

impression o n his hearers the line be twixt the form and spirit Of religion
C ST t
.

3 I n defin i t e p r e a c hi n g ma y a r is e fr om O N I to show tha t the best church cannot of i self

D AC Y T P R AM NT
.

T UT I O N AL E L IC o r EM E E I N T HE sanctify those who enter it ; t o speak as o ld ”

PR AC
,

E He may be wanting in boldness t o

HE R Baxter says lik e a dying man to dying men
n
.
,

utter sentiments which he believes t o be true to war rebuke exhort like o n e who expects to
n n , , ,

a d i mporta t . meet hi s congregation next at the b ar o f God .

There is I am aware a spurious boldness A s it was with this distinguished prelate so it

,

n
, , ,

which is neither conducive to the usefulness o f doubtless is in ma other cases A good de

n
.

a Chr i s tian preacher n o r creditable i any r e , gree o f correct belie and ze a l and spirituality ,

spect to his character There is a courage . may exist in the preacher and yet his sermons ,

which consists in ras hness which pu s hes o n , may fail to mak e any di stinct impression through ,

at random without regar d to time o r place

, , , an excess o f kindness o r an overwrought sen s i ,

o r occasion ; which sets at defiance the rules b ili t y whi ch d reads to inflict pain by a dir ect
of discretion and often o f decorum Some
, . n ,

a d pointed exhibition Of truth

“
.

times i t is m ere rusticity which falls o n t he 4 I n d efin i t e p r e a chi n g ma y a r is e fr o m t he AR

U A FR A A
.
,

most o ff ensive manner o f doing and saying S O L T E W NT O F PI E T Y O R O M L O W ST TE O F

things from ignorance o f what is becoming
, . PI E T Y I N T HE P E HE In the latter cas e w hile
”
R AC R ,

.
,

Sometimes it is an aff ected fidelity which ,

hi s pe rsonal religion is barely s u f ficient to secure
chooses to give o ffence and makes a merit o f ,
hi s o w n s alvation hi s preaching will do little t o ,

provoking hostili ty t o the truth by the form o f promote the salvation Of his hearers The m an
t
.

i ts exhi bi ion Sometimes it is native asperity whose governing principle i s love to Christ and
t
.
,

o r obstinacy which regards all respect for the

,
who solemnly believes hat his hearers m ust r e
feeli ngs o f others and all kindness of manner as pent o r perish will speak in demonstration o f the
pusillanimity A man o f thi s description may
, ,

Spirit and with power becaus e he mea s to be

,

n
t
.
,

be a very lucid and direc and yet a very un ,

understood .

profitable preacher ; f o r it may be easy to under But suppose the man to be influenced by su
stand him but hard to love him o r to love the
, ,
preme love to himself ho w will he preach ,
 AND PRE AC HING .

Perhaps he ente r ed the mini s try as a mere pro that outrag eously immora l me n of en lis ten to t
f e s s i o n to
incur the
1,

$
his living by it Wi ll he then
; alienating hi s hearers and los i ng
his place and his income by an explicit declara
.

,
such exhib i tions from the p ulpit with no inqui
etude o r if a y throb of con s cience i s fel r e t ir
in g from the s a ctuar they forget what manner
n
n y
t,

n
, ,

tion Of divine truth NO he does n o t mea to o f perso n s they are A general approbation o f
t
.

preach t he gospel so as t o be unders tood . what is right or condemna ion o f what is wrong , ,

Perhaps he is ambitious o f di stinction as a may have been awakened but that i s al l as

man o f learn ing and tas te Among hi s hearers
,

the parable o f Nathan to David would have bee

,

n
n t
.

”
he numbers families wealthy poli te i tellig ent , , ,
withou the application Thou art the man , .

fasti di ous whose refined s ensib i lities would be

,
Preachers defective in piety may use evange , ,

s hocked at the fa ithful portrai t o f their o w n cha li ca l terms as sin repentance atonement sancti
n
, , , ,

r a c t e r as s inners and the awful re t ribution that fica t i o n an d yet preach no si gle doctrine of the
n
, ,

awaits them here a fter Somethi ng of Chri stia gos pel clearly They often adopt a phrase
t n
. .

ruth they are w i lling to hear from the pulpit if ology so guarded a d general as not t o disturb
n n , ,

it is adapted t o their f a cy by elega ce o f co s the most fas tidious contemner o f the gospel .

tume and makes no stirring appeal t o their con Where Christ would say He that believeth not
,

science But can the man whose chief Obj ect is ”

shall be damned they speak o f the sa ctions
,

n
,

W
.

popular applaus e be expected t o sacrifice the o f Chr i s t i a n i t here this Divine T eacher
O
favour f these worldly hearers by preac hing would say ”
e must be born again they in eul
the gospel in a ma ner so di rect as t o be p r o fit n , ,

cate the im p orta ce o f moral reformation ”

n ,

n
.

able to t he poor and ignorant ? It i s n o part of Wher e Paul would say T he car al mind is
his design to carry the truth home wi h power t o t enmity against God they speak Of he lap s ed
,

t
the conscience ; he does n o t mean t o be understood state Of man ”
here he wo uld inculcate holi W ,

w
. .

A man ho wishes t o impres s o n other mi nds ”

ne s s they descant o n the moral fitness o f
n n
,
”
that which deeply interests his o w n will easily thi ngs a d the beauty o f virtue Nay i the
, ,

t
.
,

find word s s uited to his purpose Does the ac t o f quoting he apo s tle a fasti di ous preacher
t
.
,

s tarvin g beggar address y o u with studied ampli o f this s ort polished away the roughness o n he
fica t i o n s o as to leave y o u in doubt as to his in s pired text Make your calling and election
O ,

bj ect ? He comes t o the point at once and asks ”

sure by rendering it
,

Mak e your calling a d n

for bread Does the general i the heat Of
.
, n , ,

salvation s ure ”
.
,

battle when a ll is at stake o n a single charge

, , Such sermons have n o tendency t o instruct the
seek o ut the recondi te terms o f philosophy or , ignorant nor t o alarm the careless nor t o aecom
, ,

the embelli s hments of rhetoric in addre s s ing his p lis h any o n e purpo s e of Christian preaching The
y
, .

army ? No ; his l a nguage i s brief and di rect : advocate who should speak t o a j ur in lan guage
On comrades on I Jus t so the prea cher w ho
,
”
,
so indefini t e as purpo sely to make no distinct
firmly beli eves the mes sage o f the gos pel and ,
i mpression o n their minds wh i le hi s client is o n ,

solemnly feels i t s everlasting importan ce t o hi s trial for his li fe wo uld scarce ly be employed again
he a rers will deliver his me s sa ge plainly like a t n
in a y ca u s e Of magnitude The phys ician who
,

t t , .

man in earnest So di d John he Bap i s t He should seem to believe that there is no s uch thing
n
. .

kn ew that his life was in da ger fro m t he san , as dangerous disease among men o r who sho uld ,

g ui n a r y temper o f Herod But he w as charged barely talk of the benefits o f health to one in a
t
.

from heaven wi h a mes sage Of rebuke to that burning fever o r prescribe some palliative to a
t y man and he did not scruple t o deliver it m a n in the cons ump ion and the same to a man
,

t
fi
.
, ,

en John preached generally Herod heard “ in the dropsy would be thought as Baxter says
him gladly ; but wh en the fearless s roke was
,

t a sort of civi l murderer ”

,

.
, ,

aim e d at the con science o f that licentious king ,

Why then should he who ministers to souls
, ,
“it i s not lawful for thee to have thy brother s ’
t r i fie with hi s s acred charge ? Why speak o h
”
wife he behead e d the preacher s cur e l
, .
y when the truth to be uttered is clear
,

Let love t o God a n d t o souls and the solemn as the li ght o f heaven and the motives t o declare
anticipation o f m e eti g his hearers at the judg n ,

it plai nly are momentous as eter ity ?

,

n
ment be pre domi nant i n a man s hea rt and thi s
,
’

will s trip o ff from hi s sermons all the drapery Of

concealment a d a rti ficial ornament and lead n
him t o a p lain down right searching exhibi ion , ,
,

t LEC T RE XXII U .

of divine truth which will make his hearers

hearts b urn wi hi n them t ,
’

G N RA L HARA R
E O F R ON
E C CT E I ST I C S SE M S.

R remains more topic under the gene

.

But let the love o f hi mself be the ruling prin T HE E one ,

ci p le and this w ill probably give t o hi s preach

, h e a d of indefinite preaching whi ch it seems ,

ing some Of tho s e forms o f generali ty whi ch wi ll nece s s ary t o expand s o much as to make it the
frus trate all its salutary e ffects Perhaps it will chief subj ect o f the present lecture I proceed
n
.
.
,

transmute what should be a Chris tia sermon then t o say

, ,

into a frigid e s s ay The course of thought with 5 Tha t i n defin i t e p r e a chi n g ma y a r is e fr o m

N H R RA R
.
, .

the careful avoidan ce of all divi s ions o r obvious W R O G T E O Y I N T H E P E C H E A s T O T HE

ar ran gemen o f any sort flows o n in the unint ,

B E ST M O DE OF E X I B I T I NG I VI NE T T H H D RU
t e r r up t e d succession of sentences cons ruc ted
,

, t T his may occur perhaps in a given case n o t , ,

.

,
perhaps by the nicest rules of art ; but when the because there is any obvious deficiency Of taste ,

di scours e is ended nothing is proved ; no con o r discrimination o r boldness or piety in the

t
, , , ,

v i ct i o n no light no excitement is given or was

, , , dispenser of he sacred oracles ; but becaus e he
meant t o be given to any mind Hence it is , .
, honestly be lieves that men are les s likely to be
 LEC TURES ON HO MIL E TICS
converted under a di rect and explicit declaration Chr is t He did not repre s ent men as pr edi s po s ed
.

‘
o f Christian doctrin es th an un d er o n e that is t o love Go d so soon as they s hould s e e his true
,

character for this true character was t he v e r y

, ,

The principle assum e d to expres s it briefly 1 8 thing which they hated

’

, , Ye have bo th seen .

”
this That religious trut h t o produce any saving and hated both me and my Father This is
,

n , .

ef fect o n me must Operate a ccording t o the the condemnation that light is come into the
n
, ,
”
phi losophy o f the human mind ; and that t o ex world and men loved darkness ra ther tha li ght
n W
, .

b ibit this truth in such a man er that the e ff ect hen hatred arises from intellectual mi s appre
is to awake opposition in the hearers is o f n he n s i o n light wi ll remove i t ; when it ari s e s
n
1

! , , ,

course t o harden their hearts and co firm them

, , from the state o f the heart light w i ll increase it , .

in impenitence The ass umption i s in other

.
.
, I mean that while the heart hates the true
,

cha racter o f God clear er views o f that character ,

do not produce love but more hatred If the , .

Opposition o f sinners to God were only an intel

lec t ual mistake if it w ere only Opp osition to a ,

false charact er o f Go d it could not be criminal

y
, ,

for ever fals e c haracter o f God ought to be

t if y i na studied repulsiveness Of manner in the
g opposed But the di f ficulty with sinners in
y
.

pulpit But I regard the theor just mentione d ’

Isaiah s time was not an intellectual one — “ A
t ,
"

”
though i is embrac ed by some good and able deceived heart turned them as ide Just so it .

pre a chers as wrong in principle and as i n co n

, , w as in the time Of Chr i st If his hearers only .

s i stent both with the Bible and facts . needed to have the truth sk i lfull y set before
Fully to sh ow thi s m i ght lead to a discussion them t o love it why di d they often bitterly com ,

more extended than i s consistent with my pre plain under his sermons ? Did not Ch rist know
sent obj ect which is to suggest only those how to preach his o w n gospel ? Was it want of
thoughts that have a direct bearin g o n the point
, ,

acquaintance w ith the h uman heart o r o f s kill in ,

in hand . adapting his instructions to the real condition o f

I n t he first p la ce t he B i ble r ep r e s e n t s un s a n c t i men which led him s o t o exhibit the doc trine o f
n
, ,

fie d me n a s p r e disp os e d n o t t o r e c e i v e a n d lo v e di vi ne sovereig ty at Nazareth that “t he whole

O
, ,
”
t he t r uth but t o ha t e a n d p p os e i t
,
Every such . synagogue were fill e d with indi gn a tion ? Sup
man is an enemy to God In proof o f this I will . pose that this great Teacher had conform ed t o
cite but o n e text as a S pecimen o f the concurrent the theory that the gospel must be so preached
testimony Of the sacred oracles The carnal as not to be repulsive to depraved he arts the
n
.
,
”
mind 18 enmity against Go d To say that this . scornful and m align a t Opposition that was
refers only to J ews o r to men o f o n e age is to waged ag a in st him he wo ul d indeed have es caped
W
.

trifle with the pl a in import o f language for it , hy Just becaus e he would have gi ven men
clearly applies to men universally o f all ages a s y stem o f religion at once adapted to pleas e
n t
, .

Hence a S pec i al regeneration by the Holy Spirit

,
the 1 r pride a d to leave hem without remedy
,

is also taught In the Bible as universally neces , and wi thout hOp e in their alienation from God .

sary to qualify men for heaven ; because by He knew that the only way to save lost sinners
nature they have no holiness a d ever would , n n ,

was to show them that they were lost an d t o ,

have any if left to themselves mak e them feel their awful guilt and danger
y
. .

Ever such man loves himself supremely and , But this he could n o t do without di s turbing the
i s therefore opposed to the law which requires ,

him to love God supremely He loves s i n and

O
.
,

i s therefore pposed to the law which requi res ,

him to be holy and threatens him with death f o r ,

every trans gres s ion He loves tranqui llity in his .

unbelief an d is therefore Opposed to the al arming

,
“
denunciati o n Of the gospel he that believeth ,

not s hall be damned He i s proud and there .

,

fore is opposed to that whole system o f truth by rayed in a thousand forms o f inveterate ho s t ility
which the loft in e ss o f men is bowed down and t o Oppose its progress Indeed that this reli g ion ,

n
.
, ,

the haughtin es s o f men is made low and the in its primitive purity S hould have maintai ed
”
Lord alone i s exalted Accordi ngly this system
,

n
a existence o n earth in the face o f so much
,

t
.
, ,

of tru hs especially the doctrine o f personal Opposition and notwiths tandi ng s o many motives
t n , ,

elec io and t he soverei g nty o f divine grace

, ,
operating o n i t s teachers t o disguise its truths ,

when not disguis e d o r explained away by pre a ch and neutralize its character is owing merely t o
ers has been like the s ect o f the Nazarene s
,
“everywhere S poken against ” And can it be
, ,
the shield o f omnipotence i terposed for its p r o n ,

t e ct i o n
t
.
.
,

no t w i hs tandi ng all this evidence as to the native To the maxim then that to r epel the human , ,

temper of the human heart that it is predisposed ,

heart is n o t the way t o conver t it I reply by .
,

to lo ve the gospel if prope rly exhibited ? and
that all its oppo s ition to the truth arises from
the preacher s want o f S k i ll in presenting the
another max im— that t o appease the enmity o f
the heart by accommoda ing the go s pel to its
, t
’
tas te is n o t the way to convert it but is the
, ,

s y s tem o f Christian d o ctrines according to t he direct way to frustrate the saving influence o f
law s Of intellectual philosophy divine truth and to fix men in hopeless rej ec ion
, t
I n t he second p lace s uch a t he o r y of r e a chi n o f it Paradox as it may seem t o unbeli e f it
p g ,
.
,

ha s n o coun t e n a n ce fr om t he p ubli c mi n is t r y of ought to be n o mystery t o the Chr ist ian teacher ,

 A ND PRE AC HING .

tha t tho s e searchi ng hum bli ng truths which inflict The next chara cteristic o f a good sermon is
t ,

ago n y on he s inner s conscience are the only that it be in s tructive— namely that it hav e a
’
,
,

,
,

n ,

mea ns of his deli verance from spiritual death important subj ect ; tha t it be pers picuous in .

So thought the great Physician o f souls To method and language that it be rich in matter .
, ,

those di s eased w 1 t h S i n he did not scruple t o that it have the form o f di scussion rather than
adminis ter bi ter medi cines And shall we i ma t that Of declamatio n and that it exhi bit di vine .
,

gine ourselves more merciful and sk ilf ul than truth In i t s connexions .

Christ while we leave untouched the deadly

,
That a Chri s tian sermon ou ght t o be instruct
malady o f the soul be caus e we choose t o aecom ive appears from the constituti on o f the human
,

mind from the nature of the gospel from the , ,

is preposterous for y ou to preach the doc

tri n e Of Christ cr ucrfie d in that refined city . the preachin g Of Chris t and of Whi t efield The .

This doctr ine is t o the Jews a s t umbling blo ck -

, causes whi ch produce the indefin i te an d indi rect
and to the Greeks foolishness He would . so rt of preachin g are— wan t Of intell ectual pre ,

have sai d I know it ; but thi s same doc trine cis i o n in the preacher false taste in the preacher , ,

i s n o t w i t hs t a n di n g the wi sdom Of God and the constitutional delicacy o f temperament in the

'

O n
, , ,

power f God un to salvation Your maxim o f . preacher and abs olute wa t o f piety o r a low
, ,

modi fyi ng the go spel lest it should repel the sin ,

state of piety .

”
f ul heart would bind over the world to despair
,
. The topics o n which I have thus expre s s e d
Suppo s e you were called to devi s e the be st my thoughts at full length I regard as of vital
method of converti ng i n fid e ls to Chri stianity , n
i mporta ce to the interes t s o f reli gion Doub
,

. t
would you present it t o them as it came from less t he real gos pel may be preached so t e chn i
Chr ist o r as accomm odated by a philosophical
,
cally o r paradoxi cally or controvers ially o r
, , ,

theory t o their prejudices ? Pri est ley t ried thi s with such an air Of o s tentatious fidelity as t o ,

latter experiment fully expecting that Jews and ,

frus trate its proper eff ects B ut the pre s ent .

philo s ophical unbelievers wo uld embrace what he preachers o f o ur country are unquestionably
called a rational Chri s i a nity ha t w as he t W t n
more i n da ger Of erring on the side of cautio us
O
.
,

result ? The Jews believed not that Chr isti an ity reserve than f indi scretion 1 n exhibiting Chris
t
, ,

is true but that Priestley w as n o t a cons is t ent

, tian doctrines These as I have s aid 1 n an o her .
,

Chr istian And he very can di dly ackno w

.
,
pla ce were preached with much more frequency
,

ledging the di s appointment Of hi s o w n hopes , and di rectness formerly than they are now
said I do n o t know tha t my book has con
,
preached at least by minis ters generally
, .

”
verted a single unbeliever . The taste o f this day is not for hard thinking ,

O r s uppose you were sent as a missionary t o

,
but for narrative stir bustle excitement In , , , .

the heathen would you modify the gos pel so

,
the department o f Christian action o ur ch urches ,

that they might think it co in md e n t with their are progre ss ive ; in religi ous di s crimination in
t
own supers ti ions ? That they might be ind uced s trength and s oundn e s s o f doctrinal view s they ,
,

t o take on them the Christian name would you have for some ti me been lo s ing ground There is
t , .

amalgamate their faith wi h yours ? This ex a deterioration analogous to that whi ch the aged ,

p e r i m e n t t o o has been tried

,
The Romi s h mis
, . Engli s hm a n described in looking b a ck through ,

s i o n a r i e s in China acting o n the genuine theory many b y gone years to the time o f hi s boyh o od
-

L , , .

of their master oyola carried o ut the plan o f “

Then said he “ we had oaken ta ble s and
t
conver ing the hea hen by accommodati on t ,

.
,

o a ken plate s and oaken seats and willow bas .

,

,
,

They gave up the main things in which Chris kets ; and then we ha d oa k en men Now w e .

tians and heathens ha d been accu s tomed to dif have mah ogany tables and mahogany sea t s and , ,

fer and allowed the Chinese every favourite s i lken cu shi ons and silver vases and now we
,

S pecies of idolatr The consequence w as they y .

, ha ve w illo w men and s ilke n men Then the
,

,
,

h a d a great many converts such as they were doo rs had latches now they have l o cks and bars
t , , .

but hinking peo p le looked u p o n the mi s s ionaries Then the men defended the houses now the ,

as more converted to heathenis m th a n the hea hous es must defend the men "

t The fathers who pla ted hese Churches were n t

.

hen to
I have thus imperfectly fulfilled the tas k which hardy robust Christians Sons Of Sax o n a n ce s
, .
'

I as s igned to my s elf in s everal preceding l e ctures tors and imbued with the spirit of Puritan i n
designed t o exhi bit the general char a ct e r i s t i cs o f -
, ,

trepi di ty they not only mai tained at eve r n y

t t
o
, ,

a g ood se rmon The firs t charac t eristic which sacrifice he right t o hin k for thems elves 1 11
t O
.
,

I s ated to be indispensable i n a sermon i s that matters f reli gion but did thi nk for th ems elve s
t t , , ,

t
, .

i be evangelical Af er s howing what this i m They unders tood their o w n s y s tem o f fai h
plies I urged he importance o f i from the two : t t
. .

Trained in t he fires Of persecut i on and accus

t t ty
, ,

t o m e d t o the b ufle t i n gs o f the win r blas t they

'
fold considera ion hat n o other than the evan , ,

g ca l s ystem fully brought o ut in sermon s is

e li could dige s t strong The so lid nutriment
ada pted t o a ccompli s h t he great end f preach
,

O ,

of Chri sti an truth gave them firmn ess in pur

ing and that in point o f fact no other ever has , , po s e and vigour in execution for the work
,

accomplished thi s end b efore them But we are in danger o f r e a r i n g a

F ll
. .
o

u er .
puny race o f Chr i stians of sickly temperament ; ,
 LEC T URES ON H O MI ETIC S L
whose capricious a petite must be fed with hear a sermon from some preacher n o t aware ,

delicacies ; a ra ce 0 religious invali ds pallid o f the cautiou s diction t o which they were accus ,

and feeble compared with the men o f might t o m e d o r n o t di s po sed to adopt it would
, pro , ,

from whom they are descended bably have complained o f that sermon Under . .

There may be a religion which consists much an explicit di scourse o n total depravity o r per
, ,

in popular excitement and which appears we ll sonal election o r speci a l divine influence in
, , ,

in public meetings and subscription li sts but is regeneration these hearers notwithstanding
, , , ,

wanting in substance It is a religion better their zeal for orthodoxy might hav e writhed
.
,

with impatience o r perhaps like the h e arers of the ,

”
dying Stephen been filled with wrath , .

The lines are now drawn and I trust in Go d , ,

that the pe riod will no more return in which hi s ,

mini s ters S hall be subj ected to the influence o f

s o many motives tempting them to appease the ,

enemies o f the gospel by concealment o r mutila ,

tion o f the truth But the enemy is still in the .

But if the American pulpit has in these r e field And while the wrecks o f churches ruined
t
.
,

s p e ct s failed to any serious extent o f mai nta in by he policy o f over cautious and accommodat -

fl
, ,

ing its legitimate in uence in what way did this ing pastors are before us ; whi le the arrears o f o ur, ,

come to pass ? o w n neglected duty are to be brought up it is

During the last centur Arminian views no time for a halfway system o f preaching the y ,

y
,

having been gr a dually ushered into many pulpits gospel Let ever ambas sador o f the cross
TRU H
.
,

the way w as prepared for a lax theology in take f o r his motto T HE T H E WH O L E

-
T
U N RU
, , ,

various forms t o diffus e its influence among the T R T H A ND N OT H I G B UT T HE T T H

,
”
, .

churches instead Of the stricter views o f the Forty years a go infidelity w as writing o ut its
V
, ,

Puritan fathers Pious mi nisters , t hrough a p r o inferences in blood The theories of oltaire
y
. .

cess unperceived by themselves bec a me the sub and his associates though but ver partially , ,

j ects o f this influence The first step o f aecom carried into execution in t he tragic scenes o f
y
.

m o d a t i o n was to modify the phraseology Of revolutionar France produced re s ults Of m ost

y
Calvinism b adopting in sermons a generality appalling interest t o the civilized world The
,
,

o f terms more acceptable t o hear ers o f fastidious career o f infidelity sanguinary and S hort as it ,

tas te Such a course was honestly deemed ex w as furnished a refutation o f its o w n principles
.
, ,

p e di e n t by many good men because the custom better adapted to practical and popular co n v i c ,

ary terms o f orthodoxy had been in some places tion than a thousand abstract arguments , , , .

so distort e d by misrepresentation as to convey Having rioted in the murder o f milli ons it , ,

to the hearers a meaning wide from the real thrust its sword into its o w n bosom and lay f o r
sentiments o f the preacher a third o f a cent ur de a d the nuisan ce and the
. y ,
,

The next step o f accommodation was a studied execration Of Christendom During that period .

concealment o f the doctrines themselves against n o t o n e respectable ad vocate f o r Open infidelity

which j us t in proportion as their advocates gave appear e d o n the globe
, .

way an unmeasured and unmitigated hos tili ty

, Within a few years however a k i n d o f a t he i st i , ,

was waged by their Opposers The leaders in cal scepticism seems t o be struggling into reno
t
.

error advanc ed with bo ld front t o occupy eve r y v a t e d li fe Under the disgui s e Of he Christian , .

inch o f ground abandoned by over cautious n a m e at first it recomm enced war upon the -
,

Calvinists At last when about 1 8 1 5 they dis

. truths o f the gospel Acquiring courage by
, , .

played their banner in open day the state o f the degre e s it has come forth at length in the , , ,

Christian community in the region whi ch had ephemeral sheet in the new spaper paragraph
, , ,

been the chief theatre o f t his declension w as in and in the popular harangue to attack revivals , , ,

m any respect s not merely extraordi nary it w as o f reli g ion the cause of missions t he Christian
, , , ,

deplorable Churches there were planted by the sabbath ; and to as sail in every form Of vulgar
.
,

pilgrims and in who s e ce me t r i e s reposed the dust S ophistry and vituperation the ministers and the
,

o f their venerable founders ch urches whose institutions Of the go spel T o cro w the whole , .
,

n ,

former pastors had been burning and shining if I may be excused f o r alludi ng t o a fact so
lights churches whose present pastors ha d extraordi nary female lecturers trai ned in the
, , ,

gloried in their attachment to the doctrines o f the worst schools o f European p r o fli ga cy imbued ,

Reformation and whose public reputation for o r with a sham eless licentious ness o f sentiment
O ,
,

t ho d o xy assign ed them to the firs t post o f mar unexampled in the annals f human ha rdihood ,

t yr d o m S hould martyrdom become the test o f

, have s tood forth in crowded assemblies t o revile
fidelity ; and yet strange as the fact may seem the Bible the So n o f God and all that i s sacre d
, , , ,

and lamentable as it certai nly is these same i n religion and to promulgate doctrines at t he , , ,

churches for years together had t o o rarely heard mention Of which common decency would be
,

t
any one grea doctrine o f the Reformation fully put t o the blush
,

, , .

distinctly unequivocally exhi bited from the p ulp 1 t But what is the practical be aring o f these
t
.
,

Generally and indefinitely they were a ccus omed statements as t o the obligations resting o n ,

to hear all these truths maintained but not in Chri s tians ? Briefly this Churches and minis , .

the fo r m o f undi sgui sed S p ecific statement and ters must n o lon ger take it f o r gra nted that
,

proo f On the contrary men who w ere com

. truths because they are s elf evident o r are
, ,
-
,

m un i ca n t s in these churche s zealous too for an taught in the Bible will n o t be di sputed A
n y
.
, , ,

unde fi e d orthodoxy if they had happened to deadly apathy to all religion is not the onl
, ,
 A ND PREACHIN G .

Obs acle which i t s friends are called to encounter

t church and a reproach t o the mini s tr y * But
Infideli ty in i t s thou and Pro t ean forms is
.
, .

s as my chief Obj ect lies in another direction I

abroad in the land L et thi s f
, ,

c a nnot enlar ge o n the importance Of personal

,

b remembered . act e
by eve y man who i permitted to occupy a s religion in mi n isters nor even touch many inter
Christian pulpit L et it be remembered by the
r ,

e s ting branches of the subj ect which demand

conduc t ors of every college and high ch ol
.

,
-
s o , the s olemn and ften repea ed con s ideration o f O -
t ,

a n d Bible clas s ; and remembered t o o b y every

‘
theological s t udents In this division of t he
t t
- .
,

school commi tee intrus ted wi h the selection lecture I shall remark onl y o n o n e point T HE
RAC S U A H
- ,
, ,

of teachers and of elementary books f o r children I M P O T N E O F THE PI RI T AL H B I T S W I C H

t
and you h Be it as it may how ever in regard
, ,

YOU FRO M
t t
.
. .
, ,

to all o her men the preacher of he go s pel According t o a settled law o f o ur mi nds
n n
, ,

certai ly can find no ap olo i the as p ects of habits are formed by the periodical recurrence of
thi s day for remiss nes s of e or in co mmun i ca t t the same thing Even in tho s e habits which are
t t
.
,

ing in s ruc ion thorough explicit radi cal i n , , ,

called passive regular reiteration stamps impre s ,

s true in div ine tru t h .

s ion . NO man forgets that there is a sun or ,

doubts his return to morrow ; but if there were

no regularity in the s ucces s ion of da y and night
n o order in the seasons — here could be no ex , t ,

LECTURE XXI II p e r i e n ce and the business o f the world mu s t

W
. ,

ceas e hen a man s habit o f dining at a par ’

ON UL V A ON O F P R UA L HA B
PR GR
T HE
U Y
C TI TI S I IT I TS , AN D
.

t i cular hour becomes fixed it is of little ab s olute

O E SS I N ST D .

importance whether i i s early o r late ; but if t ,

! D l v r d e i g e A d m e y r at t he o pe
No v
n in o f t he ca e i cs ! ea , that hour i s chan ged conti nually so as to be ,
.
early o n e day and late another he has no habit ;
G N
, ,

N —The character which this Semi

T LE ME
and is liable t o s uff e r both in comf ort and
na y su t ains from year to year while we are con
E ,
,

hea lth
d wi t h it i intimately related to the charac
r s ,
.

n e ct e s By the in fluence o f custom things laborious

ter which it will sustain and t he influence it will
,
,
o r irksome become tolerable and even pleas ant ;

exert on the world through generations

,

come to things apparently impo ss ible bec ome easy ; things

t
.
,

It s foundations were laid in faith and prayer by trifling o r indiff eren become important A man
t
.
,

men who solemnly felt their need Of divine gui d o f twenty may wi h little trouble change his , ,

ance in every movement and whose c hief hope ,

room his bed hi s chair ; he breaks up no habit ;
, ,

Of s ucce s s in their s ac red enterpri se w as a de

but to a man of eighty the change would be a
t
von relian ce on the providence o f Go d
, ,

re al inconve i ence n ,

t t
.
.

O n all to whom he interes s o f thi s Seminary Now to apply these illustrations The man
t n
.

are spe cially confided and all who are admi ted ,
who imagine s that he ca perform his secret de
to s hare in i t s benefits there re s ts the full force votions in the street as well as in his closet or
t t
, ,
,

of a religious obli gation to fulfil as far as po s s i as well wi hout as with stated times for he pur
t O
, ,

ble he purpose f its venerable founders In pose i s ignorant Of hi s o w n mind Intellectual

wt
.
. ,
,
and spiritual as well as other habits are formed
'

thi s vie he facult y think it very proper that , ,

hereafter each ac ademi cal year S houl d be opened o n the pri nciples of as sociation In the regular
L
.

with a public ecture o n s ome s ubj ect appropri

t
ate to he circumsta nces and pursuits o f those
We mus i n e e o rk i k e N e e m i a a n d hi s m e n
,

ro e i n o n e a n a n d t he s o r i n t he o r w thh v t bw ldl t d d w hfightdl h w td h thw th , ,

t
i t he e
We a e t o ui a n d t o
who are prosecu ing theological s tudies here
i em o yme n
The topics to which your atten ion might be b e o e d y t he a y n o n o f t he r
n ce s s a n
a t t he s a m e
Th e ro re s s o f t he
i me a n d
o rk ou
i
t
.

t pp t b pl l t g d w p g t w l w w ld ,

t t T he e n e m y
.

profi ably directed o n his first occas ion o f the ou

k i nd are various such as your relations t o o n e t he s o r
s
ai n a
i
e m o ra ry a an a e y
o e
t he s e a
N o i n e re o re r m ai n s b ut t o m a i n a i n
in of w ldw g d tth pg th dvf t g b h th tg .

another and the duties growing o ut o f these t he o s ure o f re s i s a n ce i n e e n e n e up o n hi m w ho i s pw t t b tld d p Cd pt .

lv t
e
c

t t
,
i s e Mas e r ui e r a n d t he a a i n o f o ur s a a i o n
,
o ur
w t g t w h BR G
-

namely Chris ian example s ympa hy and fra — a i i n f o r o ur re s o ur cro n o ur o me ,

t
, , ,
ID ES

g pt p t h l
-
, , .

ternal admoni ion ; relations to your instructors ;

.

Ma n u m o us o mn i n o e t a r d uum co n amur ; s e d n i i
relations to ministers and Christians abroad ; the di fii cile a ma n i u o —C I C E RO
l q t th f d t h v g
. .

be s t s eason and the best means o f decidin g o n T he e o u e n a u o r o f t he R e o rm e Pa s o r a i n

t ,

your des ination for life im portance and means s o k e n o f Pa u s c ar e t o t he El e rs a t E e sus s a y s ; p b th l wh t g dt d d ph

’
,

re n ri e i t o n y o ur s u y o o rs o r s e t i t a s n
,

0 re
of preserving health ; g rowth i personal piety
and p r ogres s in study y o ur co y i n ca i a e
e a rn t w o o r
e rs s il e o re y o ur e y e s
re e i n e s o f i t
ou
rs
pw ll l p t l l tt th t ll b f wh t p C h ld .

,
.

w e b ut
hw ll ld t th p h t
.
e a re ac e
My pre s ent remarks w ill be con fined to the s o u w e b e ! Wri e all i s u o n y o ur e ar s a n d i t
,

w t
t o las topics e s pecially to the last The bre i d o y o urs e e s a n d t he urc m o re o o an en y lv Ch h
tg d t thppl l w th wg ld wh h pth tghd fth g d th tw t ,

t y e a rs s u y o f ey
.
,
er ou
’
in s ; i
v i t y wi h which I am compelled to treat the
o se o c ,

s ubj ec t
of personal religion at his time is not g e t y o u re a e r a a u s e i n t he
il m a k e y o u u s o un i n
or y e t s e a ra e
ra s s a n d i n kli n
ro m
t th b w l bt d gb t g ,

t is , ,

o be unders t ood as implying that I regard i t s cym al s — B A xTR R

, ,
”

O p t j t p
. .

importance as secondary to that f any other Q ui cu i u x a P a ulum e s se 3 3 x m “ d e t o e ra m

subj ec t
O n the contrary all your ins tructors uEt SrMiuUsS s i t M b z m i e Di vi n i t us e d o ct us RA p t a '
4 4 7 ,
”

t
. .
, .
. , ,

gen lemen are united in the sentiment and tha t

d w ld
.

t ,
N o n e b ut he w ho ma e t he
sen iment acquires n e w str ength con inuall y t e r o f t h o e If a y o un m a n ha s ca aci y cu ur e or ca n mak e a mi n i s
,

t g p l g p t lt
that wha tever els e you may pos s ess or acquire a n d a i ca i o n ma y ma k e hi m a s c o a r a i o s o e r
,

ppl t t e s

h l .

ph l ph ,

with o ut the love of God s hed abroad in your o r a n o ra o r ; b ut a rue m i n i s e r mus a e ce r a i n ri n

,

t v f lt g t wht h hv td t p , ,

t s n l t
ci p l m o i es ee i s a n d ai ms
hear s by he Holy Gho t you ca not be qua ified e n e a o urs o f me n ca n e i e r a c ui e o o mun i a i c n o i n u s ry o r
,

m d v
e s,

th q ,

t n , ,

Th t gONv f b v th t
,
r c e r c
to preach the go s pel —nay in the attempt to do e y mu s be i e n ro m a o e o r e y ca n n o , be r e
.

it you would probably become a burden o n the ce i v e d — N E WT

,
”
, . .
 LEC T UR ES ON H O MILE T IC S

recurrence of the thing t o be don e there must , your studi e s o r in yourself , , or b oth . To o busy !
be identity o f tim e and place and c i rcumstances — then forego your meals Be tter s t a rve your
t
.
, , .

He who as signs to his closet devo ions a parti

cular season will find the return o f that s eason
,

bring with it the reco llection o f the duty ; s o

that the omission o f it at the c ustomar time , y , woul d not preserve him i n health w ho s ho uld ,

will be attende d with mental uneas i ness His . mingle with it daily a little portion Of some
avocations t o o will re adily become a djusted to
, , de a dl y drug SO the man w ho i s regula r in
,

this settled order so as not t o intrude o n hi s his devotions but is a ccustomed to vi olate his
hours o f communion with God But the ma
,

. n con science in other things ; such as remis s nes s

,

who wai t s for impulses and goes to his closet in ob s erv ing the s a nctity of the sabbath —indu1
t n
,

only at irregular times has no advantage of habit , gence o f colloquial habi s that cherish levity a d
in this duty He attends to it without 0011 8 frivolity o f temper — unki nd and censorious r e
a n t
.

without preparation without enj oyment e , . marks respecting hi s brethre — o r any o her
has no current o f spiritua l feeli ng ; other e n
ga g e m e n t s thrus t themselv e s be tween him and
y
GOd the da and the n ight pass away without ,

any season o f retirement ; he forgets to pray b e

cause he has no system in the care o f his o w n ,

heart Thus pe rhaps he S lides into estrange

.
, ,
S lider and may have been so for months and
, ,

ment from hi s closet for days and weeks together yet not be aware o f your condition Doubtless
n
.
, .

There i s n o point i Christian experience there I s in o ur profession from the peculiar rela
more settled than this that there is an intimate tions which we sus tai t o those around us a n ,

connexion between enj oyment i closet devo

,

n lamentable tendency t o live upon some Old hOp e

,

tions and their return at regular seas ons The taking it f o r g ranted that w e are Christians
t
.
, ,

best writers o n the subj ect say so Devout wi hout s ufli ci e n t daily evi dence that it is so
t
.
, .

Christians learned and unlearned say S O O ur In his way probably n o t a few who s e profession
t
.
, , ,

o w n experience says so Several hundred stu and bus iness it has been t o promote the salva ion
y
.

dents o f thi s Seminar t o whom at di ff erent ,

of others will fai l o f salvation themselves
, .

Constant vigi lance t o o i s necessary t o theologi

.

times I have put the I nquiry in private conver

n
, , , ,

s a t i o n s have bee
, ag reed o n thi s point without , c al students i n sustaining their S p i ritual habits
, ,

o n e exception from the fact that they have s o much t o do

n
.

If you would form such S piritual habits the n as wi t h the theory of religion a d the investiga tion
t
, ,

shall promote your progress in personal religion of speculative diffic ul ties ; that they s udy and
draw a sacred enclosure around your hallowed
,

talk about the Bible as a class bo ok ; s udy for

,
-
t
seasons o f retirement t o preserv e them from , the ul t imate benefit o f others not the direct ,

interruption T o a ccomplish this your times o f

.
, benefit o f themselves Hence they are liable to .

secret devotion should be s o chosen as n o t t o , rest in an intellectual religion In distinction from

interfere with other duties I mean such duties the S imple piety o f plain Christians .

as stated social devotions exercise voluntary A g ain the success o f a theological student In
,

y ,

n
, ,

associations and stud Your chief danger cultivati g S piritual habits depends much o n the
t
, .
,

probably w i ll be found under the last particular . helps t o devo ional feeling which he employs .

For the sak e o f study especially when hard ,

Fo r this end besides the stated r e ading o f the
,

pressed y o u will b e liable sometimes to attempt

, Sc r iptures in the common vers ion which will ,

a compromise with conscience f o r the neglect o f be less likely than the originals to induce philo
your closet The Christia merchant mecha n ic
. n ,

, ,
logical inquiries I would urge the da ily read ing , ,

o r farmer knows that such a compromise for more o r less of the best devotional books es pe
the sake o f mere secular business would be sin ,
,

ci a lly thos e o f the o ld puritans et him ai so . L ‘

,

f ul ; but the Chri s ti a n st udent all whose busi , secure the a i d o f at least one devoted Christi an
ness is s a cred may more easily fall into this , brother on whose fidelity and j udgment he can
temptation T a ke care then that n o pressure Of
. rel ; t o warn him se asonably o f an y declension
y
study shall become an apology f o r omitti ng s S p i ritual habits
t
.

y our regular d evo i ons Whenever y o u feel . I have room to glanc e only at o n e more par
i ncli ned t o waver o n this point take ca re lest , t i cula r ; as to the formation Of S piritual habits ,

our spiritua l habits be utterly supplanted namely the motives by which y o u ar e governed
9
{ hink o f Daniel prime minis t er o f Persia with
.
,

in theological studies Jus t so far as you walk .

,

, , .

”
the af f airs o f o n e hundred and twenty provinces with God in the closet you w ill have an abid ,

r s ting o n his mind yet fin di ng time t o go into

e
“ ing sense o f his presence through the day con
h1 s chamber three times a day that he mig ht pray
,
,

,
trolling and s anc ifying all your pursui s You t t .
,

and give thanks t o God ”

Think o f Alfred e n will feel your dependence o n Go d and study
t ,
.
,

comp as sed with the cares o f monarchy o f Luther with a view t o his glory and hus w ill mak e such
buff eted by the s t orms of pap al wrath o f Thorn
, ,

arrangement f duties that your time will turn O ,

t
, ,

ton, encompass e d wi h a thousand m ercantile to the best account But if you neglect your .

en gagements yet never allowing the hurry Of

,
clo s et God w ill gradually be s upplanted i n your
,

business to intrude o n their regular hours o f a ff ectio n s by undue regard to self

,
Som e form .

devotion And you in this consecrated retreat

.
,
o f u n hallowed ambition will g ai n poss es sion o f

from the bus tle o f the world y o u provided with your heart — will lead to undue re liance for us e
every fa ci lity for communion wi th God —t o o bu s y
, , ,

fulne s s upo n yo ur o w n g enius or acqui s i ions ;4 t

t
,

to pray l— So me t h mg hen 1 8 wofully wrong in ,

and set up as the chief obj ec t of your studies an ,
 LECTURES ON H O MILETICS

not a n indi vidual have I know t o intimate that n di versity of pinion except as t o the degre e o f O ,

he had spent t o o much time in preparatory studies . nativ e talent which is necessary t o a minister .

But we mus t now drop this prefatory mat t er , Concerning this t o o all will agree thus far that , , ,

an d come to the mai n point why a thorough i n , the highest powers o f genius may find ample
t e lle ct ua l preparation for the sacred o ffice is n e scope in this work ; and tha t o n the other ha nd , ,

ce s s a r y . decided weakness o f intellect is a di s qualification .

When Paul says to T imothy that a bishop He that stands o n mi ddle ground betw een these
should not be a n o v i ce there is a figurative allus ion , two l i mits he that has a fair average o f native ,

in the original word that is very talent with other men may with a go od heart
n
, ,

Literally the expression is n o t a and ad equate culture be a successful m in i ster

n
, , , .

denot es that want o f knowledge or skill which Good sense he must have ; but brillia t powers
w e see in a new born chi ld that would certainly ,
are by no means indispensable .

fail o f success if set to accomplish an y work r e It is self evident t o o that he mus t have tim e to
-

t
, ,

quiring the s rength and intelligence o f a man . learn before he can hope f o r succe s s in hi s work
, .

There is a secondary sense too that is scarcely , ,

Common sense decides so in regard to all a cquisi
less pertinent It refers t o a tree o r plant recently
. tions which are t o b e made by study In the first .

set in the earth which has not had t i me to b e schools o f Europe establis h e d for the t w o great pro
come rooted and is easily di s turbed by the wind
,
,

o r any external violence
,
fessions law and m edi cine the period of s udy is
, , t
The meaning is that .
,
three four and in some cases five years super
, , , , ,

a Christian minister ought n o t only to be mature added to an acade mical education In the sam e .

in religious experience but t o have a sound well departments three years o f professional s tudy is
f um i s he d understandi ng Both these requisites
, ,

made a legal requisite i dif ferent parts of our own

,

n
n
.

he needs le s t being i flated with pride he fall country But is the care o f men s i mmortal i n ’

t
.
, , ,

into the condemna ion o f the devil That s t a b i t e r e s t s a bus i ness that demands less maturity o f
n
.

li t y of charac ter which can resist temptation and ,

prep a ratio than that o f their bodies o r estates ?
qualify a man to be a guide in the church must ,
Is the interpretation o f the sacred oracles and ,

come from fixed religio us opinions grounded o n the preaching o f the everlasting gos pel so trifling
t , ,

a thorough acquaintance wi h divine truth The .

an aff air that it may b e safely left to any novice
,

apostle that he might be certainly understood o n w h o chooses t o undertake it ? Plainly he cannot

n
, ,

this subj ect often exhorts Timothy t o di ligence i be a successful teacher in the church o f God who
,

readin g and meditation a d study o f the Scri p n has not had ti me t o lear The knowled ge that n
y
.
, ,

tures the great storehouse o f divine knowledge

, he needs is t o be gained not by intui tion nor b , ,
”
through which the minister mi ght become fur inspiration n o t by any royal ro a d but by
n i she d for his work . patient long conti ued s t udy Solomon has told
,
,
-
n .
,

In remarking o n this subj ect then I would a d him all the secret o f gaining this knowledge he
n
vance o theories that are extravagant ; none that
, ,

must dig for it as for hidden treasures *

.

are new none indeed that are n o t sanctioned by , ,

Need I add that he must have instruction ?
apo s tolic authority Let any man i f in this age .
,
The obvious necessity o f this was felt by the
o f light t here i s any man who advoc ates the cause fathers o f New England those pious and saga ,

o f clerical ignorance read the epistles to Tim ci o us men w ho founded colleges with the pri mary
o t hy and Titus and then answer this plain ques ,
,

view o f raising up an educated min i str f o r their y

tion Did a teacher o f religion who had the gift ,
descendants and t o these wise provi s ions me n , ,

of inspiration to understand the Sc r iptures and ,

of like spi r it have added the endowment o f
the gift o f tongues to preach a teacher too , ,
Theological Seminaries that the sons o f the , ,

born amid the scenery and customs described i n church instead o f rushing self taught into this
,
-

the Bible and familiar with the language in

, work might enj oy the best advantages o f p r o f e s
,

which important parts o f it were written did he s i o n a l instruction .

need the aid o f study t o qualify him for his work ? B ut it i s said “ ho w can a young m an o f
and can a man who has not o n e of a ll these ad “ ardent piety spend year af er year in p r eparator
,

t y
vant a ges be qualified for the s ame work without study while there are s o few religio us eachers
, t ,

study ? How is he to know what i s in the Bible and so many destitute church e s and pe rishi ng ,

till he has studied the Bible ? And how can he sinners aro und him ? T hat young man ought
study t he Bible so as to have concerning what ,
to go at once to th e se starving souls with the
is peculiar in its language local allusions and , ,
bre a d o f life So excellent men and even .
, ,

usages t he knowledge necessary f o r a public

,

teacher without much read ing o f other books ? wl

“If dg
f ll wth tt dy m th t thbt g gr t d p
k d th
no n w ll
gl t e e is n o t t o be es i se e it i

L
,

rd r
o o a t he e an s o f o ain i n it a re n o t t o be ne ec
Does he claim t o be an in spired man ? et hi m
t
s and forth and prove his inspiration by working phr vp rg t h prut blfull y tru pt wg rfuthl r u th ugh
e d,
e
v i z. s u
a a io n f o r
; an d
ic in s
a i s is
c
o
in
f
o
ea
e
use i n
s . An d
o e

o
to a

a miracle Just as well may his hear ers clai m

.

to be in s pire d so as t o have no need o f him o r , ,

Spa
rt
in
i i m m tm
t he
bl
ea
p r p
pwr llfit bl yw rr vt ry x dll tllyy w th tut urtudlvy d thw
o f Go d ay
ak
l o f t he
at so e i
o
es en a
e

i
e
in fl
e
e n ce s o
so n s to
f t he
s e
o a ye a , e e ce en o s ye t is
o f any o n e as a religious teacher
, , ,

k fr m g lp n l L rd w tll mpl d p d g kup pn fthmt

i n o t us n e e l e s s to o n
, .
a an cas o se es
Now the positions w hich I woul d ta e t o
.

, o t he i n ac e o f t he e e , e e n in o it a

show the connexi on between int e llectual f ur n i

ture and succe s s in a minister are these four d h g d wf tth ugh t t whqun kth r
t he
as
w a y t o go
an
in
e
o
o f t he
ur th r
o o
o
ag a i n s
i
a
i t be
he a r us up
s one , e
an

ic
d

”
e
ee
e i s an o
En w a n
us r o
e

r d n ugh t k th r m d
o n , o not so .
- n s .

9 man mus t have knowledge himself before he

H
m d w d w ru wh h fil w th k wl dg
few i in An d t he
.
ow ea e o to s oc e s
can te a ch others he must have capacity to learn
fth t in
mpt y h uld l rg ym n l b ur l
ic i
’
is i se ,
n o i o s c ls n o e e as
W
before he can acquire knowledge ; he must have
time t o learn and he m us t have instr uc t ion .
a s as w e e

p l n p
it
tu l th g
hy s o

h nd d l g nt wh h m k t r h
a n a b a r r i s t e r ? s i ce , i n s i r i
o ra , i t i s t he a o f t he i i e
w ll m
.

a
a c e
in
ic
s as
a

a
e
e
a

h
o
as
ic
te
e ss

The first is self evident The second ad mits no -

. — B1 cxn a sr n 'r n .
 AND PRE ACHIN G .

mini s ters have argued and oft en remon s trated If any o n e demands that I should tell more
t ,

with he pious student and pe rha p s have thrown ,

,

partic ular ly how deficiency in theological know

hi m into s erious pe rplexity as to hi s o w n ledge will hi nder a preacher s succ e s s I answ er ’

t
du y No w t o relieve this perplexity shoul d
.
, , In the firs t place his public instructions will fail t o
,

he come t o me for coun s el I would as k him , , int ere st inte lligent hearers Some such hearers .

Why did Chri s t delay the comm e ncement o f he will ha ve in thi s age o f mental activity when ,

hi s mini s try till he was thirty years o f age readi ng and thinking are so cu stomary even
Was he n o t as well qualified as y o u t o prea ch am o ng common men Should the y b e satis fied .

at twenty fiv e Were there no perishing for a few weeks o r months they W i ll ultimately
n
-

sinners around him ? Was there no lack o f come t o perceive that hi s sermons are trite a d
mini s ters then to teach he way o f God in t feeble in thought This resul t is qui te certai n
t
.
, , ,

tru h ? Had you b een in his place you would i f he is only a common man with common
have begun t o preach it seem s j ust so soon as , ,

you had happened to feel deeply the drea df ul Or in the se cond place if he aims t o retrieve
t
, ,

condi ion of s inners and would have summoned ,

the p ast deficiencies o f his education by great
to your aid not twelve apostles but twelve thou and spec ial e fforts in hi s preparations to pre a ch
t
, , ,

san d Ar e y o u hen more w i se than Chr ist ? while at the s a me ti me he sus t ai ns the great
n
, , , , ,

more benevolent tha Christ t o the so uls of men ? and various and arduous duties o f hi s office he
, ,

Be s ides is a young man o f course qualified

, , , is a dead man ; he will sink into hopeless i n
to be a religious teacher becaus e he is ardently fir m i t y o r a premature grave .

pious ? Then the wi s est men in e v ery age , , Or in the thi rd plac e if he at t empts t o br ing
, ,

have been mistaken Then Colleges and Theo .

,
up all arrears by incessant study whi le he s aves
, ,

logi cal Seminaries and Educat ion Societi es ar e , , his life by neglect of pastoral duties though he ,

a useless incumbrance t o the world But if pre . should become a tolerable preacher he is a de a d ,

p ar a t i o n is necessa ry God has decided that these ,

man in another respect ; there will be a s ad
v a cant churches and perishing sinners must wait failure in the amount o f hi s usefulne s s .

till the preparation is mad e by study f o r it is n o t , Facts are full o f instruction o n thi s subj ect .

made now by miracles And there is n o ha rd . No t a few young men o f bright pro mise who , ,

ship o u this sup p o s ition more than o n the other ; might ha ve become champions o f the truth have
i f piety were all that the churches should desire been so i mpatient to has ten into the mini str
,

y
in mini s ters still they must wait for God t o ,
that they have fatally blighted their own p ros
make pious m en Fo r if all such men who peets ; and inste a d o f att aining t o distin gui s hed
y
.
, ,

hOp e to enter the min istr y were taken from o ur ,

s ucc e ss have scarcel
, reached the point o f me
Seminaries and Colleges and Acad emies t o o and di o cr i t y The minister n o w whose maxim is t o
t
.
, , , , ,

made preachers at on ce the cry for more labourers expec li ttle things and attempt little thi ngs
would still come from every corner of the la d
,

n . mista k es the day in which he lives hat was

,

. W ,

Sti ll some may urge b way o f obj ection that knowled ge in the thirteenth century is i gnorance
y
, , ,

fact s and the a spects o f r o v i d e n ce are against now ; w hat was energ th e n is imbec i lity and
t ,

his reas oning Ministers have been very s uc .

,

stupidity now As was sai d in another case it .

,

ce s s f ul with but little s tudy and the wants o f , becomes not o ur sacred profes s ion in this period ,

the world are so urgent that we mus t di spense o f intellectual progress t o remai n li ke the ship

t
wi h preparatory quali fications except a good , that is moored to its station only t o mark the
,

heart and g ood s en s e ra pidi ty o f the current that is sweeping by Let

n
. .

That such men as John Newt on and Thom as the intelligence of the age outstrip us a d lea ve
Scott have be en a grea blessin g t o he church it t t us behind and religion would sink with its
t n
, , ,

were as idl e t o doubt as it is tha t heir us eful teachers into i n s ign ifica n ce Ig orance cannot
,

n
, , .

nes s would have been far more emi ent with an wield thi s in telligence Give to the church a .

adequate early education But se e wha t i s the feeble ministry and the world breaks from your
y n ,

n
.

result if you tr t he pri ciple assum ed in the —

hold your mai spring o f moral influence i s
t ,

obj ec ion by common sense A man o f capa city . gone .

and inte g rity is a farmer a skilful farmer doe s Would you then gentlemen be come burning
it follow that wi h all his good sense and know , t ,

and shi ning li ghts in the church of God study

, , ,

, ,

ledge o f husbandr y he could manage a ship i n a , indefatigable sys t ematic study is essential to the
,

tempest ? and if he should do it would it there , attainment o f your obj ect .

fore b e safe to commit all co n cerns o f navigation A ll that remai ns is t o suggest some o f the ,

t o farmers ? An other man is a skilful merchan t , most common hi nderances to s ucces sful s tudy .

a n d knows the qu a li ty and pri ce o f eve r y article The first I shall mention is imperfect health , .

he deals o ut t o hi s cust omers is he therefore Every o n e o f you ought t o understand without

n
, ,

t o dea l o ut medic i nes to t he sick ? my aid the i mporta ce o f phy s ical to mental
, ,

is a ski lful lawyer but give him the , vigour In the maj ority o f cases where there
.
,

surgeon s knif e and call hi m t o perform an

’
is a se rious failure o f health the mischief lies
n
, ,

operation are y o u sure that he would do it with

, chiefly i the wrong habits o f students The .

succes s ? I ne e d not wait for an answer t o such man w ho i s worn down with seven years o f
inquiries Th en tak e thi s farmer thi s mercha t
.
, n , academical study and has never learn ed the ,

thi s la er and suppose ea ch t o be ardently , first elements o f preserving health or res toring ,

pious you pleas e ; an d as k common sen s e it when impaired is predispose d to break down
t ,

whe her he would o f course be a succes sful , , under the c o ntinuan ce o f se ere mental applica
,

t he go s pel o r interpreter o f the

h
of tion live where he may His firs t le s s on i s not
fi1ia
r c er , .
,

e t o presume for o n e day o n sus taining s ufficie n t

 LEC TURES ON H O MILE TIC S

health for study without a rigid system o f e xe r

cise Hi s second less on is ; so to unders tand and
.

regard the powers o f hi s o w n stomach as not to general rule can be establis h e d namely that such , ,

sw allow f o r food in on e minute what may di s able calls should be regulated n o t by ca p r i ce b ut by

’
‘

t
~
, ,

hi m for study a w eek I cannot stay t o mul iply . Chri s tian principle The case s hereto fore ha ve .

w ar ni ngs o n th e se points y o u may re a d t hem in ,

n o t been numerous in which a m i stake o n thi s

I mi g ht here dw ell o n excess in qua ntity o f For secular avocati o n s th e re ca b e n o o ccas mn n

fo od ; o n neglect and indi screet expo sures under , here except thos e li ttle att e ntions to hi s o w n
,
'

what are termed common colds in which three aff airs whi ch are alway s the indis pensable duty
y
,

fourths of all p ulmo n a ry con s umpti ons begin ; o n o f ever ma n It is a pri nciple s ettled by the
y
.

late studies at night, occasioned by misguid e d founders o f the seminar whi le the i r unexampl e d ,

z eal o r by such negligence in the prope r seaso n mun i fice n ce provided its en d owments t ha t no s t u
,

o f study as drives a ma n to extreme e ff orts by n

de t shall sacrifice his ti me here for p urposes o f
,

the midnight lamp to the ruin perhap s o f hi s gain And the senti ment o f facul ty and students
‘

n y
, , , .

eyes — perhaps o f hi s di gestive o r p ulmo ar

,
has unitedly been tha t the semi nary sho uld not ,

be made a place o f m e r chan dize in books o r other

A second hinderance to success in study arises thi ngs beyond those small ac comm od ations
,

from infelicity of intellectual habits Some men which by the agency o f o n e student he may
n
.
, ,

have been students for ye a rs but have not lear ed , render t o his brethren without s erious infri n ge ,

how to study They have n o t acquired the co n . ment o n his o w n tim e .

trol o f their minds so as t o concentrate their a t Under the head o f religious avocations I sho uld
t
,

tention o n o n e subj ect at o n e time But t o sit . wish t o enlarge more than my limi s w i ll allow .

at the table while the thoughts are at the ends of

,
Perhaps there is no subj ect on which a co n s ci e n
the earth is not study T o sit at the table with tious j udi cious student will more feel the need
n
.
, ,

o ut thou g hts looking a t the ceiling in a listless

, , o f advice and none certai l y o n which it is
, , ,

reverie i s n o t study A man may while away

,
. more dif ficult f o r me t o give advice than this , .

“
Often I have been ask e d To what extent is it
o n e half o f hi s stud y hours in getting read y to ,

study be cause his i ndolent mind dreads a ll i n best for students o f the seminary to b e in t h e habit
,

tense applicatio o r his truant mind has nev er n o f attendi ng reli gi ous meetings abroad No w
t
, ,

been taught to come at his bidding an d bend t he temperament the health he intellectual and
n n
, , ,

i t self t o o n e thi g i fixed att ention Strengt h .

, spiritual habits o f di fferent men are s o various ,

perhaps that mi nd may have and S prightli ness ; that what would be a prope r answer to o n e man
but it ac compli s hes nothi n g to a y purpose for
,

n w ould be ver y
inappropriate to another In
n n
.

want o f d iscipline Hence a m a o f respectable . general cultivati on o f the heart and o f the i tel
,

talents and character may enter o n a new term o r , lect are j oint duti es neither o f whi ch can be p ro ,

a new depart ment o f study w ith a good plan and perly forgotten by th eological students O cca
n t W
, , .

good res olutions which a ll become broken a d s i o n al exceptions do not al er t hi s p r i n ci p le e

y t
.
,

virtually nugator in o n e fortnight hrough want wish to trai n up here none but revival men ; and
t
,

o f self control and constancy o f purpo se

-
every reviv al m an may s ome i mes find spe cial
n n
.

At hi r d and most im p orta t hinderance t o study ad vantage in giving up a hour o r a day o f study
is found in avocations These may be i n t e lle c for the sp i ritual good o f his o w n s oul an d the
n
.
,

tual soci a l secular and religious The gra d

, , ,
. souls o f his fellow men For this reason among -
.
,

aim of a theologic al student should be to attai n others your instructors have welcomed with de
,

substanti al knowledge appropriate t o his o w n , v o ut grati tude t o God the recent e ff us ions o f hi s
'

sacred work and the power o f communicating , Spiri t o n o ur churches so adapted to exert a ,

that knowledge If you ask me then ho w much sanctifying i n fluence o n young men preparing
n t
.
, ,

time ca he properly s pend i n read ing works o f for the holy ministr ; and have regar ded wi h y
taste periodicals and newspapers I answer in
, , , , S pecial indulgence t e repeated wishes o f indi
general no more than he c an aff ord t o S pend o n v i d ua ls t o b e abs ent for the s ake o f labouring in
,

nt
circumsta i als a d appendages t o his main n revivals o r witnessing t heir power But doubt
,
,

business ; and never so much as t o unsettle his less there are some due limits o n thi s subj ect
t
.

mind or consume hi s proper time for solid study

,
. At a protracted mee ing i n Andover all our ,

Poetry o f the higher c lass such as Paradi se Lost , , classical exercises are properly sus pended But .

i s not indeed an avocation as it is directly suhsi , another occurs six miles d istant another ten , ,

diary to the study o f oratory ; but to the reading another fifteen in successive weeks Shall the , .

of fiction except very S parin gly there are I whole o f us attend these — O r what proportion
n
, , ,

think insuperable obj ections though I ca not

, , o f us ? Clearly to relinqui s h o ur exercises here
,

state them n o w from month t o month would not do The

y
. ,
.

As to social avocations the liabili t t o mistak e , truste es the public o ur o w n consciences woul d
, , ,

am ong us i s not so great as t o require any notice , remonstrate But for o n e half or o n e fourth o f
.
-
,
-
,

except in two respects ; o n e is the visiting o f , us t o be abs ent; virtually amounts to the same
fe llow students r o oms in study hours — a practice
-
’
thing as t o the order and interest of clas s ical e
, .

whi ch improper as it is I suppo s e can never

, , e r ci s e s for they cannot go o n unless both i n
, ,

go to any extreme as it must meet a prompt , s t r uct o r s and students are in the lecture room .

corrective in the public sentim ent of the semi The same principle applies to the ab s ences o f
nary The other i s th o se occasion al vi s its t o
.
, individuals for the sake o f attending monthly
c oncerts ! mee t ings for p r a y e r l and other occa
s i o n al re li gious meetings i n ne i ghbo uring to w ns
n ,
a th i ng which ca b e deem e d proper as a general
rule only when it can be done without losing
y
,
an regular classical exercise O n the Sabbath
t o o the laws require students t o be here as much
, ,
as o n other days ; and the habit o f going abroad
on that day to any considerable extent wo uld
, ,
f o r very obvi ous reas ons be i nexpedient
T here may b e a hundred things desirable i
themselves t o be done which we ca not do
, ,
Your instruc t ors might find urgent reas ons t o be
often abs ent t o vi s it friends t o attend o r dina
, ,
tions o r co unci ls o r other important cccas i o n s ;
,
but o ur paramount dut i term time is t o be
,
here with as few e xceptions as p o ssible J ust s o
,
y o u w i ll often have calls abroad i n whi ch y o ur
feelings are deeply in t e rested but which sober
j udgment w ill l e ad you t o forego rather tha
forego your main bus iness
Discursive and p r otracted as my rem a r s ha ve
been I must add several more
,
Let n o o n e understa nd me as urging hi m to be
come a mere s t udent to the neglect of his duties
as a man and a Christian He who is ardent i n
the pursuit o f knowledge may gradually bring
his mind to such a condition as t o feel quite
absolved from the claims o f relative duty o r o f
common civili ty having no time as he thi nks t o
, ,
regul ate his temper hi s heart and his ma ners
b y the S pirit o f the go spel a d becoming lik e
hi m of o ld ,
such a son of Belial that a ma n can
”
not speak to him He may even form a habit . whom conscience seemed t o be practically a
so unhappy as t o feel hi s secret devotions t o be
,
an intrusion o n hi s studies a d to carr hi s
clas sical pursuits into t he consecrated hours o f
the Sabbath
. ,
Let n o o n e unders ta d me as urging intense
and unremitting stud y at the sacrifice o f health
I say again take warning from the pale faces a d
,
the premature g r a v e S o f A t ho se who have refuse d
to take warning You must have stated rela xati on
. away with a fa cility altogether unaccountable
and stated exercise As far as possible make
your vacations a real an d not a nomi nal concern
Some students from pecuniary emergency and ,
some from a lauda ble des i re o f doing good have
committed themselves to such engagements for
vacation as t o allow n o remission o f i ntell ectual
e ff ort and no opportunity for seeing their friends
, ,
without encroaching a week o r two o n te rm time
for this p urpose N 0 ma can be j ustified in
. n
doing this violence t o his constitution except
fro m the pressur e of some dire neces s ity T hree
men o ut of four who do thi s ask leave o f abs ence
t o refit their health during the following term
In respect to avocations I have o n e general
advice to give — Cultivate the habit o f doing
, t
every hing from re lig ious principle and every ,
thi n g in its pro p er season It is your duty to
, .
, pray in your clos et but not at the time o f s ocial ,
prayer in the chapel It is your duty t o pray i n
.
.
, your closet but not when your class are as s em
,
bled to meet the i r instructors in the lecture
room It is your duty as far as possible to ac t
.
, ,
,
o n committees and perform exerci s es as s igned
,
by voluntary ass o ciations o f your brethren but
n n
.
, ,
n o t withi the time which you need for wri ting
n
,
. a se r mon o r preparing f o r a lecture Regular .
,
y n , ,
.
,
n
,
,
times o ff ered as a reason for such neglect and it
k y
.
,
may be a good r eas on ver rarely ; but in my ,
. own case as a student from twelve years o f age
, ,
throug h College it never once w as regarded by ,
me as a reason f o r such n e gl e ct ; never once has
n y
,
. it been so i the nineteen years of m connexion
,
.
n
,
n
, ,
, ,
work o n ear th there should have been any to ,
, ,
word o f very s mall significance Yet it is only
n y
.
, the statement o f a lamentable fact that your i n ,
s t r uct o rs ha ve someti mes been grieved to the
n
heart by wit e ss in g i apparently good men n
n
,
n ,
y
a strange i sensibili t t o the binding force o f
obli gations in which a plai religio us duty n
n n
.
, , ,
combin ed per haps wi t h a solem voluntary
, , ,
’
engagement has be en forgotten o r explained
, ,
, .
.
, But the number of such cas es has been com
,
. paratively small ; and I am happy to follow this
, sta tement by another whi ch has been full o f con
solation t o your teachers and whi ch i s fu ll o f
,
n
i struction to y o u T a ke the catalogue of o ur
,
n
.
semi nary from the beginning a d mark the
, ,
men if you can o n that honoured lis t who
, , , ,
since they left us have been mo s t disting ui shed
for usefulness as ministers and m is s ionaries ;
,
,
, and als o the men— not a few— who have been
. elected presidents and profes s ors in colleges and
,
theological s eminaries and then remember that
, . those same men were di s tinguished for p un c
t ua li t y and indus try and conscientious regard
, ,
to o r der when they were here .
 LE CTURE S ON PUBLI C PRAY ER .

LE C T URE I . Energumens o r persons suppos e d t o be posses s ed

,

H I ST ORY O F P UB L I C PRAY R E .
by evil spirits ; 3 Candidates f o r baptism ; 4.

Penitents or those who were under the di scipline

,
.

A M O NG the ancie nt Jews prayer constituted an and censures o f t he church an d 5 The Fai t h , .

important part of the synagogue worship The . f ul including a ll who were in regular standing
,

m o s t solemn and formal o f these were those as communicants It s e ems probable that ex
.
, ,
”
call ed the eighteen prayers To these which .
,
ce p t i n g t he most general di sti nction o f catechu
are a s cribed to Ezra Rabbi Gamaliel is said to ,
mens and faithful separate prayers for these ,

have added a nineteenth against the Christians . classes were rather occ asional than stated ; but
Three times a day at the stated hour o f prayer
-
, , on this point and several others we are left in
all who were o f age were required t o repeat some uncertainty b the writers o f that period
All these writers fbr example agree in saying
.

these prayers ; and o n syn agogue days viz

y
, .
, ,

Monday Thursday and Saturda y the w ere

, , , that t he four first classes above mentioned were -

o f fered up with great solemnity m the public sent away from the assemblies before the com
as s emblies . munion service began ; but w hether each class
Besides these nineteen prayers the delibe rate ,
was dismissed successively when the pra yer
read ing o f w hich would occupy about ten minutes , app r opriated t o themselves was finished o r whe ,

others o f a less formal kind were intermingled ther they were all dismissed together before the .

in their worship and multiplied till they gave, , communion servi ce seems doubtful from the , ,

to their Synagogue service in the t h e o f Christ di ff erent statements o f Justin Chry sostom A u
t , , , ,

t hat undue length wi h which he found fault It . gustine Ambrose and the Apo s tolical Consti
, ,
”
seem s too that this part o f worship among the
, , , tutions Probably the usage o f di ff erent ch urches
.

Jews degenerated in to a superstitious and osten

,
varied somewhat in diff erent places and circum
t a t i o us formal ity for which o ur Saviour sev erely
, stances .

rebuked the Pharisees So ex a ct w e re they as . But while the above four classes mi ght not be
to the external form o f this service that if it , , present at the prayers peculiar to the faithful ,

w a s inconvenient f o r them t o j oin the public there was still another class call ed Hearers
n , ,

assembly at the synagogue w hen the hour o f , including J ews a d In fide ls who were sent away ,

prayer arrived they dr opped whatever they had

, before any o f the prayers began .

in hand and o ffered up the i r devotions in the

, The Deacon o f fered the first prayer f o r the
open street o r market place Thi s custom ho w .
, Catechumens because as Chrysostom says
, , ,

ever un s eemly still exists i n Catholi c an d even “they were viewed as yet aliens not hav ing
, ,

t , ,

i n M ahometan countri e s . liber y o r confidence to pray f o r themselves but ,

'
0 R DE R O F P UBL IC P RAY E R .
needing the help o f tho se who are already
initiated o r ingrafted into Chris t Thi s was .

In the primitive Christian church the prayers followed b another prayer from the minister
called t he { me di a t i o n of Go d and closed by a n ,

connected with reading the Scriptures and sing ,

ing were so brief o r so inform al as s carcely t o audible response o f Amen from the people Any .

be noticed i n the descriptions o f public wors hip catechumen by falling into scandalo us sin was
, ,

transmitted to us A ll these descriptions agree . li able to be thrust down to the rank o f a hearer
in s aying that the regular season f o r the public only ; but after three years he might be pe r mitted
prayers w as after sermon . n
agai to pray w ith the Catechume s n .

To prevent mi stake in the remarks whi ch fol

lo w it should be remembered that the ord s L ’ PO URST E IN P RAY E R .

Supper w as administered in the primitive churches Jus tin Martyr says that the people stood in
o n every Sabbath Between the sermon and the . .
“
prayer According to the Apostolic C o n s t i t u
”
communion service w as the season o f prayer tions they were to kneel in the first prayer f o r the
n
, , ,

which was o f fered not in o n e continued address ,

catechumens and to stan d i the second O ri
,
.

to God but in successive addresses adapte d to

, ,
gen often closed hi s sermon with an exhortation
the condi tion o f diff erent persons who were “
to the people to stand up and pray ”
In the .
,

u s ually at least in the Eastern churches divided

, , Gallican churches at a later peri o d kneeling , ,

into five classes viz l The Catechumens that , .

-
.
, w as accounted the mo s t becoming posture ,

is hearers o r inquirer s who were especially de though a maj ority o f the people often continued
n
, ,

s iron s o f receiving religious instruction 2 T he . standing Both standi g and kneeling were
.
 LECTURES ON PUB IC PRAYER L .

evidently thought proper though standi g w as , n Clerical ambi ion ai ming at the debasement of t ,

most common the people not only discouraged the study of the
t ,
.

It was a general cust om to pray with the face Scrip ure s in private but su s pende d the reading ,

directed towards the east The various reasons . o f them i n public At length clerical indolence .

which have been alleged for this cu s tom I might , and ignorance gave up preaching t o o and all ,

exami n e at length but the inquiry woul d be ,

public exposition of the Scriptures The inferior .

rather curious than important Having adverted clergy devoted the seasons o f public wors hip t o
t
.

to this subj ect under the hi story o f he pulpit saying mass while the Pope and hi s Cardinals
y
,

I w i ll onl add that in my opinion all these
reasons may be re s olved into a miscon s true
, , were engrossed with the management o f state
aff ai rs Thus for many centuries both in the
t
.
, ,

tion of a few figura ive texts where allu s ion is ,

Romish and the Greek church the great bus ine s s ,
“
m a de to Christ as the day S prin g ”
the sun o f -
o f the Chr i stian ministry namely to preach the
t
, , ,
” ”
righ eous ne s s the light o f the world & c , , . gospel has been given up and except so far as
, ,

and where he is s upposed with no good reason , , t he s pirit o f the Reformation has compelled these
indeed to be repres ented as coming to judgment degenerate churches to a diff erent course de
t t
, ,

from he eas t Probably t o o the supers ition lud e d men have been led to place their hopes o f
t
, , ,

t
.

for s o i mus t be called o f praying w ith t he face ,

heaven not o n their knowledge or love o f he
,

eastward might have ha d more connexion tha n truth but o n the number and length o f their
t n
, ,

the Chri s ian s were aw ar e with the Paga cus , pra yers .

P RAY NG HR NA
tom o f worshiping the rising sun At least t his .

I TO C I ST , A ND IN HI S ME
is qui t e a s suppos able as that the Chris tian sab
t
ba h itself should have retained the nam e o f
,

That this was a practice o f the primitive

Sunday derived from the same Pagan origin
,
. church authorised by Chri s t hi mself i s evident
, ,

As to ge s ture in prayer it need only be said that from the fact that while on earth he co mmfa n d e d
t , , , ,

stretching for h the hands towards heaven was his d i ci p le s to pray to him and in hi s name ; that
t t
, ,

a common attitude of s upplica ion in he Jewish he rec eived wors hip with approbation ; that after
church as it has been in all periods since
,
. his as cension Christians di d wors hi p him as in , ,

L E NG H O F PRAY R
T E S.
the case o f the dying Stephen : that angels were
comm anded to worship him as in the firs t ,

If I mi s take not the fact is qui te observable ter o f Hebrews — and did worship him
t
in he his o ry o f the church though I am nott ,

John s Apoc alyptic vision of the worship i

’
, ,

n
t
aware hat o hers have made the remark t hat t ,

heaven
t t n
, .

where here is least o f s piri uality in religious The letter of Pliny to T raj a as is well known
worshi p there is mo s of formality and undue t t o every reader o f history furnishes te s timony
,

leng h t ,

In the Jewi s h church the longest unque s tionable that it was the cus tom of the
,

t ,

t ,
.

s pec imen of prayer tha w as re corded is that o f early Chri s ians to of fer worship t o Christ as
t
, ,

Solomon at the dedication of the Temple ; and Go d In latter periods he proof is abundant
t ,
.
,

thi s hough o n a g reat public occasion did not that it was customary among the fathers some
,

exceed six or eight minute s in lengt h But in

,

times to addre s s a part or he whole o f a prayer t ,

t t
.
,

later periods o f hat church when he spirit o f directly to Christ Especi a lly was it t he univer
t , .

re ligion dec lined a n d ex ernal form s were s ub , sal practice to mention Christ as the obj ect o f ,

stituted for vital godline s s their prayers were , divine honour in the as cription at the close ,

protracted by vai n repetitions and they hoped of prayer — thus ; for t o thee belongs glory
t o be heard for heir much s peaking t ,

honour and adoration and by thee to the Father

,

t t
.
, , ,

So it was in he C hri s tian church Nothing . in the Holy Sp i rit world wi hout end Again , .

co uld exceed the s i mp li ci t y w i t h which o ur ‘

Through Chri s t our God and Saviour by ,

Saviour bot h by precept and example taught whom he glory and adoration unto thee in the
hi s di s ciples t o pray
,

But as the primi ive

,

t Holy Ghost world without end ”

Tertullian
,

t
-
.
, .
,

s implici y of the go s pel p a s s ed away and the plainly referring to the cus tomary form of d o x
form s of devo ion were a gain s ub s ituted for its t t ,

t
ology to he Trinity in the clo s e o f prayer r e
power the exter al rites of wor ship were ex n buke s tho s e who a ended the Roman games by tt , ,

t t
, ,

ended i n number and length In he time o f a sking How they could prai s e a gladiator
t t
.
, ,

Chrys os tom however he whole service in pub , , with the same mou h that had united in say ing ,

li c wor s hip di d not much exceed an hour s o that

’ ’
u g a cJw a g world without end & c to Christ , , .

”
prayers could not have occupied more than fifteen their God
t t t
.

or wen y minutes The divi s ion o f he as s em The most customary form o f doxology was
t t t t
.
,

bly in o diff erent clas s es and the adapta ion of Glory be o the Fa her and to t he Son and to
t
dis inct prayers to each whenever i w as i n
,

, t the Holy Gho s Ba s il say s hi s form was t .

,

,
t ,

t r o d uce d was clearly not o f apo s toli c origin us ed by Iren aeus Clemen s Eu s ebius Origen
,

though pre s crib e d in what was called he t ,

&c and that it was common in all t he eastern

, , , ,

t t
.

Apo s o lic Con s ti utions ; a work to say the and western churche s The occasion of Ba s il s ’

t t , .

leas o f very que s ionable char acter as to both saying this in allus ion to the Arian here s y is
t t t
, , , ,

au horship and an iquity The form of prayer important ; for it seems that ano her form of the
tt
.

a he comm union as given in that work is at doxology Glo r y be to t he Father in or by the

t
, , ,

leas t half an hour in lengt h S o n wi h the Holy Gho s t was occasionally

w t t
.
, ,

All e can af firm wi h certai nty i s that from us ed but wi hout any de s ign ed dif f erence of
t t
he fif h to he en h cen ury while t he church t t t t , ,

meaning till Arius adopted his latter form to t

w as lo s ing the s piri of pie y s he was i n cr e as t t , ,

t
,

denote he inferiori y of the S o n and Holy t ,

t
ing in he ceremonie s and formali ies of worshi p
,

t . Gho s t to he Father And from thi s time thet .

 LECT URES ON L
P UB IC PR AYE R .

more exact phraseology was carefully observed t

compara ively harmless at first that a small
n
,

by all who did not adhere to the Ari a heresy . ons o f the
P RAY IN G F OR T HE D E A D.

Tertulli an in t he third c entury was the first

, ,

who mentioned th i s practic e In the following .

ages it gradually ga ined g round ; for so en light

ened a man as Augusti e e v idently fell in wi t h n LEC T URE II .

this supers tition He not only speaks o f the

prayers o ff ered for the soul o f his mo t her
.
US E OF L URG I T I E S.

S
,

Monic a at her funeral ; but himself prays for

,
THI part o f the subj ect is properly divid e d into
her after death that her sins might be forgiven , , s tion o f authority and a question o f ex

and th a t she might rest i n peace with her hus , The former only belongs t o the hi s
band tory o f prayer
W
. .

hen we consider t o what an absurd and i m In the primitive simplicity o f the Jewish
pious pitch thi s sup erstition has since b een car church there is no evidence that its w orship
,

ried till not o n ly the last mite o f the pe a sant

,
was conducted by forms though in its d e ge n e
w as extorted but the revenu e s o f princes were
, racy as I ha ve already stated such forms were
, ,

put i n requisition to purchase the prayers of a ,

intro duced and greatly multiplied .

mercenary priesthood for the repose o f the soul , Nor can it be alleged w ith any plausibility ,

af ter d e at h ; it may be proper to inquire briefly that a li n was pr esc r ibed by the authority of
n
,

how a practice so plainly unscriptural was intro , Christ o r sa ctioned b y primi tive apo sto lic
, ,

d uce d into Christian worshi p So far as I am usage in his church Should any o n e pr etend
n
. .

able t o trace it the proce ss was sub sta tially the this it were reasonable to dem a nd o f him
W
, ,

following . hat has become o f that liturgy ? Who o f

1 The pio us example and hopeful death o f m o dern ages has seen it ? Who ever saw it ?
n
.

distingui s h e d Christians were mentioned i It is qui t e incredible that such a do cument had
prayer as the still are with great propriety y ,

there been o n e shoul d not have been pre served

,

n
, , , , ,

for the benefit o f the living And f o r the same nor alluded to in the New Testament nor i all
y
.
,

reason thanks w ere rendered to God for their the early histor of the church
y n
.
,

hol lives their triumph over death a d deliver

, , But it is said Christ gave his di sciple s a form ,

ance from sin and sorrow of prayer called the Lord s prayer and co m ’

W
.
, ,

2 The tr ansition from t his g enera l mention

. m a n d e d them hen ye pray say Our Father
, , , ,
”
o f departed saints to a di rec t praying for their , &c . Did he then mean to r estrict t hem on ,

souls was promo t ed by the collate ral influence o f

, every occasion t o the us e o f ju s t so many and , ,

various opinions whic h obtained currency Fo r . j us t the same wor ds ? If not there is n o ground ,

example ; many o f the ancients believed the o f controvers y If he did mean this as some
t
.
,

souls of the righteous between death and the , strenuous advoca es for liturgi e s maintain and ,

j udgment to be in some plac e called Hades or

, must mai ntain as es s enti al to their argument ,

Abraham s bosom admitted t o an imperfect

’
, from this case then I ask by what authority , ,

happiness and waiting in a sort o f probation

, , , have bishops and councils themselves departed
for a perfect and endle ss felicity The degree of . so widely from this brief simple form of words ? ,

this ultimate felicity however they suppo sed
would be modi fied by the charac ter sustained in
, , If I a m sacre d ly restricted to the language of the
”
Lord s prayer not two minutes in length how
’
, ,

th i s intermediate state which they re g arded as , coul d I in conscience us e a liturgy of human ,

an appendage o r continuation o f their earthly compilation larger than the whole New Te s ta
probation —their condition thus rendering t hem ment ? The tru h is the gr eat Teacher only
,

t ,

proper obj ects of prayer to the living . meant to give a standing example of what con
Coincident with this opinion was another that s t i t ut e s the proper spirit and s ubj ec t s of prayer
t
.
,

in the millennium Chr ist wo ul d personally So the apo s tles understood this ma ter as their
reign with his saints o n earth ; the pious dead
,

ow n t
prac ice unqu e stionably sho s So the w ,

t
.

being raised for this purpose ; and that a part in whole primitive church unders ood it Augus .

this first resurrection w as a blessing for which tine i n hi s o n e hundred and twenty firs t epi s tle -

living Christians might pray in behalf of depar ed

,

t say s We are free to ask the same

fri ends .
,

are desir e d in the ord s prayer a li is

—sometime s in o n e manner o f expression
L ’

3 The movings o f natural a ff ection combined v e r bi s

,

t , ,
.

”
with dark and indefinite views respec ing here sometime s in another
n
.

a fter led t o this practice

, Death extinguishes . When a d how then di d liturgies come into ,

the recollection o f what was bad and strengthens ,

us e ? I answer promptly nothing of the kind , ,

t he fond remembrance of what was good and that is genuine can be fix e d upon for the firs t
endearing in friends while they were living three hundred years af er Chri s t When the
,

t
t
. .

Praying for them af er death therefore be came Arian and Pelagian doctrines began seriously to
among the ancient fathers a ind o f pagano ,
,

k ,

disturb the church various for ms of expres s ion , ,

Ch r istian testimony of love to their characters ,

occ as ioned by public controvers y g radu ally i n ,

and at the same time o f the fir me s t be lief in ,

sinuated them s elves into the langua ge of prayer ,

their immortality . and it was deemed nece s s ary by the council o f

I will only add that we have in this case a L a odicea to req uire by ecclesiastical reg ulations
t , , , , ,

new demons ration from the mon s trous doctrine , that mini s ters instead of using the lib erty before
,

o f Popi s h purgatory supe induced o n an error enj oyed should always keep t o o n e form o f
r , ,
 L EC T URES ON PUBLIC PR AYER .

been accustomed t o lis ten t o exte mpore prayers , physician o r lawyer or la dlord as well without
, , n ,

have sometimes been pained w i t h embarrassment a studied form as with it A very chi l d if he .
,
’
and hesitation in the speaker o r have known , sees but a pe dl ar s pack Opened where there are ,

him turn aside from the prop er business o f devo abundance o f thi n gs which he desireth will learn ,

tion to give a compliment o r reproof t o some without book to say O father gi ve me this and
W
, , ,
’
o n e pre s ent ell written forms may doubtless
.
,
give me that So will the soul that seeth the
.

provide ag ainst irregularities arising from dith treasures o f C hris t He that knoweth God and
n n
.

dence unequal abilities in mi i s t ers o r uncertai hi s works and knoweth hi s o w n sins and wants
y
, , , ,

fra mes which v ar with the caprice o f circum is acquainted with the best prayer book -

n
.
,

stances . 3 No set o f forms ca be framed suf ficiently

.

3 It is said that the propriety o f forms i n

.
various to correspond with the e n dless variety
prayer is virtually admi tted by all who use pre o f circumstances in which men are plac ed The .

compos e d psalms o r hymns in their devotions , attempt to regulate the social intercourse Of men
these being in fact forms o f prayer and praise in this way would be deemed preposterous How
n
. .
, ,

T he late Mr Newton o f London w ho though co uld a man maintai n a a rgument o r despatch

n
.
, , , ,

an Epi scopali an had as little bigotry as a y o t her his bus iness in market o r converse with hi s
man treats this grave subj ect i a strain
,
plea
,

n friend if he must k ow beforehand ever word

, n ,

y
that is t o be S poken ? Ho w could the concerns
Gri
o
t fr l y w ll r h r
FW hrmy h upldr y r th pr upp v r e
o
s o
ee
f a
i
e an
e e a se
d a i se in e s
o f a family be conducted in this manner for a

single day ? And why should m en in express ,

F rm
o ful wh n pr e
s o
s a r e si n
Cr i t o en
e
s
in
o se
o s ?
ing their desires to their Father in heaven for
bear t o vary their la g uage with changing cir n ,

I have hear d he adds of a minister who , , cums t a n ce s ? So inconsistent are set forms with
used to compose hymns p r o r e n a ta in the p ul , , the free outpour ing of the heart before Go d that ,

i t gi v ing o ut o n e line and then another as the

, , they m ust greatly tend to damp the spirit o f real
co n gr e gation proceeded in the singin g If I . prayer It is d i fli cult to conceive how social
.

were persuaded ( he continues ) that forms are , , prayer meetings in a reviv al o f reli g ion could , ,

unlawf ul in prayer and yet approved o f singing , be conducted by a book of forms Should such .

in public worship I should greatly covet the , a n experiment be m a de doubtless the revival ,

tal ent o f extem pore hym n making that I might -

, would die o r the prayer book be laid aside I
, .

”
maintain consistency m the whole service . presume that even i n families thi s restricted use
It should he remarked however that this , , o f form s has a decided tendency to destroy the
reasoning is rather specious than soli d Fo r a . spirit if n o t ulti mately t he form its elf o f devo
, ,

hym n as well as a tune must be precompos e d

, , , tion Accordingly it is probable that in three
.
,

o r it could not be sung in concert by a cho i r . fourths o f the families o f Christendom that have
The same word o n the same note must be ai l fami ly prayer it i s p erformed without
S
, , ,

uttered at o n e breath by diff erent voices t o do , 00

which extempore woul d be impossible But 4 There is o n the whole more danger o f
, ,

n
. .
, ,

praying is not an art in the same sen s e O l y embarrassment in praying by forms than without
W
.
,

o n e voice is heard and both thought and lan , them h at if the di m sighted minister should
.
-
,

guage may be and often should be really p r o “ at t he moment o f commencing his book prayer -
, , ,

r e n a ta
”
If Mr Newton had carried through
. . lose his spectacles ? Jo b O rton says I have “
,

his argument and proposed that tunes should be , sometimes felt pai n at the hesitations o f di ssent
composed extempor e and sung in concert he ing ministers but much more at the blunders o f
mus t have seen its fallac
,

y .
,

those who read prayers ”

,

He then S peaks o f .

O n the other hand it is alleged agai nst forms , , be ing at a funeral where the o fficiating clergy ,

and in favour o f extempore prayers , man was a most devout minister who had read ,

I That forms are inconsistent w ith freedom

. the burial service about one hundred times a year
and fervency in devotion It is said that they . for forty years successively Yet he says The “ .
, ,

tend to produce a dry cold formal mode o f candles held at the grave being almost blown
n
, ,

praying ; and that in fact a precomposed prayer , , , o ut this worthy m a

, co ul d n o t o r would not , ,

even if written by a devout man for his o w n use , repeat without book the two last collects but ,

is re adi ly distinguished by his fell ow worshi ppers -

blundered in the most painful manner
n
.

from a prayer that comes at the moment w a rm Bishop Patrick was emi ent when young for
from the heart Accordingly it is said by o n e . , fe r vour in pra y er hen advanced in age he . W , ,

accustomed to both modes o f worship in Eng visited an Old di ssenting friend and was requested ,

land I never saw any Dissenting congregation

, t o lead in family devotions But having long .

appear half so irreverent and unaffected in prayer been accusto med to forms he w as so embarrassed ,

as I have seen those who attend the service o f that he rose from hi s knees with an apology to ,
”
the Establi shed church the family ; and re ceived from his friend thi s
n
.

2 Extemporary prayer is not necessarily nor

. plai reb uke You have made a sad exchange
,
”
commo n ly extravagant in manner Fo r the for your law n sleeves and mitre Baxter says
n
. .
,

few cases o f this sort that can be named at ,

The ma who has neglec t ed to walk till he has
le a st among educated m i nisters there is a great ,
lo s t the us e o f hi s legs is in a bad condi t ion if ,
”
counterbalance o f those whose prayers are cha hi s coach and crutches are taken from him .

r act e r i s e d by pertinence propriety and solem , ,

The foregoing remarks on the history of pub
ui And why should it be otherwise ? when ,
lic prayer and the use o f liturgies seemed to de
, ,

as a xt e r says Any man if he is hungry can , , ,

mand a place i n discussing a subj ect which has
beg f o r bread ; as if he needs it as k help o f a , ,
been much controverted and which sho ul d be ,
 L ECT URES ON L
PUB IC PRAYE R .

once at leas t examined by every man who is

, ,
it That heart whi ch slumbers i speaking t o n
entering o n the solemn o fficial duti es o f the God and w ak es up i n S peak ing to men has but a
, ,

ministry .
fals e and factitious w ar mt h w hi ch in its influence , ,

o n other hear ts i s totally di ff erent from the

genuine glow f religious feeli ng There may O ,

be reasons why a man should be fervent in hi s

devotions a d yet fail o f delivering an interest , n
LEC TURE III .
ing sermon But the converse i s a much more .

rare occurrence ; namely that the hearers are

G N RAL R ON
,

E E DI E C T I S. disappointed by an impre s s ive and powerful s e r

mon from t he same lips that had j ust uttered
WE come now a much more importa t view to n a dull and formal pra yer If y o u would be a .

o f t he s ubj ect the proper performance o f pub succ e ssful preacher you mus t n o t fai l essentially
,

lic prayer as a duty devolv e d o n the Chri stia n in public prayers

,

t C UST
.
,

minis er . 2 If y o u w o uld p r a y w ell I N P UBLI

. Y OU M ,

And here I shall follow the course o f my o w n BE A DE v O UT M A N

n
.

thoughts and under several heads of advice Off er T his i s

b far the most im p orta t advice that
belongs to t h
, ,

o u s uch remarks as have been suggested to my e subj ect ; inde e d if this o n e point
y
observation duri g my o w n experience i n the
,
n is attain e d all other directions are comparatively ,

sacred o ffice nee dless The habit of a man s piety is every ’

UR A U T U FU n
. .

1 R e me mber t ha t Y O MO N OF SE L t hi g as t o hi s devotional performance s in the

N T D P N AL
.

E SS I N T HE MI NI S RY E E D S I N NO SM L pulpit To expect that he will be fervent in

A UR CHARAC R Y O UR P UB L C t
.

ME S E O N T HE TE OF I hese if he neglects commu n i on with Go d from

P RA Y R The e w i ll have an importan t i fl
,

E S . s n u day t o day is j ust as unreasonable as to expect ,

ence on your success in preaching . that t he racer will win the prize o n the day o f
If you s hould fall in t o the habit o f supposing trial if hi s li mbs are crippled by want of e xe r
,

that nearly all your work in t he pulpit co n sists cise every other day o f the year
, .

in delivering good s ermons yo u w i ll make a , If yo u should say I k now full w e ll that to ,

serious mi s take Preachi ng i s only the means . pray i n pub lic with comf ort t o i n self or e d i flca
of religion ; prayer i s a part of religion itse lf tion t o others I mus t m ai ntai n e habit o f de
n
.
,

No o fli ce in which a mere man ca be employed v o t i o n a l feeling ; but how am I to do thi s ?

”
I
is so elevated and awful as that of hi m who is the answer do it as you would advise any plain
t
,

organ o f a whole assembly in addr e s sing their Chri s ian t o do the sa m e thing There are the
t
.

supplica ions t o God In pre a ching he s p eaks . same laws both o f animal and S piritu a l lif e for a
for Go d to men in prayer for men to God But , . mi nister as f o r another man To sustain his
, .

with what hope o f s uccess does he preach unless , bodily powers he must breathe and eat and , ,

God be s tow his blessing ? In vain might an sleep and exerc i se as well as his neighbour To
, .

apo s tle o r an angel deliver the messages o f hea ven keep alive the s p irit o f piety in his own soul he ,

t o men dead in trespas s es and sins unle s s t he must adopt the same means that would be proper
truth is accompanied by the divine and sanc ify
,

t for his neighbour i ai m ing at the same end n

ing e fficacy of the Holy Spirit But his gracious t , .

f ll w g f d r w n b y D D ddr dg
.

influence is given in answer t o prayer ; and the rm

y u g ry r p r fix d b k h t
T he o o in o w as a up r . o i e in

klt
hi s d t o hi s f in
prayer that is to bring down this blessing o n a o n e e a s, an e e oo o s o n
rm
congregation is offered by that co n g r egation
through the lips o f the very man who knows
s
Blup thd
e e

d th
o n s o
u th t g v t m r t
d
e s se
t r ly
f se

t
Go d , i t i s
u
l ul
on s :
o a a es e a a io na so ,

and acknowledges in the act o f prayer that all

,
th u fi p tt wmyth wh
an d
o se
lf
on
h th
do I

mu h
ca a ci i e s i uh t d w dm
ee

th th g m
e pe n
ic
en i
o
e
as
f o r t he
en o
co n
e
in
e
a n ce o
I a
f

t
.

,
k
ught m ufi y th
n o t s f ci e n o f se so c as to in an y in as
hi s other services will be utterly frui le ss without
succes s in thi s
W
.

hen the devotions o f the sanctuary have

I o

wh m
h w
I
uld d r
g a g
, b ut a ll

w y
rk
bl
n o w e n ga g ul r m rt
d h v
s
in
f ci e n c
in a o
is o f
o f si n
ee .

a i po a n ce ,

their proper e ffect they prep are the hearers to ,

in
of
a
th y gr u
en
t
ic I

tt tht ught br k r b fp r mm Mh d r v t dy
ac i o
i o n t o t he
th u w lt mm d m
o e si
s as s i s a n ce
a ff a i e o
e t o b e se n s i
.

e
I be g
e
o
f t he n e e I a e
e o
i co
ay n o
an
a i n o r i n t r ud
y
listen with deep and solemn interest t o the i n
.

s t r uct i o n s delivered from the pulpit Just so far . ca t mmbut gr Dbl r mt m mr d rp gp rgth ught
in g
io n t o y
o s ea
sin e s s.
in u
i
on
ec
e

y
, to
in
in e a s ea
to
a p p li
ro e o s,

as the prayer i n which they have j oined has

t
,

brought hem to feel the impres s ion of a present

,
pfr t g th thm t d v m trumth h mrt g w rmm fd wm thm p u
an d t o t he
e s si n e
o s

; an d
a ee a
ay
e

y
an n e

ea
o
b e i n fla
f ar a n
e
in
i
an d
io
e x
s

ul m m r l y p tr t t ul m h r
a fe c io n s ; a i in e s co in a ro y own
God in the sanctuary and the etern al r e t r i b u
r m m b r th t m t mp h g
, so ay o e e a si ene a e i n o t he s o s of y ea
tions to which they are going their min ds are M u
divested of listle s sne ss and prejudi ce and fas ti
,
e rs
t o acqthutr mmpyr plf r gr fpudt t pr ul qu tmm trtr l
ay I e
.

i e to
e
se
e
t he e
a I a n o t o co
a io n o f an e o
o se a n
en
ar a n
o ra o
e
:

d i o us critici s m and hey will hear a sermon with t , ,

ul
b ut a
d
I a
p g th
e a in
t r d g p l wh h m
o o for e ci o s a n d i o a

dM m r hbrrufghtr fr mr hl y vnd v ur l gdvw mth d blur d

s, an d i s e n sin ic y Re
, so a s ac e os e
can dour and humility . ee e o o e a e n an d se a e i hi s oo .

m t u ful tu th udr tm f
Besides what is it that gives a sermon power
,
ay I t e e o e s i n ce e e ea o to i e y i s co se
rm
over the hearts of the he a rers ? It is a solemn
ersuasion that the pre a cher himself is deeply
t he
as b tos
es to p rm t
se
g
t n gr t L rd th t m r v pr t r fr h
o o e t he t p
rn ; an d do
urp
rea Cho
r t
i ec
o se o f
e so t o o
i s i a n e d i fica
it

p io .

i mpressed with the everlasting i mportance o f

m t m y lf futur f t ud y
An d an , 0 o , a I a y e ce i e e se n e es
m
the truths which he delivers But how shall
they be thus persuaded unl e s s the thi n g is a r e
.

th d v m trut thd l ghtfm l mt rpl gymup t m ml f thW l

en
o se
to
i in e
se , an d

s I a
e e d i fica t i o n
e n e in on
ro
an d
t he s
ay
of
is be

mw t g th w t r d my lf l
o n e o f t he os e i u e o en s of y i e hi e .

ality ? An d how s hall the minister dee ply feel r m m

the weight of tru h i n hi s s erm on if hi s heart has t
I a
an d b dvg f rtthg d whl mh j ym fruglt pryr p thrt y rbl t
ri n
a e ri n
o
o e s,
ai y
ay I
o re an d
a y be
o re
a e e
i , o o
se a so ,
io n a e
been cold in preparing hat sermon and cold in t t o t he a
m mp v m t
an a e s
m v rl t g f l t y
i c I e n o , t o t he o of g ea

th ugh J u Chr t Am
e , a n d t he i o f as in e i ci
,
na ro e en y e e ,
the devotional exercis es that have gone before ro es s is en
”
. .
 L ECTURES ON PUB IC L P RAYE R .

What these are you co ul d easily tell a friend o f Man sitting o n the throne o f hi s glory and
n t
, , ,

who should ask your advice Do then as you al l natio s ga hered before hi m Pray as one . .
,

would direct him to do Thou that teachest that has been accus t omed t o pray in the clo s et ; .

another teachest thou not thyself ?

, as one that has oft en mourned for sin in secret ,

Make it a point o f conscience then to be and looked to the bloody scene o f Calvary t o an , , ,

serious earnest and stated i n your secret devo

, atoning and intercedi ng Redeemer and a sane
, ,

tions I say serious and earnest — f o r o f all the t i f y i n g Spirit for help
. .

dangerous experiments by w hich a man might I proceed now to other directions i n w hi ch my

t r y to harden his o w n heart none probably remarks will b e more various
A
.
,

would be more fatally successful than to main 3 L e t t he M TT E R of y o ur p r a y e r s cor r e sp o n d

C RCU ANC D JC
.
,

tain secret prayer as a mere form The heart t o I M ST ES AN T O T HE O B E T S F O R

C A
.
,

that 1 s ac customed to S leep o r trifle 1 n its solemn W HI H Y O U P R Y , .

approaches to God may well b e expected to find I S peak not here of prayers strictly occasional
, ,

apology for its insensib i lity o r its irreverence which will be noticed in another place But I , , .

i n any other reli gious servi ce refer es pecially to those prayers which consti .

I say stated for as I have alre a dy remark e d tute a considerable part o f public worship and
, , , ,

in another part o f these Lectures o n the duty o f which i n modern churches precede the delivery ,

cultivating S piritual habits — men who have car o f sermons , .

ried their attainments in experimental religion Now I apprehend there is no point in whi ch
to the hi ghest pitch have found it indispensable intelligent Christians so often feel a deficiency
,

to maint a in regularity in their seas ons o f private in the public prayers o f mini sters as in want of ,

devotion Consult any deeply e xp e r i mcn t a l m atter To guard against thi s deficiency con
. .
,

writer o n the subj ect like Pla v cl o r Howe ; sider that i n most Of these prayers the requests
, , ,

ask any devout Christian and y o u will find but to be o ff ered are suggested in part by the cir , , ,

o n e sentiment There is but o n e among o ur . cum s t a n ce s o f an assembly convened o n the day ,

selves — for let me repeat the fact here that set ap art for the public solemn worship of God
y y
, , ,

when I have put this question in private in the sanctuar — an assembl of sinners t o o , ,

conversations as I have often done to members convened to be instructed from the oracles o f
o f o ur Seminar
,

y
Ho w far have y o u found the God respe cting their duty t o him their own cha
,

, ,

spirit o f your secret devotions to depend o n r a ct e r and the way o f salvation Such an as , .

s e mb ly met for such a purpose in such circum

”
regularity as to times set apart for the purpose ?
, , ,
—the almost unanimous answer has been I can stances —embracing a ll varieties o f moral co n
n
,

do nothing i the duties o f the closet without di tion from the hardened unbeliever to the , ,

re g ularity mature Christian standing o n the threshold o f

L y
.

et no pressure o f stud o r b usiness in t rude heaven ; and all these dying men and destined , ,

o n your closet Forego your meals rather than t o an e t ernal hereafte r ; such an assembly have
.

your devotions that will give y o u a meagre v arious solemn urgent wants to be presented
-
, ,

body but this leanness o f soul At the same before the mercy seat To some of these i n
, , . .

time think it not enough if y o u S houl d with

, di v i d uals the present seas on o f prayer may be , ,

stand the enemy that would d r ive you from the t he last that w i ll be granted O thers may live
y
.
,

closet w hile et you suffer that enemy to rush many years and their l i ves i n a thous and ways
, , , ,

with y ou into it Jerome says the heart never b e conn e cted with the interes t s o f their count ry
n n
.
,

does i t s work we ll whe preoccupied with other a d the church o f God .

”
things . I glanc e at these topic s to Show that the range ,

I will add that the S piritua l habits Of the soul o f matter for public prayer is boun dl ess In this
, .

must be consistent The man who sho ul d live exercise y o u are not confined as in a sermon to
. , ,

o n a regular and salutary diet and yet take a o n e subj ect but ought to t ouch on many With
y
.
, ,

small dose of poison daily would carr a sickly a warm heart therefore and a tolerable readine ss ,

countenance And he who is exact i n his sea o f utterance you need not be dry and barren
. .

sons Of prayer and yet violates his con s cience in A S a far ther security on this head I advise y o u
n
, ,

some other point o f duty will ot grow in com to make the proper subj ects of prayer a busi ,

munion with God ness of serious reflection Go first of all to the

. .
, ,

After all your pains to c ultivate a habit o f Bible the great storehouse of devotional thoughts ;
devotional feeling sho uld y o u sometimes find a d next to s uch spiritual writers as Pla v cl n ,

W
, , , ,

as doubtless you may through bodily infirmity O wen Baxter atts and i n s ta r o mn i um for thi s
, , , , , ,

and other causes a sluggish s pirit i n public prayer purpos e Henry

HD
.
,

mo urn over it arid strive agai nst it Se arch for the

, ,

4 Your ME T O s ho uld e xhi bi t a P R O PE R C O N

t RAN
. .
,

causes of such a state and avoid them Call tha N E X I ON A ND T S I T I O N i n t he p a r ts of p r a ye r

, .
, ,

heart to account that dares t o slumber in its solemn y e t w i t ho ut s t ud i e d for ma li ty

W
,

approaches to Jehovah hen you stand up to A solemn petition t o a human magistrate .

,

pray in the sanctuary remember that the i mm o r would not be r e spectful without order A s o
,
.

tal interests o f a whole as sembly are to be car lemu address to God especially ought n o t to be ,

ried before Go d that y o u are to ask at his a rhapsody m ad e up o f incoherent thoughts

n
.
,

hands infinite blessings without which they and Somethi g o f order and connexion is i n dis p e n , ,

you are lost for ever Pray as becomes a dying sable also t o prevent vacuity of matter repetition ,

man Pray as becomes a minister Of the gospel confusion and undue length Indeed n o man o f
.
, ,

. .
, , ,

s ur rounded by dying men who are hastening to sense can speak o n any occasion without more , ,

the j udgment Pray as o n e that sees heaven o r less of method in his thoughts It is generally
.
, .

open and hell without a coverin g — and the Son best for young preachers to have some regard to
,
 LEC TURES ON L
PUB IC PRAYER .

cast so darkly metaphorical o r for other reasons

, ,
extreme o f vocif erat ion i s however a still greater
s o obscure as t o convey no mean i ng to common
,
fault especially in the beginning o f prayer
,

minds Instead o f multiplying example s as

. ,
because it denotes want o f reverence or at least ,

might eas ily b e done I woul d simply ask what , ,

Of that re ligious sensibility whi ch is the best ,

does a congregation s uppose a minister t o mean ,

guide to propri ety in manner But all dirce .

and what does he mean when he prays for the tions must be useless t o a man w ho does n o t i n
n
blessi gs o f the upper and the nether springs ?
”
,

s t i n ct i v e ly feel that the loudness in prayer

n y
, ,

When he prays that the heathen may cast away which may be ec ess ar i n a spacio us church
”
their idols the petition is quite intelligible ;
,
would startle and stun the hear ers if us e d i , n
,

but when he adds to it that they may cast them ,

family devotions o r at a common meal , .

to the moles and to the bats what is he sup I would say the s a me thin g concerning i n fle c
W
,

po s ed to mean ? and what do es he mean ? hat tions Of voice ; for if a man does n o t instinctively
does he mean when he prays that w e may b e ,
feel the diff erence that is call e d f o r between the ,
”
kept from sacrificing to o ur o w n net and drag ? into ua t i o n s o f prayer and those which ar e p r oper ,

There is another fault in using scriptural lan in telli ng a story o r making a bargain nothing , ,

guage when we pray which consists in such a that I could say would instruct him o n the subj ect
n
.
,

mutilation o f this lan e as is sometimes called O e rema rk however o n c adence is important

W
.
,

ministerial scripture few examples o f this .

hile a devotional exercise does n o t require n o r
sort may stand instead o f a complete enumera allow that variety o f emphasis an d inflection ,

tion o f the passages referred to Hear ye the whi ch belon gs t o other branches o f rhetorical de
y
.

rod and w ho hath appointed it is turned ”

li ver y e sp ec i all the colloqui al your manner w ill
,

into Kiss the rod and him that hath appointed

, ,
, ,

certainly be heavy if y o u utter yourself i S hort ,

,

n
,
”
it a phrase nowhere in the Bible Prone to .
sentences each o f which begins with a full ex
,

S i n as the sparks fly upwar d

”
is us e d for born ,
plosion o f sound and is clo s ed with a cadence ,

t o trouble as the sparks fly upward Exalted that is lo w uniformly term inating o n the same
n
. ,
”
to heaven in point o f privilege is a other ex ,
note Avoid this habit —and I have no advice
.

ample In many things we all o ff end and in

. ,
t o a d d respecting voice only that your ar t i cu
, ,

all things come S hort o f the glory o f Go d is be clear your rate deli berate and your
n n
, , ,
,

another Paul s words respecti ng the r e sur r e c

.
’
pro unciation gr ave solem n and ear est , , .

tion o f the body are often violently wrested by , ,

being applied to a preached word ; It is s own

”
in we ak ness may it be raised in power ,
.

6 N e xt to la n gua ge , i n p r a ye r , I w i ll r e ma r k LEC T RE IV U
X T NA ANN NC UD NG C O U N
.
.

br i efly on E ER L M E R, I L I
FAUL P RAY R
T E NAN CE , A UD AND V O C
TT I T E, I E
T S I N E .

US
.

The expression o f the face S ho uld b e tranquil VA R I O faults in prayer which hardly fall ,

and placid in distinction from that distortion o f

, under any of the foregoing head s require some ,

features which indicates mental perturbation o r

, notice and I here arrange them together that
, ,

di s tress The eyes should be closed T he rea they may not seem to be overlooked
n y k
. . .

so for this as alre ad cited from Origen is o n e These I preface with the general remar that
n
, , ,

o f univers al application namely the i terruption , , whatever faults belong to the public prayers o f
o f devotional feeling arising from var ious Ob , a minister they are not only less likely t o be
,

j e ct s that must meet the eye if it is Open In ,

. know n to himself than to other men but le s s ,

the only case in which I ha ve seen a preacher , likely to be known to himself than other faults ,

carelessly surveying hi s audience while repeat , o f his o w n Aside from the insensible influence
.

ing a memoriter prayer there was something i n o f habit o n which I am t o remark i mmed iately
t
, , ,

expressibly revolting t o my feelings Ano her . there is a sacredness and delicacy about thi s
kind o f pain I have more frequently experienced subj ect which repel s critici s m .

in this case from observing the fixed p aralytic 1 The fir s t fa ult t o be me n t i o n e d is a n i mp r op er

T N H
, , .
,

glare or the spasmodic vibration o f the half

, HA BI AS T O LE GT i n p r a yer , .

closed eye I speak o f habit because its influence be comes

y
.
,

The body should be erect without an o f t he , S pecially impo rtant in an exerc i se where the
violent writhings practised by the Turks and by , mind is supposed to be absorbed in elevat ed
some Christian fanatics in their devotions The , . thought and therefore to be less capable Of ad
,

hands s hould gener ally recli ne o n the pulpit , j usting its movements t o definite limits than in
with no other motion than such as denotes common cases B e the reas on what it may and
n
. ,

gravity and humility In ear est prayer they .

, I presume the above is the true reason the fact ,

are som etimes spontaneously folded o n the breast is beyond doubt that n o man is conscious of his
n
, ,

o r elevated and inverted I Jewish and oriental . o w n length in prayer I have known very r e .

phraseology as I before said lif ting up o f the s p e ct a b le ministers w ho after repeated a d mo n i

n
, , , ,

han ds — is synonymous with prayer tion a d serious resolutions o n this point have
t
.
, , ,

T he voice should be in its natural o r middle s ill exc eed e d by o n e thi rd o r o n e half the time
k , , ,

ey not so high as to endanger its breaking ;

-
which they prescribe d t o them s elves The co n .

nor so low as to frustrate articulation and variety . s equen ce o f this fact is another that we are more ,

Le t t he quantity o f voice in prayer be s uch as to likely as a general thing to err o n the side o f
, ,

fill the place in which you are The end o f length than o n tha t o f brevity To fix o n the
t
. .
,

S peaking is to be heard If yo u fail o f his you . proper limits either for a sermon o r prayer some ,
, ,

m1 g ht better be silent If you are heard imper . respect must be had to usage in a co ngregation .

f e ct ly you will be hear d with impatience

, The . T o fall much S hort Of the customary length ,
 LECTURES ON P BLIC P RAYER
U .

sometimes revolts the feeli ngs o f the bes t people ; constant recurrence o f such phrases as We ,
” ”
to go much beyond this may produce weariness ,
beseech thee We pray thee & c instead o f , , .
,

and i mpatience A prayer before sermon may . expressing the pet ition direc t ly wi t hout any ,

vary from ten o r twelve o r fifteen minutes but prefatory clause The great infelicity of this .

S hould never extend to thi rty o r forty as has habit is that it apparently aims to pro vide in each
t
, ,

often been the cas e in this country ari d in Eng sentence a res ing place for the min d while it -

L ,
, ,

lan d O rton i n his etters to a young Clergy

.
,
reflects o n what shall follow The consequence .

man says that— Many pious souls complain o f

, ,
is that the speaker has an apparent a n d com
, ,

it as an impracticable thi ng e s pecially from the

, ,
mo n l a real hesitation instead of that freedom ,

infirm and the aged to keep the i r attention fixed ,

and ue n cy which give interest to devotion And .

for half an hour or longer ; and that some minis thi s d i fli cult y is apt to be exactly proportioned
ters whom he had known to pray full forty
,
to the len gt h o f these interj ected clauses If the .

minutes ha d S po iled rather than promoted the mind o f the S peaker rests while the tongue say s
t ,

devo ions of heir o w n people besides exci ing t t ”

We pray thee the remainder o f the s en ence t ,

n
i others a prejudice against extempo rary prayer
,

may perhaps go o n without a break ; b ut if he

,

t
t
.

-
Whi t e fie ld rebuked a bro her for the same mind rests very often while the ton gue repeats a
fault by saying , Yo u prayed me into a go od
”
long periphras ic claus e s uch as We humbly t ,
”
,

frame and you pra ed me o ut o f it

, y . beseech thee most merciful God both mind and , ,

John Newt on w 0 daily breathed the a t mos tongue probabl y will mak e a perceptible stop
p he r e of heaven said The chi ef fault of some
, ,

at the end o f th i s clause The sen s ation f lan

,

O
n
.
, ,

good prayers is that they are t o o long — n o t ,

gnor is unavoidable in a assembly if a quarter
that we should pray by the clock but it is bet of t he time is occupied in a round o f words whi ch
ter the hearers s hould wi s h the prayer had been are felt t o be no part Of pra er but only s ucces ,

longer than S pend half the time in wishi n g it

, sive preparations to pray n d the usual hesita .

were over There are doubtless seasons when tion o f this manner adds g reatly to the di fficul ty
L
. .

the ord fa vours tho s e who pray with a wrest T o the sam e class Of faults belongs the execs
ling S piri ”
t
so that they hardly know how t o
, sive use o f t he in e rj ection O h ! This Should t
leave Off Tho s e who j oin in these prayers ar e
. always denote emotion and is never proper ex ,

s eldom wearied But it sometimes happens that cept when follow e d by a title of Go d in the voca
n
.
, ,

we S pin out our time t o the greatest length when , tive case o r in the direct language o f ear est
,
”
we have in reality the leas t to sa y In co n . petition It is a great extreme to begin as some
.
,

fir ma t i o n of this las t remark I add a similar one do nearly every sentence with this intensive
t
, ,

from the late Rev Jeremiah Hallock of Connec “

par icle ; as Oh we beseech thee l ”
O h we
t
.
, , ,

t i cut — whom I use to hi n k more like Jesus bless thee 1 ” “ Oh we are S inners 1 And the
”

t t
, ,

Christ than any o her minis er of my acqu ai nt cas e is still worse when this inte nsive phras eology
ance He once s ai d to me in a revival o f reli
.
, is often m ade out by the help o f an expletive
gion I do my errand at the throne o f grace
, verb as Oh we do beseech thee !
, ,
”
Oh we do , ,

the mo s t d irectly when I have the best S pirit of bles s thee !

JU C U
,

3 IN DI I O S USE O F PA USE S i s a n o t he r fa ult

”
prayer . .
,

It were little to o ur purpos e o n such a sub w hich oft e n occur s i n p r a y e r

O n
.
,

j ec t to quote the pinions o f men to whom

, I have already mentioned freedom a d fluency
prayer is always a burden ; but the judgment of as e s pecially desirable in this duty There is .

holy men who were ripe for heaven while on nothi ng whi ch so fatally destroys the influence
t
ear h may w ell de s erve o ur regar d
,
,

. upon co mmon minds of what is spoken in public ,

The mo s t general precaution against undue as the appearance of hesitation in the speaker .

length i s to remember that you are never called They a lways ascribe it to a dulness o f co n ce p
t
,

o n any o n e occasion to menti on all the topics Of tion o r flu ter o f spirits which excites their
, ,

prayer Some you must omit at o n e time and

.
, compassion o r at least diminishes their respect
, .

some at an other ; while many that are mentioned In a devotional exercise the influence is much ,

can have but a pas s ing notice Avoid espe cially .

, , worse than in any other kind of S peaking What .

great particularity in dwelli ng o n t he cases of ever apology in behalf o f a very young preacher , ,

indi vidua ls an d fam ilies who requ e st public may be made by his fellow worshippers still -

prayers The prayer af er sermon may di ff er in

. t n
they wi ll i evitably lose all inter est in hi s prayer
,

length from t w o to three or fo ur minutes . if he proceeds in it with di ffic ul ty hi mself .

2 A n o t he r of t he f a ult s w hi ch I s ha ll me n t i o n In some cases where there is no speci al mis

FR U N URR NC
.

co n s i s t s i n t he E Q E T RE C E E o r PA management a s to pauses the S peaker may i n

VO URI T E W O DS R AD FR
N SE T O M S O F E XPRE S SI O N fli ct pain o n his hearers a mounting in some
,

t t
, .
,

Names and ti les of Go d with epithe s refer , cases to distre s s by un s kilfully going back to ,

ring to his attributes as almi ghty merciful , , , , correct some slight verbal m i s take in what he
holy glorious & c are repeated i n some pra yers has uttered Thi s unavoidably fixes the atten
n
, , . .

so need lessly a d so Often as t o be divested n o t , , tion o f his fellow wors hippers o n what might -

only o f solemnity but of S ignificance If the , . otherwise have passed without notice If there .

word Jehovah might not be spoken by a Jew i s neither impiety nor absurdity in his language ,

without prostrati on it is at least irreverent in us though it may not have been happily chosen t o
n
, ,

t o repeat it in every sentence as a careless e x le correct the mi s take is generally worse tha to
ti ve .
“ ”
Though this is n o t as New on says
p
,
t , let it alone .

takin the name o f God in vain in the u s ual The same pauses are requi red in prayer as in
sense 0 gthe phrase it is a great impropriety
,
”
, . any other grave delivery ; and for the same
Another form of the same fault consists in a reasons —to di stinguish the sen se and t o give
, ,
 LEC TURES ON PUBLIC PR AYER .

opportunity for taking breath But when pauses .

g uide us , sanctify us , & c , the . monotonous
are made between words too clo s ely connected heavy manner is avoided
GR A F LI A RIT Y
, .

to admit o f any pause it occasions an appearance 4 A n o t he r f ault i s , T o o E T AMI

AD D R
, .

o f embarras s ment w hich the hearers certainly IN E S SE S To GOD

,

t
.

obs erve in prayer and certainly observe wi h Some acquire the habit as Newt on says “o f
L
, , ,
”
pain For example men who know nothing o f
.
, talking to the ord in much the same care ,

gra mmar instinctively feel that an adj ective S i g less manner as to langu a ge and voice as
n ifie s nothing without a s ubstantive hen a . W though they were ad d re s sing a fellow worm
,

-
,

speaker utters an adj ective his mind is supposed , A man in pleading for hi s life before an earthly
already to have conceived the substantive to king would S peak with serious ness and rever
,

w hich it belongs If he makes a pause then ence ; much more is this proper in speaking
t
.
, ,

between the a dj ective and the sub s antive it , to the King Of kin gs Z ealous and fanatical .

implie s that he had begun to utter a thought not m en have acquired an unseemly bol dn ess in ,

finished in his own mind The case is the same . this re s pect from some things in a kind o f ,

with other g rammatical correlates standing in sacred p as toral poetry ; an d in such poetico
y t
,

immediate connexion ; as the auxili a r and its “

prose wri ings as Mrs Rowe s Devout Exe r .
’

”
principal verb the prepos ition and the noun it ci s es ; and in the example o f some eccentric
W
,

governs the active verb and its obj ective Sup

,
. preachers such as hi tefield It is not un co m
, .

pose a preacher then t o utter this sentence in mon to hear from those whose devout feelings
,

W
,

prayer with these pauses : “ e entreat thee in are questionable such expressions as these : ,
“
thy great mercy to grant us grace , Dearest Jesus come and sit down with us at ,

that we may turn from o ur manifold the table which thou hast S pread Come and
” ”
transgressions and live All these n u . make o n e with us The apostles says a sen .
,

natural pauses no o n e wo uld b e likely to mak e in sible writer will not be thought cold or luke ,

one sentence But o n e or other o f them would warm i n love to their divine Master ; yet they
t
.

probably be adopted by him who had acquired never prefixed to his nam e fondling epi hets .

the unfortunate and need less habit which I am They were too sen s ible o f the infinite distance
condemning between him and themselves to venture o n such
y
.

Perhaps I ought to mention another thing irreverence The spoke t o him and o f hi m in .
, ,

which occurs in the language o f prayer and o n , terms not o f equal familiarity but o f respectful ,

account of which I have often Observed young and awful veneration Let those who are accus .

”
preachers to proceed with di ffic ulty I refer to . t o me d t o us e such phrases as de ar Go d and , ,
”
the too abundant use o f sentences in which the dear Jesus study the example o f the apostles
L AN G UA G
.
,

relative with its adj uncts constitutes a member 5 I ha ve a lr e a dy g la n ce d a t t he E OF

C N SUR CO T
.
,

o r perhaps a series o f members Hence it hap . E E AN D O F M PL M I EN as be i n g i mp r op er

pens very frequently that while the speaker s ,

’
in p r a er .
y
mind perceives exactly the thought to be ex On the latter point a few addi t i onal remarks
pressed i n the beginning o f such a complex sen are required I suppose there can be no doubt .

tence he is thrown into embarrassment in making that o n the simple principles o f the gospel
,

fl y
, ,

out its subsequent p a rts For example : it would . atter is wrong in all cases Suppose then as .
, ,

be a simple petition easily uttered in prayer to , , pastor o f a congregation you make the closing ,

say Help us to regard with the deepest rever

, prayer o n the sabbath after a brother in the
ence the solemn admonitions Of thy word But . ministry has kindly preached f o r you through
if the speaker has acquired the habit of phrase the day Yo u allude to his sermons in terms
.

ology j ust alluded to his form of expression would ,

such as worl dl y politeness employs o n common
perhaps be Help us to regard with tha t rever subj ects that is in terms Of direct compliment
t
.
, , ,

ence w hic h t ho s e solemn admonitions In thus cancelling an obliga ion to a fellow

of thy word w hich The blanks are worm do y o u not o ff end against the sanctity o f
left after the relatives to suggest the di ffic ulty the place and the occ a sion and the di gnity so , ,

intended in my remarks T hese might each be to S peak o f devotion ? I have no doubt that
t ,
.

filled wi h forms o f expression very di fferent intelligent and conscientious people often feel o n
and yet perfectly proper hich o f these . W ,

this point a degree o f impropriety in the habits

forms shall be adopted must cost the mind a o f ministers ; and the same habits are sometimes

momentar y e ff ort to determine ; and this is the carried to a greater extreme in more private
precise p o m t at which hesitation is ver liable t o y devotions such as acknowledg ing the hOSp i t a li
,

occur ties o f families

fl
. .

In regard to uency o f utterance I may add 6 The p r a c t i c e of s o me e xc e lle n t mi n i s t e r s t o

R RFR C
.
, ,

that it is o ut of que s tion when a prayer consists i n t r oduce i n t o p ubli c p r a ye r a D I E CT E E E N E

o f detached sentences in which there is no cur ,
To T H EI R I N DI V DUAL N F
I I I RMIT IE S AND S I N s,
rent Of thought or feeling T he s e generall b e . I co n s ide r a s i mp r op e r .

gin with some auxiliary verb as ma y o r e t o r , ,

My first reason is that this is turning aside ,

some set phrase ; while each sentence is inde from the common ground in which the devotions
pendent o f every other and all follow success ,
of an a s sembly can uni t e T o acknowledge .

i v e ly with a uniform cadence

, Whereas if the .
,
the i n sufii ci e n cy o f all means in themselv es ,

S peaker introduces succes s ively some topic o r and the weakness and unwort hiness of human
train o f thought to which diff erent sentences,
instruments is proper To implore Divine assist , .

refer through a paragr aph ; and these sentences

,
ance in the dispensation o f the word and the ,

begi n with words that have meaning perhaps ,

Divine blessing to give it efficacy is o f course ,
“
with a principal verb ; as S how us teach us proper The whole assembly can unite in such
.
, , ,
 S E R MO N S .

! It eem pro er t o info r m t he re ader hat a lea d ing con sideration i n fa o ur o f including serm o n s i n t hi s t v
v v t t t t
t L t
s s p ,

lume i s t he de si re o f gi ing a pra c ical illu s ra i o n o f t he princi p les di scu ssed i n he fif h ec ure o n
t t t t t t t tt t
o ,
,

C ho i ce o f Subjec s f o r Se rmo n s I i s pre sumed ha t he s uden o f Ho mi le i cs ma y be er unders a nd t he

v w t L t v t t
.

ie s exp re s sed i n he ec ure b y ha ing be fo re him a n ori gina l sermo n as a S p eci men o f he kind o f subjec
t
i n e nded u n der ea ch head
,

In m ak ing hi s s elec i o n ho ever t he au ho r has f o und i d i fficul t o s a i s fy hi m t t w t ,

t t t
v w t t t
,

t
. ,

s el f He wo uld h a e i shed t o i nse r a s ingle ra her han a do uble serm o n as a n example o f t he do c ri n a l a n d

t t ,

t tt
.

d ida c ic I n t he cl as s o f e hica l he had cho se n a sermon o n S i ns o f t he To ngue ; bu fo und t he i llegi ble s a e

t ,

tt t t tw t t t
.

o f t he m a nu scrip t o requ i r e m o re a en i o n h a n he ca n n o w be s o Hi s ho pe i s ha beyo nd t he o bj e c

v tt t t t
.
, ,

abo e s a ed t he serm o n s ma y be f o und u seful t o hi s yo un ger cleric a l bre hre n in i llu s r ing s o me o f t he
t t t t t
a
, ,

elemen ary principl e s o f preaching ; a n d u seful t o o her re aders i n illus ra ing t he princi p le s and sp iri o f the
go sp el ! .

S ERM O N I . j oined a sum mar o f the second tab le which is y

O R NA L LOV
,

D CT I .
- E T O GO D.
a branch o f t he first and great law requiring 10
t o God ; and is called the second bec a use man is ,
Je s us hi m, Tho u s ha lt lo v e t he
s a i t h un to
the direct though not the primary obj ect
y
,

Go d, w i t h a ll t hy he a r t , a n d w i t h a ll regard The clause which fo llows 1 8 ver em

n
.

a n d w i t h a ll t hy mi n d This is t he fir s t and h t i cal :

“ O thes e tw o commandments hang
p a
.

r e a t comma n dme n t — Matt xxii 3 7 , 3 8 ”

g . . .
all the law and t he prophets The plain mean
n
.

T HE men o f ra k and influe nce among the Jews ing is this is the whole o f reli gion as required
, ,

saw with alarm the growing regard t o the i n in the Jewish scriptures It is the es sence both
y
.

s t r uct i o n s o f Christ manifested b the eag er ,

o f the Pentateuch that code Of statutes often ,

interest with which multitudes attended o n his called the law the spirit o f whi ch is contained
y
,

ministr The plan which they adopted to ar in the ten commandment s and also o f the i n
n
.
,

res t this current o f popular sentiment is only o n e ,

s t r uct i o n s given by t he prophets ; a d the text

example among many i n which the sagacity o f , in its connexi ons shows that the moral law e s ,

wicked men confounds itself T he Pharisees .

p e ci ally in stead o f being abrogated o r counter
,

first and then the Sa dducees propos e d questions

, , acted is establi shed i n all its honour and authority
,

to this new Teacher w hich they thought so per by the gospel The text then contains the S i m
R S C SS
.
,

p le xi n g as t o shake his credit with the people ple P O P O I TI O N ; that LO V E T o GO D O M P RI E

y CC A D C
.

“
The res ul t was however that the were put T HE S UM O F ALL A E PT B L E O B E IE N E
n
, , .

t o S ilence
” “
and the m ul titude were astonished ”
The subj ect divides its elf into two bra ches
R R
, ,

at his answers So unexpected a d i sco mfit ur e The P O PE TI E S o f this love and

DU A S
.
, ,

where so easy a triumph had been anticipated , The T Y OF LL ME N T o P O S SE S I T .

only exasperat ed the pride and the prej udices o f After considering these two points we shall ,

these men A third tri al therefore was ma de by be prepared by way o f refl e ction to se e how any
n y
.
, ,

one who seems t o have b een emine tly q uali fied system o f religion is salutar in its influence o r
for the purpose He is styled a la w y e r denoting .
, n o t just in proportion as it is conformed t o thi s
,

that he had been train e d up in the sacred litera o n e standa r d o f the great T eacher ; and how thi s
ture o f hi s country where sch o ols o f the p r o , S imple p r inciple o f the text becomes the gra nd

p he t s had been maintain ed since the time of principle o f Christian preachin g — We are t o
Samuel and had become especi ally since the consider
S
, , ,

captivity the resort o f young men devoted to I The P R O PE RT IE of t r ue lov e t o Go d

W
.
, .

the sac red o ffice a s a learned profession ith ,

. The terms o f the text most distinctly imply ,

much confidence probably in his o w n attainments , that it is a supreme re g ar d t o himself which Go d

this s cribe put the question Master which is requires Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
t
, , . ,
”
the great commandment in the law ? The a n wi h all t hy heart and with all thy soul and , ,
”
swer which according to Mark made a deep
, , ,
with all thy min d This reduplicati on Of te rms .

and salutary impression o n the in quirer was , is designed to express in the strongest manner , ,

given in the words o f the text Thou shalt , the extent o f the Obligation as includi ng all o ur ,
”
lo ve the Lord thy Go d & c This is a quotation , . rational and moral powers It is so stron gly ex .

from the summary o f the moral law in the S ixth pressed as t o be apparently exclusive o f all r e
chapter o f Deuteronomy To this Christ sub . gard to other beings besides Go d and therefore ,
 L O E T O G OD V .

apparently in consiste t wi h the o ther command n t

love hi m And there ca n be no question that , to .

to love o ur neighbour For how I t may be s ai d . the innumerable and unmerited blessings b e , ,

can there be any pla ce for regard to ourselves stowed o n himself by the same d i v ine goodness ,

o r to o ur fellow men if we must love Go d with

’
,
will awaken in the Christian s bo som a generous
all the he a rt ? But the r ule Of duty is easy to and fervent gratitude .

be unders t ood If excellence is to b e loved per But does this make self love t he essence Of
W
-

n
. ,

feet and i fini te excellence is t o be loved s u moral go odness ? hy then if w e are t o e s ,

p r e m e ly .To give God the reg ard then which teem o t hers j ust a ccording to the favours they , ,

his character deserve s is not to exclude a proper ,

have conferred o n us —why is it wrong to hate ,

regard to men ; but to love them in subordina enemies according t o the maxim o f the Jews ? ,

tion to Him The love which the so n owes to Why di d Christ say to them Love your
n ,
.

his father must not be tra s ferre d t o a brother o r enemies — for if ye love them that love y o u ,

s i s ter ; yet love to the father allows and requires what reward have ye Publicans do the same ;
due aff ection to all the members Of the fami ly men w ho ma ke n o pretensions to religion do .
,

When we say in common la nguage Of a man this The felon who deser ves death may be , .
,

ardently devoted to an Obj ec t that he pursues i t thankful for the perj ury o f a false witne s s that
t
, ,

wi h all hi s heart we mean a comp a rati ve not saves hi m from the gallows It is gratitude for a
O n
, , .

an absolute exclusion o f all other bj ects So breach o f God s law ; and is it the gratitude .
’

familiar is this kind of expre s sion that the strong such as God approves ,

e s t examples of it in which Christ req uires us Suppose now that before I can love God it is
t n
, , ,

to hate father and mother bre hren and si sters ecessary f o r me to believe that he has first loved
, ,

in compari s on with him are seldom if ever mi s me as o n e o f hi s children Ho w am I t o believe

t t
.
,

unders o o d by plain read ers o f he Bible The thi s ? Plainly I must believe without evidence .
, ,

love of God shoul d so engross and fill the soul o r I must have evidence o f what is untrue Fo r
y
, .

as to exclude contrar and co ntrol subordinate by the suppo s ition I can have n o love to God
affections It should le a d us to priz e nothin g i
,

ti ll I beli eve that he delights i n me as the Obj ect n ,

n
.

competition with him — to pursue nothing but o f hi s special fav our a d to believe this while I , ,

in subserviency to his sacred wi ll In short t h i s have no love to hi m is to believe a fals ehoo d

W t
.
, , .

love i rn p li es that whatever are o ur possessions hen we speak o f love as impar ial we ought
y
, ,

enjo ments attainments we give him the whole ;

,
t o mean nothing inconsistent with that general
,

and s erve hi m t o t he utmost extent o f all o ur law by which every man is t o act as the S pecial
ca a ci t i e s . guar dia o f his o w n life and happiness and t o n ,

is love is impartial as well as supreme I fulfil his special obligati ons to his ki n dred his
,
.
,

say impartial rather than disinterested n o t be neighbours and his country Not beca u s e the , , .

cause I perceive any good re as on f o r the p r e j u ha ppiness o f himse lf o r his friends is more
dice o f many against the latter term but beca u se importa t than that of others but because as a , n , ,

thi s prejudi ce exists and because they who l n limited being his benevolence must act o n Obj ects ,

d a lge it understand the phrase dis interested love it can reach within his limited S phere That , , , .

to exclude all regard to o ur o w n happiness man whose benevolence is most expansive w ho .

,

Doubtle ss some who are actuated by the w o r t hi ac ts from the high e st views Of his relations to
e s t motives in attempting to vindicate the ri ghts God a d the universe w i ll tak e the best care o f n
of God aga
,
i nst a ll
,

interfering clai ms have a d h i s o w n soul a d body — will be the best father , n ,

v a n ce d certain extreme statements whi ch are the best neighbour the best citizen His regard
n
, , .

liable at leas t to be unders t ood as ma i taining t o himself wi ll be consistent with that which he
the necessary extinction o f pers onal regard t o owes to all other beings And let me ask n o w
t
.
,

ourselves and o ur own interests by the exi st whe her the principle that makes self love the -
,

ence of disinterested affec i on in the hea rt standard of duty is consistent with reason with t ,

.
,

That this is not my meaning will be evident as conscience o r with the Bible ? ,

we pro ceed . How is it con s istent with re a son ? Ought we

B ut there is another extreme Not a few to regard the life of a million men more than o f
n
.

morali sts an d Chr i stian divines in oppos ing the o n e ? o r the li fe o f a man more tha of an insect ? ,

doctrine o f disinterested aff ection g o all the Why ? becaus e it is mor e important Shall a
O
, .

length f maintai ning that the es s ence o f moral man then set up him self as his o w n chief obj ect ,

goodness is self love It is i mpo s s i ble they af

- above a ll the creation and the Creator t o o ? An
t
. ,

firm for a rational being to love God wi hout insect bears some proportion to a man but a m a n
, , ,

previous evidence that he i s an obj ect o f divine bears no proport ion t o Go d Compar ison here .

favour ; because he mu s t m ake hi mself t he cen i s o ut o f the question unless it be to quicken

t
,

tre o f his o w n aff ec ions This sentiment the o ur feeble conceptions as in the bold and beau
.
,

apos tle is suppo sed t o teach when he says We tiful figur e o f the prophet All nations before ,
”
love hi m because he first loved us No w there him are less than nothing Supreme self love . .
-

can be no question that t o love God is a frui t o f is utterly unreas onable it ex al ts what is finite ,

his Spirit whose gracious influence begins thi s above what is infinite
,
.

good work in the heart wherever I t e m st s ; so Ho w is it consistent with conscience and com
t ,

hat God s love to men is the only e fli ca ci o us mon sense ? In th i s o n e estimate o f character
’

caus e o f their love to him There can be no good me n and b ad instinctively agree that he .
,

question that the ten thous and evidences tha t who will never sacrifice an other s interest to
,
’

God is good and does good w hich are spre a d o ut serve hi s o w n but will forego his o w n advanta ge
, ,

before us in the works o f providence and r e to serve hi s fellow man deserves approbation
W , .

demption lay us under the strongest obligations

,
orldly men praise thi s spirit as generous and
magnanimous and stigmatize as base and narro w every part f hi s exi s tence The duty t o love
,
O .

the Opposite temper In religion the principle Go d can nev e r cease even for a moment becaus e
W
. , ,

holds in its full strength hat if positive proof hi s perfections are un e ha n g e ab le and eternal
. .

could now be furnished that Cranmer went to Such are the characteristics o f that love which
the stake from t he vainglorious desire to have is the fulfilling o f he law I proceed t
t DU
.
,

his name blazoned wi h the honours o f martyr II T o S how that it i s the T Y O F A LL M E N

W
.

dom . hat if at this late day doc uments should T o P o s sE s s T HI S L O V E

, ,
.

be discovered showing that the phila nthropist My first argument must o f course be derived
,

Howard and the missionar Brai nerd with all from the char ac ter o f God and the relations he
,
y ,

their reputed ze al and self denial were at bo ttom sustains t o us His moral attributes compri s ed
-
,
.
,

actuated by motives Of personal emolument o r in the general term goodness are the basis of a ll ,

fame . I hOp e there is no injus ti ce t o these moral obligation This I have assumed in the .

venerable names in sup p osing such a case for remarks alread y m a de and must as sume in what ,

illus tration Ass um ing the facts then t o be so I i s to follow This doctrine i s s o necessarily pre
. , .

do not ask what would Christians say but what supposed in the moral aff ections the law requires
W
, ,

would worldly men say ? hat do they say that without it these requisitions must b e nuga
concerning men of the same character now whose tor For if God is ot lovely whatever powers y . n ,

motives they would discredit ? Why these men men possess and to whatever other things the , ,

after all are not disinterested Who does not authority o f God might bind them it could
k
.
,

now with wha t scrutiny the little band who never bind the m to love him s el f To tremble at
y
.

commenced the work o f modern mis s ions in the his maje st and to dread his displeasure might
y
, ,

East have b e e n watched in ever step and how indeed be reasonable but to love his character
n
, ,

ready even votaries o f wealth a d pleasure have if it were divested of all moral excellency could ,

been to fix on any circumstance and proclai m it never be a duty for it would be wrong But , , .

aloud from which a sus picion might be raised God himself is love In him are united a ll those
,
.

that missionaries and their families are not as perfections which render him the obj ect o f s u '

superior to all selfish motives as if they were s o preme love t o us And thi s argument is greatly .

many angels strengthened when we consider his relations to

Illiberal and unreasonable as such invectives
are they S how a common consent among men “
He is o ur Creator Besides a body fear fully .
,

that a selfis h temper is wrong And this doctrine and wonderfully mad e he has given us a soul
t
.
,

is no recent inventi on o f speculating theolo gians surpassing in value a ll his o her works and .
,

Fenelon and Pascal and Cicero taught it Even stamped with a brighter resemblance of his o w n
, , .

the canons o f criti cis m in Greece and Rome intelligence and i mmortality Augustine says .

required that an orator or statesman shoul d be If a sculptor af ter fashioning a piece o f marble ,

governed not by personal ambition but regard into a human figure coul d inspire it with life
, , ,

to the public good and sense could give it motion and understand
.
, ,

But we have higher authority ; and I ask ing and speech its first act doubtless would be , ,

briefly how does the sentiment I am Opposing to prostrate itself at the feet o f its maker in
,

accord with the Bible ? To cut short the reply subj ection and than k fulne s s ; and shall man ,
”
only read my text : Thou shalt love whom ? refuse his homage to the G od that m a de him ? ,

the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with The sun was formed t o shine and it shines ; the
, , ,
”
a ll thy soul and with all thy mind , Does this beasts w ere made to serve man and they ho w .
,

allow a man to make hi mself the chief obj ect o f their necks in cheerful s ubmission to his wi ll .

re ard ? And shall man who w as formed for the S pecial ,

o the two foregoing properties o f the love purpose o f glorifying God stand alone in this ,

which God requires I intended to add tw o others wide world and refuse to fulfil the end o f his
, ,

That it is di f fusive or active and that it is per creation ? ,

manent The extent o f the subj ect however God is our preserver and benefactor Blessin gs
t
.
, , .

allow s m e only to say o n the for mer o f these surpas sing all computa ion in number and value
, , ,

that love i s the principle o f all those aff ections he bestows o n us while he has s haped the whole ,

and practical duties whi ch constitut e true reli system o f his b e n e fice n ce so that he is him s elf
g i on We mean only modifications f this grand the only absolute good to the soul The appetite O
t t
. .

principle when we S peak o f the Christian grac es o f hunger is no sati s fied wi h the fragrance o f ,

repentance faith hope humili ty patience meek the ro s e ; it demands food The eye is not s atis
, ,

t
, , , .

ness The same thing holds o f re la ive duties fie d with the enchantments o f music ; its element
. .

The apostle after enumerating these says they is light The ear is not satisfied with the beau
t
, , , .

are briefly comprehended in love ; and hence ties Of he rainbow ; i t s element is harmony So , .

the reality Of o ur regard to God is often s us the love o f God is the proper element of the soul
t
.

pended as t o evidence on the simple test o f love And who is in f a ct the happy ma n in his world ?
, ,

to the brethren ; for it is plai n that the s ame Not he who makes a god o f this world ; not he
affection which delights i n him will be extended who expe cts happiness from any Of i s enj oy t
to those who bear his i mage and will operate ments but he who lif ts his e e above them all , ,

towards a ll men like the expansive benevolence in the fervent aspiration om have I in
o f him
“who maketh his sun to ri s e on the evil heaven but thee ? and here is none upo n earth
”
t ,

and the goo d . that I desire besides thee ”

.

The permanence o f this aff ection is required But the consummation o f all other blessings ,

by the same law which extends its claims not which claim o ur love to God is the g if t of his ,

only to a ll the powers o f a moral agent but t o S o n If we are fearfully and won d erfully
"

, .
 SERM O NS .

p le t e ,and con s istent with its elf i n all its part s al s o to malice in th e heart The act of adultery
t
. .
,

But the system which many embrace a n d p r o they condemned — he r ep r esen ted his as also a
y
,

fess t o derive from the Bible is Of a ver dif f er , sin o f the h e art Hatred t o friends they co n .
,

ent char acter There are some w ho se em t o s i d e r e d to be wrong ; he also forbade hatr e d t o
y
.

make entire conf ormity to the law essential not , enemies This strain o f commentar and r e
.

only in point Of duty but also o f sincerity and , prehension b e closed by saying Be ye perfect , ,

acceptance They a dmi t the hope o f divine as your Father in heaven is perfect ”
Do e s
k nt
. .

favour to nothing S hort o f sinless perfection and , this look li e lowering do w he standard o f
so interpret the law as to make it set as ide the duty ? Not a n instance can be found in the
gospel . New T estament where any li cense is given to ,

But there i s another extreme whi ch under o n e sinful word o r thought D o es this look like
n
.
,

di ff erent names is much m ore common and a desig in Christ to m ake the go spel a mitigated
t
, ,

much more da ngerous in tendency because it , law ? Besides no stronge r tes imony t o t he per ,

coincides w ith the strongest propensities o f the p e t ui t y of the law could be given than is implied ,

un s a n ct ifie d heart I ref er t o those Opinions . in the fact that J ohn and Christ and t he apos
, , ,

whi ch ma ke the gos p el supersede the la w Since . tl e s inces s antly preach e d that men should r e
”
salvation is n o t to be obtained by personal o b e pent . But why rep ent ? Because they are
d i e n ce s om e have bo ldly m ai ntained that the
, transgressors ; n o t o f an abrogated o r miti gated
law is no longe r o f any use ; that be lievers are law but o f o n e that is unchangeably holy just
, , ,

under no obligation to confo r m t o it and that , and good .

o f c o urse nothing which they do i s O ff ensive to

, Look at the threatenings o f Christ In the .

God T hese Opinions in their most open and

.
, most dreadful curses o f the law what is there ,

explicit forms are so plainly contrary t o the word

, more appal lin g and dreadful than in the sanctions ,

o f Go d that they are much less prev al ent than

, of the gospel i tself ? Th ese shall go away into
others o f kindred tendency but more plausible everlasting fire prepar e d for the devil and his
aspect There are n o t a f e w who would n o t go
. n
a gels ? ”
,

all this length but still regard the o ld la w r e ,

Look at the suff erings o f Christ Fo r what .

“
quiring love t o God with all the heart as ”
purpo se did he endure the agonie s o f the cro s s ?
,

really unsuite d to the condition o f fallen man “

simply that he mi g ht m agnify the law and
,

and as necessarily supersede d by the gospel , make it honourable and yet r o vi d e for the
which they Vi ew as a mitigated law demanding ,
pardon o f its tran s gressors e ll therefore .

only sincere though imperfect obedience But, . might Paul say with this ver y subj ect in his eye , ,

it is t o my purpose to show that any sentiment DO w e then m ak e void the law through faith ? ”

which contravenes the great commandment r e Does the doctrin e of salvation by grace se t aside
quiring supreme love to Go d is as inconsistent ,
the standard o f moral Obligation ? God for
with the gospel as with the law and sw e eps bid — yea we establish t he law ”
And so it is
, , . .

away in fact the whole sy stem o f revealed r e In the scene o f Calvary God speaks o ut his
n
, , ,

li g ion Let us consider the case a d see if it unalterable purpose t o maintain his law in lan
n n
.
, ,

co uld be the desig o f the gospel t o repeal o r guage even more awful tha the thunderings o f
m odif y the law . Sinai .

Loo k at the foundations o f this law and t he ,

Look at the example o f Chri st In w hat i h .

purpose for which it was established Some . stance did he transgres s the law ? Go to
”
thi ngs are in themselves so in di fferent that the natural reli gion says an eloquent preacher
n
, , ,

same authority might either require o r forbid “lay before he r Mah omet a d hi s apos tles ar
,

them The ritual pr ecepts as t o leaven and

. rayed in armour and in blood ; Sho w her the
honey are o f this sort But the supposition that cities which he set in flames the countries which
y
. ,

Go d could forbid men t o love himself is absurd , . he ravaged and Then carr her
Should he tolerate hatred to himself o r to each into hi s retirement ; S how her the prophet s ’

k
,

other among moral agents hi s ingdom would

, ,
chamber his concubines and his wives ; and let
,

be d ivided agai nst itself and the chi ef ends o f her hear him allege a divi ne commis s ion to justify
moral government would be subverted To
,

. li centiousness and hi s crimes h en she is

, . W
supersede his law therefore o r to relax the ti r e d with this prospect show her the blessed
n
, , ,

strictness and extent o f its claims would be i h J esus humble a d meek and doing good to all
n
, , ,

consistent with his o w n perfections a d with the ,

m en Let her see hi s retirement ; let her follow
.

best interests o f the universe him to the mount and hear hi s devotions and
n
. , ,

Look at the doctrines a d precepts o f Chri st listen t o his heavenly discourse Let her view
n n
. .

” “
Thi k not said he that I am come to destroy his whole life ; let her sta d by hi s cro s s and
, , ,

the la w o r the prophets I am n o t come to de hear him in the agony o f death pray for hi s
n
. ,

stroy but t o fulfil T ill heaven and ear th pass

, .
,
enemies ; a d then ask which is the prophet o f ,

Go d ?
’
n o t o n e j o t o r tittle n o t the m i nutest letter o r

point o f the la w sha ll fail

,
”
I am aware that
,

. T r ul brethre he who di d n o sin —who n , ,

”

some su pos e this to respect n o t the moral law ,

b imse never broke the divine la w in o n e tittle ,

but the o sa i c c o d e and the prophets generally , . could n o t intend t o give a mitigated la w to his
T hese doubtless it di d respect But whatever . followers .

else the great T eacher meant he plainly meant

the moral la w chiefl y Hence he went o n t o .
,

d f rm d th t wh v r m pl y
re a e r i s
d vublr d mmmm d t b pr p gr qu t pt g g figl
The
it
in o e a ene e
io
I e
t he
o
si n
t he
comment o n the perversion o f this law by the o e co a, en o es a o e o a n e

Scribes Thou shalt not kill — they under

.

stood to forbid t he act o f murder he extended it

, thl gt u g t m t fr m th r
in

an
a
e t e co
t he s e n i
a e .
x tl y
a , at
en is
t he
o
e gi n
an o
n in
e
o

,
f a
b ut no
as s a
t e ac
e ,
si n
i n hi s
i es
 L O VE To GOD .

In a word make the appeal t o any s s incere di the more di fficult it becomes t o correct the mis
,

ci p le o f Chri st who has felt the power o f the take Jus t S O in he case before us The t
t
. .
,

go s pel on hi s heart whether he is o r w i shes to , , preacher who starts wi h wrong premi s es as to

b e exempt fr om ob ligation to keep the whole the s trictn es s and extent o f the di vine law may
W
, ,

law ? hich o f t he comm andments he is at be warm in addr es s t o the feelings o f men ; but
y
li bert t o break P— No t o n e — For every sin tha t t heir feeling will not be such as the gospel w as
he commits he is gui lty He fee ls gui lt y ; and . intended to produce .

conscience ratifies in all its extent and stri ctnes s , , Let us resume the two cas es j ust now sup
t he law that requi res him to love God supremely , posed A pre a cher represents the divine law as
.

”
an d to be holy as God is holy . originally requiring supreme love to God but as ,

2 If it is the duty of men to love God with

.
modified now to suit the present condition Of the
all the heart there is no way o f salvation for a world Wh at then is the character o f men under
n
.
,

sinner but by sovereig g race Had he obeyed th i s modi fied law ? Sinners doubtl e ss they are
t
.
, , ,

he law perfec tly he would have been j us t ified ,

in so me g eneral sens e ; they do not love Go d
by works But he has broken it with all the heart perhap s do n o t love hi m at
n n
. .
,

Here then he sta ds as a perishing sinner . all ; but t o say that they have a car a l mind ,

All that he has come short o f perfect love is sin which is enmity to hi m would be to treat them
t
, ,

and needs forgiveness He has come short e n . with unreasonable severi y And what is the .

t i r e ly — all hi s moral aff ecti ons have be en wrong . go s pel ? a scheme o f infini t e benevolence which ,

He has no Obedience to plead and if he had , re gards men as wretched rather than guilty a -

any it could avail nothing towards hi s j us t ifica

,
scheme which represents Chri st as interposing to
tion as a sinner He ca n look nowhere for relief ransom men from a mis ery which they do not
W n
.

but to Chri s t hom God hath set forth t o be strictly deserve but which they ca not e scape
a propitiation through faith in hi s blood that he
,

t
wi hout such an interposi ion It i s an expedient
,

t
n
.
, ,

might b e jus t and the j us t ifie r o f hi m that b e i which a compassionate Saviour takes the part
li e v e t h in Jesus
”
here is boasting then ? W o f poor helpless sinners against the awful a t t r i

y t n
.
, ,

It i s excluded By wha t law ? O f works ? Na bu e of divine jus tice And what is repenta ce ?
t
.
. ,
”
bu by the law o f faith Such a sorrow as a poor helpless man can e xe r
n ,
.

3 If it is t he duty of men t o love God with all ci se that he is i a deplorable s tate of alienation
t
. ,

the heart he d irections which should be given from God in which he is not only unable to
n
, ,

t o sinners by the Christian pre a cher are simple m ake a atonement for hims elf but to accept
n n
, , , ,

a d intelligible a d reasonable , . the atonement Go d ha s provide d And what if .

I must be permitt ed t o dwell o n this poin t as , he do es not re p ent ? Shall he be told that he
s pecially important to th o se o f m hearers who mus t perish ? Rather he is told that he must
are devoted to the sacred o ffice y n
,

I0 fact is more . use means wait upon God a d do the best tha t
, ,

evident t han that very di f ferent e ff ec ts are pro he can And if he pleads that he cannot repent
.
,

d uce d by the labours of di ff erent ministers The . still he is told that God is merciful and will ,

sermons of o n e are attended with deep and vivid never cast o ff thos e who do the best that they can .

impres s ions of truth on the con science : and many , In this way a minister sometimes builds up a
from time to time are s avingly converted to God system o f half way religion by exhorting men -

n
.
, ,

Another man not i nferior to him in talents , t o read and hear a d pray i n a manner con
, , ,

and equally an xi ous for the salvation of hi s f e s se dly destitute o f a ll true re gard t o the
hearers preaches perhaps for years what seems glory o f God and i mplying that i t woul d be
n
, , ,

to be very much the same sys t em o f religion , unjust i hi m not to ac cept such sincere e n
b ut no visible and powerful influence attends his d e a v o ur s to repent as they exhi bit though they
mini s trations hence comes this diff erence ? . W still remain impenitent When he has trained .
,

A s ide from the co operation o f the Spirit which -

up his hearers in thi s way they demand that he
n
, ,

is necessar y to success in any i s tance and shall pre a ch only o n some general topic o f reli
which is given or wi thheld in a sovereig man n ,

gion and are best o f all pleased when that topic

n e r ; aside too from many circumsta ces whi ch n ,
,

i s the compassion o f Chri s t And if they happen .

m ight be supposed to have a bearin g on the case . t o hear a sermon o n the j ustice o r the soverei gnty
the chief difference I presume will be found to of Go d o r o n the endless misery o f the wicked
, ,

lie i n any elementary pri nciple of preaching and they cry out up on it as divesting the Father o f
t
, ,

that is he diff erent method by which the two

, mercies o f all his lovely attribute s and making ,

men aim t o reach the consciences o f hearers . him a great tyrant from whose wrath there is ,

O ne makes the doctrine o f moral obligation as no escap e beca use he is s t ro ng enough and cruel
n
, ,

summarily express e d i n my text stand o ut in , , enough t o crus h men into a undeserved de

all its prominence to the View o f each individual ,

s inner as app lying to himself — the oth e r does

, But who has authorized any m an t o instruct
not And a mistake here is fundam ental i n its
. an assembly o f dying s inners in this manner ?
practic al influence It gives a character o f i n Who authorized him t o make te rms o f dut and
n
.

e fli cacy t o a man s whole mini stratio s which ’

, salvation such as are unknown to the ible
,

no goodness of motive no warmth of zeal in t he and such as every o n e o f his hea rers ma y comply
n
,

pulpit can retrieve , The traveller who has . with in every respect a d yet be et ern ally shut
, ,

taken a wrong path may pursue hi s journey wi th , o ut o f heaven ?

confidence an d despatch ; but the rapidity of his Now let us turn for a moment to the influence
,

movement doe s not bring him any nearer to the o f that man s labours who treats these subj ects
’

end at which he aims The faster he travels in an oppo s ite manner He takes the la w as it
n n n n
. .
,

the farther he wanders from the right way a d , c a me fro m God i all its strict ess a d S pirit ,
 SERM O NS .

ua li t y He tells his hearers the demand Of this

. , a g ed father as pagan s do yet scruples n o t to
, ,
“
law i s that y o u love Go d with all the heart ”
. k i ll his friend in S ingle combat .
,

The demand is j ust because he is worthy o f , Worldly moralists I s a y have no standard , , .

your love ; because he has given y o u all the The rule o f o n e i s— conformity to c us tom ; he
c a pacities necessary to complete obedience ; and never s uspects that he is doing wrong while he
because as a perfect moral governor he never
, ,
does only what is commonly done .

can release you from this obligation But you . With another it is expediency He keeps the , .

have broken his law And n o w God comes to . sabbath if it is convenient he S peaks the truth
y o u with proposals o f m ercy through the sacri if it is convenient ; he prays perhaps if it is , ,

fice Of his Son He Of fers y o u pardon o n co n

.
, conveni ent Cromwell was a devotee occasion .

dition that yo u condemn yours elves as t ra n s g r e s ally and prayed prostrate o n t he groun d But
, .

s ors and cast yourselves at his feet through it was a maxim w ith him that t he law o f God
t
, , , ,

Christ by repentance and fai h T o these terms

,
. though commonly bin di ng may be dis p ensed ,

you ought to submit ; to these terms y o u must with o n special occasions and that private jus
n
.

”
submit o r y o u are undone This is language
,
. tice a d morality must yield to publi c necessity .

which m en can understa nd It proposes n o With a third morality consists in socia l duti es
t
.
, .

compromise deroga tory t o God : it aff ords no The man forge s Go d li ves without prayer d i s , ,

refuge to a self ju s tify ing temper ; it tears away -

regards o r disbelieves the Bible but glories in ,

the veil o f delusion which many spread between being a moral man because he is j ust and kind ,

their o w n eyes and their o w n sins ; it shows to those around him .

them that all their inability to obey the law o r Shall I tell you then who is a moral man in , ,

the gospel li es in the d esperate wickedness of
their own hearts and that the only way in which
a guilty and perishing sinner can hope to escape
etern al death is not by contending with he ,
law n o t by denying his o w n guilt but by flying
, ,
to the blood o f Christ
the sight o f God ? It is he that bows to the
,
divine law as the supreme rule o f right ; he that
is influenced by a governing regard to God in a ll
t his actions ; he that obeys o her commands S pon t
t a n e o us ly because he has obe yed the fir s t and
,
”
. great command Give me thy heart His con , .

Now is any o n e at a loss which o f these duct is not conformed to custom o r expediency
,

methods is best adapted to produce and w hich ,

but t o o n e consist ent immutable standard f , O ,

does produce the proper e ff ects o f preaching ? duty Take this man i n to a court o f j ustice and
W y
.
,

Look over the con g regations o f this land h ere . call on him to testif and he w ill not bear false ,

are r e v i v als o f religion most common

‘

Where
.
witness Give him the charge o f untold trea
.

“
do you see the Rede emer travelling in the sures he will not steal Trust him with the
O
.
,

g reatness Of his strength mighty t o save

”
and , ,
dearest interests f yourself o r fam ily y o u are ,

trembling sinners bowing before his cross ? Not safe because he has a living principle o f truth
,

where the standard o f duty is lowered down to a n d inte g rity in hi s bosom He is as wort hy o f .

’
men s hearts but where the obligation of the confiden ce in the dark as at noon day ; f o r he is -

t
,

law where the gui lt a n d the danger o f sinners

,
a moral man not because reputa ion or interest ,

are most clearly and powerful ly urged o n the demands it n o t because the eye o f publi c o b se r
,

conscience Thi s is the way to w a ke men up

. vation i s fixed u p on hi m but because the love ,

from the S lumber o f death and to make them , and fear o f Go d have predominant ascendency in
feel their need of the go s pel . his heart .

4 If it is the duty o f men t o love Go d with

. Now we might well expect that those who
,

all the heart what is c a ll e d practical religion as m ake n o serious account o f religion should be
t
, ,

the phrase is often used in he pulpit and else without any fixed stan dard of character ; but it
where is essentially defective The great dit h
, . is both stran ge and lam entable that such should
c ulty is it has no standard No term in o ur
, . be the fa ct with those who believe the Bible and ,

language is used more loose ly than that which tho s e who are professed expositors o f the Bible
t
.

designates wha the world c al l morality and ,

And yet who does not know ho w common a
,

that becau se the thing itself i s altogether inde thin g it is for min i sters who would by no means
finite . It is partial and mutable changing wi h , t j oin with infidel morali s ts to shut God out o f his
,

the parallel o f latitude and with a thousand ,

o w n world st i ll to dis charge their o fficial duties
,

varying circumst an ces It is o n e thing in the . in such a manner as to let down the tone o f doc
Indies another in Tartary o r Egypt It alters trine a n d the tone o f practical piety and the
t
, .
, ,

with o her fashions o f the century It depends . tone o f Christian di scipline because they think ,

o n climate o n fo r ms o f government o n accident ; this an ea s ier way than t o g o strai ght o n and
t
, , ,

it varies when y o u have climbed a mountain o r ,

aim a maintaining the unbending standard o f
pas s ed t o the other side o f a river The morality . the Bible An d who do es not know how utterly
.

o f the M ah ometan permits him to persecute but fruitless the efforts o f such ministe rs often prove
not to drink w ine ; that o f the Hindoo t o drink
,

to make thei r hearers eve moral n

*
.

wine but not t o taste meat The morality o f a

m t p w rful pr h th t r d
, .

Jew allowed him t o hate a Gentile ; that o f a r

Roman t o fight for conquest ; that o f a Car th f llxpwr mg mt ph t twdlv l ry t r
is
On e
e
of
e i
t he
en ft ruwld rd p mt dt
os
for
o
e
e
e ea
e ac e
s, an d
s o
a
f
e
is
a
a ge
s
ie
a e

t ha g i n i a n allowed hi m to lie ; that o f a Spar

t a n to steal
’
The morality f two among the
. O ,
t he

h md
o n t he
o
m
o o , o u t he
o
d
in
h t
ic e c a a io n s
y
e
v ll
dh rp t blr whrt h w klum yd g t th g t
e an n e ss o f
e s i ca
i s o n e s , o n t he
e a s o f ca
y fl
1 co
a
i an
n , o n a ll
e x a ia e
of a se
o s e de
greatest morali sts o f antiquity allowed them t o kill
themselves ; and many a modern s o n f Moloch
,

O ,
p t t d
r th
t he e s s a n d i s t urb r
f o r it ie s o f c a ac e

up th h
e s ofum
p t l t t y
h
a n s o ci e
v ud
ic a a e n in i n a io n a ain s
N o w , co l I .

who would shudder at self murder and woul d

thi nk hims elf a monster t o kill hi s infant o r his
-
,
thfr mf tr gthv n v r t lur g d m thl rt thd v mt ght
o
o n t he s

u , it
en g

e e
o f

o cc
e se e x o s u a io n s
i e t o i e up hi s s e a i n , a n d t he i a hi s
re to e a a ll
a e g o t t he
e ia io n s
is i
,

fore sight o f the t ork the t ur tle and the sw allow S
in flying from the storms o f winter
The text thus explained suggests as the sub
j ect o f thi s dis course a gener al pri ciple o f great
B E REG U LA TE D BY A
T HR TY
I .
The illustration o f this principle may be pur
sued under three inquiries : to W HAT E X T E N T ;
by W HAT ME AN ; and f o r WHAT RE A O N S should S S
we thus anticipate futurity ?
I To WHAT E X TE NT ma y w e for es e e e ve n ts t ha t
.
a re ye t fut u re
In some respects doubtless the po wer o f doing
this is very li mited That comprehensive i n
tuitive foresight whi ch is i mwi e d in the Divine ,
omniscience is very di ff erent from any thing
,
which belong t o minds that ar e o f yesterday and
know comparatively nothing So complex is
the system o f things in this world so various ly
are remote con s equences aff ected by the operation
o f a thousand causes hidden from hu m an vi ew
that in many respects futurity is a word o f nearly
the same meaning as u n cert ai nty O n this g round
stands the argument f o r a divine revelation wh i ch
is drawn from prophecy ; because the infallible
prediction o f what is future belongs only to Him
“
who kno w s the end from the beginning ”
hen
we speak o f hum an foresight therefore w e do
n o t mean omn i science ; we do not mean intui
tion . W
e mean only that regard to futurity
which is founded o n evidence and which b e
comes rational be ings This o f co urse must be
diff erent in degree according to circumstances
In some cases the pos sibility o f an occ urrence
hereafter ought to have much the sam e in uence
,
o n us as its certainty Fo r example the infidel
di sbeli eves a state o f eternal retribution for the
w ick e d ; he calls o n the Christia t o demonstrate
its certaint y ; but he cannot pretend t o know
that there i s not such a state He cannot de
monstrate that hell is an i mpo ssibilit As a
prudent man then o n his o w n principles he ,
ought t o act as though he knew i t w ere a
reali ty For as Locke most empha tically says
.
If the worst that can happen t o the believer if
he mistake he the best that can happen t o the
, and atheism t o o God sees in Chri sti an lands
unbeliever if he be right who without madness
would run the venture ? Who i n hi s senses
would choose to come wit hin the possibilit o f
i nfinite miser ?
”
y tial government But the mea s o f foresight
But besides considerations li ke these there is
a proper regard t o futurity resting o n evidence
which sometimes amounts to probabi li t a d
sometimes to cert ai nt Fo r example that each
individual o f thi s assembly will di e is certain ;
that most o f us shall die by some sort o f disease
is probable ; but by what disease when where
in what circumstan ces as to o ur bodily o r mental
sta te o r o ur relations t o sur vivors i s wholly un
, ,
known That all o f a s shall di e is certain that
.
o n e o r more o f o ur number will die this year is
probable ; that most o f us shall die W ithin fif t y
years is more probable ; that a ll o f us shall di e
n
,
withi o n e hundred years is st i ll more pro
bable ; and that none o f us shall live for twice
t hat period is qui te certai n Again
, that
any indi vidual o f thi s assembly w ho shall
SERM O NS .
, , , perseveringly rej ect the gospel will peri s h f o r ,
. ever is certain ; that some o f us may be o f the
,
unhappy n umber who w i ll thus peri s h is pro
n
, ,
, ,
ba ble But how many and who o f all that sit
.
, ,
in thes e seats to day will remain impe nitent -
, ,
S HO ULD and go away f rom the presence of God into ever
WI S FO S G T
E RE I H o r FU lasting pun i shment God knows but it is i mp o s
, ,
sible f o r us t o foresee .
In respect t o the arrangements o f Providence
that will regulate the aff airs o f o ur li ves here
after w e are f o r the most part in equ al un ce r
,
y
, , ,
tai nt As t o health and sickness place o f
.
abode ; relative duties tri als and enj oyments ; , ,
and as t o the means and measure o f o ur useful
ness the extent o f o ur for e sight seldom reaches
,
.
,
,
,
beyond probabi lity a d often amounts to nothing , n .
Go d in his wisdom saw it n o t best that any man
should have the means o f anticipating what shall
, ha ppe n to him from day t o day Such a di sclo s .
ure o f futurity would g o far to frustrate the ex
n
.
hi la r a t i n g a d susta ining influence o f hOp e ; and
y
,
to destroy a thousand motives t o energ in
, , action w hi ch derive all their power from un ce r
,
tai nty
y
.
. But futurity is n o t wholl concealed behind a
veil . Certain things must be foreknown as ,
essential to a state o f probation and as involv e d ,
in the dai ly hopes and duties of Christians Such
W t
.
. is the pe r petui y o f o ur existence ; the safety
and ultimate triumph o f the church ; the etern al
n
, ,
conse quences connected with a holy o r si ful
charac t er formed in this world B e sides such
, .
, things as these there are others which we must
, ,
.
, , view as so certai n or at least so p r obable that , ,
,
. o ur conduct sho ul d be regulated by a wise regard
to consequences
fl W n
.
e proceed the to inquire
S ,
.
, II By W HAT ME AN a r e w e t hus t o for e s e e t he
.
e v en ts of f ut ur i ty
n n
.
Nothing super atural is to be suppo s ed in thi s
n
case Paga ism has resorted to its systems o f
.
necromancy to rend away the veil which hides
y
.
,
. a dark and dreaded hereafte r because a guilty ,
, , conscience sees o r fancies some hand w riting o n -
the wall o r shudders at some death watch o r -
n
, ,
some dream that calls for a interpreter And
n
, .
, doubtless we are not aware ho w much p aga ism ,
, ,
disguis ed under the various forms o f regard t o
,
omens an d lucky days a d appeals to cha ce n n
y
, , , , ,
all o f which ar e a virtual den i al o f hi s p r o v i d e n
n
n
.
which I am n o w to mention are o ly such as
n
,
God has ordai ed T he s e are tw o expe rience
y n n
, .
,
a d revelation
y
, .
T o j udge from experience wha t is probable o r
n
.
, certai hereafter is the province o f reas on The , .
ground o f j udgment in this case lies in that
n
, , ,
, , , uniform course o f events fro m which we co clude
that the future will resemble the pa st In w hat .
are called the laws o f nature we calcul ate o n a ,
, state d connexion of causes and eff ects O n this .
, principle we know that water will flow down
wards from the summits of mo untai ns and n o t ,
in the contrary directi on ; that anim al bodies ar e
, sustained by food and destroyed by fir e o r po i s on
, .
We know that the light t o day will b e follow e d -
. by the darkness o f night and tha t the night will ,
, be follow e d by another day O n thi s regularity .
 F O RESIGHT OF FUTURITY .

depend all human plans of busine ss Who co u ld deluge would come the war ing o f God They n
t
.
, .

naviga e the ocean if there were no regulari ty were t old this for o n e hundr e d and twenty years
in polar at raction o r in the movements of the t ,

by Noah But hey had no faith and therefore t ,

t
.
, ,
“
s un ? Who could till the ear h if there were ,
‘
no foresight o f the event ti ll the flood came
”
, ,

no un i formi ty in the seasons Who could travel and took them all away
t
.

a journey if he could have no foresight as to he God warned Pharaoh ; T o morrow about -

t
, ,

length of he day ? Who coul d pro vide for his this time I w i ll cause a very grievous hail such
, ,

family if it were wholly uncertai n whether the as hath n o t been in Egypt fro m the foundation
,

winter would last one week or one year ? thereof every man and beast that shall be ,

In the laws of min d t o o there is a uniformity found in the field shall die He that feared the
t L
, , , .

similar o that which exists in the material word of the ord made his servants and cattle ,

world Understanding heart conscien ce and

.
, , ,
flee into the houses ; and he that rega rded not
passions are attributes o f every human mind the word o f the Lord l e ft his servants and cattle
n
, , ,
”
which are aff ected essen ti ally in t he same man er in the field At the appointed time the hail
.

by the same ca uses If it were not so civ i l ca m e and smot e a ll that were in the field man

n n
.
, , ,

government and social relat i ons mus t cease No and beast The se me that per ished i the field
n
. .

laws could be framed for any community o r any ,

might have fou d a shelt er as well as others ; ,

family No reliance could be placed o n any they had the same s easonable warning with
W
.

8 stem of instruction o r argument or pers uasion others hy did they not for esee the coming
n
. .
, ,

or w ho would undertake t o i struct o r move destruction ? They had no fear o f the Lord ,

hi s fellow men if there were no tendency in no fai t h that his threatening wo uld be ex e cute d
W
-
.
,

argument t o convince or in motive t o excite ? hen the approaching over t h r ow o f Sodom

Ami dst the great divers ities of i tellect and tem
,

n was announc e d t o Lo t , he fled to Z oar hy . W

p e r among men there are points o f res emblance did n o t hi s so ns i n law escape also ? Surely - -

that are nearl univ e rsal ; a d from these a y ,

n ,
they might have foreseen what was coming : they
ca re ful o bserver may oft en predict the conduct were warned o f God Go ye o ut o f t his place , ,

of voluntary agents with as much certainty as for the Lo r d will destroy the city T o mention
n
.

the astronomer calculates a e cli pse It was no . no more exampl e s of this s ort there are many ,

accident tha t the s agacious Burke f or esaw so future things which reason and experience could
exactly the res ults o f the French Revolution teach either not at all or ver imperfectly which y
n n
.
, , ,

Now t he less o s o f experience are not u sef ul faith foresees b a confident reli a ce o n the de
mer e ly t o the philos opher a d the reade r o f n claratio s o f od n Thus Abraham fore saw
y n
.
,

his t or T hey are intelligible t o common me Chri st s day and rej oic e d
’ “
Thus David i n
n
.
.
, ,

a d o n common subj ec ts They constitute a S pir it called him Lord when he saw his glory

y n
.
,
”
co de of laws which ever prude t man c a rries and spake o f hi m Thus Is a ia h foresaw the
n n y n
.

with him a d i s tin ctivel applies i hi s daily

,
cross erec ted and the suf f ering Saviour expiring
,

conduct on it With the same certainty though not i n

n
. .
,

O this principle of foresight from experience S pi r ed the believer n o w may know beforehand

n , , ,

the best syst ems of educatio are fo unded The that whatever God has spoken will be ae com
n
.

i fluence o f youthful ha bits in forming the , p lis he d Has God sai d He that believeth shall
.
,

whole character leads us to estimate t he pros b e saved ? —i t must b e so Has God said He
n
.
, ,

e ets of ma h o od from the promise of early life that belie veth not sh a ll be damned ? These shall
pn the same w a y we predict the s alutary o r bane
.

g o away into everlasting punishment — i t mus t

f ul influence o f par e tal example o n t he young n , be so : reason may speculate unbe lief may doubt ,

as that influence i s good o r ba d We predict . an d di spute ; but faith list e ns wit h r everence to
that o n e man will become the victim o f i n t e m Go d and fore s ees the unquenchable fire prepared
n
,

e ce — t hat an other wi ll be po or a n d another for the wicked a d the smoke o f their torment
p r an
n n
, , ,
”
rich from the usua l connexion o f ca uses a d
,
as cending up f o r ev e r a d ever .

effects as we see them in exper ienc e . T hus it is that reaso n foresees future thi ngs as ,

O n this principle we all act in common aff airs; probable o r certain in the light o f experience
W
, .

e would n o t scruple t o take a nauseous drug to And thus it i s that faith with a clearer vision , ,

avoid a fever ; n o r t o part with a morti fied limb foresees in the light o f revelation many things
t o save life ; nor t o lighten a sin ing ship f o r k ,
,

whi ch are rendered ce rtai n by the character o r

,

our o w n pres ervat ion by throwing o ur goods , declaratio n s o f God In this way the be liever .

into the sea Should a man come to y o u wi th a . has a gene ral a ss urance tha t the Judge o f all the
dose of arsenic as a healthful medi cine and sa y earth will do right He has a more partien
nk n
.
, , ,

the world have alw ays been m i staken i n thi i g lar assurance that the gates o f hell shall n o t
it a mortal po ison —swallow it a d you shall n prevail against the ch urch — that all things
recei ve no harm ould y o u listen t o him ? W ,

n
.

N 0 you would look o n him as an i sane man o r

,

a murderer ; you would lis ten to experience which

sa ys swallow it a d you will not live o n e da y n ,

n
, .
,

T he other mea s o f foresight t o w hi ch I

allude d i s revelation T his is the pr ovince o f
n
.

faith Noah built a ark to the s avi ng o f his

W
.
,

house .hy ? He foresaw that a flood was

coming Ho w di d he foresee this ? Bein g among the j ust —when the heavens shall be
n
.

war ed o f God The men o f that generation rolled together as a scroll and pass away with
n ,
.
,

to o , had the same mea s o f knowing that a a great noise —the element s shall melt w i th f e r
 SERM O NS .

vent heat — the earth also a d the works that

”
n his secret purpos e s co ncer i ng our selves which n
are therein shall b e b urnt up Nevertheless .
, have n o respect to o ur duty ; all re s tless de s ire
the b eliever according to pro mise “ looks f o r to read t he whole book of providence when he
, , ,

new heavens and a new earth wherei n dwelleth is pleased to S how us only a single page is a
n
, , ,
”
righteousness The apostle Peter havi g sur prerogatives as sinful as
y
.
, ,

v e y e d these awful sc enes o f futurit S peaks o f

y
,
'

s co fle r s who mak e a j est o f them all

“ sa i n g But there is an Oppo site extreme It is a bli nd
n ,

n
, .

”
where is the promise o f his comi g ? But trust i pro vidence ; a kind o f Chri stian fatalism .

very diff erent he says should b e the feelings o f , , It folds its hands and looks upw ar d with a pre ,

Christian s ; seeing that all these things S hall sumptuous assurance that Go d will n o t only
be dissolved what manner o f persons ought ye , n
gover the world but w ill also do what belo n gs ,

to be in all holy conversation and godliness ; t o men T his we have n o right t o expec t If
n y
. .
,

looking for a d hasting unto the comi ng o f the y o u know our hous e t o be o n fire and sit still , ,

day o f God Wherefore beloved seeing that ye .

, because your saf ety depends o n providence a c ,

look f o r such things be diligent that ye ma y be , , cordi ng t o the settl e d la w o f that providence ,

found o f him in peace without S pot and blame y o u will be consum e d T hat providence aecom
n
, .

p li she s ends only by mea s

”
less But if God has thus given us the means
n y
.
, .

in hi s providence and word o f acting with a No w between this res tl e ss a xiet o n the o n e
y
, , ,

wise foresight o f futurit ; let us proce ed t o hand and this presumptuous confidence o n the
y n
,

i nqu i re other a wise regard t o futurit resig s the throne

D S S t
, ,

T HI R LY F o r WHAT RE A O N s ho uld w e a ct and the sceptre to Go d and leaves t o man wi h

n
, , ,

i n t hi s ma n n er ? all his powers and motives a d means o f know ,

n
,

1 I t is a s ufi ci e n t r e a s on f o r do i n g s o t ha t t his ledge only o n e grand concern a d that is t o d o

C FD C n
.
, , , ,

is on ly e xe r c is i n g a P R O PE R O N I E N E I N GOD his prese t duty Hence

W
. .
,

hen he told the wick e d Jews that if they did A s e c o n d r e a s o n w hy w e s hould a ct w i t h a

n o t repe nt the Chaldea sword should desolate n for e s ight of futur i ty is I T WI LL P RO M OT E O UR
their nation as I have said alread y they might
,

, , S FU
U E L NE SS .
,

have fore s een the approaching rui n T o g o o n He that acts without plan o r whose plan co n
n
.
,

heedlessly till the calamity came was a thou t r a v e n e s the settled arrangeme ts o f Providence
n , , ,

sa d times more unreasonable than the conduct will act t o n o good purpose D o es t he m erchant
k
.

o f t he stork that had no reason but saw the wish t o ma e a successful voyage ? he studies
n fl n
, ,

sig s o f the heavens and ed away fr om the the market a d freights his ship and plans her
n ,
, ,

approaching t empest And sti ll more unreas on . desti a tion with a careful regard t o ci r cumst a n
,

able is the conduct o f immortal beings w ho live , ces and probable results Would the mariner .

as though there were n o promises n o r threat rea ch hi s po rt ? he l o o ks at his compass watches

e n i n gs n
o dis clos ures o f a eter al hereaf t er in n n the aspect o f the heaven s chan ges his he lm
,

the Bible
, ,

and sails with the changing winds a d currents

,

n
y
. .

Besides the regar d t o futurit which God r e So it shoul d b e in all human pursuits Will that
kn
.
,

quires o f us is only a proper respect t o his p r o student b eco me a man o f owledge and a use
n n y
, ,

v i de n ce T here is a common extreme o n thi s ful m a who has no pla o f stud ? who dream s
n y ,
.

subj ect consisting in an anxious apprehe sive awa o n e half o f his time in doing nothing an d
-

n
, , ,

state o f mind about things that belong only t o S pends the other half at ra dom in reading books
y
,

God o r things o f which he has made n o dis o f n o value and that have n o tendenc t o qu alify
n n
, ,

closure t o us It is a wa t o f confidence that hi m for servi ng Go d a d hi s generation ? Birds

n ,

n
.

God will do what is best Fo r example ; good . know better tha this In sects know better tha .

men sometimes indulge excessive anxiety for the thi s Go t o the ant thou sluggar d ; con s ider
y n n
.
,

saf ety o f the church The speak o f its da gers her ways a d be wise w hich having neither
n
.
,

i a strain o f unbelief as though the cause o f guide overseer n o r ruler p r ovideth her meat
n n
, , , ,

truth were about to be utterly overthrown They . in t he summer a d gathereth her f ood i the ,
”
are in much the state o f mind with a m an o n harvest
n
.

shipboard f o r the first time ; a stranger t o n a But t o secure usef ul ess it i s n o t enough that ,

v ig a t i o n he i s afraid that the pilot will commit we act from plan ; it must be such a plan as G od
,

some mistake ; he is alarm e d at ever change o f y approves Most men live to little purpo se b e
y
.
,

the wind and every movement o f the ship — ex cause the “ look at things seen and tempor a l
, , ,
”
e c t i n g that something will hap p en he knows and forget things un s een and etern al They
p
n
, .

n o t what But God has n o t committed the care

. act from present impuls e a d f o r the present ,

o f the church t o us ; woe t o i t s interests if he moment .

had He has not made us responsible for the

. Had the Puritans Ofthe seventeenth century been
s a fety o f the church T hat is in good hands . . common me n ho w easily might they have escaped ,

Therefore will we not fear though the earth be the fetters and dungeons and various forms of
n
, , ,

removed a d though the mountai ns be carri e d

,
into the midst o f the sea ; though the waters
thereof roar a d be t r oubled
mart yrdom which they endured ? It was only to
do what thous ands o f o t hers did it was only to
Bless e d O Lord n .
, m ake consc ience bend t o authority a n d custom .

o f hosts is the man that trusteth in thee

,
. They might in o n e moment have professed t o
In respect to in di vidual in t erests t o o there is believe what they d i d not believe and promi sed
n
, , ,

often a n anxious looking forward which arises , t o d o what God ha d forbidden ; a d then they
from distrust o f providence God has di s closed might have been quiet in their own hou s e s and
n
.
,

t o us so much o f futurity as enables us to do o ur many o f them might have been earls a d dukes , ,

duty Here we must rest All anxiety as to

. . and dignitaries in church and state But these .
 SER M O NS .

My dear hearers I would not if I could and , , obliged to pronounce his eulogy in the very act o f
could not if I would lift the veil o f futurity , plotting his destruction We shall n o t find an y
which conceals the hour when you will be sum occasion agai nst this Daniel unless we find It ,
”
moued into the presence o f your Judge but against him concernin g the la w o f hi s God .

there is o n e thing concerning you which I B y the dexterous flatt ery o f these s t a t e s m
know with absolu t e certai t y— y o u are sinners n Dari us w as induced t o publish an edict t h
W
.
,

Another thing I know— you mus t die and may , hos o ever shall ask a petition o f any go d
die s o on And o n e more thing I know— if you man save o f the king f o r thirty days shall
,

W
. , ,
”
are strangers to repentance and f aith you are not cast into the lions den hat co uld Daniel’
.

prepared to die And Oh should y o u die un p r e .

, .
in this perilous conjuncture ? Abj ure his God and
pared what will b ecome o f you for ever ?
,
hi s closet o r fly to some secret refuge from the
,

Your whole futurity may hang o n the storm that was gathering t o burst on his head ?
present moment Thi n o f thi s— n o w k The text in forms us what he did Now when
n
. . .

Da iel knew that the writing was signed he

went in t o his house ; and his wi dows bei n g n ,

open in his cham be r towards Jerusalem he , ,

SE RM O N IV .
kneeled upon his kn e es three times a day and , ,

pray e d and gave thanks before his Go d as he

H OR A L — R L G O U
I ST IC . E I I S DE C I S I ON .
did aforetime
,
”
Here is a simple exhibition o f
.
,

No w w he n Da n ie l k n e w t ha t t he w r i t in g wa s that m a gnanimity whi ch arises from consistent

s ign e d, i n t o his ho us e a n d his w i n do w s
he w en t and decided piety The s ubj e c t w hi c h t his e x
US
.

be i n op e n i n hi s cha mbe r , t o w a r ds Je r us a lem, a m le s u

p gg e s t s
f o r o ur co n s ide r a t i on is RE LI G I O
he e e le d up o n his k n e e s , t hr e e t i me s a da y , DC E I SI O N .
,

a n d p r a y e d, a n d ga ve t ha n ks be or e his Go d, a s f The importance o f this character in a good

he d i d fa o r e t i me — Daniel vi man wi ll be mani fest if we dul atte n d to the ,

two following inquiries Wha t t in gs a r e i mp lie d

. .

THE man whose inflexible piety is here recorded ,

i n r e lig i o us deci sio n ; a n d w ha t a r e i ts p r a c t ica l
was a descendant from the royal family o f David ,
op er a t io ns ?
and while yet a youth was carried captive to ,
I WHAT H I NG A RE I MPL IE IN T HE C HA T S D
Babylon To understand the text we must look
CT US D C N
.

y BA E R o r R E LI G I O
.

E I SI O
at t he facts mentioned in the preceding histor
n
.

The astrologers and magicians o f Babylo Among the particul ars which ti me will permit
me to mention under this head I begin with
were summoned by a royal mandate to explain
C ST D
, ,

observing t ha t i t i mp li es A LE A R A ND E A Y
,

to Nebuchadnezzar a very perplexing dream

C
PE R E PT I O N o r T T H AN
,

TY RU D DU
which had wholly escaped from his recollection
n
.
.

In a tone o f arbitrary authority he mad e t he The bigot may be heroic i action o r suff er
i n g whi le his be lief is mere as sent to authority
demand : Tell me this dream which is gone
n
‘ , ,
,

fr om me and the interpretation ther eof or you ,

without rational conviction a d without evi ,
,

shall be cut in pieces and your houses be made dence He does n o t examine and compare and
.
, ,
,
reason It is enough f o r him that he thinks as
a dung hill The astrologers replied that the
n
’ .
-
.

thing was impossible that no king o r ruler ever he thinks : o f course his opinions never cha ge ,
,

made such a demand from any magician that if by argument ; this is not decision but obstin a cy , .

he could repeat the dream the y were ready t o

,
O n the opposite extreme the fickle man forms ,

give the interpretation The k i ng s answer was .

’ and changes his Opinions at random Li ke the .

short and decisive ; Tell me the dream and caprice o f childhood his creed and hi s conduct , ,
,

then I Shall know that ye can sho w the i n t e r p r e even in the momen t ous concern s o f religion , ,

t a t i o n thereof But if you will not d o this y o u ’ are determined by the transient impuls e o f cir
cumst an ce s so that he i s
.

tossed to and fro and

are d e ceivers and there is but o n e decr e e for y o u
t y ,
,
.
, ”
An edict was accordingly is s ued that all the carried about wi h ever wind o f doctrine .

wise men o f Babylon should be destroy e d and ,

In respect t o religious Opinions and more or ,

less i n respect to all opinions want o f stabi lity

the chief captain was charged with its execution
Daniel was o f co urs e proscri b ed with the re s t
, ,
.

.
ar ises ver y
much from want o f clear and com
,

In this emergency his God enabled him t o reveal prehensive views The man who is satisfied .

with loo king at o n e p a rt o f a subj ect will form a

the dream and give the interpreta tion Surprised
,

at this di scover the king fell o n his face b e y ,

.

partial opinion o f that subj ect hen he look s . W

at another part o f the same subj ect he will fo r m
fore t he prophet loaded him with marks o f his
princely favour and made him governor over all ,
,
a different opinion and thus while t he subj ec ,
t
Babylon From this time Daniel continued in
.
remai ns the same his j udgment con cerning it will ,

vary j us t ac cording to the aspect in which he

high reputation so that when Darius the Persian
came to the throne he was made prime mi nister
,
has happened to see it last while a view of he , t
of t
he empire The native pri nces of the c o untry whole subj ec t at once would have given hi m a
n
.

viewed with malig ant envy the elevation o f this consisten t settled opini o n subj ect to no fluct ua
, ,

stranger an d resolv e d o n hi s ruin But enmity tion So far as any one is influenced by rel giou s
. i

fl
.
,
principle he dare s n o t form Opinions as to any
itself baf ed in its search f o r his faults was
t
,
, ,
momentous subj ect o n a par ial and transien t
B
u gg t d
h p H m is
p up
rmo
p th
r h g
t xt wh h
m y lf
o t e ha s a se on on is e , ic fir s glance at that subj ect The fervent Christi an I
am aware may entertain narrow views o n so me
. ,

s
H is b j t h w v r
lpt mth tt o
m
es e

m bl
ec
b
m
tw d
, f to
r t th t th r
d o
ur
e
e
t he
e , an d
r o se
in e
o f
a re s o
e ac in
i fe en
o n

,
it
a
se
e e
.
,

subj ects which v iews deserve no better nam e

,
is
ce
a
a

v d bl
o i a
los

hbt g m f t
a
e
d r m rk wh h
n o r e se
o cca s i o n a
in e x i i in
a n ce
co i n ci
t he
e
e n ce
sa
een

e
t he t w o
o
ac s
f e a
i s co
ic
se s , e
i s un
x
than bi gotry T his however springs n o t from
.

the nature but from the defec ivene s s o f hi s

, ,

t
. ,
 L
RE IGI O US DECISI O N .

re lig ion A he s ame time t he t t A n o ther t hin g r e quis i t e t o t hi s s t a bi li ty of cha r a c unlettered

Chris t ian in his simm
,

C N JU
.

e reliance o n the testi t e r is O I C I D E NC E O F T H E DG M E N T T HE

,

mony o f —God may have a belief as in i mo v e a b le P S S I O A N D H BI T S A ,

NS A ,

t
.
, , .

and as ra i onal t o o even on a mys t erious subj ect The leadi ng principle of ac t ion in one man is
, , ,

as t hough he were a philos opher ; but the kind to stand well in the opinion o f his fellow men
n
.

o f dec is i on which I am describing is connected Custom is his law a d his conduct must vary ,

only with enlight ened piety wi t h the changes of cus t om as the weathercock . .
,

Now the man of genuine dec ision in judging veers t o every point o f the compass with t he ,

what is true o r what is ri ht knows how t o use changes o f the wind Another is governed by
, , .

his own understa ndi ng ith implicit deference s elfi sh intere s t and is therefore subj ect to en d le s s
. ,

to the word o f God as a perfe c t standard in fluctuations of character accordin g to the ever , ,

r e li g i o w inquiries he searches and t hinks for varying i nfluence which circumstances have or
hims elf He think s inde p endently superior are supposed to have o n hi s favourite obj ec s
, ,

t
t t t
. , .

bo h to hat p ride o f s ingulari y which is predi s Ano t her is governed by oc casional excitements
posed to rej ect received op i nions and to that The animal or intellectual t e mperament i s s o
, .

s ervile acquiescence which bows t o their auth e constitut ed tha t reason i s not supreme but sub
n
, ,

rity without examinati o n He thi ks impar ordinate i h directing the man The pas s ions
,
.
, .

t i a lly unbias sed by p as s ion o r prejudice He n o t only interpose their influence but claim a
y
.
, ,

think s clearl and systematically Hi s eye controlli ng as cendency over the j udgment ; so
t t
.

pene ra t es at a glance ho s e mists which obs cure that you can n e ver predict how the man s judg
, ,
’

the vi s ion of common mi nds Not sa t is fied wi t h ment wi ll decide in a given case beca us e he is .
,

surveying the exterior o f subjects he examines governed by influences which cannot be forese en , .

principl e s weighs opposi n g evidence and p ur This in s tability of character is much increased in
t t
, ,

sues he inves igation t o a regula r result This some men by bodi ly tempera ment ; so that as .

gives s trength and s tability to his opinions Why one remarks a lowering sky strongly inclines
n
.
,

s hould he be timid and waveri g whi le there is them to form an opinion o f themselves and o f
y
,

firm footing under him at every step ? He nei other thin gs very dif ferently from w hat the
ther believes nor acts wi t hout reasons ; reasons would form when the sun shi n es a d the heavens
”
,

, n
which he sees d istinctly ; which he weighs de are serene .

li b e ra t e ly ; whi ch he can exhibit and explain t o T he un dersta nding and the aff ections includ ,

others and therefore he is above those fluct u ing the passions are the two grand principles of
, ,

a t i o n s of character t o w hich feeble and indec i sive acti on in men When these are combined in
, .

men are liable . influence they give the s tronges t impulse to all ,

A n o t her i n gr e di en t ess en ti a l t o r e ligious de c is i on the powers o f mi nd and body The un i form

C UD D N t t
, .

is RE T I T E o r ES I G co opera ion of he s e for any length of time pro .

-
, ,

Men without the aids of relig ion I am aware duces a third influence which we call habit ; and , , ,

have ofte n exhibited great firmness and di gnity which exerts a commanding ascen d ency over the
of S pirit History a n d poetry have blazoned the conduct But the slightest acquaintan ce with
n t t
. .

dauntle s s i trepi dity o f m i litary heroes and the men may show hat hese po wers may be at
n t
, ,

magnanimity o f patriots and sage s who have vari a ce wi h each other The understa ndi ng , .

figured in the tragedi e s o f the world Many an may diss ent from the passions — o n e s t rong .

ancient heathen po s se s s ed the same noble inde passion may dis sent from another —ambition o r
e n d e n ce o f him whom t h e p o et meant t o cele sensuality may be counteracted by avarice : con
p
brate by saying science may remonstrate against inclination ;
,

He o u o t fla e r Ne w vld
un e f o r hi s ri e n
while
may n
habit
lead the
in
man ttp w pt th d
defiance
cap
of
ive at
every
hi
other
s will
principle
In such a td t ,
,

t ,

N o r J o e f o r hi s o e r t o un e r ” .
.

case he is divided against hi mself and all his , ,

In t he native structure o f t heir min ds some movements are marked either with ra s hness o r , ,

are distinguished by stren gth o f i ntellect with hesitation and im becility It is thus that
t
, .

daring resolution and supe riori y to whatever i s some who might be gia nts in the strength of their
,

mean in action At the same ti me we see that piety are weak as other men But i n the man
t
. , .

he page o f h istory whi ch records the most o f con s i stent and stable piety thes e di f ferent ,

memorable achievements o f human energy is principles co Operate The judg ment the con -

t
, .
,

o ft en tarni shed wi h the blacke s t stains of human s cience the heart the pas s ions ; the animal , , ,

guilt That terrible energy o f wickednes s intellectual and moral habits exert a united
y
. , , ,

which sometimes re s embles the whirlwind in its influence that give strength and dignit t o the
desolating e ffects fall s far below t he greatness of char a cter
t
.
,

real con s tancy It i s always as sociated wi h The las t t hin g w hich I s ha ll me n t i o n a s r e quis i t e
RU
.

some radi cal weakne s s in the elements o f the t o r e ligi ous de c is ion i s T ST I N GO D , .

so ul It is the o fls p r i n g of malignant pa sion

.
s s In t hi
s I include a full belief of his infinite ,

or of pride It is often the mere ostentation of pe rfections ; a devout r e gard to his universal and
.

boldness whi le the heart tr embles at the sound all di spo s ing provide nce ; a cheerful reliance o n -
,

of a s haken leaf Conscience makes cowards of hi s protec i o n in the dis charge of duty ; and in t
t t
. , ,

guil y m e n It s accusa ions produce mi s giving a word all those habits o f active piety which
n t
. , ,

a d dismay The wicked flee when no man result from communion wi h God from t he co n
t t
. ,
”
pursue h but he righteous are bold as a lion v i ct i o n that o ur hearts are naked to his eye and .
,
,

The man of integrity has no inward trepidation that every moral agent mu s t receive from him a .

He is calm fir m a n d s t eady i n his purpo ses and righteous and eternal retribution These exalted
, ,
.

actions s entiments give firmness to the heart and s t a

.
,
 SER M O NS .

b i li t yto the actions o f their posse s s or They t

s age coach will understand why this stedfast
-

t
.
,

hat trust in the Lord shall be as mount Z ion saint in Babylon went into his chamber t o pray
,

y
.

which cannot be removed ”

. He had also stated times o f pra er ; “he
”
Such are the qualities of character that con s ti kneeled upon his knees three times a day -
.

t ute religious decision Let us inquire While it must be admitted that this t o o i s a p o mt
HA RAC R N
.
,

11 W T A RE I T S P T I C AL O P E A TI O S which d o es n o t be long to the e s sence o f prayer

t
. .
,

In illu s trating this head I shall refer you t o he ,

it I S doubtless more important to the life and ,

example o f that great and good man whose cha , comfor t and even existence o f a devotional
,

r a ct e r furnishes the subj ect o f this discourse

‘

, S pirit than is commonly supposed

, O n this .

and exhibits the genuine practical influence of ,

subj ect o n e o f the most devout men o f mod ern
those principles which w e have been consider “
days says : Love is the be s t ca s ui s t and r e
, ,

ing . From the his t ory o f Daniel it , solves o r prevents a thousand scruples which
that he was perplex those who only serve God from con
I n t he F S IR T
,

p la ce , E MI N NT E FO R HI S H A B TS I straint ”
The humble Christian will n o t need
“
.

o r DE ONVO TI to be told ho w often he mus t pray any more

n t
.
,

This we may lear n o t simply from the fact that than how often he must converse wi h an ea r thly
he visited his closet three times in a day but that
,

friend ”
Yet whatever other point in Chri s ian t
,

t
.
,

he did this in circumstances peculiarly unfavour experience is unsettled it is doubtless cer ain ,

able to the cultivation o f personal piety Re . that stated seasons o f prayer are indi s pen s able to
collect that while a youth he w as torn away , the growth o f piety The man who is so much .

from all the reli g ious institutions o f his native the slave o f circumstances in common affairs as , ,

country and became a stranger and a captive in

,
t o forego his regul a r food and exercise and rest , , ,

a foreign land There he was surrounded by hea may live but cannot enj oy life ; he cannot for
y
.
, ,

thens and i n fide ls ; by the rites o f idolatr ; the any long time possess vigorous health o f body , .

fascinations o f a S plendid and impious court ; He who has so little firmness o f religious prin
a n d all that array o f pomp and luxury and ,
ci p le as to intermit his regular secret devotions , ,

licentiou s ness wh i ch powerfully tend to with ,

from indolence o r hurry o r complai s ance to ,

draw the heart o f any man especially the heart , friends may be a Chri s tian still perhap s in a
, , ,

o f a young man from God
piety of Daniel was n o t S haken
Yet the establis hed
, . stat e o f temporary but woful backsliding ; but
cert ainly he is n o t a decided consi s tent Chri s
n
.
,

Recollect t o o that he w as a very busy man ; “

tian He does ot keep hi s o w n heart with all
.
, ,
”
being the first o f the three presidents o f Persia . diligence He is n o t prepared f o r his upward
.

Such w as the confidence reposed in his capacity flight t o live in heaven like Enoch who
t , , , ,

integri y and experience that o n the accession

, , walk e d with Go d Nor yet is he prepared .

of a new monarch who was comparatively a to live in Babylon like Daniel who kneeled “
t
s ranger to his o w n dominions the burden o f
,

, upon his knees thr ee times in a day and pra yed

”
,
, ,

, ,

public aff airs devolved peculiarly o n this distin and gave thanks
y
.

g ui she d o fficer o f the government Ho w does From the histor o f Daniel it appe ars in the
N URA
.
,

the man o f feeble and fluctuating piety rega rd second p lace that he w as E MI E N T FO R C O GE , .

the duty o f prayer ? He performs it with a The law you remember m ade it death t o
W
, ,

good degree o f uniformity perhaps when the , , pray . hat would a timid worldly be liever , ,

world doe s not thrust itself b etween his heart have done in such a case ? At once he would
and his God But when the farm o r the count .
, , have attempted a co mpromise between conscience
ing room the study o r the social circle urge
-
, , , and safety He would have said Why should I .
,

their special claims o n the time that should be sacrifice my life to t he ma li gnity of the s e enemie s ? ,

consecrated to his closet he yields without a , Better for o n e month n o t to pray at all ; o r to
, ,

s truggle Not so with Daniel Amid all the pray in heart and omit the form ; o r t o seek
t
.
.
,

labours and temp ations o f o ffice he stood erect , , some sequester ed place where my devotions will
with his e yes fixed on heaven and the earth and be unknown t o my accusers ; o r to lock my
t , ,

all i t s lit le intere s ts under his feet Busy a s he door ; o r even to abandon my house altogether ’

t
. .

was his world must keep its place and not i h

, , But the intrepid Daniel was n o t so easily driven
trude on his hallowed seasons o f retirement . from his duty ; when the alternative cam e with ,
’
Under the cares o f a great empire sufficient to ,
o ut o n e moment s hesitation he was ready to ,

overwhelm a common mind his steady piety , meet it The simple question was Shall I dis
.
,

found no excus e for the neglect o f prayer He obey the king o f Babylon o r the King of heaven ?
W
.

sought no excuse He would accept no excuse . . hen he knew that the w riting was signed
Not all the bus iness n o r all the temptations nor , , whi ch destined him to the lions den n o t a sylla ’
,

all the authority of Persia could force an excuse b le o f ap ology o f entreaty o r remonstran ce
upon him . escaped his lips n o r yet o f hat defiance which
,

t ,

The devotion o f Daniel was systematic He weakness often assumes i n moments o f despera
W t
.

ha d a stated place o f prayer I know indeed .

, , tion . ith a grea ness o f soul becoming a ,

that the worship o f God which is o ff ered in “ “

saint o f the most high Go d he went into his
n
, ,

spirit and in trut is acceptable in any place ; chamber a d his window being open towards
,
”
but he who knew what the world is and what , Jerusalem alluding to a p a s s age in Solomon s
,
’

the heart o f man is saw i mportant reasons for prayer at t he dedication of the temple “ he
, ,
”
the precept Whe n thou pray est enter into , , kneeled upon his knees as he did aforetime , .

”
thy clo s et and shut thy door And any o n e Here is the energy and dign ity o f true courage
t t
.
,

who shall a tempt o hold communion with God In the prospect o f a terrible death you s e e n o
amid the hurry and levity o f the s teamboat or the change in the man no display n o concealmen ,
,

t
of mirth ; when all is soli tude and sti llness i n the Darius , that his subj ects S hould tremble a ll

chamber o f dissolut ion when the soul is left before the God of Daniel The enemies of Christ
n
.

alone to its reflections i the last s t rug gles o f ,

honoured his intrepid fideli ty in the a ck n o w le dg
mortality o n the brink of a dreadful unknown ment We know that thou teachest the way o f
t , , ,

hereaf er where is the magnanimity o f the i n God in truth for thou regardest not the pe rson
n
-
,
”
fid e l ? Let the death bed o f Voltaire and o f Pai e o f man And for what purpose I ask is any
n
- .
, ,

answer o n e call e d t o mi i ster in holy thing s if it is n o t

C D
. ,

M y S E O N r efl e c t i o n is t ha t e mi n e n t us ef uln e ss
”
,
t o teach the way o f God in truth ? How can
mus t be fu o n de d o n s t a ble p i e ty . he discharge his duties without religious decision
The fact that sust a in hi s load o f Daniel coul d and honesty ? In w hat possible cas e can integ
c ar es as prime minister for the vas t empire o f rity and firmne ss and dignity o f principle be
y
, , ,

Persia and et not y ield to any interruption o f

,
demanded i f n o t i n hi m ? He is to preach a
,

his stated devotions shows n o t merely that he religion against which the prej udi ces o f every
pos s ess ed uncommon vigour o f talent and skill i
,

n un s an ct ifie d heart are arrayed i n ho s tility ; a

business it shows more emphatically that the religion whi ch has had to fight its way by
,

S pring o f this wonderful energ was religion y n

inches agai st the Oppositi on o f selfis hness and
,

n
,

n
.

Look at this public man : O h that all public me superstition ; against the rancour o f m al i g ity ,

were such as he You see him amidst t he bustle the arrogance of power the fascination of pleas ure
n
, , ,

o f a bu s y court a diligent student o f the Bible , . the sneer o f scepticism a d the fire of p e r s e cu ,

You see him amids t the excesses of a luxurious tion Enlisted i n such a cause how shall he
’

n
.
, ,

cour t a man of rigid tempe rance p r e f e rr in g hi s act ? Wh e he sees his guilty hearers rej ecting
,

simple meal o f p ul se and water to hi s portion o f y

the on l Saviour and rui ning their souls shall he
y W
, ,
“
the king s meat and wine ” ’
say that they are g uilt — o r not hen he sees
n n ,
.

The honour o f a really useful man comes ot them i danger o f eternal death shall he say
n W
,

from stars and titles but from what he is and , , that they are in da ger — o r not ? hen he sees ,

what he does Call him t o an elevated station .

, error v aunting itself under t he imposing patron
and he conf ers di g nity upon office not o fli ce , age o f fashi on and wealth and genius and taste , , , ,

upon hi m C a ll him to meet danger and he is

.
, sh all he say tha t it is error —o r not ? He who ,

heroic Call hi m to achi eve a di fficult

. seeks only a reputation o r a maintenance from
and he is great in action But woul d . the ministry may flatter the depravity o f his ,

the secret o f his strength ? Look to hi s inward hearers but how think y o u will he stand in the
principles his clear and comprehe s ive views o f n j udgment ? W
hat kindr ed can he claim with the
, ,

duty his self co s i stency his conscious integrity - n glorified spirit of Daniel ? O h what place in the
,

his trust in God That man can not slumber nor

, ,

world o f despai r awaits him who thus pros i t utes

,

t
n
.

trifle away life i a world where so much is t o and shames his noble office and t r i fle s with the
y
, ,

be done He is an active man ; active for Go d ;

. most sacred emplo ment under heaven ? Dear
active t o o from motives that bear the light an d
, , , Christian brethren think o n the dr ead responsi ,

seek no cover o f artifice He l o s es no time in b i li t y under which we act who are ambas sadors
n
.
,

crooked devices He stoops not to that cunning . o f Christ and the you w i ll not ceas e to pray for
,

which while it dexterous ly circ umvents others

, , us that we may Open o ur mouth and speak
, ,
’
promotes a man s influence t o day and ruins it -
, boldly as we ought to speak the mystery o f the
, ,

the rest o f his life He acts with a di scretion . gospel .

’

that looks at means and consequences in di st i n c , In the li ght o f this subj ect brethren I ask also , , ,

tion from that rashness which makes eff orts and , what sort o f men ought Christians to be And
then asks what is to be done and how and where , what sort o f Christians are they whose supreme ,

is it t o b e done ? The man o f useful action is standard o f character is conformity to the world
ardent O bstacles that baffle weakness increase
. who never beli eve o n the simple tes imony o f t
his resolution At the same time he is un o st e n . God nor act o n his simple authority ; but who
,

t a t i o us The power that sustains and guide s the

. mus t know what others aro und them believe ,

planets acts with a noiseless energy Greatness . before they know what is true ; and how others
is simple in its movements It is above e cce n will feel and act before they know what is right ?
t
.
,
”
t r i ci t y and di s play We are more indebte d .
, We must say that if they are Christians a all , ,

says one to the regular sober constant course

, , , in the temperament and tone of their piety they ,

o f the sun than t o the glare o f the comet

, . are at a w oful woful remove from the spirit o f ,

on e, indeed occupies o ur papers ; but the , Daniel and Paul .

enriches o ur fields and gardens We gaze at the . Finally : there is o n e more question before ,

strangeness o f the one but we live by the i n flu , I close which I must ask you my dear he a r
, ,
”
ence o f the other . ers who are in the habit o f neglecting prayer
,
.

In the light o f this subj ect brethr en , , God and your consciences know to whom in ,

manner o f man ought a Christian minister these seats thi s character belongs , Suppose .
,

A S a prophet o f the living Go d Daniel then that y o u had been placed in the circum
t a i n e d his integrity in Babylon ; and when duty
, ,

stances o f Daniel at Babylon my que s ion is t

n
, , ,

required it boldly carried his mes s age o f reproof

, how would you have felt a d acted ? If the r e
t o the mon arch on hi s throne The royal man mo t e n e s s o f the scene renders it di fli cult for yo u
t n t
.

date hat forb a de him t o pray he boldly di s obe yed , . t o frame a n a swer let us vary the ques i on ,
.

Had he s acri fi c e d his fa ith and hi s cons cience t o Suppo s e you were told to d ay that the supreme
the love of popularity or the favour of his prince , ,
t
authori y o f your o w n coun ry had enacted a t ,

no miraculous deliverance from the lions d e n ’

law which forbade y ou to off er a S ingle prayer to
would have called forth the proclamation o f God o n penalty of Imprisonment and dea h how
,
t ,
 THE C ARE E SS SIN NE R L WARNED .

If the tomb w hich receives your mortal r e

main s we r e to cover in oblivion your character
,

t
and ac ions then might you say with careless
t
levi y “
”
, L ,

et us eat and drink for t o morrow ,

-

we die But if a few s hort years at the utmost

.
, ,

wi ll u sher you into the unchanging realitie s o f

your closet and denie s you all acces s to the Fa t he r e t ernity can it be proper for y o u t o pass heed
t
,
,

of your spirit ? Yes ; there i s a yran ny i n that le s s ly on wi thout any s erious reflection and
voluntary alienation o f your h e art from Go d
,

yet without a y hope beyond the grave ? Cer n ,

w
,

hich i s more cruel than any tyranny o f eastern t ai n ly it cannot be proper Let us proceed then
t
.

des p oti s m It debars o n from happiness n o w

. ,
to look at some of those con sidera ion s which ,

and if conti nued it

,
render your damnation ,

so certain that no decree o f e arth o r o f heaven

,

could make it more inevi table .

O ye prisoners of hOp e ! whom God has made

free and made candidates for an eternity o f j oy
,
,

why wi ll you put forth yo ur hands and bind ,

yourselve s with chains of eternal darkness to

t
,

ou cas ts fr om God and happines s

invites you t o live why w i ll you that perceives remembers loves and ha e s , , , t .

Yo u fin d yo urself an inhabitant of this earth

— f o r what ? Is this life your all ? as your W ,

so ul for med with its noble faculties j ust to , ,

SERM O N V wake into a momentary exis tence and then to be

n
.

HOR A ORY — T T . AR L NN R ARN

T HE C E ESS SI E W E D. extingui sh e d in annihilatio ? Do y o u believe
that y o u were placed here like the poo r brutes
Come no w, an d l
Lo d — I S A A
oet
i
g h i
us h r eas n

I H
to
18
e t er, sa t t he
to eat and dri k brea the and walk a d sigh a n ,
,

, n ,
,

r . .
few days and then sink into eternal night and
,

T HE people of Judah t o whom thi s language nothing ? No ; a res pon s e comes fr om every
n
,

w as addre ss ed had become great sinners Even ,

. bosom —no I shall outlive time a d all its
, .

their appointed feasts and solemn meetings were “

changes When the sun is turned t o darkness
.

“
an abomi nation to hi m who looketh o n the ”
and the stars to dust I shall exi st st ill in some ,

unknown hereaft er
n
.

deep repentance o r spe edy rui I n these cir ,

. 2 I shall presume that y o u believe the exist
.

cumst a n ce s God by his prophet call e d them t o

, , , ence of a God The fool may say in his heart .
,

pause i n thei r career o f s in and thi nk o n their there is none but certainly no serious doubt o n
t
,

own condi ion and pro spects . this point can be the dictate o f any man s under ’

To the same duty he calls every careless st anding Whence came thi s system of things
t
.

S inner in thi s assembly to day Could a stranger - . that surrounds us ? Who rai s ed this migh y
from a d istant world step into thi s plac e o f wor fabric of worlds ? Who pre s erves it ? Is all
shi p and b e told the reli gious advanta ges which this the res ult of chance ? Chance is nothing ;
,

we enjoy and the obliga ions which res t upon t and nothing cannot produce and govern a system
,
t ,

us doub less he would take it for granted that o f worlds Did men o r angels create the sun
.

ev e ry individual here is a real Christian But . and moon and stars and earth ? Men and , ,

no one who has lived in this world and ha d any an gels cannot create a fly nor a bl a de of gras s
,

t ,

w
.

j us t vi e w s concerning the moral state o f i s Beside s how came men and angel s by their o n
,

inhabitants would feel authori s e d to take this

,
exi s ten ce ? It came from the uncreated God ,

for granted concerning any promi scuous as , the former o f all things .

sembly of human beings O n the contrary If t he r e is a God he is intelligent and omni

t
. , ,

wi hout pretending to know any heart must I , potent He knows all things
. Those whom .

n o t as a preacher o f the gospel

,
p r esume that , he has mad e an d whom he upholds every
s ome o f y o u my dear hearers are without God , , moment he must see every moment He mus t
, .

in the world ? Are not s ome o f you perfectly be a cquainted with all y o ur actions and purpose s .

con scious that such i s your present co ndition ? Y o u cannot hide from his se a rching eye ; you
Y o u ha ve heard perhaps hundreds of sermon s , cannot escape o ut o f hi s dominion .

whi ch you considered as addr e ssed to o thers I . 3 I shall

. resume t o o that you believe the ,

ask you now each o n e individuall y to listen t o , , Bible to be 0 di vine authority That it is s o is .
,

thi s sermon a s add ressed to you i n particular proved by a flood o f evidenc e which cannot be
t
.
,

I i s a ddre ss ed not to your passions at all but t o even notice d in this pl a ce Did I suppose you
,

t
.
,

your unders tanding and conscience T he range t o ente rta in any doubt on this poin I would
t
.
,

o f my remarks will unavoidably be more mi s s imply a s k concerning any s cheme o f infideli y

,

ce lla n e o us than is commonly proper in a se rmon , that you can name why are i t s disciples g enerally ,

but nothing will be s aid whi ch you cannot easily loo se in s entiments and morals ? Why do they
comprehe n d and r emember You have hitherto prayer and all other duties of practical
t wt
.

neglected a serious at ention to religi on as the piety ? Why are they so often filled i h
t
one hing ne edful ; and you purpo se a prese nt t ,

di smay at the hour o f death ? Thos e mu s t

to continue in the s ame neglect Is hi s cours e
,

t ,

b e b ad principl e s which make b ad m e n Tha t

t
.
, .

j us ti fiable ? Is it s af e ? Is it ri ght ? “ Come scheme must be fallaciou s which aliena e s

n o w and let us reason together s aith t he Lord
,
”
, . a creature from his Cr ea or a n d in he very t ,

, t
 SERM O NS .

proof of his immortali ty furni shes a motive every moment to plunge in to it a d rem ai n i n n
t t t
, ,

di fferent as an athei s t o r a stone ? Is it possible

.

o ake refuge in a cheerle s s scep i c i sm o r i n

annihilation No prudent man w i ll r i s k eternal
.
, ,

that you should feel easy i n such circumsta ces , n ,

con s equence s o n a bold presum ption Wt h at ,

for o n e hour ?
the utmo s t ca n gi ve but a momentar y repose I n
,
7 If you have given these considerations their
.

s i n ; and then must leave the soul in anguish ,

due weight w e are prepared t o proc eed anoth er
,

without con s olation and without hope You ,

. step in o ur reflections The reli gion o f the gos .

mu s t therefore admit the Bible t o be the word o f pel opens be fore us the only door for hope for
God unle s s y o u close your eyes against the
,
peri shi ng sinners Have y o u cordi ally embraced .

light ; and regardless of truth and warn i ng r e ,

this religion ? Conscience perhaps stirs withi n
r dle s s o f all that may be j oyful o r terr i ble m y o u at this searchi ng inqui ry and gives the
g a
n n n
,

eternity resolve to rush upo the dread ex honest answer I the mids t o f light a d warn
pe ri me n t
,

.
ings I have neglected the great salvation
,
,

hy .
’
W
4 It must be farther presum ed that you b e then do you neglect it ? Come now and let us
W
. , ,
”
lieve yourself and all men to be sin ful Here . reason together saith the Lo rd ill you say , .

again if I s upposed you t o have any doubts I

, , that the system o f the gospel 1 8 dar k an d hard to ,

wo ul d ask y o u to look into the world around y o u
Read its history Wh ence all the penal laws o f
every age and country against wickedness if
. be understood ? Have you faithf ully endeavoured
.
to understand it ? Have y o u bestowed o n it o n e
half o r o n e hundredth part as much attention as
W n
, , ,

men are not wicked ? hen men make a com o n other subj ects comparatively unimporta t ?
mon bargain why do they e s teem a paper bond Comparatively did I say ? O h what other subj ect
t n n
, , ,

as be ter security tha their neighbour s honesty ? ’

is not comparatively un i mpo rta t ? T o the
If men ar e not depraved beings how comes it to ,
humble Christian whether hi s capacity be great ,

pa s s that in every period and o n every side o f

, , o r small the Bible 1 s a plain book
, Its e s senti al .

the globe they have univers ally acted li ke de truths and duties ar e so plain that the w a yf ar“
n
,
” ’

p r a v e d beings ; and have invariably co sidered ing men though fo ols need not err therein
, ,
‘
.

each other as deserving thi s character ? If you Will y o u say that y o u have carefully studi e d the
,

have any doubts concerning human depravity , plan o f salvation as revealed in the Scriptures , ,

after l o oking abroad into the world then look , and after all are not satisfied with it ? Then ,

into your o w n heart If that is not enough .

, what are its faults ? Does it place G od t o o high ,

then look into the Bible Here you will find the . and sinners too low ? He offers to forgive you ,

point settled Here your character is dr aw n by . if y o u confess and for s ake your sins Are .

the unerring pen of inspiration You are a s inner . . these hard conditions ? Can y o u ask him to come
5 . You know that God cannot con s istently down from his throne and save y o u o n t erms ,

allo w the transgres s ion o f his o w n la w The . that would di shonour hims e lf ? Can you as k him to
hono ur of his character and the good of the be at peace with y o u while you love and justify ,

universe require that he should maintain thi s law . your sins rej ect the only Saviour o f men and
, ,

In the exercise of perfect and unlimited b e n e v o trample on the law which that Saviour di ed t o
lence he has threatened an awful destruc ion to t honour and fulfil ? No ; he will not he cannot
,

all his impenitent enemies You know that he . do this Till heaven and earth pass away not
.
,
”
is in o n e mind and none can turn him Yo u . o n e j ot o r tittle o f his law shall fail No t o n e .

know that he is able t o execute hi s threatenings . S inner can ever be saved unless he confesses and
Who then can hope to harden himself again s t forsakes his sin s You cannot prosper in a rms
n
.

such a Go d and prosper ? The cas e is plain , against O m i potence The terms o f the gospel .

i f you die in your sins you must lie down in , are w ritten as with a sunbe am they admit o n l y
sorrow . o f submission o r destruction Yo u are shut up .

6 The subj ect now assumes a character o f to this alternative you must b o w o r perish
t
. .

very serious importance In the sober conviction . You see there is o n e and but o n e way o e s ,

of your own understanding the point i s settle d , , cape That way is as plain and reasonable as
.

that you must exist for ever ! exist t o o either in y o u can de s ire Indeed it is unalterably fixed .
,

glory or despair Have y o u ever thought on this . and therefore can never be plai ner o r easier than
amazing subj ect ? Will y o u be pers uaded to thi nk it is this moment What benefit then can result .

on it now ? Have you indeed a soul that must from dela y ? Is it not wise to treat things a c
dwell in happine s s o r misery without end ? hat W cording to their importance ? Does a prudent
then i s the worth o f that soul ? Thrones and man stand t o exchange salutations w ith a neigh
empires are t r i fle s in the comparison ! “Earth bour when hi s house is o n fire ? In common
,
”
and skies are dus t upon the scale ! We dread concerns men act rationally They are careful .

exqui s ite pain though it be o f short continuance ! , in summer to provide for winter ; in he alth f o r
How do the hearts of the strong and brave sink sickness A wise merchant watches the state o f
t n
.

w i hin them under the anguish o f an acute fever , the market A wise hus bandm a observes the
Wh at man in his senses
, .

o r a broken limb ! changes o f the seasons and the prope r time to ,

wo ul d deem it a light thing to endure such pain sow and reap A wise mariner does n o t S ink .

for a thousand years for o n e year o r o n e month ? himself in a storm t o save his goods There
Who then can dwell with devouring fire ? who
, , ,
.

w as a man among the tombs who man gled his

can I nhabit everlasting burnings ? Eternal misery o w n limbs ; but he was be s ide him s elf There .

outstretches and overwhelms human co n p r e he n was a profane Esau w ho sold his birthright f o r ,
S l OIl Do you believe that there is verily such
.
, , a morsel o f meat ; and a heathen Lysimachu s ,
a n allotment of s uf fering for all the ungodly ? who exchange d his kingdom for a draught of
Can you deliberately view yourself as exposed w ater but these you sa y were foolish men .
in every possible variety o f circum s tances : at subj ects but they mus t be thought o f What w ill
n
, .

home i n the field o n j ourneys in b e d at table

, , , , . it avail t o S hut your eyes now ? the light of eter ity
From the common scene o f amusement o f will force them open ; what will it a v ai l to keep
business and o f idlene ss how man are un e x
, , y ,

p e ct e dly summoned into eternity ! And are you

proof against the shafts o f death ? Be not de
ceived The hour may b e at han d when some
.

fierc e disease shall thrill through your frame and ,

choke the fountain o f life To day you may b e -

t
.

s trong in the enj oyment o f heal h to morrow ,

-
whi ch will rend the tombs and summon the
,

the colour o f your cheek may be exchanged for
, y
a mortal p al eness and our bod clothed in the
dead t o stand before the So n o f Man Hearken
y then even now to the admonition o f Heaven
, ,
.

attire o f the grave If thou be wise thou shalt be wise f o r th y se lf

n nk n
.
,

I know it is pai f ul t o thi o n the s e serious but if thou sc o rn e st thou alo e shalt b ear 1 t ”
, .
 LE T TE RS .

LE TT ER I . conversatio a read y ma w riti g a exactn n , n n

KS D D NG
”

ON B OO AN RE A I
man . No res ourc es o f genius can quali fy a man
for emi nent us efulness unless he has an exten
.

SE N OR NARY
I LA . C H
AN O V R O L G AL
SS I N TH E T
D E
E O IC SE M I sive ac quainta ce with books The mind o f n ,

, .

Ne w ton might grope its way thr ough a wilder

N
G E T L E ME N — A fter a week o f incess a nt toss i g n ness untrodden by any human foo t ; yet a con
n
, .
,

amid restless elements I am able again t o sit a d ,

v e n i e n t road would greatly facilitate its progress .

hold my pen and addre s s to you a f e w thoughts

, , Debar such a man from access t o the labours
which the providence o f God allows me no other o f past ages and wisdom at more than o n e“
, ,
”
opportunity t o communicate I bless his name . entrance would be shut o ut Let him debar
, .

that the pangs o f s epa ration from the be loved himself from the us e o f books by indolence o r a ,

scene o f my labours and enjoym ents may be mi sguide d j udgm ent and the re s ult is even worse , .

alleviated by thi s imperfect intercourse with T he mind for want o f food and exerci s e loses
, ,

friends whom I have left and to whom my heart ,

its energy and passively submits to impressions
,

will oft en return with undiminished atta chm ent

, , from surrounding obj ects an d we cease t o look
during the season o f my allotted absence . for expan s ion and vigour and capacity for , ,

In the directions which I s ketched o ut for the manly e ff ort To vary the illustration ; it would
n
.

r e gulation o f your studies I promised t o r e co m , be no more reasonable to presume that a y o n e ,

mend a lis t o f books connected with the depart without the ai d of books may become a full “
,
”
ment o f my labours to be read at such seasons ,
man in the sense o f Bacon than to suppose
, ,

as ar e not engross e d by regular classic al e xe r that the Mis sissippi might roll o n its flood o f
cises and the writing o f sermons This list
,
.
, waters to the ocean though all its tri butar , y
which I had not time t o prepare i n the hurry o f streams were cut o ff and it were replenished ,

my depar t ure I w ill m ak e o ut the fir st moments

,
only by occasional drops from the clouds .

of lei s ure I can command The rest o f this Another question i s— what is the proper extent
y
.

letter I will devote t o some desultor thoughts o f readi ng ? I reply that in this age o f book
o n the general subj ect o f books and readi g n making no man o f common s e n s e w i ll undertak e
, ,

W
.
,

A prelimi nary question in this case is h at , to read every thing Nor can he in determining .
,

is the proper obj ect o f readi ng ? The answer what is worth being read commit himself to the ,

must he certainly it i s not to gratify a mere

,
gui da nce of reviewers ; and still less can he con
fon d nes s for books There is n o w and then a . fid e in the literary notices o f booksellers The .

ma n who s eems t o be in a kind o f literary scale o n which these things are conducted in ,

reverie and who re ad s perpetually but can

, , o ur country is by no means so exceptionable as
,

scarcely te ll why o r what he reads Nor i s the . in some others but it is b a d enough Among , .

spirit o f literary ostentation by which some are , o ur public men there are some who co n s ci e n
influence d any more becoming To aim high
,
.
, t i o usly decline in every case to reco mmend a , ,

and gra s p at a wide compass of intellectual r e book beyond their knowledge o f it and honest
search is a laudable characteris tic i a n y young
, n conviction of its merits Still the author or pub .
,

m a n but it is a poo r ambition that ai ms only at

,
li s he r may find men of facile conscience who ,

the reputation o f being a gre at reader . will give a nam e deemed respectable by the pub ,

With a man of sense the principal obj ect o f , lic commending in terms o f unmeasured appro
, ,

r e ading i s the a cqui sition of knowledg e for hi s , b a t i o n a boo k which they never read perhaps
, ,

o w n benefit and that of others A s ubordinate never s a w

n n
. .

obj ect es p ecially with a young mi is ter may

, , Nor W1 11 the ma o f common sen se be in dan
prope rly be the formation of his style And t o . ger o f presuming that the most important books
a man o f more mature age the chi ef advantage , for him to re a d are those most recently published .

derived from books may be that stimul us o f the , The presumption ought to be the other way ,

intellectua l powers whi ch is indi s pe nsable to unless the peculiarity of the subj ect o r the dis
maintain their activity but which can be attained , t i n g ui she d reputation o f the author in a y case ,
,

n
only by constant intercourse with the world o f form an exception There may be a good r e ason .

minds as exhi bited through the press . for reading a b o o k that is destin e d to be f orgotten
B a con says Readi ng makes a full man , in t e n years but such a reason cannot embrac e
,
 L ET TERS .

the whole range o f literary wares that crowd t he on the a cqui s mo n s of the reader his pre s ent ,

booksellers shops ’
.
Obj ect in reading & c In t he early part o f my , .

But how is the inexperienced student to know mini s tr y the two prominent treatises advocating
O t
,

the relative value o f a book before he has read infant bapti s m m aintained ppo s i e theori e s on
it ? Just as he is to know the relative value Of a some important points It was neces s ary to read
t
.

medicine before he has ta ken it In both cases . both ; but o n e was s o obscure in s yle as to
he mu s t to some extent exercise confidence in
, ,
require p ai ns and patience to as cert ai n the m ean
others who are competent to give hi m counsel
,
. ing The other was s o pers picuous that the
.

From such men he can generally get some impar meaning could not be mis t aken a n d no attention ,

tial e s timate of a new book sufficient to answer ,

was requisite which w as inconsi s tent with dis
his purpose instead o f relying o n those who , ,
patch i n reading .

from mercantile motives are tempted to overrate There are cases in which a man ma y bestow
its value At any rate if he is in doubt he ca
.
,
,

, n o n e hour o n an oc tavo volume to w hi ch he co ul d ,

let that book alone f o r the present and read ,

n o t properly devote three days the o n e hour Of
some o f tho s e elementary standard works that , ,
time is fully worth all the profit to be derived
have stood the test o f time and concerning ,
from the book The subj ect o f it may be unim .

which he has the testimony o f j udges perfectly portant — o r it may be alre a dy familiar to the
,

competent and disinterested O ne such book .

, reader — o r he may know that the author is i n
,

di s tinguished for richness o f thought may con ,

competent to di scu s s it skilfully or at least in a ,

tribute more to his useful stock o f knowledge manner that will be useful t o him To deter .

than scores o f ephemeral volumes If I may be mine then how much time I should devote to
n ,
.
,

allowed here to speak o f my own experience as a a y book I must judge not merely by its general ,

theologic al student I would say that to Ed “ reputation but also by the prospect of its utility
, ,

wards o u the Will which I read at three several ,

to myself If I am confident that I really under .

times before I entered o n the ministry besides

, , stand the subj ect discussed as well as the writer ,

frequent reviews o f it since I am more indebted ,

his di scus s ion Of it will be o f little us e to me ,

than to all other human productions The aid . whatever it may be to others But if it is an .

which it gave w as to me inval uable in forming elementary work wri tten by a great author o n a ,

my intellectual habits in fixing my doctrinal great subj ect ; if it is such a book that at any
Opinions a d especially in curing certain ten
, n ,

rate other men will consta tly refer to it as o f

, n ,

d e n ci e s o f my mind to Arminian and sceptical standar d authority if especi ally it is composed , ,

speculations by showing me that there is n o , on a plan o f consecutive argument so that each ,

consistent resting place between Calvinism and -

part sustains an essen tial relation t o the whole it ,

Atheism The treatises o f the same profound is m ere trifling to turn over its leaves as a sub
V
.
,

author o n O riginal Sin o n ”

irtue and o n , ,
s t i t ut e for patient reading .

”
’
God s Last En d & c though less decisive in , .
,
But the superficial reader as yo u must be ,

their influence o n my mind than the o n e just aware if y o u have carefully obse r ved di ff erent
t
,

named were neverth e less more impor ant in

, , ,
sort s of men is as far from discrimination as the ,

establishi ng my early theological views than plodder He can despatch such a w ork as But
.
“
”
hundreds of other good and valuable books which ler s Analo g y o r Edwar ds on the Will with
’
, ,

I have read . very little more attention than he would give to

In genera l it may be said that the young ,
a second rate volume o f biography o r travels -
.

preacher in determining o n the proper extent of He looks at a book long enough to know its
his reading shoul d restrict himself to books of author its subj ect its siz e ; and then like cer
, , ,

real merit ; that among these he s hould give the tai n fanatics who profess to know t he sta te o f a
’

preference to such as have the most direct bear man s heart by looking in his face he is prepared ,

ing o n his o w n sacred work and that i n regard to give the ch ar acter o f that book But the i n .

to miscellaneous o r what is termed light read ,

felicity is that i n pronoun cing judgment o n a , , ,

ing such as newspapers and periodicals o f every

, , hasty glance at the work he is liable to blunder ,

de s cription he should religiousl y confine himself gr ossly as to its merits and the real sentiments
t t
, , ,

wi hin such limits as are co n s1 s t e n t with other o f its author And if this gif of blundering .

paramount claims o n his time In regard to . happens to be associated with the gift o f co n fi
works o f fiction I have so often expres s ed my dence so that what Paul said in a certain ca s e
, , ,

views that there can be no necessity for repeat We kno w that we have knowledge — he can
t
, ,

ing them here ; but the danger Of a conscien ious say in all cases with reference to himself — then
y
,

mini s ter who is fond o f books lies much more

, , his re a di n g amounts to ver little as to its prae ,
~

in another di rection namely in suff ering him s elf , , tical adva n tag e He may look at or look over .
, ,

to be overwhelmed by that flood o f miscellany hundred s o f v olumes n o t o n e o f which does he ,

which issues from the modern press t i ll he 1 s , ever patiently read Ask his Opinion concern ing .

c a rried away by the current and loses control o f any o f these and you hav e it without he s itation ;
t
his ime an d hi s mind .
,

but the only conclusion y o u can form n o t w i t h

,

This introduces another topic— the proper rate standing is it ma y be so and it may n o t Wo uld
, , ,
.

of reading as to rapidity , .
y o u know exactly h o w it is you mu s t depend o n ,

The plodding read er make s no discrimi n ation a thorough examination by yourself o r by some ,

here ; but whatever book he happen s to have in

, o n e o n whom you can rely .

hand feels that he has done nothing if he has

, This sort ofsuperficial r e a d e r ho w e v e r is oft en , ,

not patiently conned it over page by page to safe in his random statements from the fact that
the end No w what is proper on hi s point
,

t ,

they respect authors which lie o ut o f the range

,

t
.
,

depends o n the subj ect of the book o n i s style , , of common reading In some alcove of a publi c .
 stock intell ct al furnit ure In a busy that case you will resort t o bi blio t heca s and
f e u
t n
,
ou r o .

ac ive mind o n e thing pushes o ut another a d ,

c0 p i o us catalogues o f writers in various depart
,
ments o r with more safety still t o the advi ce o f
nothing is permanently i mpressed w iithout so me ,
,

those who have experience i such matters A n

,

p ai ns to recall and dee p en a first mpress on i .

.

He nce o n an average about o n e fourth p a rt o f the pretty extensive list made o ut f o r this purpos e , ,

o u may find in Wi lli a ms s

,
i
’

time employed o n books should be devoted to , y Christ an Preacher

By the adoption o f a proper system
and a much more limited o n e designed t o aid ,
reviewing ,

o ur o w n students i n regard t o their early pur

.

with the aid of margin al marks any book that i s ,

,

rich in matter and writt en o n a method may be ,

chases is in serted a t the close o f The Preacher s
,
’

, ”
reviewed in a fif tieth p art o f the time requi s i te Manual .

for its original perusal ; and the tenth revi ew Wh ile I trust that no o n e o f you will forego
will probably be more useful than the first Of . hi s p rescribed studies o r his daily devotional ,

urse I would say if it is not worth r e v 1 e w m

.

read ing for the sake of reading the books men

,
,
t i o n e d belo w I suppose tha t more or fewer o f
,

at all it was not worth readi ng at all . ,

,

I a m Gentlemen af fectionately ,
them may be r e a d by all ; and doubtle s s some of
,
Yours & c , .
them will be preferred by o n e and s ome by a n ,

other No exact clas s i fi cation w ill be aim e d at

B r ig Tw o F r i en ds , a t sea , N o v 1 6, 182 1 ,
. .
.

except to set down in the first place s ome authors ,

o n the theory of Rhetoric in general including ,

the department o f Taste then some on S a cred ,

Rhetoric including Homiletics and Preaching ;

LE T TER II ,

and then a li st o f Sermons

.

BO OK S A ND RE ADI NG .
RH OR ET IC IN G N RA L
E E .

B R OF N OR L A
H O LOG A L NARY AN OV R
I N T HE
TO T H E MEM E S T HE SE I C S SE S
A n r sr o r LE , '
sometimes called the Stagyrite
' -
,
IC SE M I D E
T E ,
.

from the place o f his nativity That his intel

N N
.

G E T L E ME — In fulfilling the promise which ,

lectual powers were o f the first order is evident ,

I made to mention a list o f books de s erving of

,
from the fact that he enj oyed the unbo unded
your a t tention in the present stage o f your pre ,
confidence and respect o f s uch men as Plato his ,

t i o n for the ministr y it is proper to say that instructor and o f Alexander the great his pupil
p a r a
y
.
, , ,
”
the obj ect o f this letter 1 5 a much more restricted Pope c alls him t he might S t agy rite —and ,

o n e than that of the preceding My remarks o n . the bold Columbus o f the realm s o f w it —By .

reading generally had respect t o books o f the ,

a fig ure more rich perhaps than just Cicero calls ,
”
useful class on all sorts o f s ubj ects especially on
, , hi m , T hat river of flowing gold i li a d flum e n ,

theology an d religion Even as to such books . o r a t i o n i s aur e um f un d e n s Ari s toteles Qui n t i l .

however there is an important distinction b e

,
lian t o o pays the highest tribute o f re s p ect t o
, ,
.

tween readi ng and study In the latter exercise hi s geni us Hi s treatise o n Rhetoric and Poetry
n
. , .

strictly under s tood w e use certain books as mere , , has bee esteemed the most perfect o f any thing
manual s for reference which we never think o f ,
from his pen that has reach ed modern times , .

re a ding while o n others w e bestow an atten

- His works however were e vidently intended to
, ,

tion as in the sciences we do on Euclid s Elements

,
’
, be chiefly intellectual and elementary ; and this
o r En fie ld s Philo s ophy which implies much
’
,
perhaps accounts for the great obscurity which
more than merely that we have read them My often attends his style
SC
. .

present design does not requi re me to recommend , I O RA TE S In the life o f thi s Greek rh e .

nor to mention at all the standard works o n Sacred t o r i ci a n prefixed t o the edition o f his work s
L , ,

iterature or Systematic T heology o r Church

, , which I have used it is stated that living at a , ,

History — o r to notice any o f the books which period when phi losophy and eloquence flouri s hed
come in your way of course as text books or classics , in Greece he acquired both wealth and fame as
,

in your regular studies ; but I shall keep within an instructor The first men in the country .

the boundaries of a single department and advert , were hi s associates and their so n s became hi s ,

only to those works which appertain more o r , pupils In style he w as muc h more copiou s and
.
,

less dis tinctly to Sacre d Rhetoric and Preaching ,

. sweet than Ari stotle and more pers picuous , ,

In this department t o o I shall n o t attempt to but so fond o f elaborate ornament especially o f

n
, , ,

enumerate all the v aluable authors which y o u point a d antithesis that the be st j udge s have ,

m a y find leisure to cons ul t hereaft er but shall , never regar ded him as a good model This is .

chiefly endeavour to na me such as are worthy o f particularly t r ue o f the mo s t finished among his
all the attention w hich y o u can bestow o n them orations the Panegyric — o n which he is said
,
”

in the senior year at the Se min a ry recollecting to have be s towed the labo ur o f ten years I
, ,

t
.

that your time will be much en g ro s sed with he cannot think that more than a very moderate
t
du ie s of the lecture room and the labo ur o f share o f time can p r operly be devoted to ei her t
t
ac ual composi ion t ,

o f the foregoing by a Chri s tian student

U
. .
,

It i s to be presumed that y o u have already LO N GI N S This is the only remaining o n e o f

.

become familiar with many of the books I shall the Greek rhetoricians that I have time to name ,

de s ignate but as I kno w not to what extent this and he w as the last o f that number having lived
may be the cas e wi h dif f erent individu al s each t , in the third century af t er Christ His treatise .
,

o n e must be left to us e the li s t according to his the Sublime —though Dr Pearc e has co l
”

W
o n , .

o w n lei s ure and di s cretion henever y o u are le ct e d the titles o f twenty fiv e work s that wer e
t
. - -

pre p a red o purchas e bo oks for your own perma ascribed to him is the only product o f hi s genius
t t t
nen us e ha will be quite another concern I
, . n which has been preserved ; and this inde ed i s in
,
 B OO KS A ND RE A DIN G .

t
a s ate so muti lated that it is ra her a fragment t am not aware of any good reas on why his Ele
t
than an en ire work It is s ufli ci e n t however t o
,
”
ments o f Critici sm a work which certa in ly
w , ,
.
,

s ho w us hy its author enj oyed i n A t hens s o abounds with m any rich remark s should be so
t
exal ed a reputa ion for judgment an d tas t e and t t
li tle read as it is a the present time t ,

t t
, .

ho w hi s di s ingui shed erudi ion occas ioned hi m OG”IL VI E His work o n Original Composi
t
.

t o be called he living libra ry tion though not designed t o exhibit a sy s tem of

t Lt
, .
,

Among he a in masters o f rhetoric an d rhetorical pr e cepts i s a phi losophical treati s e on

t n
,

ora ory you w i ll expect me o f cours e t o ame

, , style elaborate indee d and somewhat o bscure
, , , ,

firs t of all but compris ing many thoughts of great value

,

n N R
.

CI C E n o And I need do li t tle more than name I will next mentio a few book s in the G E E A L
D N A ST
.

him because you have read his Select O ra t ions E PA R T ME T o r T E

,

URK
.
,

and I pre s ume his De Oratore in the schools B E His trea tise o n the Subli me and
t
.
,
”
and as to hi s rhetorical works generally you , Beautif ul lik e every thing el s e emana i ng from
,

alread y know my Opinion o f their v alue an d , the same profound genius is well worthy o f being ,

what IS more you know that there is but o n e

opinion o n tha t point among literary men
,

A LI O N o n S Tas t e A charming book

UN A
~
. .

Q I T I LL I N Of hi s Institutes it i s only . the best o n the subj ect in any langua ge ; t hough ,

nece s s ary to s a y that this is the great thesaurus there is a grea t failure Of the author in not
y
, ,

of modern work s o n rhetoric and criticism It . making the application Of his theor to the most
i s to be hoped that some Christian scholar will ,
valuable ends .

before long prepa re a judicious selection from A DDI S O N You are well aware of the views
t
.
,

his s tandard clas s ical work for the use o f col , , which I entertai n concern ing his general charac
lege s and o f all who wish for a ccess t o such a
, ter as a writer In re s pect to the purposes which .

book I have now in my eye you can har dly find any
A A U
.
,

Dro xr s m s H L I C A RN S S S T his rhetorician t hing more worthy Of being read for the cul
t t t
.
,

lived a li tle before the Chris ian era He p o s t i v a t i o n of your o w n taste than his papers in he
t ,

t
.

se s s ed respec able powers o f di scrimi nation and Spectator o n Imagination and hi s cri icisms o n
ha s been classed by Quintillian and other wri t ers
,

t he genius Of Mil on t ,

t ATT k
.

among the disti nguishe d La in critics A stu BE IE Besides that part o f his wor s
t y
. .

dent o f oratory however will derive less a d v a n , , which i s professedly o n the heor o f Rhetoric ,

ta ge from reading hi m than fro m either Cicero ,

you will find i n his volumes many di scussions Of
o r Q uintill ian correlate subjects which will very amply co m
RA ,
.

HO C E I nam e him only f o r the sa ke o f

.

”
pen sate a thorough perusal Over and above .

s aying t hat in his Art o f Poetry a work as , ,

that richness Of thought which you wo uld ,

you know of only a few hundred lines there is nat u rally ex pect in an author Of di stinguished
more sound sense and sagacious cri icism tha
,

t ,

n gen i us there Is a vivacity precision and general

nt , , , ,

are elsewh e re embodied wi t hi he same compas s ,

felicity i n his writings which attaches great ,

i n any language . merit t o them if read merely as a model o f ,

Vo s s m s Hi s In s t i t O rator is well worthy style

U D T T
. . . .

o f examination excepting t he parts o n technical D GA L S E WA R T hose par ts Of his philo

t y
.
,

rheto r ic Blair speaks of him ra her cavalierly ; sophical w r i t i n which respect Memor Ima
t n n
.
,

but he was greatly he superior of Blair in lear gi n at i o n a d as te are di stinguished by those

ing especially i n regard to the philosophy o f t ,

quali ies whi ch would be expected from hi s

,

n
,

langua e g
pow e rful mind an d may ren der importa t aid t o
AR
.
,

W D His Lect ures o n Ora t ory were

”
t he student Of rhe t oric
t R k
. .

desi g ned to exhibit a s ys ematic vie w o f the B O W N The same remar is appli cable t o
n
.

subj ec t Notwiths ta di ng the ai r o f formality

. those lectures o f this eminent professor which ,
”
which prevai ls in them and the somewha t ser respect the Philosophy Of the Emotions
A R fl
, .

vile following o f ancient systems they hold a H R I S Among l i terary men he is chie y
n , .

re s pectable ra k among Engli s h works o f this “

known as the author o f Hermes a work o f ”
,

much ph i lological acuteness His Philosophical .

LA w so n s
’
These pos se ss much “Lectures ”
Arrangements though n o t d i rectly o n Grammar
t ,
.

the same character wi h the foregoing except , o r Rheto ric contains many v aluable thoughts ,

that they have less compass and wei ght of mat o n the philos ophy of style
k
.

”
t e r tha n those of Ward GLA s sn Phi lo lo g ia Sacra a w or o n Sa cred
AR ,
.

BL I “ ”
His Lectur es o n their first pub
. grammar and rhetoric exhi bits the resul t o f
, ,

li ca t i o n had a degree o f popul arity t o which gr eat industry in the writer It is e specially
,

t n
.

they were hardly enti led on t he score o f origin valuable for its classification a d elucidation Of
ality an d discr i mina ion But they are a j udi ci t ,

the figures contained in the sa cr ed writi ngs

t AR
. .

o us compilation o f the be s t precep s o n rhetoric W T O N In his Strictures o n the genius and

t
. .

In my opinion under the acilla ions o f public writings o f Pope he has shown hi mself t o posse s s
y
v

tas te in o ur countr they are now regarded with

,

respectable powers i the department of criticism n

N N
.
,

le s s respect than they des erve although in FE E LO I mention him i n this connexion
t
.
,

acutenes s of phi losophical re s earch they are far only o recommend to you his Letter to the
inferior to the s tandard work of Campbe ll o n the
,

French Academy ”
hatev er he has writte . W n ,

subject o f rhetori c exhibits evidence that eminent piety may be

t t
.

KA M E s I make he same remark as on Bl a ir as sociated wi h an ethereal tas t e

t tt H
. .
,

respecting the earlier and la er repu a ion o f thi s ME L MO T “

In hi s Fi t zo sb o r n e s Letters ’

n y
.
,

author among the scholars o f o ur country I .

“
and Dialogue concer ing O rator ”
you w i ll ,
 L ET TERS .

find bes ides many judi cious remarks on the art judicious writer ar e well worthy Of being
y
, ,

o f composition many ver respec table specimens read

t H K NS
.
,

o f fine wri ing if

B I S O P WI L I His little Treatise o n
R R L L
. .

G E G O Y His etters o n iterature Taste Prayer and Preaching w as esteemed an element ”

t
.
, ,
”
an d Composition addressed t o his s o n s how him ary work In i t s day It contains s ome hin s hat
,

to have been a man of good sens e and o f very may be valuable t o a y o un g pr eacher t , .

A R
, .

exten s ive acquaintance with the best authors B X TE s Refo r med Pas tor ”
This de s erves .
’

His work is designed to comprise a brief system to be read more tha n once by eve ry candidate ,

atic view o f the subj ects which he profe s s es to for the holy mini s try The fire o f s acred elo
t
.

di s cus s que n ce which con i nually glowed in the heart

t
.

Instead o f increas ing this lis t as might easily o f its author imparted a pu n gency and unc ion , ,

be done I s h all proceed t o name a f e w books o n to his exhortation s which give them direct acce s s
AR ,

H R t
,

S C ED R E T O IC t o the heart s o f o he r s This book I s not designed

A HR UU N t
. .

B S I L C Y S O S T O M A G S TI E The first to be a didactic trea ise o n preaching s o much a s

t O
.
, , ,

elegant ; the second of en very ften eloquent ; the to aro use preachers to a s ense o f the awful magni
t t t t
, ,

hird pious s ometimes fanc iful of en eloq uent , ude Of hei r work It ought t o be read once a ye a r , . .

I name the s e only amon g the ancient Chris tian by every young minister who would learn to
preachers as I think them most valuable for he preach well t
AU
, .

purp ose I ha ve in view Chryso s tom in his C L DE His Essay o n the Compo s ition o f
t
.
, .

”
Trea ise o n the Priesthood and Augu s tine in a Sermon though it contemplates an arra n ge , , ,
’

hi s De D o ctrina Christia na have many us eful ment too artifici al to be followed by a preacher
t
,
*
precepts on the s acred work of go o d taste a n d good inven ive powers s ug
RA U
.
,
“
,

E S M S De Ratione C o n ci o n a n d i deserves gests many hints from which he m a y derive a d

’

to be read as the work o f a scholar a n d a m an vantage

R R
, .

of good sense Though he had no claims to the DR G E G O Y O n” the Compos iti on and
t O
. .
,

magnanimity that dis in g ui s hed some of his great Delivery o f a Sermon Though few f hi s
t
.

contemporaries e s pecially the G er man Reformer though t s are original he has given an ou line o f
,

t
all hi s writi n gs hat I have read exhibit genius precepts on preaching which i s wor hy o f him
, ,

t
and learning He had ver jus t views concern . s elf as a man Of go o d sen s e and extensive y ,
,

ing the prea cher s work ’

acquaintance with books and men

AUR HS
.

“
.

A BRE M Y His tre a tis e o n Pulpit Elo

"
.
SM IT “ Lectures The author was a seri ’
.

quence s ince it w as transla t e d into Engli sh has o us devout man evangelical in s entiment and
t t
, , , , ,

been r e written by the author in French and doub le s s a fai hful mini s ter o f Christ He has
-
, .

much enlarge d I hav e been informed by edu touched upon the mo s t important topics relative
t
.

ca t e d Frenchmen ha t in his day he held a to the duties o f the sacred Office ; but in hi s
,

first rank among the preachers o f his country mode Of treating subj ects he is rather diff us e and
t
.

for genius and eloquence His book certainly declamatory than intellectual and instruc i v e
R C O
.
, .

embodies many ve r y excellent remark s not only FO D Y E in hi s Art f Preaching ha s dis ”

y
on orator in general but e s pecially on preach c uss e d m any Of the subj ects appertaining to
,
, , ,

e r s and preaching in dif ferent periods and s a cred rhetoric in a style rather flowing and
, ,
countries popular than strong o r discri minating Though
N t
.
.

FE E L O N S Di alogues ’
Dr Doddridge he belongs to the c las s o f desul ory wri t er s he is
t
. .
, ,
S peaking of this lit le work o f the Archbishop o f worth reading
F L
.

Cambray calls it his incomparable d ialogues o n

, SWI T S “ etter t o a Young Clergyman o n ’

eloquence which he says “ may God put it the O ffice of a Chri s tian pre a cher ; and als o his
,

t L
, , ,

into the hearts o f our preachers Often and at en “ etter t o the Earl o f O xford ” o n the Engli s h
,
”
t i v e ly to read And Dr Williams speaking o f language contain some good thoughts expre s s ed
. .
,
“ , ,
this work says it is deservedly mentioned by in his characteristic manner
, , Of his works .

many writers Of eminenc e with a sort Of respect generally if I were to express an Opinion here , ,
”
bordering o n veneration It i s much to be r e it would be that they exhibit a pure and simple
t
.
,

gr e t t e d that a man who was himself a pattern o f English style ; while the thought i s of en o f
,

apostolic eloquence in the pulpit sh o uld have fensive by a gross vulgarity as unpardonable as
n
, ,
left almost no sermons for publication it is unaccountable in a man who sus tai ed the
A
.

C M PB ELL His Lectures o n Pulpit Elo

.
sacred Ofli ce .
”
quence are alm ost the only work in which a r e RO LL I N S Belles Lettre s SO far as this
’
.

s p e ct a b le attempt is made to exhibit something work respects the depart ment of tas te generall y ,
like a systematic arrangement o f principles r e and particularly that o f s acred rhetoric it is well ,
S pecting t he composition of sermons In his worthy Of being read
L AR
.
.

”
ectures on the Pastoral Ofli ce he o f ten dilates E DW D S Preacher and Hearer This ’

t
wi h much interest and ability o n the chief topics work is now very little known ; but it w as writ
, .

t
Of the o her work Both o f these books like ten by a man o f extensive reading and of ver y
t
.
, ,

every thi ng else from the pen Of the sam e j us t views respectin g the Chris ian minis try
A
.

M S S I LL O N S Charges ”
Though the s e are
t l g d gd b ph bl t t th
’

The n e ce s s i y o f e n a r i n o n t he c a ra c e r Of
t
.
{

an c e n

L
i tt p h l tp
re a c e rs i s su r e y t he u i ca i o n Of my
H m i e i cs i n
e se
a
c
d
o
apted
ntain
e s pecially to t he Catholic mini s try
e
thoughts
se

wh h th t
which a r e impor t ant o
hey
t he t
,

d p ll t y r e Of t e n m e n
t
e c u e s o n r ic o
"
e a
s e ci a y i n L e c ure I I I Hi s r y o f t h e
,

Chri s ian preacher o f every commun i on and I n

lp t p pp tp g th p t t
ho n
e , e o n t he o ,
Pf u t h r Fo r t he s a me re a s o n i n r e a ri n i s L e t r all peri o ds Of the church ,
.

t
i .
e
I o m i a ll r e m a r k s o n y ,

h v t th gh vl gb t h t h t d
.

h l ph t lh v tt d
or ee ss, e a d th o o r n e e s

Hi s P i o s o y , ,
as I a e n o r om f r e r e me n r “ o f Rhe o ri c o mi
”
i s sai
f g gl t l i n t he
o
e o n w a o n a a e e e
ri e fly i n L e c ur e X VI i s a s i t i s a c a s i c i n t he s e m i n a ry
,
1 11 t h L e c ure s
e ou e ry , o re o i n s
, .
,
.
 LET TERS .

M LA UR I N His s ermons are excell ent style had considerable faul ts he was scarcely
n
‘

R RA V
.
. ,

G I S B O NE JAY B D L E Y ENN All dis less eminent o n the whole as a pre a cher tha he
, , ,
.

l l d ar was as a metaphysician The chief character

g h
t i n u i s e d for evangelical sentiment uc ,
.

rangement o f matter and a s tyle whi ch preserves i s t i cs o f his sermons were — weight o f matter
, ,

a happy medi um be t ween the dry and phlegmatic strength and clearness of logic al arrangement ,

o n the o n e hand and the declama tory o n the and powe r ful appeals t o conscience by the e xhi
,
.

other bitiou Of divine truth His intellectual habits

H
.
.

C ALM E R S He is di s tinguished for weight o f were those Of close and abstruse argument but
. ,

thought general correctness o f doctrinal views

,
hi s exhibitions from the pulpit were evan gelical ,

and a s trong current Of emotion Wt h have and biblical not philos ophi cal nor philological , , .

given him a rank amongst the most popul ar Scarcely a verbal critici s m is to be found in a ll
preachers o f the age His style, however has his di scourses though he w as abundantly com
. , ,

many peculiarities which render It Improper to petent to the elaborate investigations o f cri ticism
t t
.
,

be imi ated by young preachers Hi s habit was t o carry his hearers wi h implicit
R A
.

RO BE T H L L He has justly been reckoned deference to the Bible and te a ch them t o ask
. , ,

among the greatest men Of hi s da y In his what has Go d said He w as a workm a n tha t . .

common di s courses to his congregation though neede d not to be ashamed rightly dividi ng t he
t
, . ,

unwri ten he is said to have been simple earnest word of truth The divisions o f his di s courses
t
.
, , , ,

and Often eloquent to a high degree The few though Oft en excessively multiplied in conf ormi y . ,

occas ion al sermons whi ch he wrote o ut f o r pub with the taste Of the Puritan fat hers are i n
n
,

li ca t i o n though they exhibit a

,
elevated and general strictly logi cal Hi s ai m was t o reach , .

occasion a lly subli me movement o f thought, are the conscience through the understanding and
, ,

too stately and elaborate in point Of co mp o sl t i o n his power over the hearts Of hi s hearers arose
to be profitable to any other tha ver i telli gent from his deep knowledge o f himself as a ma n yn n
hearers and a sinner and p i e emi nently from his deep -

U
. ,

F LL E R I have be en a ccustomed t o rega rd

. views in experimental religion and hi s deep ,

him as the greatest British theologi an Of the last Christian feeli ng .

century Hi s strength lay rather in doctrinal Hi s eloquence was n o t that o f Massill on

n W
.

and practical di scus s ion tha in powerful impres nor of hitefield ; it was the pow er o f thought
sion as a preacher presented with lucid arrangement with simpli
. ,

Instead Of going farther in particular d e scr i p city and fervour to hi s hearers Since the day Of .

tion I S hall only add a few more British pre a ch Pentecost no sermons have ever been attended ,

ers some of whom are excellent and all worthy

, with a solemnity Of impression o n an assembly ,

to be read though possessing various degrees ,

more deep and at times overwhelming than , ,

and kinds Of merit v i z : Robert Walker Bur were those Of Edwards

W
, .
, .

der Cooper Cecil Robinson Alison The last

, , D AV I E S , ith powers for discrimination and ,
. .

of these is little more than an elegant e s sayist ; profound research much inferior to those o f Ed
the las t but one in his better days was a fine w a rd s he had a much more popul ar address in
n t
, , , .

model Of popular address to unlear ed hearers he pulpit His style though sometimes diff use . .
, ,

has an easy flowing pungent el o quence which , , ,

F E C P E C S E
certainly RNH RAHR
wins its wa y to the hearts
The tyros in the m i nistr who have imagi ned
Of hearers
.

y ,
.

O f these I shall only name a few of the most that ski ll and power i n preaching are a recent
distingui s hed such as Massillon Saurin Fenelon discovery resulting from improvements in intel
, , , , ,

Bo ur d a lo ue Bossuet Fle chi e r The three first lectual philosophy might derive some lessons o f
, , .
,

Of the s e were more decid e d and distinct in their humility from s tudying the sermons and char a c
exhibition o f christian truth than any other of ter of Davies and Edwards
A
.

the French preachers and in these respects Sau B E LL M Y He was the Boanerges o f th e
,

W
.

rin s tands higher than the other two hile he American p ulpit evangelical lucid strong pun .
, , ,

is scarcely inferior to any o f the rest in point o f gent instructive He and the el d er Edwards , .
,

eloquence he is superior to them all in doctrinal contemporarie s and intimate frien ds were owned
t
, ,

instruction While the mode Of preaching adop ed of God as eminent instrum ents in promoting the
.

by Fenelon was very favourable in a man o f his salvation of sinners They w ere fellow labour , .
-

talent and great industry to strong impression ers t o o in contending ear nestly and s uccess fully
t
, , ,

in the pulpit it has debarred the world from the for he faith against the encroachments of error
y
, , ,
privilege of read ing his discourses ver few o f and in e stabli s hing the New England ch urches ,

which were committed to paper in the pur ity unity and evangelical order which .
, ,

they have so happily enj oyed

A R AN
.

ME I C P B E A CHE R S
Of the few remaining authors o f sermons . ,

which I have r o om to mention having already ,

These I mus t mention very briefly My object much exceeded the intended limits o f thi s let .

1 5 not to nam e all tho s e who have preached with

ter the great ad vanta g e which you will de r ive
t
,

reputation and usefulness and whose print e d from read ing some o f hem consi s ts in their clear ,

di scour s es have been esteemed as very valuable and instructive d i s cussion of Chri s tian doctrines ; ,

but tho s e who s e sermons may be especially such are Hopkins Smalley Emmons Wither
u t
l to s udents in theology and young minis “
, , ,

ts
sp oo n and Gri ffin especially his Park s t reet -

L
, ,
refu
s
ectures O thers you may read with profit "

R N AR
.
.
,
P E SI DE T E DW D S While there was no with a view either to argumentative discu ssion .
,

thi ng s pecially attractive in his manner and his or to various other general characteristi cs o f ,
 RHE T O RICAL ST UDI ES I N T HE SE NI O R YEAR .

ulp i t di s cours e s Such are Tappan D than heretofore must be at your own di s po s al
t
.
. ,

uthrop Kolloo k Perkins Kei h

* An exerci s e of the senior year which requires
y
,
. ,
, ,

I am Gentlemen ver affectionately more time and more s evere study than any
t
, , ,
, ,

Yours &c other i s wri ing s ermons This combines theo

t
.
, . ,

Cha r le s t o n S o ut h C a r o li n a D e c 1 8 2 1 , , . .
wi h practice ; and t aken in connexion wit ,

criti cism o f sermons and chapel preaching the , ,

s y s tem has been considered by good judges as , ,

better adapted t o its ends in our s eminary than , ,

LETTER II I .
any other arrangement which could have been
adopted Beside s no m a n is ready to en t er o n
RHE TO R C AL TUD S NO YA I S IE I N T HE SE I R E R .
.

his work as a public preacher t i ll he ha s a few

,

B R N OR LA sermons nor t o enter o n i t with advantage till

H O LOG A L NARY AN OV R
T O T HE M E M
T E
E
IC
S OF T H E S E
SE M I
I

,
C
D
SS I N
E .
T HE

th ese few sermons are as good as he can make .

G E T E MEN L N — I is my duty to submit wi ho

t ,
t ut On t he charac ter o f these his rank as a preacher
and his destination t o o may depend perhap s for
, ,

repining to the pai nful allotment Of Prov idence ,

, , ,

which cu t s me o ff for the present from the circle ,

life But the preparation Of these first sermons
.

o f friends and the obj ects dearest to my heart

is a se rious labour demand ing time and pa tient ,

study Of course prescribed classical exe rcis e s

,

and sends me away to sojourn among stranger s .

.
,

Fo r myself I would derive consolation from the

ought not to engross the attention of senior
,

lessons Of e xp e r i e n ce i n whi ch I ha ve been taught stud ents to the same extent as is proper i n the
,

tha t sacr i fices o f perso nal feeli ng which cost the two preceding years The moment a man comes .

severest struggles are Often most s alutary in their t o the work o f expo unding the oracles Of Go d as ,
,

influence SO far as I may be en abled to use my

.
a guide t o souls there is a magnitude attached ,

pen I shall hope t o employ it in rendering s ome t o t he undertaking to which nothing is analo
,

aid to the s tudies Of hose who are in a course t gous in the ephemeral character of college com
pos itions He i s entering on his gr eat solemn
o f preparation e s pecially in the last stage of pre
n
.
, ,
,

a r a t i o n for the holy mi nistry

public work as a ambassador o f Chri s t In the ,
.

p ,
.

earlier efforts o f s ermonizing he especi ally needs

You are aware gentlemen that you are a p
n
,
, ,

n g the threshold Of your great w ork as

t o have some unbroke tim e at his own di s posal
h i
.

n
p r o ac
re a chers of the gospel Duri g the present It follows in the s eco n d place th a t to derive
, ,
p
.

ye a r an important part Of your bus iness is t o the highest advantage from the Senior year ,

t
, ,

learn he best manner Of imparti ng r e li g i o ns i n system i n study is p eculiarly necessar y The .

struction to o t hers All the acquisitions y ou .

busine s s Of the ye ar i s Of course miscellaneous .

have m a de in your academi cal and theologi cal The amount Of wh at you can accomplish de
course hitherto y o u are n o w to bring into use
,

, ,
pends much o n he power o f transferring your t
in the practical bus iness o f public teaching Jus t .
mind from o n e thing to another Yo u must be .

able to drop your pen and read a le s s on o r to go

so far as you fail i n thi s your a cqui s itions how
ever respectable will really be us eless t o your
, ,
from t he Lec ure room and resume your writing t ,

fellow men - er y lit le will they know o r care

. V ,

t without a w as t e f ul expenditure o f time But then

remember the goo d Old maxim O ne thing at
.

about the stores Of intellectual furniture which ”

,

once A man ardent for study and draw i ng

you have laid up by study except as they s e e
n
.
,

n
,

o u able t o bring forth t hese treas ur e s i writi ng near the close Of hi s preparatory course a d fin d ,
y ing his past plans o f ac quisit i on but half aecom
and speaki ng .

O n yo ur regular studies in the rhetori cal de pli shed may fe el that a thousand thin gs a r e t o
,

a r t m e n t for the winte r term I shall mak e but

be done But let him not neglect hi s present
.

p ,

few remarks because respecting these I am still bu s iness t o bring up hi s arrears .

,
In the t hir d place great vigilance is necessary
san gui ne in the hope that you will have da ily
t
,

directions from a profe ss or in who s e abili y t ,

t o preserve rigid habits o f punctuali y if you
have them and if not t o establish them now
,

fideli ty and skill t o guide your studi es I have

W
.
, ,
, ,

entire confidence Indeed any suggestions .

,
hen so man things are t o be done and Often ,

to be done in t e same day o n e thing will jostle

deserving of your regard which I may give y o u
as to the busine s s o f the senior year will be only
,

o ut ano t her without gre at care that every hi n g

,
,

t
t
,

so much clear addi ion t o the very adequate i n shall have its place and time I have known for .
,

example a conscienti ous man persu a de him s elf

s t r uct i o n s which y o u will receive in your regula r
cl as sical exercis e s .
,
,

that while writi n g a sermon e s pecia lly hi s firs , t

That you may make the most o f this preciou s sermon he might very properly excus e himself
, ,

year I wil l f fer some advice which may assi s t

,
O occasionally from Chapel prayers o r from a
r e gular L
ecture In this res pect obsta princi
, ,

you to employ in the most profitable manner .

,

t n
, ,

p ii s It is always un s afe in principle to let o n e

the ime not dai ly occupied i prescribed e xe r
L
.

duty cr owd out another et every man o f the

c i ses
t
.
.

In the fir s t place a greater portion Of the time class proc e e d through the year wi h the fix e d
,
res olution never to b e ab s ent from any sin gle
th
To ght t p bl t d bl g t vb l
e se I mi
s rm o s Of m o r e re ce n
n o w a d d a co n s i e ra e num e r o f
u i ca i o n a n d o f re a a ue ; regular exercise un less he is i ll As t o other .

b v t p bl w l l th
,
e n

b ut re i y i s i n di s e n sa e I i l n a m e o n y o s e o f
as ,
,
enga gements such as the call o f a friend a man , ,

D P y of con s cience and o f bu s iness can seldom turn

r v ty l t b k wh h
r . a so n .

m t d l th L tt r b l g g
Fo r t he sa k e o f b t o o , t he i s
e i , o f oo s i c w as aside for them It would b e no reas on with .
,
e n io n e
m p t u l
i n t he

thwh t h f ll mw th t b k r f rr d
p a r t e n t Of s i r i
a t he s a e so r
m tt d h r p r v
L tt r
c o s e Of is e e ,
a cla s s w s , i s o
o f
i e
oo s a re e e
e

e
on in
e e , as I
t o t he d e

t o i n t he
e ce i e
e e
u o r with any o n e
.
why an O ff i cer of the
ge mi n ar y should forego a ec t ure tha t the Pre
,

L ,

ic o o s is . s i d e n t of a College called o n him at that hour .

 L ET TERS .

To all t he motives enforcing he obligations of t poem by the principles o f Christian taste with
t t , ,

punctuality on other students he importance o f ,

he Para di se Lo s t B e s ides a good degree o f f a .

m i li a r i t y with Cicero s rhetoric al w orks and

’
good example in a senior cl as s is s up e r a dd e d a n d
t
, ,
’
with parts o f Quintillian s In s itutes so strongly
.

ought to be regarded as o f serious we i ght i n a ,

Theological Seminary urged heretofore it belongs t o the proper ran ge of ,

t
.

In the four t h place I add some cautions as to ,

readin g that each studen enable him self to com
,

the preparation o f your first sermons Avoid . pare the principal Fathers Greek and Latin , ,

unnecessary delay in this case O ne third o f . among themselves and with modern pre a chers ; ,

every clas s is di spo s ed to look at thi s thing with al s o to compare the principal lights of the pulpit ,

an indefinite dread to examine the catalogue and ,

since the Reformation viz the Scotch Englis h , .
, ,

see how soon it must be done and then postpone ,

and French preachers o f diff erent peri o d s — I .

even the commencement Of the work as long as might add that a wide compass o f important
pos s ible This is unwise — i t i s morally wrong
,

reading i s pre s ented in Engli s h literature wi h t

t
. .
,

It subj ects both t he writer o f a sermon and his , which a man liber ally educated for the minis ry
instructor by whom it is to b e criticised to great can h ar dly b e excused if he does not m a ke
himself in a good degree familiar In thi s co m
, , ,

inconvenience
y t
. .

I would cert ainly avoid hurr : b ut o n the pass may be reckoned a tolerable acquain ance
other hand I wo uld n o t be a month in writing a
,
with E n glish history —with the univers i ies o f ,
t
skeleton and another month in executing it It
, . Britain and her best writers o f diff erent age s
, ,

is desirable that each man should have four o r poets essayists orators and espec i ally preachers
, , , .

five schemes criticised before he executes any , There is still another class of boo k s that are
on e . These should all be o n important evan , too much shut o ut by the pres s ure o f various e u
e li c a l subj ects and the j udgment o f the i n a m e t s in u Seminary — I mean book s that
g , g g e n o r
s t r uct o r may in this way be obtained as to the derive their chief value for their piety I do not .

choice Of a subj ect for your fir st eff ort In my , . refer chiefly to books o f devotion as such ; f o r ,

Opinion about half o f the sermons written at the thes e I take it for granted no member o f the
y
Seminar shoul d be o n do ctrinal subj ects — I y
Seminar neglects I mean what may be called .

mean doctrino practic al -

. spiritual clas s ics such as the more experimenta l
The process in preparing to write a sermon works o f Jeremy Taylor Owen Baxter Howe , , , ,

may be such as the following : study your Fla v e l J ohn Newton ; and the religious b i o gr a
,

text as explained by the Bible ; search for its phies mentioned in the catal ogue at the close o f
,
”
meaning according to the best rules o f inter
, the Young Preacher s Manual T he grea t
’
.

r e t a t i o — then examine commentaries — then purpose of reading these is to warm the heart
p n
, ,

draw o ut a skeleton with princip al and subor and cherish habits o f holy sensibility Sooner
n
, .

d i n a t e points keeping yo ur eye o n a main e f fect , o r later you must lear that yo u cannot make a ,

to be prod uced by the sermon as a whole and , sermon while your heart is asleep Better that it .

giving each part its place that you may avoid , should be awakened to emotion by reading Shak
disproportion colli sion and repetition Cicero s speare s O thello than to have no emotion But
’ ’
, , .
, .

oration for Milo you have Often heard me r e , infinitely better still that its e motion be spiritual
commend as a fine example o f this happy ar and evangelical such as you cannot fail to e xp e ,

rangement Above all so dispose Of your mate r i e n ce by reading a few p a es o f the

g Reformed
W
.
,

rials as to make not a tame but a full and strong , , Pastor o r Saints Rest
,
”
henever I have ’
.

conclusion As an intellectual exercise adapted

.
, maintained for a considerable time the habit o f
, ,
to sharpen the inventive powers nothing can , re a di ng portions fr om some o n e o f the above
be better than skeleton writing The composi .
boo ks in connexion with a devotional reading
,

tion o f a Christian sermon is the highest e f fort o f the Scriptures I have always f o un d s ub s t a n
to which the intellectual a d moral powers o f a n ti al benefit to the state o f my heart For point
,

.
,
man can be devote d .
punge n cy and holy eloquence Baxter has been
, ,
—
my favourite especiall y his Saints Rest ” ’
.

But I must close th i s lett er by w i shing you

gentlemen t he presence o f Go d in the interes
, , t ,

ing pursuits o f the winter and by assuring yo ,

that I am with sincerest a f fection ,

Yours & c , .

Cha r le s t o n S o ut h Ca r oli n a D e c 1 7 1 8 3 2
, , .
, .

Rhetorical department is concerned to which ,

eve r y member o f the senior class should devote ,

if possible a portion Of hi s time Among these , .

I would include some progre s s in the reading o f LE TTE R IV .

ancient classic writings Ho w f ar it would be

P RO F OR H O L OG A L NARY
.

TO A IN A T SE M I
best in the advan ced stages o f theologic al study
,
E SS E IC .

D
,

to turn aside for the reading o f Greek historians , REv . AND have not forgotten E AR S I R, — I
and orators mu s t depend on the circumstances Of ,
your request that I would give you a detailed
i ndividuals * But I could wish t o see in o ur
students a maturity of scholars hip enabling them
.
O
account f the exercise s in o ur Rhetorical de
p a r t m e n t ; and I S hall now comply with that
to analyse a page Of the Ili a d o r to compar e that , request so f ar as I can consisten ly wi h other
, t t
a
d
o
w
If t he ll mp r d
thr pt t tf th f g g w ll p h p ut
e
th l tt r w th
re a e r
l
o re o in
i
he
co
i
a e
er
t he
a
a e o
s e xc
f is e
se a n o cca s i o n a
e i
engagements that have imperative claims o n my
time Yo u will i ndulge me however in a f e w
.
, ,
‘ ,
e e i i on .
preli minary remarks o n tho s e peculiar charac
 L ET TER S .

instruct hi s pupils in the principles of s e r m o n i z usually been extracts and for a year o r two to
‘

ing From this exerci s e chi efly has re s ulted

.
save me too frequent exposur e i n t he winte r the ,

that simpli city and perspicuity o f method i n exerci s e o n Monday has been attended only in
sermon s f o r which if I mistake not o ur pupils . ,
the summer term Thursday afternoon through .
,

have been distingui s hed So full y convinced o f . the year i s occupied by the public speaki ng
, ,

this have they generally been that some o f them ,

that is it is the understandi ng o f the faculty that
,

have been accus tomed to write several skeletons no other exercise shall be assign ed to a class o n
each week .
that afternoon requiring preparation o n their ,

4 C la s s i ca l D i s c us s i o n s o n important subj ects

.
par t These exercises are introduced by prayer
.
,

in the department o f Homiletics and Preaching . as are all o ur public exercises ; and o n Thursday
These are chiefly confined to the winter term ,
a di ssertation is read by a member o f the senior
and are conducted in the forensic form o n ques ,
class from six to ten minutes in length o n some
, ,

tions admitting o f argument o n both sides such rhetorical subj ect more o r less directly related
n
, ,

as Whether the mi isters of New England in , to the eloquence o f the p ul pit ; w hi ch subj ect
preaching doctrines are more liable to err o n has been previously assigned by the Professor *
,

W
.

the side of c aution o r o f in di scretion h ether When the s t udents who exhi bit in thi s e xe r
the delivery o f written o r unwritten sermons ha s cise come to it with spirit and with a prepar ation ,

a tendency to promote in the best manner t he seasonably and thoroughly made both the disserta ,
”
great ends o f preaching P T w o members o f the tions and the declamations are often marked with a
class o n each side are expected to be prepared
, ,
maturity o f thought and a strength and vivacity ,

in writing and the di s cus s ion is closed by ,

in execution which create a much deepe r inter ,

t a n e o us remarks from other students a n d est i n my own mind than I have usual ly felt in
W
,

the Professor hen the subj ect possesses p r a c . listening to the academical exercises of our col
tical importance this exercise draws fort h from ,
lege comm encements .

individua ls a str ai n o f argum e nt that is I have been thus partic ular under t hi s he a d ,

animated and sometimes highly eloquent . because you wish me to enter into details respect
5 R e v i e w of d i s t in gui s he d p r e a che r s
. In pre . ing the best methods o f promoting the interests o f
paring a class for this exercise I have named , elocution among theological students For the .

beforehand a preacher o f celebrity as Augustine , same reason I will also mention a distinct ar
o r Tillotson requesting the whole class to read , rangement called rhetorical clubs in which stu
, ,

at least ten o f his sermons by a given time Two . dents voluntarily unite for improvement i n read
o f the class are designated to prepare a written ing and declamation In this exercise which is .
,

review o f this preacher o n e exhibiting his ex attended at my o w n study in the winter and in
n
, ,

ce lle n ce s and the other his defects , The desig . the summer at the lecture room about twelve -
,

is to bring into view his chief characteristics in “

men are united in o n e club Fo r som e time at .
,

respect to doctrine weight o f matter skill in , , firs t four o f these read ; and afterw ards two
,

arran gement evangelical S pirit peculiarities o f read and two speak time being always allowed
t
, ,
*
style illustration & c , , . af er the performance o f each individual f o r very
6 A c o ur s e of e xe r c i s e s w i t h C a mp be ll s
.
“ Phi
’
particular remarks o n his habits o f elocution in
,
”
lo s Op hy of R he t or i c a s a t e xt bo o k These em -
. respect to every thing which is deemed faulty ,

brace only the most interesting parts o f the work , by his fello w students or by myself It has been -
.

and occupy a class f o r ten o r twelve lec t ures . my wish so to arrange these exercise s as to bring
Of late this book has been intr oduced into two each member o f the seminary under my o w n
o r three o f o ur colleges as a classic f o r under private instruction as to speaking at least once
y
, , ,

graduates In my opini on the profitable stud .

, in two o r three weeks ; but the immense amount
o f it requires a maturity in the department o f o f labour which this would devolve upon me has ,

taste which can be attained only by a consider

, rendered it impossible to execute the plan except ,

able length o f experience in the actual practice o f to a partial exten t The success however which .
, ,

writing and which therefore renders it more

, , , always has attended these private exercises ,

appropriate to students in their professional than af fords gratifyin g proof that they are an indis
in their academical course o f education For . pensable auxi liary in the labour of tran s form i ng
profound and di s criminating views o f the sub indi ff erent spe ak ers into such as are good o r at ,

j e ct s o n which it treats no work a ncient o r , ,

least re s pectable O n this subj ect it were vain .

modern can bear a comparison with this work o f

p p t d x d m ut
,

Campbell kr
l g h v yv gr tl m l v xp b t d fr m tr w gwh No s ea e is e x ec e to e ce e six in es in
.

7 E xe r c i s e s i n e lo cut io n
. O n Monday and .
en t . E er en e an is e ec e so t o a r an e hi s
Thursday in each week the whole seminary ,

meet in the chapel for exerci s e in public S pe a k

tu f pl k p kptw th m d v urg t ,
co n ce r n s , a s n e
i t i s hi s rn to
e
s ea
t o a sk
,
e xce
ea e o f a
i n s o e ca se o f
s e n ce
en ne
o o n en

ll d l xt d v p ce s s i t y I f he a i s t o s e a i hi s o w n i i s i o n , he i s
, .

in g At each time s i x S peakers in the order o f kr

h p l ft r th r f ll w tu t r tr d
ca e a t t h e c o s e o f t he n e i i s io n Th e s e a e s r e
.
, , .

m
the catalogue exhi bit origin al compositions ;
v g f Pr f r
a i n i n t he c a e a e ei e o s d e n s ha v e e i e ,
-

k,
r m rk
except that for some t i me past for the sake o f
variety the pieces spoken on Monday have
th r m umb rr y r ft r b m t d w th
,
f o r t he s a e o f r e ce i i n t h e
o n ei an n e .
re e e a s o f t he o e sso

dv t g th
,

xr th t fur h
m ry
mp
t ud t
p tw d
r v
v ry
f f t
Fo r a n
t he s e i n a
e

, t he s
of ea s a e I e ca e co n n e c e
e n s s us a i n e a e
i
s e r i o us i n co n

m v y f vpru blh g pp rtht tyh v bd u ubj t gd t th t th r publ x r

On e a an a e o f
l ut
is
w
e rm
r
un i
e ci s e i s, a it n is es v e n i e n ce , a s t o co a ss an d o e of o i ce , o t he a c

bl fi d m ll r m S th d fi ulty
e a er a o ra e o o to i sc ss t he re a a a ll ei i c e e ci s e s i n e o c i o n e e un a v o i d
p r m crp le s
t t p
.

d t
in , a s
g A th r
f y
bv t d b to
r t h p l th
o e se a e een s e acec e a co n n e to a s a i n ce is if c
oo w as
y y
.

tvagd l th t t bl dg twh ud t f m th r d
t he e s o f e x e r i e n ce i n i ff e r e n a e s
ut m d p t u ly p w th t r gth
n o e a dv an . o ia e t he e e c i o n o f t he n e w c a e , e a re
a it e n a
tth
e s t he s
g v d d k
d t t v th t m h m f v ur bl th
e i s, en s ro ei o w n in i , a cc s o e s o n an e o s t o s ea i a s en an d
i ua e xa m i n a i o n t o

t t
o r im i a e
t l ghtd inth j
p lp t
,

h v
o s e w ho bu e
u t d
a
p m th r f rm r h b t
i n s a r e t o be a o i e
th r rt p r h
i s i n c n e s s o f o i ce a is uc o re a o a e an

l rg g g t t he i ei a i s, t o ei
a e e e n a cco n e ro o e fi s e if o r t s a s e a c e rs , i n
n en i s o f t he u i .
a e co n r e a i o n s .
 T O A PR O FESS O R .

to reason should we attempt it against the un

, , to give hi m the power of looking an assembly in “

broken testimony of all experience Those de the face without an unmanly flutter of spirits
t
.
, .

feets o f elocution for which he youthf ul Demo But s uch an exercise can do but little towards
sthenes was repeatedly hi ssed by hi s auditors , correcting his faults hatever the s e may be . W ,

never would have been overcome by barely he needs the advantage o f private drilling with
s peaking i n public for a few minutes two or hi s teacher which sh al l aff ord the oppor unity t
t
,

three times a year The rhetorical di scipline by o f poin ing his attention mi n ut e l to habits that
n
.
'

which speakers were made in a cient days I are amiss in the management of s voice By
,

n
.

have sai d was ten times and I might have said

, ,
the aid o f such a dri lling he may perhaps lear ,

fif ty times more thorough than any thi ng to be

,
in o n e half hour what he could never learn with
-

found m modern systems of education When I o ut it

n
. .

look at the grent men o f Rome a d see Cicero , ,

Connected with the elocution of the seminary ,

at the head of he r senat e and C aesar at the head , , there is o n e thing more t o whi ch I will advert for
o f her armies in the daily habit o f private read
,
a moment Between two and three years ago a
.
,

ing and spe aking for their o w n improvement I rhetoric al society w as formed by the students on
should be inclined to presume even i n d e p e n d ,
,

a broader pla than a thing that had existed n ny ,

ently o f my o w n observation o n the subj ect that here before under that name The consti tution
t n
.
,

skill 1 n elocution is not likely to be at a i ed by w as framed with much reflection and has been
accident Cicero said
.
“ No ma n is a orator
, n carried into operation with a zeal and p r o mp t i
,

who has n o t learned to be so Among o ur stu . tude which thus far promises important collateral
d ents there is indeed n o w and then a man who ai d in this department The deficiency o f books .

knows more about these matt ers than Cicero ; in the public library adapted t o the study o f sacred
and w ho confidently maintains that it is enough rhetoric seems likely to be remed ied in some
n
, ,

for any o n e to be so much o f a orator as he good measure by the library o f this society , ,

happens to be and that to aim at any thi ng more

,
is the certain way t o spoil himself by artificial
habits But this sort o f ma I have observed
which is already respectable ; and which I hope
w i ll be increased till it shall obviate a serious i n
n convenience with whi ch the rhetorical depart
,

n ,
.

when I come to he a r hi m speak commo ly hap , ment has been struggling from the commence
pens to be no very perfect orator ; yet o f the ment of the seminary .

many faul t s whi ch he happens to have he cannot Thus far the influence o f this society by
correct any o n e because he lacks both patience
, ,

means o f its librar a d its exercises promises y n ,

and ski ll to learn what it is o r by what process ,

v er y considerably to enhan ce the value of a p r o
,

it is to be corrected Upon the whole I have

.
,
f e s si o n al education here Already it is said t o .

become fully satisfied as the result o f experience

, , have increased to a degree that is quite apparent
, ,

that no man becomes possessed o f an interesting the power o f extempo re speaking among the
and impres s ive delivery except as the result o f students
W
.
,

pains and patience in preparato r y discipli ne ith much aff ection and re s pect I am
k ,
.
,

That he should spea in public is indispensable , Re v and dear Sir yours & c .
, , .

T HE E ND .

W Ty l r P i
. e , r n t r B lt
e , 5, o -
co t
ur Lo n , d o n .