The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-02-01
Henry Ward Beecher ON ssSensasaen
Preaching.n

MIsREPREsENrATlON.-Th New York Express
Of January 10th, has the following editorial
"SENsArIoN PREAcHING.-Few things have of
late done more TO depreciate the influence Of
Christian ministers, and, indeed, Of Christianity
itself, than the fashion SO much in vogue Of sen.
.s'ion n preaching. Il i hsfh bis "siamp-men Of
80. ,,rn Of energy, and determined TO make
= marx. TO accomplish an oi ject BY some means
or other. What can be said Of the remarks ci
NJ. Baecher, on Sunday last, that the Apcs-
ties we're taken from the lowest dregs OF soc,e-
"; that they were men without character,
,elI,eence. honesty, education, or worth; snass
comnaring these men with the great majority
of people in that age, the comparison sunk the
/ Apostles greatly below their fellows. some
were liars. some dsunkards, some betrsyers'
iIaone seemingly worthy; they never nes'tAteotv
IN -. in the most shameful deception 20 rAo
" rhis ssrAy as % their r.a, mGs,vs s,om re-
port o. .hs sermon. s... :. ~. told, vas con-
tinueo tor ~-,lne time IN . similar strain Nos
only ID u tnaccura,s md incorrect in statement
-ior the Apostles were no. liars aud drunk ards,
nor devoid Of character aud ,nteiiix ix.nce-bus
such tone injuries the effec, Of = sermon. IL
may prove taking ~ith a few-that j., IL
creates . sensation III the moment-hut, with oil
thinking and sensible heaters, u must detracs
from any consideration they might other iso
aAow to the discourse.
To this, Mr.. Beeoher. in the Independent Of
last week, replies
We scarcely need to say that the part of the
statement on which the criticism To- founded 10
not true. We do not say that the Apostles we're
liars, nor drunkards, nor that they "u4ver hsst.
tated 10 indulge in the most shameful dece ptl0n
TO lead hun lChrist) assray as 70 their real mo-
liyes"
On the contrary We were showing that the
, disciples represented universal man. being se-
iected neither from the best nor from the worst
men; that they had just hose fa,l,ngs and s,ns
which lead common men TO doubt ~hether God
will love them; and that Christ's love 10 men oi
, such manifest weakness - they possessed va
0 the greatest blessing 20 the world. Il tAugha
the nature Of Divine Love, which 10 the worio'l
salvation.
i The Express says, ''this language vas taken
: verbatim from rep0rt OF the sermon" No
! doubt n vas taken from report VI The sermon
4 Il crrta,hiy wAsnot taken from the sermon "
self Ii 10 not on = mist ke, but = clear mis-
= representation. The Express employs this vn-
Il tire misrepresentation the basis OF an artIcte
'ssnsanon preaching" and which IL pointed ta
: at our pulpit.
: WELL We confess the belief that preaching
i Was originally ordained 10 produce decided sen
d sations. and that, - long bad and
! need to be made better. no preaching will eveI
j. DO amy good that produces no sensation.
= may be that the good folks OF the Express Dc
. not need any more stirring up. But they ought
= not to mske their Christian attachments . bar te
such preaching as is still needed in Brooklyn
where men are sinners yet, aud need preaching
Il that produces decided sensations
q That preachers sometimes enpOy poor mate
a rials In producing sensations may be true. Blu
! the fault is not IN the aiming At sensation, bo
il in the putting Of wrong shot, or shot a. all
,e in the gun. Puiplts are sometimes built nova
i days, like Chinese iorts, with wooden guns. Bu
pulpit with wooden guns in 1t will soon hav
. psws With blockheAds, or NO heads at all.
|. IL gives US profound satisfaction to reckon
ID the Express among the number Of pt aceful saint
whose sttainments in piety put them beyon
Df the need OF sensation preaching. Happy men
in lD your serene altitude come no storms, N
ID doubts. no struggles Y.t resti But oh
At watch against translation, lest the world sudden
: y lose you, and We be lefs TO our jet dAsks
"A lott