The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-08-30
PREACHING.

AMONG the early Christians the mod
ern style of preaching was reversed the
preacher generally delivered his eXhor-
tation in n sitting posture, while the
congregation heard him standing.
Chrysotom preached in this manner.
Men wore their heads covered in the
church, in the time of Elizabeth. The
habit has been traced to the Hebrew
Synagogue. Our Lord sat and disputed
among the doctors in the Temple. Pub
lie expression of approval by the audi
ence was made by tossing up their gar
ments, or waving their plumes, in the
| time of Chrysotom and Jerome.
| The old English name, Parson, is sup
| posed to be n corruption of person, the
person-by eminence. Fuller remarks
that the Scriptures give four names to
Christians, taken from the four cardinal
graces: saints, for theirlholincss; 6eiier-
eys, for their faith brethren, for their
love; disciples, for their knowledge.
The clergy We're originally styled
clerks, from the Norman custom oftheir
Judges being chosen from the sacred or
der. In the first century, they were
distinguished by the titles Of presbyter
and bishops. Church music is supposed
to have been first introduced by Grego-
ory the Great, A.D., COZ. Church stee.
pies were originally parochial fortresses,
Sidney Smith thus defines the object
of preaching: at is constantly TO re-
mind mankind of what mankind is con-
stantly forgetting; not to supply the
defects Of human intelligence, but to
fortify the feebleness of human resolu-
tions to recall mankind from the by
paths where they turn, into the path of
salvation which all know, but few
tread"
"IIow comes it," demanded Bishop
of Garrick, "that !, in eXpounding di-
vine doctrines, produce so little effect
upon my congregation, while you can
: so easily rouse the passions of your au-
ditors by the representation of fiction :?
The answer was short any pithy. "Be-
cause | recite ialsehoodS rs if they We're
true, while you deliver truths as ifthey
were fiction"
Robert Hall, even, admitted that he
was tormented with the desire of preach
ing better than he did. He was for
greater earnestness aud zeal. 1t was
said of Rowland Hills preaching, that
his ideas like BaXter's, came hot from
the heart. This is effective preaching,
Chaucer portrays very felicitously the
good pastor in the following lines:
, He was a shepherd ana no mcrreuury,
And though hO holy was and vrtuuus,
lie was to sinful men full pitcouS;
His words were strong hut not with anger frHuglt
\ love henignant he discreetly taught.
To draw mankind to heaven by guntlcnv>s
Aud good example, was his business
A good preacher" observes an old
writer, "is one who makes all his hear
ers feel-not one who merely gratite-
the learned or awakes the idle" lie
has been compared to to the English
verb, to be, to do, and to suffer.
THAT was II beautiful idea in til,
e mind of the little girl, who, on behold
= ing Il rosebud, ON the tOpmost stem o
t. which the oldest rose was fading, whilst
below and around it three beautiful
+; crimson buds We're just unfolding thcil
a charms at once, earnestly exclaimed I,
=; her brother "See, William, those lit
Il tia huds have inst aUaka anpd i'm time Il