The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-15
sERMoNs--1oNG OR SHORT.

How familiar is the popular cutlery against long
sermons! From every quarter one hears, now
days, that the day for long sermons is past. The
secular papers also take frequent opportunity to
display their wit, if on the part OF some 1t be not
really enmity to the truths of God and his cause
in the world. One writer declares that no word in
the language is so dreary and repelaut as the word
"Sermon." That it is so to many is certainly no
new thing under the sun. Another ingeniOusly
suggests that the sounding board Of the pulpit
should be constructed like an extinguisher, and by
process of machinery should descend upon the
preachers head at the end of twenty-five minutes
Another proposes that pause before sermon be
given to permit those of the congregation to with
draw who desire to do so. And yet another pro-
poses that sermons be abolished altogether.
This modern opposition to the preaching OF
Gods word has sprung up mainly in the Church
of England. But it is also too widespread in our
own land. 1t would be well that the authority and
mission of the preacher be restated in clear and de-
decided tones before the world. 1t would be well
that both preacher and nearer should thoroughly
understand the relation in which they stand to each
other.
Let not the Presbyteriaus of our land and day
forget the great principles which they believe to be
fundamental in the doctrine OF the Church. The
great office of the Church of Christ on earth is to
maintain and propagate doctrine. The other func-
tons of which we read in the Book of Church
Order, -" Discipline and Distribution Are
only subsidiary and auxiliary. 1.-The house of
God, which is the Church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth is the Holy
Spirits definition of the Church. $50 We into all
the world and preach the Gospel to every crea-
ture," is the command and commission of our
King. And so long as there is need of the light,
and grace and power of God in the world, there is
need for the preaching of Gods truth. Presbyte-
rams have always been witnesses for God and his
truth. They are distinguished among the Churches
to-day for the thorough education of those whom
they ordaiBto preach the Gospel, for the emphatic
assertion and earnest defence of the faith of the
Church, and for the thorough instruction and IN
doctrination of the children of the Church. And
the influence of Presbyterianism in preserving the
orthodox faith is felt in all denominations In the
land. Let them not forget either the commission
of the Church of Christ, or the glorious work as
signed them. Let neither preacher nor people
forget that lit has pleased God by the fooiShness
of preaching to save them that believe" and our
Saviour word, Ye shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free. The truth which
the preacher expounds and declares is needful to a
saving faith, to holiness of ife to peace and COM
fort of heart and to the Christian work to which
all are called So far then as the preservation Of
these fundamental principles is involved, let them
be deaf to this camor for short sermons or for none
at ALL
Yet it ought to be recognised that there are in
our days certain new conditions which ought to af
feet the length of sermons The wider participa,
ton in the benefits of education, the more general
intelligence of the people, the abundance of liter
ature which is poured into so many households,
and the greatly increased reading of religious lit
erature, ought in different sections and pupits to
affect the length of sermons. There should be a
difference recognised between the occasional SER
mon of special design, and the ordinary sermons
of the pastor in the unbroken routine of his pulpit
work. The pastor who breaches twice every Sun
day to the same people, does not find it necessary,
or consistent with the profit of those who hear, to
discourse as deliberately and fully as his neghbol
who meets his flock but once,in two weeks
The whole substance of what We are speaking
about comes then to this:
The preacher should on the one hand love and
magnify his Office, as teacher, and never lose
sight of it under any mere popular clamor; and
on the other hand should study to adapt his dis.
courses in length, as well as in depth, to the peo-
pie to whom he breaches. The minister who under
stands and loves the work assigned him, will carry
into the pulpit such sense of the value of the
TRUTH and such zeal for its apprehension and re-
ception by the people, that his sermons while they
are faithful manly discussions of the great things
of God, will not exhaust either subject or people.
He has great duty to discharge, assigned not by
the world, but by his great Master. At the same
time he must remember that he is preaching to
frail humanity, and adapt this preaching to the
ignorant, and many not accustomed to abstract and
sustained thought.