New-York tribune., 1876-03-04
EXPOSITORY PRE1CHING.
THE RTv. DIR. TAYLOR BEFORE THE YALE DIVINITY
sCHoOL--NATURE, MElHOD AND ADVANTAGES
OF EXPOsITORY PREACHING.
III. JAMES, JR.

THE REV. DIR. TAYLOR BEFORE THE YALE DIVINITY
sCHOoL-NArURE, MEIHoD. AND ADVANTAGES
OF ExPosIroRY PREACHING.
Ew-IIAYEN, March 2.-The seventh lecture
of the Rev. Dr. Taylors preaching was given
this afternoon iu Marquand Chapel. His subject was
'ENpostury Preaching" This form OF preaching seems
10 have fallen into dsuse, but he urged It's more general
adoption. After giving the method TO be pursued he
spoke Of the advantages OF this style Of preaching for
portion Of each Sunday;
l. It brings both preacher and hearers into direct con
tact with the Wort of Cod q Il secures variety in the
mn,rations OF the preacher g. Many subjects can thus
be treated which might otherwise be neglected or srunh
from L. It promotes Biblical intelligence among the
people. 5. I'm preparing such dscouTses much mhtters
accumulated which can used T. r other purposes. BY
expostory preaching meant that method of pit dis
course which consists in consecutive Interpretation ana
practca enforcement Of book Of the sacred canon. II
differs from topical preaching from doctrna hortatory'
or biographical preaching yet these different method
are not inconsistent with each other In a regu-
larIy maintained exp0story series all these
elements must The practical difference Of this form
from others is its continuous or consecutive character
following the course narrative OF epise from
ts be ginning its close. This method has fallen into
reproach aud dcsueude IL should be revived. But
exposory preaching Is not mere watery paraphrase Of
the sacred writer neither IL II the learned enumeration
of all the different theories in regard 10 II, nor ID" ucf
AM "a plOlS platluutr. III II bNlhE rllhiir
statement OF the writer's meaning, Win the GROUNDS on
which the explanation rests and the lessons which II sug
gests whether lOr doctrine; rtioo Vo'a,',U ~ I'M ~ h m
struciOn IN righteousness. III an aIgun III, u W'h pe
careful analysis of the steps, with tile Illustrations EN-
roycd and pointing out It's pertmency u tue p.imaiy
purpose of tine writer II narrative, u o1 tne neiP ~
historical ina alton, the times and CIRCUMSTANCES or
the past sLOnd ne NNIup ~ u', ~, Irn
the surface, the principles Ol the Niile % ~ ~ 90" t
will he discol cred and the inspired record OF he past
will afford an explanation OF me present IL p,ap, ie
preacher Will Try To Obtain the Key Ol lts el tdoh
Ia the purpose Tor which IT was spoken or ~ the 1Gca
sion and be will give nicely 10 the exposition by making
everything subservent to mat II bfopnec', be VII
seize upon the central post ON az the seer ana grasp
every detail around that Special attention should bc
given to vyiiying the record Dy the lepIOducuon OF
historic surroundings Great labor Will be required to do
Secoadiy This method secures variety the
tions the preacher He IL naturally attracted, per
haps certain subjects or casrs 0f subecis more than
Others Unless there some regular course ot txOsluOn
there il danger that he conhne hmSet to these Few ia,
yorte themes or 10 ringing changes upon then until
the hearers are weary Of both nm ana ms theme ii,
Thirdly: Following out this method, The preacher VIII
be compelled to treat many subjects rUn when ne inghl
otheYs shrunk but which ought 20 be- dealt with
Every pastor knows that there eio some members OF hs
congregation who specially red enlightenment on Some
points OF duty or danger yet II he selects subjects purely
for thm ms object would be defeated Ieeause mp
would be apt to suspect him Of deliberate Intention 10
SIR Ike them and resent H. In this M thOd opportunities
al continually presented for timely truths ana no one
can say that the preacher has out OF his way io he
specific purpose OF reaching his conscience BESIDES
there arc whole classes or topics which WOULD pe
tonpiSSi" to Sis own tastes aud feelings in the
choice of subjects One win dwell ehel9slvey on u3o
love- te pominent topic ignoring the justice O Cod
one viii dwell on the divine sovereignty election lore
orlinaton forgetting the grscious invitations OF the
GosIsI BY tie expOsitOry plan, the preacher may 20
IDund the whole globe OF revealed Iulh ana present
TanrffIv: it win promote Biblical intellgeneehmong
the people II would oe surprising II men eouu leans ne
how limited Is the acquaintance Of churc1soers wtD tue
grriptures especially the Old Testament Iheir knOw-
edge rs oytrrated these subieets But truth is tne
nlriment of the SOUL and Bible truth is the stamina OF
sniritua life gves stability to Chrsdan character,
and those familiar with IL arc nat easiy moved by every
Wind of doctrine