New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-15
LECTURES AT YALE ON PREACHING.

DR. PHILLIPS BROOKS OK TRUTH AND PERSONALITY
IN PREACHING.
FRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRtBUNR'l
NEw-HAvEN, Jan. 1.-the Rev. DR.. Phil
lips Brooks Of Boston delivered the first two OF his lee
lures Preaching in the Lyman Beecher course to
the students the Yale Theological Seminary on the
Afternoons OF the 11th ard 18th The entire course VIII
consist Of eight lectures ~ be given two each week Til
the close The lecturer said In this lecture propose
to give some thoughts which will cover the whole ground
of NY lectures Preaching is the communication Of truth
by man to man. II has always these two clements
truth and personality It in the absence OF one or TIE
other Of these elements that sermon Is defective
Let us look these two elements, truth and person
al,tv and first with regard to the truth In the words
witness and message think We have the fundamental
contention Of the matter Of all Christian preaching The
minister should always keep the word message nj ds
tinct from speculation before his mind Nothing Is more
needed than the realization Of the truth "a message.
Among many sermons remember ore which was re-
parkable in this respect II was by Mt George Mae
donald which, with his other faults. had this quality 10
an unusual degree convinced that this conception
OF the truth always gives power to the preacher Never
lose this fundamental conception of the message. TIC
way of keeping this idea before the mind is III
Vowed in the whole life Of the man. One
thing is impressed me. This VIII give TO
the preaching quality which II lacks now. mean The
enforcement of the main truth distinct from subtle
GOSPEL a., message is that il connects u with The his
tory Of Christianity The preacher is backed by ak who
have gone before The identity OF the church consists III
the id nifty of the There are two marked ten
denotes Of our tme-cTiticsn and mechanism Criticism
has invaded TIE pulpit, and the preachers say much
about Christ rather than preach Christ There rs Inueh
machinery in the church. and this should not be regarded
az nm end but means
The personality OF the preacher The Gospel must
come not only to men but by 1t is ia the proper
ton OF these two elements truth and personality, mat
we attain the right realization Of the work The purpose
Of preaching i the rst thing that gives IT character
II il for mans salvation The character OF preaching Is
enlarged or narrowed with conception Of how man is
to b saved BY your convection about salvation VIII DC
determined the character o; your preaching.
The second lecture the preachers person IN MS
work The following is synopsis Of 1t:
What sort of . man should preacher be This Is an
lmrortant question. Many now led into the ministry
profession am convinced that tho pulpit Will never
Ind its true power till II DO cut of FROM endiclncy We
may wuat the qualifications FOR success III h-
isicr We must not draw the line too narrowly There
ought TO be "a many kinds OF picacfs ~ .HoIs .ie
kinds Of men The first quality is persona! pety Moth
ing but fire kndleS hr'; lhe heAt luaii's u nen,
tai AMI spiritual uselishnoss ne mus, IecesG
shG run bv "H himself. but - trust to lie
communicated TO Others. HopefuneSs is necessary
Tesnits Then would mention health something es.
rental The preacher is brought into so many relations
mat hea I'm il OF great Importance. II he has not this he
viii fail in parts of his work Every munster
should be what may be called " born % picach,-lhe
nnnIity by which kndles nj the sight NJ hicn and
lo.cs himself IN becoming medium or tdth on ore sldc,
10 men ON the other Al these qualities exist IN degrees,
may determine what man is IT for a preacher.
The next question Is, What changes should man
studies Most really begin their work when they
this particular work be well done. This knowledge
should become something m0ic--lI should become doc
1 hen
divine side of humanity He collects material for ser-
mons from all quarters: When tne munster y really
him successiuli Frat. | put tho element of Per
soua character. His influence depends not 80, 40
way in which he holds them. The next quat-
cation is freedom from scltconciousnees No man ever
thought whether hc preaching well without weak
cnng his sermon The next element Ii genuine respect
for people to whom e pieacaos or the real respect
for men ard women simply men anu women there Is
far too little. No man preacEes wen VINO mas nor N
respect for humanity. Then the preacher should thor
ouyhly enjoy hts Tk n he does nos no may make one
bold dash at 1t, but cannot carry on from year TO year
The neat element may be cniel grayiy th"t serious
.yInpathizc with those who arc III trouble.
DO not mean forced solcmnty. This Is regarded as
proper subject for satire. the other and think the
min st rial tester character who does mtrh harn Tie
r,,ns caynot have too much real hmOr but stupid
i-aiin Is NOT humor nor gravity ctinOniousness.
Another source of power IL the sum OF all these qualities
sapy meverything aud essential here This be
sought Tor directly, but comes from the other Qualities
IL should resut from ovo toward mad Jesus WAS bold
toward men out OF his great love for them
One other topic wish 10 mcution: the dangers OF the
prcnohrr The first beyond ill doubt. IL sefconoeit
Al frat the man wonders why people "a hoar but
II he a he afterward wonders that they do
Thc character minister depends much how he
nassrs out OF the frat stage OF conGet Success makes
The true man modest. some, however, come out In
fsnr. The true escape for tho fest disappointment Is
"A more complete absorption In God Another danger 10
selfintulgence. The minister, regarding his lie as
pecuiiar is apt To be Influenced 6y his moods and
avoid when he does not feel Ike doing It, Its true
business Ii To his moods and 10 bc always ready
Tor his work. Another danger Is narrowness This can
escaped by compelling our circle Of thought TO opon