The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-12
IMAGINA rIoN IN PREF cnIXG.
Brother Potter Describing n Sermon that
Made hts HAIR stand on End.

The Baptist minister's talked yesterday
about the use Of the imagination in religion
and morals The Row. A. +. W0fiio OF Now
Brunswick said in his essay that the faculty OF
Imagination should be- subjected Ofnith. Some
ministers object to imaginative scrmone be-
cause religion ia n sober thing. founded on
fa 'ts ynt the speaker believed that the abstrac-
tons OF religion need 10 be- wildly presented
10y the aid Of Imagination to tho minds OF hear
crs. Still further Imagination Ia needed to
interpret Scripture history and in understands
ing the bold flights and transccndcnt imagery
of Isaiah and the Revelations All the parallels
OF Jesus are addressed to tho imagination;
They are annogies between tho spiritual anu
material world. Even systematic theology. that
study in almost pure renson needs the aid OF
this faculty for. by not comDrehcndinR the
system Of theology In its beauty and symmetry:
theologinns have magnined ono truth ut the
expense of another and thus. disagreeing
among themselves. have been ready to ny at
be conceived through this fqcuty-without II.
God IL only n bundle OF attributes. uode MS
tory es connected with men Is BY its aid pic;
influence OF various preachers who have and
who have not used imagination largely in their
sermons. have not the uneducated been In.
huencod more by Bunvan than by Calvin. II
is tho metaphor. the vivid picture that thrills
The bearer. Most conspicuous In using u TINS
Prof.. Fox said that he had observed that or
gregation than heterodox speakers because the
former follow tho methods OF the old Hebrew
rhetoricans. like David In the Psalms II 10
fiery. impassoned style. and Its force 10 due TO
the use OF imagination
Brother Humpstone thought the humble
preachers who have been such mighty aids In
spreading the Gospel among uneducated people
got their success through picturesque presenta-
ton OF ChTists doings and sayings:
Of the word drama with any treatise Of a
Christian nature. Tho word was fly In the
Brother Daniel Red praised the uso OF pic
lures of religious subjects. A day in one OF the
great picture galleries In Europe Ia a wonder
full instructor and stimulnnt to any preacher 8
mind. Some OF Dor6's pictures had elevated
ligious truths The power OF picture on chill
dren Ia wonderful He had met Methodist
brother. who confessed to having adopted the
belief that sprinkling Is baptism through seeing
in the old family bible at home. when he was q
child, n picture OF Jesus standing in the Jordan
with the water up TO his ankles. while John WINS
pouring winter over his shoulders. llaughtcr.l
Brother Potter objected to the use some min
listers had put Imagination to. For instance. in
n volume 81 Christmas Eyanss sermons was n
passage whore the preacher Ind called IN the
devil and offered him n chew OF tobacco.
| lInughterl That. Brother Potter thought, was
| going a little too far. Brother Tamagc, on the
| other hand had once madc a hit when preach
| ing whio n horso's hoof boats was family
hoard coming far up Schromerhorn street on q
sounded. and Brother Talmage stopped In his
sermon to listen. Thus we mortals come upon
tho, field Of actionl' shouted the, preacher
lust outside Of the tabernacle. and Brother
| Talmage haloocd: Now he IL in the full swing
| OF lifel" and IA tho tramp died away TO pattcr
! again. the preacher whispered; Thus do VT
| putting ono hand to tho back OF his head. my
| hair rose right up.