The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-22
PUZZLED PREACHERS.
How 20 Expound Truth 60 ne TO Both In.
struct and Enterfntn.

The BAPTIST ministers discussed ycstcr-
day an essay read week ngo by tho venerable
DR.. Williams Of this city. on Expositorial
Preaching" Prof. Fox said that such preach
ing meant taking text and developing its
meaning Brother Gault was not to be satisfied
with any definition. and wanted to hear what
the brethren would call fair specimen Of OK
positorial preaching right there before tho
Baptist ministers some day. A brother cried.
Amen" Brother Gault added that he had
heard OF and read Of expositorlal preaching.
but had not heard the thing itself. The Row.
DR.. Gillette said that in tho Bible he found no
sermons such as are preached nowadays. He
sought to preach in description OF Gods mean
ing in the sacred text. He could find more In
struction In expositorial preaching than In
twenty sermons. He believed that Brother
Gault ought TO try the expositorial preaching
that he had Just said that he wanted to heur be-
Q Bro SS Hedden Of NeSWarR said that he
didn't knew enough to preach vdrs eSRoS ,be nbE
that It Ia impossible for him TO do Il Justice
Besides, his remarks on them would be too
thin. Expositorial preaching. or the simple
translation of what God has said to men. is not
popular in congregations. They do not under
stand or appreciate such preaching. And it is
perhaps. congregations gave salaries to hear
such plain preaching but they don't do 1t now.
hearers seek instruction while others demand
an entertainment in n sermon. Perhaps MN,
entertaining ther flock. Then Brother He'd
den sat down and a brother called out: Don't
be discouraged, Brother Hedden; try II; you'll
Brother Hughes snd that there are two names
for n minister" teacher and herald" Why
do they educate themselves, study Latin and
Crock and pore over the Bible, unless II Is 20
tell the people what the Word Of God is So
expositorlal preaching is a necessity. Every
yao ~ "a ~ nRl1 in = n
sermons are preached every day TO the inn
mensc concourse Of people. and not one is n
himself had preached his sunday mornings
discourse on the sunday school lesson OF the
day and his people like II. On sunday last he
had preached Oh BALKAN. who advised Baak
to invite men to entertainments. to see tho wo-
men and 70 taste the wine IN order to bring
Brother Hughes. il inviting young men 10 en-
tertalnmenis, a great evil OF the age.
Brother Halsey Knapp said that, while Jesus
was topical preacher, the clergyman Of to-day
cannot be such. IL IL the ministers task TO take
E ss 9n nas s9 T9e
| mon. Not for preachers to put themselves on
an equality with him; not TO write or speak an
essay Exporltorinl preaching. he continued.
| il unpopular-nnd why? because 1t In the re-
sort Of lazy ministers. who. when unpreparcd to
| the pulpit and spun out words about II. Our
| best preachers he added. do not take sub
Jet textupelly. They expound Gods word; Dr,
| there is great talk about going abroad to get
ministers who can preach. Go abroad Why,
| the trouble Is that we who are at home. put n
| too high estimate on the intelligence Of our con-
| gtegations We present them with the results
| Of our labors. while we leave out the steps
| whereby we have attained 10 the results. Give
| the simple word oftruth. Any man can write
| an essay on n text from the Bible.
| Brother Lawrence wanted To know whether
| the difference between topical. textual and cX-
| pOsitory preaching Is thoroughly understood
| The last hc thought nm cXegesis Of a scripture
| passage with illustrations and lessons on til,
| text. The main point, he thought. TO be attained
| in expositorial preaching IL Christian unity
| Too much preaching IL n diluuon OF the trutl
| Of the Bible. not an exposition OF II.
| Brother Lawson doubted whether my Of thu
| ministers could get up and give the centra
| truth in any Of ~. Paui's epistles
| The Rev. DR.. Miller said that what now goes
| under tho name Of cNpOsitOrial preaching |,
| simply cxpostorial twaddle. Brother Rhode
said that lie preached ON sunday on the prod
| gal son cXpositorially, and that he didn't 20
any further than the Wandering; he couldn'
| get to the Repentance to save him, and dldn
dream Of the Return. SO much did he find II
that method Of presenting the truth.