, 1879-07-20

printed in the atlantic Monu!Iy, excited con
| siderable attention md comment The samt
writer in the August number of the Atl1nti
applies similar analytical method to tht
subject OF Preaching in this country. Hi
criticisms are we'll taken in the main, though
the spirit of the article is too pessimistic
in this respect there is another resemblance
for regret. that so genial and cheerful {
writer should drift into gloomy view of any
subject in life, but this new vein may be ol
service to the people for whom he writes.
| At all events, he uses the scorrge so mildly
| aud so judiciously that it will create no ran
COT nor bad feeling.
The writer starts ont with the conviction
| that reverence, trust, and obedience are the
objects at which preaching should be aimed,
| and that the teaching Of all pulpits should
lead up to the highest standard of moral
order by broad spiritual truths. This is d
somewhat old-fashioned notion; aud it is not
surprising that one who clings to it as the
basis of church influence should object es-
pecially to the intellectual tendency of the
..1.:s ~. l..~...... ffn,:. .l:..4:.- =
f"-.h s, - 49, fs1,o,.;;x IS. " 'o%
80 .onc o, the eh;cf ds5ee;s or defecta q, n,e,cn-
ine in our time, in this country at least. is its
tendency to become preHorhinansly intellectual; to
deal with all It's mate!a'h hs intellectual meshods
TIE facts, truths. principles, and ideas employed
and illustrated in American preaching to-day be-
long. in great part. to tf homain Of the intellect
and are Of nature to atjHplatc chiefly the intel
lectual faculties, and toseapprehended BY them
lae3 As' sa ~ n'0.n sp's.s' pulpose 10
nov.r of odcouate sniriFlSI y;ta1itv praoch,no ~
this intellectual kind contss largely of argument
and discussion and it'tberefore necessarily pro-
auses anu taaS5s acssy Inc 1n'el
attitude Of critical oF aucstion,nc cbaracter.-a
spirit of doubt The religious spirit is essentially
the spirit OF trust and ofooeaience. The special
tenpens'es anu oe'e4opf,eatS =! 'nousnt "ulca
mcasnrc renrodnced in the preaching of rhe t,me
We have had TOO much Of preaching for the
timea' that 49, the preaching has dealt too largely
W. "uea a.e 49, WIZ
vital. ncrmanent. and unlyaraa]."
While it may be admitted as true that the
essay has largely taken the place Of exhorta-
ton in the American ptilpjt, and that diver
sion of Sunday THOUGHTS from q simple con-
temptation of future beatitude to philosophic
inonirv may be danrerous. it cannot be
denied that the Increased intellectual &C.
tiy1tT of the people MIGHT render an avoid
ance of the new method still mors dangerous.
If the preachers Of today were all to follow
in the old ruts and rest their influence upon
spiritual appeals alone. they would ind
their congregations falling off in numbers.
md their words would be- addressed to deaf
ears.. The spirit of donbt has fastened upon
so many people that the intellectual preacher
who can reconcile the hard facts of Scienca
with the traditions of Religion, and curb the
speculative disposition of his people with
sermons addressed to their reason. NAV nc
complish more in the scrvice of religion than
one of the old school Of unouestioninp faith
and tireless fervor. The conservation of re-
ligious zeal may be safely left with the
women of the Church but the men demand
sermons in tho linz of their o,vn thonrhts
1,,h+r ;,,~,o..;1-..;a , x>.,a;x.c M,
is meant IN the general way IN "h1ch II Is
expressed, and does not cover manifold ex-
caDtions on hoth s,dee IT, vonld he unu,sa
for Tho ,,o,,;,+o. ,e .h ca,,>o1 o;+to. 40
PAoAeo"'oo W oa ea1 " 'no ooio' "
ignore the tendency of the present genera |
ton of church.poers tn raach out for new
n n,,r,o+;o, ~. ....to h,,o ,1-ooa,,
."1Aen ""a5 Aion tae cAurcueS oecaose 1aen
longing Tor intellectual investigation has