The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-17
How to Preach.


tory? As preachers, not pastors, their
business is to work certain effect, and
all helps to its production it should be a
part of their education to learn. I pre-
sumo 1 shall not be misunderstood to
mean the effect of displaying self and
winning admiration for personal gifts
What the true preacher seeks to do is to
inform the intellect with Christian truth
to stir the heart, and thereby influence
the will, of his hearers. Half the SER
mons annually preached are, so far as
human insight goes, waste of labor and
breath. Two things partly account for
tins: one Is that majority of the men
set to preach are out of their real voca-
tion,--good pastors they may be, bat fit
preachers they are not another is that
those with more aptitude for preaching
do not yet understand the means to be en-
ployed to attain their object. Being of a
clerical stock myself, 1 have become OBJ
servant and critical in this matter. | am
free to confess that most sermons bore me.
1t is not the length of sermon that can
overcome me, provided it be of good
quality, but the incapacity of the preach
er for his task often distresses and de-
presses the soul. How many worthy
man proceeds comfortably through his
llteless discourse, satisfied that such truths
as he has to utter must of themselves
carry conviction home Sometimes the
preacher has some conception of the needs
OF human nature, and knows that the
truest truths fail to move when put be-
fore men in dull, dry way; perhaps he
does his best to acquire good style, and
succeeds in making an ably-written dis
course. But when he comes into his pull
pit to give it to his people, where is the
impression it should produce What be-
comes of his choice words, his considered
sentences? There they lie upon the page
ne holds: he proceeds to read them. Why
do they fail of any result? 1t is for want
OF delivery of the oratorical art of making
mere words tell" His faithful effort
goes for little he seems to his hearers to
be reading something to them, as he is
not to be speaking to them from the
heart. All this was exemplifed in SER
mon | heard a Sunday or two ago. The
preachers thoughtful, earnest discourse
was too essay-like in style, and full of
those long sentences which give the lis
tteners attention excuse for wandering !;
but at the last he dropped his paper, and
went on with an extempore addition to
his sermon, as fervent as it was unpre-
meditated. He spoke of the truth Of
revelation proving itself to the individual
conscience, of the inward witness for hea-
venly things. Nov, while my voice is
speaking to you, you hear another Voice, -
ne said, in an awed undertone. For a
moment the congregation seemed verify
listening for the Voice, SO hushed was the
church. Suppose that now, while l
were speaking the preacher went on in
the same tone, "before | had finished
what L had to say, the time Of judgment
were come, the roof of this church were
lifted, and the heavens opened above you /:
you would be the judges of your own
selves, and know your places on the right
hand or on the left 1t was not the
words alone that startled the congrega-
ton into perfect silence, but the preach
ers voice, his look, his gesture, the sense
That the things he spoke of were vivid
realities. He had no notion of making
an oratorical effect, but unconsciously he
mad wrought one A little more Of the
orator. instinct or training would have
made him stop just there, without another
word but, alas he continued for five
minutes longer, and brought his hearers
GOWN from the heavens to the ordinary
level before he ceased A man with no
GIT for extempore speaking, and who is
oohged to write out his discourse in full
may yet give it the air Of true sern,o
and gain all the advantage which talk,