The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-06-04
nFINDINGp SERMONS.


I'VE remember to have heard, some
years ago, a plain intelligent Christian
man from rural district say of o GER
tain sermon, 'it found me" At the
time we took this phrase to be pro-
vincial expression, confined TO q par
ticular and remote section OF the coun-
try. We have since learned better. 1t
has good standing in English litera-
ture, being used by SO eminent an
authority as Coleridge, and may bc a
very old style Of speech. Possibly
Ahab's question to Elijah suggested it
Hast thou found me, o mine .ene-
myp"
However it may be as to the origin,
age and prevalence of this peculiar use
OF the word ''find. il certainly denotes
in picturesque and forcible way that
quality which causes a sermon to take
hold OF us with firm grip, to become
q message addressed TO our particular
consciousness and need. When q hearer
says or feels that the sermon
''finds" him, he does not simply
mean that it "hits" him, as touch
ing some weak spot, uncovering
and rebuking some besetting sin.
1t is not merely that it has de-
tective character and cxcites lively in
terest, so that 1t is impossible under it
TO plan house, or complete a bargain,
or make q Journey. Above and beyond
this, the hearer means that the sermon
SUITS his case, comes to him in fitting
and helpful manner. and is an inspira-
tion and comfort as well as revelation
and rebuke This, surely, is about .he
highest and finest quality Of genuine
sermon. Robert Hall said that the
audience should feel the hand of the
preacher moving among them and lay
ing hold Of their hearts and consciences.
The truly " fndingn sermon does even
more than this; it has strengthening,
enriching, uplifting, as well as a detec-
tive and constraining force. II Is a great
thing for one 10 be able to 20 away from
the house of God. honestly saying:
''that sermon found me-" In so say
ing he testifes that he is invigorated
for Christian service and consciously
helped in attaining a nobler character
and life.
1t is curious TO observe how sermons
differ at this point. We may take two
men Of equal ability and apparently
equal spirituality. In plan, construc-
ton, power of illustration, effectiveness
of delivery, their sermons may have the
same grade of excellence. But some
how the preaching or the one '"fnds"
us; that Of the other does not. The SER
mons of the one seem remote, vague,
unreal, as If addressed 10 far-away
congregation. They are sort Of shot
in the air, or bomb unskillfully aimed
that bursts without effect. The ser
mons OF the other, no better. on the
whole-perhaps in many respects not
so good-come right bone to mems
bosoms and business, and make an ap-
preciable addition to their spiritual !
strength and resources. II is aworthy
ambition in the preacher'to belong to, !
the Finding" class. To be OF this class,
or not to be, makes all the difference
between success and. failure People
like TO be 'found.r They like the sor-
mon that comes home 10 them, even
when It rebukes and pinches. They
like 1t still better when along with rrer-
tied exposure and rebuke it Is q minis
try of encouragement stimulus and
comfort. ssv
1t would be a great mistaketo, sup
pose that one can become a "finding"
preacher by simply making his address
very" direct and personal - by say
ing, "brethren,- mean yoH." This
may not help matters at all. 1t may,
indeed, work just the other way, and |
seriously mar them. There is nothing |
more wearisome and Improbable than
mere personal exhortation. 'The "6nd-
ing" quality of sermon Is subtle |
and peryasive element lying in. the SUBJ
stance, spirit and tone Of the discourse.
1t is born OF the preachers spiritual ex-
perience and earnestness, his deep
knowledge Of human nature in its
strength and weakness, and the wide
and delicate sympathies which make
him brother to all men. The "fnd-
ing" preacher is en- rapport with his
audience through kind Of "mind-
reading" faculty. and by virtue OF sub
tie threads Of connection along which
the magnetic current Of communica-
tion and interest freely passes. He has
not much occasion to make formal sap
plications. His sermon, from first to
last, applies itself, because it Is dealing
with eternal truth in its relations to our
surest consciousness and deepest need.
No doubt the rare and fine ability Of
which we treat depends good deal
upon individual constitution and tenn
permanent; but IL is power that MI
preachers can cultivate 10 "A considera-
BILE degree. The more fully IL Is enter
tained, the more truly effective must
preaching become. M y Examiner.