Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-02-09
Reli0ioas Department.
LEARNING IN THE PULPIT.

A good many who cried out against
learning in the pulpit, never stopped
to consider whether ignorance was
any more acceptable to God. Fifty
years ago, DR.. Archibald Alexander
wrote as follows: q know it to be n
fact that multitudes would walk ten
miles to hear black man who could
not read a word, in preference to 90.
inc TO hear the best sermon within a
few miles, Others want the learn
ing although it is beyond them, and
have but little respect for the plain
preaching of the Gospel.
The gifted Romaine was asked to
show little more learning in the pull
pit. The first text after this request,
he read in Hebrew, remarking: 81
suppose scarcely one of my congre-
CATION understands that" He then
read it in Greek, and then said,
''There may be one or two that I'M
derstand me now" He then read it
in Latin, and said, "possibly few
more may comprehend me, but the
number is still very limited" Then
he read it IN English and remarked;
"There, now, you all understand me;
which do you like best? | always
hope to preach so that the most igno-
rant person in the congregation may
understand me. Even Robert Hall,
the famous English divine, was ac-
costed in the following manner: "Mr.
Hall, this preaching won't do for us;
it will only suit a congregation of old
women"
1t is related of DR.. Archibald
Alexander after be had reached the
period of ripe scholarship and great
power over the audience, that q man
rose and left the church where he
was preaching, because he delivered
it in such a plain, simple manner.
George Herbert knowing this desire
on the part of his congregation,
preached a very learned sermon, and
at its conclusion remarked: Il shall
not often preach so learnedly, but
shall henceforth strive to save your
souls.
In dismissing minister, it was put
upon the record of the ecclesiastical
body having jurisdiction in the case,
"Rey. Mr.. A, in our judgment, has
given to this church and congrega-
ton meat fully equal to their diges-
tive powers Said a distinguished
Bishop of the English church, sit
takes all our learning to make things
plain" Plainness and simplicity are
the fruits of learning. Faraday,
when lecturing, said 'Ehe kept his eye
on the dullest student in the class,
and when his face lighted up he knew
that the whole class understood, and
he could proceed. Those who
stand highest in any department of
learning are those who can tell in the
plainest, simplest language what the
cries they hold. Fullness, variety,
plainness, are the result Of learning,
and are wonderfully attractive to the
multitude. The learning that fur
nishes these will give freshness and
authority to pulpit utterance, and
make the preacher power in the
community.
When the minister does his best to
fill his pulpit, the people will come
and fill the pews. Guthrie says ::
calais for the day when puIpits are
proverbial for dulInes, and the great
est of all professions has the smallest
men to fill it, And Baxter bears
testimony: she is the able, skillful
minister. that is best skilled in the
art of instructing, convincing, per-
suading, and, consequently, of win
ming souls; and that is the best SER
mon that is best in these" These
utterances are equally worthy the
consideration of the pulpits and the
pews-ReU Robert IL. Williams.