The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-06

preacher IS yet under the dOmlnaulon
of scholastic methods, and because these
methods are anachronistic, they are
largely sounding brass and tinkling
cymbal in the ears Of our modern men.
1t would be objectionable in me,
having gone thus far in scoring an evil,
not to suggest what seems to me a
proximate remedy for all this. And
yet must beg the kindliest feeling OF
my ministerial brethren toward me in
attempting so delicate task, which
has much the air of lawyer entering
into the sick room and thrusting the
physician aside, or of some artisan as
cending the judges bench and doing
out justice on his own account. Prop
erly speaking, when 1 have indicated
what the evil is, or what, at all events,
it appears to me to be my task, is prac-
tically done and 1 hope l may not be
held responsible for the ultimate issue
Of any experiment L may suggest to be
tried.
First, next to sympathetic study of
the spiritual truths Of the Bible, and
along with it, should go the systematic
study of human nature for the young
minister getting ready for his post, and
always afterward. The fact is, here is
the laboratory for spiritual truths, and
he should be made to understand, that
without profound knowledge of hui
man nature, and q skillful use Of that
knowledge in the preparation of his SER
mon, he can no more make preacher,
than a skilled chemist can come of the
close coming of a book, without ever
handling a retort or seeing reagent
at work. How such systematic study
Of human nature might be set on foot,
so that all habits of lounging and Cos
sip, and their very semblance even,
should be avoided, is perhaps a prob.
lem somewhat difficult to be solved. /
suppose that reading about human nat
ure, the profound study Of Shake
speare's plays, as the older divines used
to recommend, will hardly secure the
schooling in human nature that will
properly equip the minister for his task.
SO far as reading matter may contrib.
ute to this end, | think we may most
earnestly recommend the sympathetic
study of Shakespeare's plays in connec-
ton with the historical portions of the
Bible, and the judicious reading of the
daily newspapers, which reflect with
marvellous fidelity the kaleidoscope
life of our contemporary time.
But we learn human nature only by
manly contact with it in all the walks
of life, by mingling with men of all
classes of condition and character, and
from pure sympathy entering into the
peculiar trials, and questionings, and
experiences of every variety of human
heart. The Master did that, and found
the material of his ma.chless discourses
in the infinite detail of suffering and
triumph in the common heart of hui
mainly everywhere beating around him.
He was doubtless familiar with the Old
Testament Scriptures, and all the Rab-
binical writings currents in his day. But
he became peripatetic, an outdoor
preacher, gathering his material from
the contact with nature and human
nature, and letting these suggest to him
his themes.
And now, finally, with much hes
itancy, and not little misgiving lest I
transcend all bounds of Difference and
decorous reserve, will venture to sug-
gest, what would be, in my opinion, a
reform. believe that textual preach
ing should be abandoned; that is, using
that term in broader sense than is
technically current among ministerial
ranks. BY textual preaching I mean
the practice of basing the sermon on
some single passage, or collection of
passages taken from the Scriptures,
suggesting the theme. l think this
practice should be wholly laid aside, for
the following reasons: First, the themes
that are in this manner raised, are, for
the most part, in the very nature of the
case, incidental and accidental to any
passing discussion which the hour may
demand; and then, as the laymen are
capable of seeing, they entail limita-
ton on the discussion which is either
inconsistently ignored by the preacher,
or is suffered to put his whole effort
into mechanical braces, and so kill out
all the human interest that might have
been there. Take up any of the printed
sermons which are now published week
ly in the leading papers of the land, and
in every instance you will feel that the
passage of Scripture placed at the head
of the sermon has been either grossly
outraged, or that its appearance there is
simply in compliance with time hon
ored custom, and nothing more.
Again, the practice is survival of
those days of scholastic subtilty, when
texts of Scripture were used for con-
troversial purposes, and every pas
sage, no matter how isolated, was