The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-03-15
THE HOME CIRCLE.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SERMON.

REV OTIS oLNEY WRIGHT IN THE
CHURCH ECLECTIC FOR JANUARY.
The ideal sermon, in it's inception, is
an inspiration Of God. The real
preacher is a prophet of the Most
High. He waits before the Lord fol
his message, which comes to him in
the spirit, by the Holy Ghost. AS ST
Paul says: (which things also we
speak, not in words which mans wis
dom teacheth, but which the Spirit
teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual"
Such sermon is essentially unlike
any other discourse in that it is always
personal. It is not an essay on ethics,
treatise concerning religion, nor a
lecture on social science; but mes
sage from the King of Kings by an &C
credited ambassador who is first of all
| loyal to his Sovereign. The royal cup
bearer must first in good faith
drink portion himself. 'We
pray you in Christ's stead be We recon-
powerful for good in proportion as the
people feel it to be personal as between
| them and the preacher because it is in
truth between them and God.
The mere proclamation of certified
facts and the rehearsal of personal ex-
periences, for their OWn-sake alone, do
not belong to the sermon under con-
sideration. The original Gospel even,
as to the letter, should occupy but a
subordinate place in modern preach
ing. 1t may well be taken for granted
and seldom needs to be mentioned.
The up-tO-date sermon is scientific, in
that it deals with the needs of men
as to body, soul and spirit, taking
the facts of human experience as a
basis,' and applying the principles OF
the spiritual life to the present and
prospective being of men. Modern
preaching is adapted to the conditions
Of modern life; it is in the line of mod
ern thought: it is in the spirit of mod
ern faith, hope and love; and it is In
the form of modern literature.
The ideal sermon must be born OF
the moral and spiritual consciousness
of the preacher. 1t is something
which the power of God begets in, and
evolves from the conscious life of His
own faithful servant. 1t is not the
mere grouping together of things he
knows things common and familiar
lifting together of favorite quotations
of Scripture with the notable thoughts
of others, like the teaching of the
Scribes; it is rather the setting forth
of the truth in the earnest conviction
of it; and in the love of it as it is in
the preachers own heart and mind.
The message concerns the prophet,
and thus has power to thrill other
souls because the Spirit of Truth is in
it, and every one can in some degree
perceive it and consciously receive it.
Such sermon can be produced only
by means of prayer, meditation and
careful study. 1t takes time, labor of
soul, and the highest state of mental
preparation to evolve such a work.
The inspiration of God comes most eff
fectually to the seeking soul; the
truth is revealed only to the humble
prayerful heart; the noblest ideal can
be given alone to the most thoughtful,
aspiring mind. God cannot inspire
what is not in a man; and the preacher
cannot make something out of moth
ing.
There are sermons and sermons.
There are teaching sermons, and SER
mons of warning and exhOrtation. In
spiration may not be needed to do
what one can accomplish by study
alone, or what grows out of ones ac-
tual experience. Most preachers can
talk freely and effectively concerning
the ordinary, familiar affairs of life.
But the sermon we have in mind is
far above the commonplace. 1t is of
the divine nature. 1t may come with
the suggestion of text of Holy Scrip
ture; it may be in the line of some per-
sonal experience; it may grow out of