Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

CHAP. II.

GENERAL RULES RELATING TO PREACHING,

1 IT were adviscable for young preachers to pen down every sentence of their sermons in short-hand;

and

bum idem, aut syllaba, si fieri possit, bis ponatur-ad hæc do operam, ut numerorum gratia, sive concentus cohæreat, aut per omnes periodi partes, aut saltêm in fine-Postrema cura est, nè multi sint fines sententiarum, qui pedes easdem habeant. Ringel. de Rat. Stud. p. 90, 91.

In addition to this chapter, some remarks of the late Dr. Kippis, on the subjects of pulpit discourses, may be properly added. "The subjects of our discourses ought to be the great doctrines, duties, examples, assistances, promises and prospects of the gospel; I say, the great doctrines, du ties, examples, assistances, promises and prospects of the gospel; for it should never be forgotten by us, that we are preachers of the Christian religion; and it is strange that this should ever be forgotten by any who actually believe in the revelation of our blessed Saviour. The New Testament contains the whole display of the love of the only true God,

[blocks in formation]

and trust nothing to their memories * until they are masters of a free, fluent, and proper style; and have

the father to the degenerate children of Adam. It exhibits all the compassion and tenderness of Jesus. It holdeth forth a knowledge of the purest and noblest kind; it conveys to us the pardon of our sins; it communicates the principles of holiness; it inspires us with resignation and fortitude; and it spreads before us a boundless happiness. These mighty blessings it gives to creatures who were absolutely unworthy of them; to creatures who were involved in ignorance and transgression, who had no hope, who were liable to final condemnation. It rescues us from the most deplorable of all calamities, and confers upon us the greatest possible

"As light a matter as it may be thought by other people, and probably may be by you, yet I am positive it is a matter of consequence," observes Bp. Clayton, "that sermons should be written in a large and fair hand, without crowding the words and the lines into one another. For by this means, if you take the pains in reading it often over, which you ought to take, the least glance of the eye, as you turn from one side of your congregation to the other, will enable you to go on without appearing to read at all. But this management not only gives you the reputation of preaching almost without notes which the common people admire much, but is what will greatly recommend you to men of the first ability, as it enables you also to give the force and beauty of elocution to what you say, and to adorn it with the energy and the grace of action; and though theatrical action is unseemly in so grave a character as a preacher's yet there is an action as proper to the pulpit, as that is to the stage." "Advice from a Bishop to a young clergyman," P. 59, 90. T.

have acquired a good command of their spirits, a free utterance, and a maturity of sentiments. Then

they

possible felicity. Eternal death was our expected portion; but eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In communicating these benefits, the wisdom, truth, rectitude, and goodness of our heavenly Father are admir ably portrayed, and the benevolence of the blessed Re deemer shines in full beauty and lustre. It shines in a thousand affecting situations and instances resulting from his actions, discourses, sufferings, death, resurrection and ascension. All these must be acknowledged, whatever particular system of opinions we embrace, provided we do actually believe in the supernatural original and authority of our holy religion. In every view of the matter, Christianity is to be regarded as an inestimable gift, as a pearl of unspeakable price. To be afraid therefore, of expressing ourselves in the highest terms concerning the mercy of God in the gospel; not to draw from the New Testament our principal instructions, arguments and motives, is treason against our great master. We may lawfully make use of other assistances; we may select materials from various sources: nor is it necessary to be always introducing the name of Christ. But we must stand up in the pulpit as his ministers. His truths, his laws, his life, his sanctions, we must display; upon his compassion and philanthropy we must insist, and speak under the powerful impression of that immortal salvation by him communicated." Charge at Bridport. p. 21–23.

It is a recommendation of the strain of preaching deli neated in the preceding paragraph, that it is not only obligatory on the Christian preacher; but it is popular and authoritative. It is popular, because it turns on topics, which are in themselves very affecting and impressive, and which

[blocks in formation]

they may venture to leave something to the me mory, by writing half sentences, 'till by degrees they are able to trust to it a good part of the enlargement under every head. This will be no great burden, provided they take care to be thoroughly masters of their notes, before they go up into the pulpit; and will be a great help to a free, decent and natural clocution.

I would not advise any young minister, though ever so happy in a strength of memory, entirely to lay aside his notes; it can answer no valuable end, and the inconveniences of it are these;-the thoughts may possibly wander; in that case you are bewildered without a guide: This reflection will

are familiar to, and therefore easily apprehended by all hearers who are conversant with the New Testament; which it will also assist them to read with improving understanding and interest. Itis authoritative, for it directs the attention of the hearer from the opinion, authority and reasonings of the preacher, to the divine oracles and to our heavenly master, Christ. Be it added, that it is truly evangelical to bring under constant review and consideration the divine mission of Jesus, and the benefits it hath entailed on the human race; and to represent all, as flowing from the pure benevolence, and redounding to the glory of the One God and FATHER of all. On these topics the UNITARIAN scheme not only allows, but invites the preacher to dwell, as forming its leading and fundamental principles; namely, GoD the FATHER, the first cause, and Jesus, the Christ, the great medium, instrument and agent of all the truths, mercy and hopes of the gospel. T.

create

create a confusion and perplexity in the mind, which the hearers will observe with pain; and you will scarcely ever be able to recover the right tract in that hurry of spirits without many a trip and much trouble: This will throw a tremor, at least a diffidence on the mind, which will make it difficult to resume your wonted courage. Besides, when so much attention is bestowed on the memory, you will be apt to pay too little to the judgment and affections. You will not have leisure to observe how much your own heart is affected, or how you may best affect that of your hearers; who are never more pleased, than when they see their preacher composed, free, and deeply impressed with his own subject; and never more. disgusted, than when they observe him confused, bewildered, or unattentive to what he himself delivers. Besides, the inaccuracy of diction, the inelegance, poverty and lowness of expression, which is commonly observed in extemporaneous discourses, will not fail to offend every hearer of good taste.

.2. Go to the bottom of your subject; and think of every thing that ought to be said upon it; and consider what points, or parts of it, your hearers would be glad to have cleared up, or most enlarged upon. To skim off only the surface, is to put off your audience with froth. The weightiest sentiments often lie at bottom; be at the pains then of diving deep to bring them up from thence. On the other hard,

3. Take

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »