1.00.03 - Preface

PREFACE

I am grateful to President E. Claude Gardner of Freed-Hardeman University for allowing us to support a new publication of Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons, Volumes I and III. Hundreds of faithful preachers trained under the author of these books; thousands have been influenced by the sound logic and crystal clarity of their exposition.

These two volumes are my favorites, along with "The Spirit of Christ" and "I Am Debtor" from Volumes IV and V, respectively, which at my request have been added to Volume III. The reflections of my grandfather on Romans 1:14 in "I Am Debtor" exemplify his philosophy Each of us is indebted to others for most of the privileges, strengths and knowledge that we possess; our obligation is to make our own contribution to mankind, in whatever degree we may, to continue the growth and development of human knowledge and character. Thus the ultimate question for the discharge of each person’s obligation is this: Is the world better for my having lived? The Tabernacle Meeting sermons are the product of all oratorical era now largely past. They were not written in advance, but their basic ideas were clothed in eloquent words inspired by the huge audiences and their rapt attention. The transcriptions are faithful to the sermons as delivered. Such elegant oral composition was possible only because of the orator’s complete mastery of the subject matter, and of the English language, its vocabulary, its construction and its usages. Our hope in supporting this revival is that young students and preachers may learn, by these examples, principles of logical argument and rhetoric that will help them achieve a more effective power to persuade. My grandfather encouraged his students, if they wished, to quote from his sermons without attribution. Many have done so over the years; others who wish to do so should feel free to use that same privilege.

These sermons were a powerful force in the growth of the church in Tennessee and elsewhere in the second and third quarters of the century. We offer them as living works that can enrich the knowledge and encourage the commitment of the brotherhood in these times.

Joe H. Foy

PREFACE

Inasmuch as there have been many excellent volumes of evangelistic literature published by the brethren, I feel that some explanation as to why this one is being brought out is necessary.

I have always felt reluctant about "rushing into print." I have not been accustomed to writing for the religious papers for at least two reasons first, I have known that there were many others much better prepared to do so than I; and, second, I have been so bud engaged for years that I have not been able to find the time. Friends have suggested and requested at other times that some of my speeches and sermons be reported and published; but I could not see that it was best to do so, and, therefore, did not give my consent. After I had accepted the invitation to do the preaching in the great Nashville meeting, some of those most directly concerned wrote to know if I would grant them permission to have the sermons published and the proceeds from their sale used to help defray the expenses of the meeting. Under such conditions I felt that I could not refuse my consent, and so that accounts for the present volume.

Owing to the fact that my duties in connection with Freed-Hardeman College for a number of years have required so much of my time and labor, I have not been able to give that thought and painstaking care to the preparation and delivery of sermons that the great importance of such work demands. For that reason they do not have that perfection of form and accuracy of speech that otherwise they might. Not only so, but there are few men whose speech, however attractive it may be, will read as well when reduced to cold type as it sounds when delivered orally. I realize that I am not one of that few. With reference to the sermons contained in this book, a paragraph from the Preface of a similar volume by E. V. Zollars so fully expresses my own sentiments that I am taking the liberty to quote it: "I know that I am indebted very deeply to what I have read and what I have heard; yet how to give the credit due, I know not, further than to say I claim no merit for originality. If the thoughts are familiar, for the most part, to many of the readers of this little volume, it is because they have enjoyed privileges similar to my own. Even if the phraseology in many cases is strikingly familiar, do not blame me; for how can I hell it, since I have become thoroughly saturated with the teach ing, both verbal and written? Certainly if I say many things in much the same way that others have said them, it will not be wondered at under the circumstances."

Allow me to say further in the language of the same author: "I fear that some are drifting away from the old landmarks that so clearly characterized the restoration movement in its earlier days. Some of the old themes that used to be handled with telling effect by the pioneers are now seldom preached from some pulpits. It is, however, a noticeable fact that when `first principles’ are shunned, evangelistic results are correspondingly meager. The men who are eminently successful in bringing souls to Christ are the men who preach a full gospel. Its facts, commands, and promises are all declared. Show me the man who eliminates ’first principles’ from his preaching, and I will show you one who has eliminated the baptistery from his church, so far as it is of any practical service—nay, I will show you a man who is in doubt as to whether the disciples have any distinctive message for the world. Let us never forget that the union of the people of God, by a return to New Testament Christianity, will be a peculiar and distinctive message, so long as Christians are divided into hostile or semi-hostile sects through departures from the Christianity of the apostolic day."

Many who heard these sermons delivered and who desired to read them in print requested that they be left as nearly as possible in the form in which they were spoken. Hence, in preparing the manuscripts for the printer, as few changes as possible have been made.

Acknowledgments are due Prof. L. L. Brigance, with whom I have labored for a number of years, for valuable assistance in the preparation of the outlines from which many of these sermons were preached, and also for much labor and care in getting the manuscripts ready to be printed.

If the reading of these sermons shall cause some soul to see the beauty and simplicity of the gospel of Christ and lead it through obedience into the glorious promises thereof, the author shall feel repaid for all his efforts. THE AUTHOR.

Henderson, Tenn., June, 1922.