00.2. Preface

Preface The teaching of Christ while on earth was often illustrative, anecdotal, and from His imagination, so as to impress His hearers more clearly and strongly. “Without a parable spake He not unto them.” The use of illustrations in religious teaching is also indorsed by the custom of prophets, apostles, and the preachers and teachers of all times.

Heney says: “Bede, Latimer, Whitefield and many other popular preachers were wont to use Anecdotes in their sermons with good success.” The same is true of Spurgeon, Beecher, Moody, Morrison, Chapman, Gipsy Smith, Beveridge, Biederwolf, Billy Sunday and the other really great men of all ages who have reached the ears and hearts of the people unto instruction and salvation.

Judge McLean once said to Dr. Cuyler: “I was glad to hear that solemn incident in your discourse last night.” Lord Bolingbroke declares: “Abstract or general propositions though never so true, appear obscure to us, very often till they are explained by examples.” The Poet says: “Truth embodied in a tale” has succeeded “where truth in closest words shall fail.”

Illustrations are the windows of speech through which truth may be made to shine. Cecil said that: “Stories fix attention.” Dr. Guthrie said he observed that his hearers remembered best the parts of his sermon that contained illustrations. George Herbert says: “Exhortations, though earnest, die with the sermon, but stories and sayings they remember.” Johnson said to Boswell: “Give us as many Anecdotes as you can.”

Hence this little Manual with its pertinent and short word Illustrations on all subjects for Sunday School Workers, Evangelists, Preachers, Teachers, Christians, as well as for general reading.