1.00. LECTURES ON PREACHING
LECTURES ON PREACHING.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
LONDON:
T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW;
EDINBURGH; AND NEW YOKK.
1872.
DELIVERED BEFORE THE Theological Department of Yale College, New Baden Conn, AS THE FIRST SERIES IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF THE "LYMAN BEECHER LECTURESHIP ON PREACHING."
LECTURES ON PREACHING.1 HENRY WARD BEECHER.1 LONDON:1 T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW;1 EDINBURGH; AND NEW YOKK.1 DELIVERED BEFORE THE1 PUBLISHERS NOTICE.8 T. NELSON AND SONS.9 LONDON*, July 1872.9 LETTER.9 THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, YALE COLLEGE,9 Feb. 23, 1872.9 REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER.9 LEONARD BACON,10 SAMUEL HARRIS,10 GEORGE E. DAY,10 GEORGE P. FISHER,10 PREFACE.10 PREFACE.10 HENRY WARD BEECHER.11 BROOKLYN, N.Y., June 1S72.11 Chapter 1: WHAT IS PREACHING?11 January 31, 1872.11 The Scope of Preaching.12 10 WHAT IS PREACHING?13 18 WHAT IS PREACHING?14 The Pauline Method.15 WHAT IS PREACHING ] 1915 The spirit, Love. The ideal, Christ. The inspiration, the living Spirit of God!15 20 WHAT IS PREACHING?15 WHAT IS PREACHING? 2317 A Bit of Experience.17 24 WHAT IS PREACHING 117 WHAT IS PREACHING 1 2518 26 WHAT IS PREACHING?18 The Power of Personal Christian Vitality.19 Sermons and Liturgies.19 The man that preaches with power is an artist.20 But does he not do good? Yes; a great deal.20 WHAT IS PREACHING 1 3121 General Advantages of Directness.21 WHAT IS PREACHING?22 WHAT IS PREACHING 1 3322 Man-Building, the Preacher’s Business.23 34 WHAT IS PREACHING?23 WHAT IS PREACHING? 3524 Questions and Answers.24 WHAT IS PREACHING 1 3926 Your mode of presenting the truth will be imperfect.27 42 WHAT IS PREACHING <28 Chapter 2: QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER28 February 1, 1872.28 ELOQUENCE has been defined, sometimes, as the art of moving men by speech.28 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER. 4529 Show-Sermons.29 46 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER.30 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER. 4730 Sympathy with Men.31 50 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHKIi.32 Personal Character of the Preacher.33 Fertility in Subjects.35 5G QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER.35 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER. 5736 Style.36 QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION.36 Qualifications of the Preacher.37 Gi QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER.40 Questions and Answers.40 Q. Is it a good way to learn to move men by learning to move children?40 66 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PREACHER.41 And I instinctively adapt myself to him.41 You have not lost a man because he doesn’t take the truth the first time.42 Chapter 3: THE PERSONAL ELEMENT IN ORATORY.42 February 7, 1872.42 Different Classes of Hearers.43 THE PERSONAL ELEMENT IX ORATORY. 7144 Said he, “ He must have hit one, two, three and, I guess, four!”44 How to Meet Differing Minds.45 An Easy Danger46 Demands of Variety upon the Preacher.47 THE PEllSOXAL ELEMENT IX ORATORY. 7747 How to use One’s own Special Forces.47 78 THE PERSONAL ELEMENT IN ORATORY.48 Self-Training an Education.50 82 THE PERSONAL ELEMENT IN ORATORY.50 PREACHING THE PREACHER’S WHOLE BUSINESS.50 External Hindrances.52 88 THE PERSONAL ELEMENT IN ORATORY.53 Self-Consciousness.53 Nearness to the Audience.54 But crowd your audience together, and you will set them off with not half the effort.54 Questions and Answers.55 Chapter 4: THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE.56 Necessities of the Future.56 Relation of Bible Truth to Christianity in the World.57 90 THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE.58 Example of the Apostles.58 98 THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE.59 Weakness of Gospel-Preaching in the Past.59 Christianity is not to be our model. We must find a better mode.59 Special Reasons for Studying Human Nature.59 100 THE STUDY OF IIUMAtf NATURE.60 THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE. 10160 The World’s Advancement in Thought.62 You might as well be afraid that battles would rend t>63 THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE. 10764 How to Study Human Nature.64 Metaphysical Studies.65 Phrenology as a Convenient Basis.66 112 THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE.66 He is like a splendid locomotive without a boiler.67 Men are like open books, if looked at properly.67 114 THE STl DY OK HUMAN NATURE.68 Social Habits.68 THE STUDY OF IITMAX X ATI* UK. 11769 Questions and Answers.69 Q. Can a minister be eminent both as a pastor and as a preacher?69 Q. Has not science demonstrated that phrenology is imperfect?70 Q. Would you recommend the study of Hebrew as a part of a theological course?70 118 THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE.70 Q. How much time ought a minister to spend in examining his text in the original?70 Q. May not a man be too self-conscious in his preaching?71 120 THE STUDY OF HUMAN NATUKE.71 Chapter 5: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING ELEMENTS.72 February 11, 1872.72 Circumstances alter cases.72 Writing and Extemporizing.73 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING-ELEMENTS. 12373 That is the best cat that catches the most rats.73 Variations of Denominational Service.73 124 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING-ELEMENTS.73 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING-ELEMENTS. 12775 The Power of Imagination.75 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING-ELEMENTS. 12976 130 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING-ELEMENTS.77 It is an historical picture, but it is not a live Christ.78 There is danger of a mistake being made here.79 Emotion.80 It will vary indefinitely in different persons.80 This course is bad also in the closet.81 Men often think that excitements are dangerous.82 Enthusiasm.82 Faith.83 Questions and Answers.84 144 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING-ELEMENTS.85 Q. Do you approve of the appointment of professional revivalists?85 Chapter 6: RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING.86 February 21, 1872.86 The Voice.86 Various Vocal Elements.87 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING. 14987 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING. 15188 Necessity of Drill.89 152 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING.89 Health of the Voice.90 Bodily Carriage Posture.90 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING. 15591 Gesture.91 SEMINARY TRAINING.91 Study of the Bible.92 Theology.93 In respect to systematic theology the same is true.93 1GO RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING.93 A Small Parish at First.94 RHETORICAL DRILL AXD GENERAL TRAINING. 1G194 An Early Experience in the West.95 162 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING.95 It was the best thing that ever happened to them.96 Having something to do in the church was a means O t596 1G4 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GKNKRAL TRAINING.96 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING. 16596 General Hints.97 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING. 16798 Questions and Answers.98 Q. How about living in those little places that don’t pay enough to live upon?98 MR. BEECHER. Live within your income.98 108 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRATNINO.98 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING. 1G999 170 RHETORICAL DRILL AND GENERAL TRAINING.99 Q. Would you have a man preach while he is in the seminary?99 Q. Are not these little mean places very unfavourable for the culture of grace, &c.?99 MR. BEECH ER. They are not mean.99 Q. I think your first settlement, Lawrenceburg, was mean.100 Q. May it not be desirable to spend a year in an Eastern parish before going West?101 Chapter 7: RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.101 The Nature of Illustration.102 We have the best example of the use of illustration102 174 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.102 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 175102 Reasons for Illustrations in Preaching.102 They Assist Argument.103 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.103 They Help Hearers to Remember.104 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 179104 They Stimulate Imagination.105 The Art of Resting Audiences.105 Illustrations provide for Various Hearers.106 182 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.106 How are you going to do that? I know of no other way than by illustration.106 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 183107 It & is always the best method to adopt with a mixed audience.107 Modes of Presenting Argument.107 Illustrations Bridge Difficult Places.108 Then there is another element for you to consider.108 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 187109 Rhetorical Illustrations.110 They Educate the People.110 Necessity of Variety.110 Homely Illustrations.111 192 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.112 Illustrations must be apt.113 How to Get Information.113 194 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.113 ILLUSTRATIONS MUST BE PROMPT.113 The Habit of Illustrating.114 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 195114 Questions and Answers.115 Q. Do you think the use of these encyclopedias of illustrations is honest?115 MR. BEECHER. Why not?115 STUDENT. Because one ought to make his illustrations himself.115 I should say.115 Q. Would you advocate special services for children at times?116 Q. About how much poetry is necessary to spice a sermon?116 Q. Is it a proper thing to make an audience laugh by an illustration?116 When you are fighting the devil, shoot him with anything.117 200 RHETORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.117 Mi?. BEKCIIER. No; unless he accompanies it very poorly.117 Q. How long would you advise a young man to preach?117 Chapter 8: HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING.118 What is Health?119 Health and Thought.120 Health in Speaking.121 A man that breaks his backbone every time he explodes a vowel, how can he do it?121 Popular Orators.121 208 HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING.121 Thrust-Power.122 HEALTH. AS RELATED TO PREACHING. 209122 Health as a Cheering Influence.122 But, once more, it is impossible for a man who 1?122 He will make prayers that are almost all piteous.123 If there is anything in this world that is the pro123 210 HEALTH, AS RELATED TO P-REAC HlN + G.123 Healthful Views of Christianity.123 Health as a Sweetener of Work.124 HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING. 213124 214 HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING.125 Practical Hints.125 Muscular Strength not Enough.126 HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING. 215126 The Art of Eating.126 Quantity of Sleep.127 HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING. 219128 It is bad to do it.128 Badly Regulated Work.128 I like all fine horses, but I like the dray-horses, too.129 There is such a sense of might and power with them.129 Sleep after Work.130 Questions and Answers.131 HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING. 225131 Q. Should one do much in the way of preparing a sermon on Monday?132 22G HEALTH, AS RELATED TO PREACHING.132 Of course, I increased my general stock of knowledge.132 Chapter 9: SERMON-MAKING.133 The Discourses of Jesus.133 Mode of the Apostles.134 Characteristics of Modern Preaching.134 SERMON-MAKING. 231134 Laboriousness of the Ministry.135 232 SERMON-MAKING.135 SERMON-MAKING. 233136 Preparation of the Sermon.136 Advantages and Dangers of Written Sermons.136 Sermon-Making.136 A written sermon will be more likely to be orderly.136 Advantages of Unwritten Discourse.137 Sermon-Making.137 An unwritten sermon reaches out the warm and glowing palm, bared to the touch.138 Points to be Guarded in Extempore Preaching.138 238 SKRMOX -MAKIXG.139 Ideal Sermonizing.139 240 SERMON-MAKING.140 General Variety of Sermon Plans.140 SERMOX-MAKIXO. 241140 242 SERMON-MAKING.141 As it is, sermons are too often cast in one mould.141 SERMON-MAKING. 243141 If it were possible, never have two plans alike.142 The Natural Method.142 Suggestive Preaching.143 Expository Preaching.143 I regard the Bible as the noblest book of nature that SERMON-MAKING. 247144 Great Sermons.145 250 SERMON-MAKING.145 Style.146 General Hints Professional Manners.147 25G SERMON-MAKING.149 Professional Association.149 Length of Sermons.149 Trust your Audiences.150 258 SERMON-MAKING.150 Summary.150 Questions and Answers.151 ME. BEECHER. No general rule can be given.151 About one third written to two thirds unwritten.151 But be sure that you know how to preach.151 Q. What do you think of the benefit of using books of sermon plans?151 X.151 Chapter 10: LOVE, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.151 It inspired evidently and vividly every part of his life.152 What is Love?152 Love, the Central Power of the Ministry.153 Love, Not mere Good-Nature.154 260 LOVE, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE MINISTRY.154 Love of the Work.156 The Healthfulness of Benevolence.156 Love, a Power-Giving Element.157 I feel provoked when I see how young Christians^158 LOVE, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE MINISTRY. 273158 Simple as he is, poor as he is, thin as he is, unsatis159 274 LOVE, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE MINISTRY.159 THE SUSTAIN IXU 1 oWEll OF LOVE.160 I would better surfer in his place than let him suffer.161 LOVE, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE MINISTRY. 277161 LOVE, THE KEY-XOTE OF PULPIT-WORK.161 278 LOVE, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE MINISTRY.161 If you preach justice alone, you will murder the/161 Love Makes a Free Preacher.162 Some ministers seem to feel that men are total!}*162 282 LOVE, THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE MINISTRY.164 Questions and Answers.164 Q. Would you have us preach on the subject of the heart belli”164 Q. Would you preach “ He that believeth not shall be damned “?164 MR. BEECHER. Would I?164 STUDENT. Yes. sir.164 Practise loving men, if you want to have the power of love.165 MR. BEECHEH. No; you might as well take an icicle to warm an invalid’s bed with.165 Q. Was not Jonathan Edwards, when preaching the justice of God, moved by love?165 Punishments follow the violations of natural law.166 But Nature is blind. It makes no discriminations.166 It takes no account of motives. It has no palliations and no pity.166 LECTURES ON PREACHING.166 HENRY WARD BEECHER.166 FOURTH THOUSAND.167 FAMILIAR TALKS ON THEMES OF GENERAL CHRISTIAN167 EXPERIENCE. By HI-XKY WARD BEECHHR. One Volume. Post Svo.167 Price 35. 6d.167 P. NELSON AND SONS, LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK.167 PUBLISHERS NOTICE.
ABOUT thirty-five years ago Mr. Beecher grouped his “Six Lectures to Young Men,” and allowed them to be published for the benefit of a young friend who was about beginning business; and although more than fifty thousand copies of that book have been printed, until recently it brought no income to its author.
Since that time, in one way and another, various books from Mr. Beecher’s pen have been issued by different publishers, and, while welcomed by the reading public, have been treated by their author with more or less indifference. The “Lectures to Young Men,” two series of “ Star Papers,” “ Fruit, Flowers, and Farming,” “ Eyes and Ears,” “ Royal Truths,” “ Norwood,”
“Lecture-Room Talks,” and other works, are widely known, but have hitherto been printed in different cities, in varying styles, by separate houses. The American house having in hand the publication of the regular authorized weekly reports of Mr. Beecher’s Sermons (issued thus far in six uniform octavo volumes), and of his most elaborate and important literary work, the “ Life of Jesus the Christ,” have thought it due to him that his works should be gathered together by them, and as many as could conveniently be put forth in the size and style of the present book should be issued in a “ Uniform Author’s Copyright Edition.” This edition will be issued in Great Britain by the undersigned. In pursuance of this design, the “ Lectures on Preaching” are herewith presented to the public, to be followed at brief inter vals by others of Mr. Beecher’s works.
T. NELSON AND SONS.
LONDON*, July 1872.
LETTER.
THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, YALE COLLEGE,
Feb. 23, 1872.
REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER.
DEAR Sir, Allow us to express our high estimation of the Lectures on Preaching given by you in the Marquand Chapel to the students of this department. We value them for the views which they give of eloquence in general, and of that elo quence in particular which seeks to save men by the exposition and application of the gospel. We value them for their stimu lating and inspiring effect on the hearers, and for the high ideal which they hold up before ministers and students for the ministry. We cannot but hope that in some form of publica tion they will have a wider usefulness, not only among students preparing for the ministry, but among preachers of the gospel in all the churches. It is with great satisfaction that we look forward to the enjoyment of other courses from you in successive years. The Lyman Beecher Lectureship, which was founded by your parishioner, Mr. Sage, and of which you are so fitly the in cumbent, promises to exceed in usefulness our highest expecta tions. Yours truly,
LEONARD BACON, (Lecturer on Church Polity, d-c.)
SAMUEL HARRIS, (Prof, of Systematic Theology.)
GEORGE E. DAY, (Prof, of Hebrew and Biblical Theology.} JAMES M. HOPPIN, (Prof, of Homiletics and the Pastoral Charge.) GEORGE P. FISHER, (Prof, of Ecclesiastical History.}
TIMOTHY DWIGHT, (Prof, of Sacred Literature.)
PREFACE. IN 1871, Mr. Henry W. Sage, of Brooklyn, New York, contributed the funds necessary to found a Lectureship on Preaching in the Divinity School at Yale College, New Haven, Conn. In honour of my father, it was styled the LYMAN BEECHER LECTURESHIP ON PREACHING. As this title implies, it was the design of the donor and of the Theological Faculty to secure a more perfect preparation of young men for preaching, as the highest act of the Christian ministry, by providing for them, in addition to their general and professional studies, a course of practical instruction in the art of preaching, to be given by those actively engaged in the practice of it. At the request of both the Founder and the Theological Faculty, I consented to serve as Lecturer in this course for three consecutive years.
Since each class, however, passes through a three years course, it was deemed desirable that the lectures should not be condensed into a single course of twelve, to be repeated in substance each year, but that they should be so enlarged and divided as to give to each year its separate and distinct topics.
I have therefore considered in this, the first year, chiefly the personal elements which bear an import ant relation to preaching.
PREFACE. The second year will deal with the auxiliary forces and external implements by which the preacher pre pares the way for the sermon, or gathers up its fruit, the conduct of public service, of prayer-meetings, and of social gatherings of every kind; the function of music in public worship; the methods of dealing with new fields of labour; the direction of church work in old communities in short, a consideration of social and religious machinery as connected with preaching.
I purpose to discuss during the third year the method of using Christian doctrines, in their relations to individual dispositions and to the wants of communities.
It will therefore be seen that this volume contains only one division of the whole course of lectures. The discourses here given were wholly unwritten, and were familiar conversational addresses, rather than elaborate speeches. I have not been able to revise the reporter’s notes, or to correct the proofs of the printer. If any are offended by literary in felicities, it may placate them to know that I am more annoyed than they can be. The phonographic report of the lecture on “ Sermon-Making,” when prepared for the press, unaccountably disappeared, and was never regained. I was obliged to dictate a new lecture in the best way I could. Those who heard the course may by this circumstance explain the difference between what they read and what they remember to have heard.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
BROOKLYN, N.Y., June 1S72.