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of the many ; an exemption from fastidiousness of composition and address ; an exemption from such a primness of diction as admits of no anecdote , however chaste and apposite ; an exemption from the too serious apprehension of little faults in seeking to secure great impressions . How often do we hear on
this point of the dignity of the pulpit , as though there was any dignity in a case like this , separate from utility ! Let a preacher be as correct as possible , but let him think of founding his consequence upon something above minuteness and finesse . Let him never imagine that his
influence or dignity will ever be impaired by his feeling and displaying a noble elevation , an indifference to every thing else , while the love of Christ bears him away , and he is lost in endeavouring to save a soul from death , and to hide a multitude of sins . There is nothing a preacher should be satisfied with less than a tame
correctness , or his producing something that will bear criticism , but which is as devoid of excellency as it is free of defect . He that winneth souls is wise . What is every other praise of an instrument if it does not answer its end ? What is every other commendation of a preacher if he
be useless , unimpressive , uninteresting ? What is it that nothing offends if nothing strikes ? What is the harangue that dies in the hearing , and leaves nothing for the hearers to carry aivay , to think of in solitude , to speak of 111 company ? What but a fault is the smoothness of adJress
that prevents every excitement that would rend by terror , or melt by tenderness ? We plead not for coarseness nor faults . A speaker may be animated , yet decorous , but , in popular addresses , if either fails , it is belter to sacrifice the latter than the former . Let the squeamishly hypercritical remember , that he is labouring to little purpose , while consuming his time in subtle accuracies and polished dulness . And let the man who
is in earnest about his work , never allow a fear of a trifling mistake to repress , as says Gray , his noble rage , and chill the geuial current of his soul . Let him feel his subject , and follow his ardour—great excellencies will redeem small failuresand think not of the perverse-minded , who are looking out tor faults . A preacher need not grovel down to the level of the vulgar , he should always be somewhat above them—yet so as to raise their tone to his . Let him never soar
out of their reach . The presence of others may tempt him to such flights ; but the educated and refined , if men Whose favour is worth thinking of , will
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commend his accommodation to the needs of the people . Our Saviour spoke so that the common people heard hint gladly . And now they hear gladly the gospel whenever it is properly presented and illustrated to them . They understand and relish the Pilgrim's Progress , the history of Joseph , the lost sheep , and the prodigal sou . Duty should be taught them as history teaches philosophy , by examples . But nothing is to be done in them without excitement . Yet how often
are they addressed without emotion ! Their very understandings must be approached through their imagination and passions , and they are lectured as if they had none . They are never to be starved into a surrender ; and they are circuinvallated and trenched at a distance . They are only to be taken by an assault ; and they are slowly and formally besieged .
They want seasonable and familiar imagery , and to shew the preacher ' s learning , they are furnished with allusions taken from the arts aud sciences , or to shew his taste , served up with a disquisition stript of every figure , aud bald as it is wearisome . They want striking sentences—the words of the wise , as goads and as nails , and they have long and tame paragraphs . They only want truths to be brought home to their consciences—they admit them
already ; and they are argued and reasoned into confusion and doubt . They want precedents , and are supplied with precepts . They want instances , and are deadened by discussions . They want facts , and are burdened with reflections . Look at the Bible . What is it but a series of characters , incidents , and allusions ? Not one chapter on moral philosophy throughout the whole . Is this the work of God ? Does he know what
best suits man ? Let preachers then imitate the Bible . But instead of that , they reason , discuss , argue , prove , in nicely-balauced , well- polished sentences . Hence they awaken so little attention , take no firm hold on the mind and feelings , especially of the young and the common people ; ' Aud drowsy tinklingsl ull the distant fold /
" General declamations and reflections do little in a popular audience . The preacher niimt enter into detail , aud do much by circumstances . Nothing cau penetrate but what is pointed : every indictment must particularize and specify . The eye may take in a large pmspect , but we are affected only by a minute inspection . Preachers are not to stand long with their people on the brow of
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Critical Notice * . — Theological . 117
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1831, page 117, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2594/page/45/
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