THE KING’S BUSINESS
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out them for a good deal. Yes, dear critics, go on with, your snapshots, they do us a world of good, and prevent us from being exalted beyond measure. It may be that the criticisms levelled at the apostle’s “contemptible” appearance and speech were closely associated with his “thorn in the flesh.” Avoid excessive gesticulation. By all means, let there be some movement of the hands and face, and of the position of the body. But these should not be excessive. It is a mistake to lift the hands above the head, or far above the level of the shoulder. It is equally a mistake to swing them round like the sails of a windmill, or fling them backwards and forwards like a flail. They may hang by your side, or rest on the book- board or rail, or be extended in entreaty, or raised in warning, or one of them may be used to strengthen the point you are enforcing with a confirmatory gesture. But don’t pound at the Bible, or strike the balustrade or railing, or wring your hands in agony, or perform with them the act which you are describing. I have always found that when I have been most noisy and excited in the pulpit, I have been least impressive, and have produced the slightest result. I believe that my excitement has been due partly to nerv ous weariness, and partly to the lack of preparation. When our thoughts have not been fully digested beforehand, and our expression is therefore difficult, we are apt to attempt to compensate for* the lack of expression by the superabundance of excited physical movements. We shout, throw ourselves hither and thither, resort to all kinds of mannerisms and antics to produce that sense of power and emphasis of which we know our thoughts are deficient, and which would have been ours if we had waited quietly in the Presence of God until we had been endued with power from on high. ‘'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” I have often thought of the old rhyme,
infinite relief of variety. I have often noticed the quiet which has fallen upon my audience, when I have suddenly awoke to realize that I had been speaking too much in one key, and have suddenly fallen or risen to another. Their ears, nerves, and brains, have blessed me. D® 'not shout or bawl; it is most objec- tionáble and absolutely unnecessary. Per spiration is not inspiration. God was not in the thunder, but in the still, small voice. When Jesus taught the people, He opened His mouth and breathed to the bottom'of his lungs the good fresh air, but he would speak in the soft sweet tones, that befitted his enumeration of Beatitudes, and his call to rest. On the other hand, don’t whisper, or drop your voice, or begin so low that people must strain to hear you. These are mannerisms and affectations; which will greatly detract from the effect of your preaching. Believe me, that all friction is loss of power. Our delivery should be as devoid of tricks as possible, and resemble the perfect taste of a well-dressed woman in' whose costume 'there is nothing that especially excites attention, because all is so harmonious, suitable and becoming. Guard against eccentricity. Whatever attracts the attention of your hearers from your message to yourself is a mistake. Dofl’t run your hand, through your hair, though I believe geniuses have been known to do it. Don’t shake or nod your head, though it gives the impression of senten tiousness. Don’t play with a button of your waistcoat, or put your hand in your pockets. Don’t flash a gold ring in the light. Be ashamed of yourself, and con fess your sin, if you strike the attitude that best sets off your figure. Get your wife to imitate your peculiarities of delivery, when you get home, and you will be shocked at what you have done; or if you haven’t a wife, get some fatherly old deacon to hold a mirror up to Nature, so that you may see. yourself as others see you. Ah, how I have suffered from these loving hints, and how they havie cauterized my soul; but I would not have been wit-h-
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