FOR T H E S E R M O N , B I B L E R E A D I N G , GO SPEL A DD RE S S
Homiletical Helps
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THE PREACHER’S DELIVERY
The Matter of Feeling, or Emotion, in the Sermon* ’T ' HIS is fervency—emotional outplay. Call it what you will. But it is. a thing to be laboured for and prayed for. It is a prodigious source of power in delivery. And no man can be a great preacher with out having this element in greater or less degree “coming and going between himself and his hearers.” Passion is eloquence. “Till thought becomes a passion, it hardly ever becomes a power.” The same truth spoken by different men, or by the same man at different time's, will often produce / very different effects: and the difference, to a large, degree, is traceable to the amount of feeling experienced and manifested in its delivery. Surely to feel the power of the thought is indispensable to the most effective delivery of it. Cicero says, “I never yet, I assure, you, tried to excite sorrow or compassion when speaking- before a court of judicature, but I myself was affected with the very same emotion that I wished to excite in the judges.” The want of this accounts for the failure of some men of even unusual talents. Their words have no power, for they themselves have no feeling of their power in the time of delivery. The emotion does not flash in the eye, nor tremble on the lips, nor betray itself in the tones of the voice. Humboldt described Schleiermapher’s preaching as “the personal, penetrating, kindling effusion of a feeling." ’ And this was the preaching that “shook Germany from its spiritual lethargy.” Let us mark
and weigh these words of a great student and a great statesman, and seek to have all our preaching pervaded with this ■“per sonal, penetrating kindling effusion.” Two or three questions here suggest themselves that should have heed. First. Is it ever justifiable to assume feeling? It is better to have it. But the use of the language of feeling may some times be the very means of getting it and increasing it. Certainly it is our duty to pray, even when we do not feel like pray ing. And the effort to pray may rouse the spirit of prayer. And certainly it is our duty to give, even though we have no pleasure in giving. But the giving on prin ciple and from sense of duty will issue in the joy of giving. So, it would seem, a preacher might sometimes assume the language of feeling to awaken feeling. We are creatures of association. And associa tion has a deal to do with all our mental and spiritual moods. But let the preacher beware of the habit ° f feigning emotion. Sooner or later it will certainly be detected, and the diseov- ered sham will end all possibility of effect ive appeal. It may be urged in reply to this that actors on the stage simulate feeling, and show the absurdity of this rule. But the objection does not hold—and for two reasons. First, the actor is known as act ing a part —that’s his business. Hence this feature of the case does not affect his moral character. Secondly, the true actors, who stir men s souls and fire their passions, or
*From “Thè Ideal M inistry” by Dr. H errick Johnson.
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