Ï -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ — -------------------------------------- - FOR THE S E RMO N , B I B L E R EAD I NG , GOS PEL ADDRE S S a
H o m i l e t i c a l H e l p s
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Ft 1 / w T T. T. T A
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ILLUSTRATIONS AND THEIR USE
I. THEIR IMPORTANCE importance o f the right «se o f illus- ' “ 'N E need scarcely speak o f the great trations in sermon or Bible address. It is conceded on every side. Thé greatest preachers have been masters in the art of illustration.' That the pictorial.satisfies an inherent desire on the part o f an audience cannot be reasonably questioned; Children love stories, and scarcely any man grows so old as not to enjoy a story. It is said that one o f the leading Chicago papers pays its principal cartoonist $20,000 a year; and many a reader has said that ofttimes the cartoon has been o f more value than the rest o f the paper. This was probably an exaggerated comparison, but it may illus trate the value o f our subject. Perhaps our Lord set forth by His example, more than anyone else, the value o f illustrations in preaching. His dis courses abound in anecdotes, illustrations, and similes. No wonder the crowds hung for days upon the words as they fell from His lips. The pictorial and picturesque preacher will always get a hearing. The ability o f any public speaker to turn the ears- o f his audience into eyes constitutes an essential element in his success. As thé apostle puts it, we are to “make all men see.” It has been well said that “ The eye is the pioneer o f all learning.” “ Always throwing light upon'the matter—that is the only part o f speech worth hearing”—said Carlyle. • The work o f the preacher, is to make men first see things, then feel them, then act upon them. I f tffe first result is not gained,
the others, o f course, will fail; while often if the first is gained thfe other two go along with it. The use o f illustrations is a great help to the audience to enable them to carry home the truth o f the sermon. How many times we hear o f people who have forgot ten the text, and the argument o f the ser mon, but well remember the illustration used—and, o f Course, along with it the truth the illustration was intended to con vey and fix in the mind. Indeed, many an entire sermon, which otherwise would have been forgotten, has been recalled in its entirety by means o f recalling an illustra tion used in the sermon. Just as scientists are said to be able to construct an entire animal from one bone, so many a whole sermon has been recalled by the use o f one illustration. Who has not noted the effect o f an, illus tration upon an audience which was sleepy and listless? How quickly they prick up their ears as the preacher says: “ Now let me illustrate this.” How quickly every countenance is lighted up with an expectant expression! How alert is each mind! How entirely changed the complexion o f the audience! The mere statement that a man is miserable who lays up treasure for him self and is not rich toward God, might have been stated in ever so forcible lan guage without reaching the conscience o f the hearers. But when our Lord proceeded to say: “The ground o f a rich man brought forth plentifully,” etc., and closed with the words “ Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required o f thee. So is every one that is not rich toward God,” no conscience
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