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CONTENTS.
LETTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
PAGE
Clergymen ought to write their own sermons. Fallacy of the opinion" that this
is needless, because there are so many good ones published." Sermons should
be adapted specially to the congregation to which they are preached: they
should be the genuine language of the preacher's heart. Need of instruction
for young preachers: These Letters written in the hope of affording some
help
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PART I.
ON THE MATTER OF A SERMON.
LETTER II.
THE END OR OBJECT OF PREACHING.
Object of preaching, to win souls to Christ. Difficulties in accomplishing this
object. Encouragements
LETTER III.
THE PRINCIPAL TOPICS OF THE PREACHER.
He should keep to the Christian scheme as contained in the Bible, and taught by
the Church, but carefully avoid confining it within an arbitrary system of pri-
vate interpretation.
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LETTER IV.
HOW TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HEARERS.
Great importance of this part of the subject. The preacher should establish a
character for aperǹ, εvvoia, opóvnois, (Arist. Rhet. lib. ii. cap. i.) A few
observations on general good character. The spiritual character of a sermon
depends very much on the frame of mind in which it was written
LETTER V.
HOW TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HEARERS-FIRST, BY
SHOWING GOODNESS OF CHARACTER.
The first point is to establish a character for dperǹ-by scrupulous fairness in
argument-by a proper mixture of respect and authority-by the expression
of wise and Christian sentiments-by frequent reference to God
LETTER VI.
HOW TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HEARERS-SECONDLY, BY
SHOWING A FRIENDLY DISPOSITION TOWARDS THEM.
The second point is to establish a character for Evvota-by preaching the Gospel
as it is, a message of peace-by the preacher availing himself of any commu-
nity of feeling between himself and his hearers-by the use of the argument
"præcipere laudando," where he may honestly do so. In reproof avoid both
extremes of harshness and false delicacy. St. Paul's example recommended.
Reproof not often necessary-other modes of speaking strongly
LETTER VII.
HOW TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HEARERS-THIRDLY,
BY SHOWING ABILITY TO INSTRUCT THEM.
The third point is to establish a character for ppóvnots-first, and principally, by
showing a thorough knowledge of the Bible. Other knowledge should not be
brought forward ostentatiously: the preacher should have an intimate acquaint-
ance with the human heart. He should increase his stock of knowledge by
constant reading and meditation. How to deal with an opponent's character
LETTER VIII.
ON ARGUMENTS-THOSE DERIVABLE FROM SCRIPTURE.
These are the preacher's principal strength, and constant resource. Some
remarks on the use of arguments from Scripture. Scripture examples. Dis-
cretion necessary in the appeal to Scripture. Authority of the Church. Per-
sonal authority of the Minister
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LETTER IX.
ON ARGUMENTS.
Appeal to reason-to reminiscence. Experience. Induction.
dence "
LETTER X.
ON ILLUSTRATION.
"Galaxy of evi-
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Analogy, how far argument, how far illustration. Parables. Improper use of
analogy. Examples real or fictitious. Authority. Quotation
LETTER XI.
HOW TO MOVE THE PASSIONS OR FEELINGS-FIRST, BY INDIRECT
MEANS.
Copiousness of description. Appeal to imagination, the use of material images.
Instances from different authors. Description of character. Allusion to per-
sonal circumstances
LETTER XII.
HOW TO MOVE THE PASSIONS OR FEELINGS-SECONDLY, BY
DIRECT MEANS.
Forcible arguments-exhortation-expostulation, &c. Suggestion respecting the
use of exhortation. Recapitulation.
PART II.
ON STYLE.
LETTER XIII.
ON STYLE-GENERAL REMARKS.
A good essay-writer not necessarily a good sermon-writer. Great fault in style,
if it takes off the attention from the subject. Sermon-writing has a style of
its own
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84
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LETTER XIV.
PERSPICUITY, FORCE, AND ELEGANCE.
Reference should be had to the character of the hearers. Excellence of style in a
sermon is, that it be clear, forcible, and not inelegant. Clearness does not
imply familiarity, nor a marked condescension. Under some circumstances
an ornamented style may be adopted. Some observations on the style of St.
Paul
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LETTER XV.
AS DEPENDENT ON THE CHOICE OF WORDS.
The general rule is, to choose precise and proper words. Exceptions to the rule
are-for the sake of vivacity—to avoid giving offence-for the sake of variety
--for the sake of peíwois and avžnois. Metaphors. Remarks on personifica-
tion, &c. Scriptural allusion. Simile. Epithets, &c.
LETTER XVI.
ON STYLE-AS DEPENDENT ON THE CHOICE OF WORDS.
Saxon words are generally preferable. Remarks on Scriptural language. What
sorts of words should be avoided
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133
LETTER XVII.
ON STYLE-AS DEPENDENT ON THE NUMBER OF WORDS.
Two extremes to be avoided, viz, too great conciseness and prolixity. Concise-
ness in sermons not an excellence, and why. Prolixity, how to be remedied.
On amplification.
138
LETTER XVIII.
ON STYLE-AS DEPENDENT ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS.
The first essential point in a sentence is unity. On parenthesis. On the trans-
positive and natural order of arrangement. Interrogation. Apostrophe. Ex-
clamation. Reiteration. Climax. Antithesis. Arrangement of clauses
LETTER XIX.
THE CONNECTIVES.
Difference of opinion with regard to the importance of connectives. The author's
suggestions respecting their use in sermons. Asyndeton and Polysyndeton
. 144
152
PART III.
ON THE METHOD OF COMPOSING.
LETTER XX.
ON THE CHOICE OF A SUBJECT.
The preacher should consider his congregation, not himself; and choose with
reference to times and circumstances-improve extraordinary occasions, &c.
On the choice of a text
LETTER XXI.
ON COLLECTING MATERIALS.
Some may be derived from a close examination of the text. A series of questions,
which will serve to elicit materials
LETTER XXII.
WHAT MATERIALS AND TOPICS SHOULD GENERALLY BE THROWN
ASIDE.
Generally all that is extraneous, self-evident, disputable, novel, subtle, controver
sial, political, ludicrous, vulgar, ironical, uninteresting. There are many ex-
ceptions to the foregoing rules. Let there be nothing in excess
LETTER XXIII.
The young sermon-writer should draw up his own scheme. Composition of a
sermon illustrated by the practice of the painter. Unity of design-character
-keeping. When the scheme is well considered and arranged, the sermon
should be written with little interruption, and corrected afterwards. How to
correct without taking from the spirit. Suggestion respecting old sermons
LETTER XXIV.
ON THE EXORDIUM.
It should be interesting-carefully written-pitched in the same key with the rest
of the sermon-generally rather cool and grave than otherwise-conciliatory-
respectful-brief-varied. Some instances are given of different modes of
exordium. Recommendation of Claude. Division, when necessary and when
not
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