1. The true Idea of Preaching. — Preaching is an orig- inal and peculiar institution of Christianity. It was not derived from any pre-existing system. It had no proper counterpart even in Judaism, although a limitetl teaching office was committed to both the priests and prophets of the Jewish dispensation. See Prophet. Old-Testament examples of persons called preachers, like Noah, Solomon, and Ezra, fall far below the idea of preaching as appointed by Christ. See Apostle. Only iu the Messianic prophecies was the office of Christian
evangelism clearly foreshadowed (see Isa. Lxi, 1,2). See Gospel. In the fulness of time, the Lord Jesus Christ, recognising his predicted mission, authoritatively es- tablished and appointed the office and work of preach- ing as a principal means of evangelizing the world. See PuEACHiNG. In preparation for this office he instruct- ed his disciples both by precept and example, giving them before his ascension a world-wide commission to "go and teach all nations," and "preach the (iosi)el to every creature." In this appointment the Saviour avail- ed himself of no pre-existing rhetorical system, but rather a universal capacity of the human race now for the first time specially devoted to the ilivine use, and consecrated to the propagandism of revealed truth. See Jesus Christ. Yet he left his followers free to adopt, as auxiliary to their, great work, Avhatever good thing might be derived from human study, whether of logic, rhetoric, or any other science. Thus, as Christianity multiplied its achievements and extended its influence along the ages, facilities for compreliending tlie pliiloso- phy and the art of preaching would of necessity increase. The peculiarity of the preaching office is seen in the specialty of its address for moral ends, not merely to the judgment, but to the consciences of men; also in the grantleiu- of its aims, which are nothing less than the salvation of the human soul from sin in tlic present life, and its complete preparation for the life cverListing. As the objects of preaching are peculiar, so are the nec- essary prerequisites. Of these a true Christian experi- ence and a special divine call may be affirmed to be es- sential. The mere form or ceremony of preaching may be taken up and laid aside as easily as other forms, but true preaching, the preaching that Christ instituted and designed to be maintained in the Church, demands the constant power of an active faith, a holy sympathy, and a conscious mission from God.
2. The Subject-Matter of Preaching. — In secular ora- tory, themes are perpetually changing wuth circum- stances. In preaching, the theme is one. Neverthe- less, the one theme prescribed to the preacher is adapted to all circumstances and all times. It may be summa- rily stated to be God manifested in Christ Jesus for the redemption of men. This central truth, which is the special biu-den of revelation, embraces in its correlations all other truths, natural as well as revealed. The word of God should be considered not only the text-book, but the grand treasiu-\^ of truth for the preacher. In it he is furnished with history, poetry, experience, and phi- losophy, as well as perceptive instruction and full state- ments of the Gospel scheme ; nevertheless, he may bring to its illustration whatever truth will aid in its corrobo- ration and comprehension. Still, the preacher's great work must be to publish the doctrine of the cross, " the truth as it is in Jesus." To do this effectually, he not only needs an intellectual perception of its excellence, but the consciousness of its power as bestowed bj- the bap- tism " of the Holy Ghost and of fire." Thus the perse- cuted disciples "went everj-whcre preaching the word" (Acts viii, 4), and Paul, as a representative apostle, em- phatically declared, " We preach Christ crucitied ;" " We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord;" " Christ in you the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning ev- ery man and teaching even*- man in all wisdom, that we mav present everv man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Col. i,
28):
3. Agencies of Homiletical Preparation.— In addition to the essential preliminaries of character and experi- ence heretofore alluded to, the preacher must fjriug to bear on his theme such mental exercises as will enable him to elaborate it appropriately and to the Ijest effect. The following are indispensable ■ (1.) Interpretation, by v.'hich the true meaning of God's word is eUcitcd. (2.) Invention, by which suitable materials, both of fact and of thought,' are gathered from the universe of matter and of mind. Invention is aided by generalization, analysis, hypothesis, comparison, and dihgent exercise. (3.) Lispiosition, by whicli all material employed is ar-
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ranged in the most appropriate and effective order, whether in the mtroduction, argument, or conchision of the discourse.
4. Different Forms of Homiledcal Production. — The proclamation of Cliristian truth is not confined to any one form of address. Our Lord opened his public mis- sion by a sermon— the Sermon on the Mount. Most of his other discourses were brief and informal, and many of his most important utterances iell from his lips in parables and conversations. The reported addresses of the apostles were exhortations rather than sermons ac- cording to the modern idea. In the early patristic age explanatory and liortatory addresses prevailed, resulting in tlie homily as the leading product of that period. As preaching declined in mediaeval times, the homily dwin- dled into the postil. The Reformation brought the ser- mon again into use, and secured for it the prominence which it still maintains. In addition to re-establishing the sermon in its original prominence, modem Christian- ity has developed the platform address, in which a semi- secidar style of oratory is made auxiliary to various phases of Christian benevolence. At the present time, it is essential to both ministers and laymen, who would participate in the most prominent activities of the Churcli, such as Sunday-schools and missionarj^ efforts, that they should cultivate the talent of effective plat- form speaking. Nevertheless, the sermon is likely to remain as it was in the beginning, the first and most important of homiletical productions. Hence it should be specially studied, and thoroughly comprehended in aU its capacities and bearings, as the standard form of clerical Christian address. See Seioion.