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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hints on Extemporaneous Preaching + +Author: Henry Ware + +Release Date: August 13, 2008 [EBook #26308] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HINTS ON EXTEMPORANEOUS PREACHING *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + <div id="the_beginning"> </div> + <div id="title_page"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pagei" title="i"> </a> + <h1>HINTS<br /> + <span class="smaller">ON<br /> + EXTEMPORANEOUS PREACHING.</span></h1> + <p id="byline">By HENRY WARE, Jr.<br /> + <span id="works">MINISTER OF THE SECOND CHURCH IN BOSTON.</span></p> + <div class="epigram"> + <p>Maximus vero studiorum fructus est, et velut præmium quoddam + amplissimum longi laboris, ex tempore dicendi facultas.</p> + <p class="source"><cite>Quinct.</cite> x. 7.</p> + </div> + <p id="pub_info"><span id="pub_cities">BOSTON:</span><br /> + <span id="publisher">PUBLISHED BY CUMMINGS, HILLIARD & CO.</span><br /> + <span id="pub_date">1824.</span></p> + </div> + <div id="copyright_page"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pageii" title="ii"> </a> + <p>University Press—Hilliard & Metcalf.</p> + </div> + <div id="dedication_page"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pageiii" title="iii"> </a> + <p>TO<br /> + <span class="largest">THE STUDENTS</span><br /> + IN THE<br /> + THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY,<br /> + <span class="larger">THIS LITTLE TREATISE,</span><br /> + WITH THE<br /> + SINCEREST PRAYERS THAT THEY MAY BECOME<br /> + PROFOUND DIVINES AND POWERFUL PREACHERS,<br /> + IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED<br /> + BY<br /> + <span class="large">THE AUTHOR.</span></p> + </div> + <div id="contents" class="section"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pagev" title="v"> </a> + <h2 class="section_title">CONTENTS.</h2> + <ol> + <li><p class="chapter_number"><a href="#chapter_i">CHAPTER I.</a></p> + <p>Advantages of Extemporaneous Preaching <a href="#page1" class="toc_page">1</a></p> + </li> + <li><p class="chapter_number"><a href="#chapter_ii">CHAPTER II.</a></p> + <p>Disadvantages—Objections considered <a href="#page37" class="toc_page">37</a></p> + </li> + <li><p class="chapter_number"><a href="#chapter_iii">CHAPTER III.</a></p> + <p>Rules <a href="#page63" class="toc_page">63</a></p> + </li> + </ol> + </div> + <!-- <a class="pagenum" id="pagevi" title="vi"> </a>[Blank Page] --> + <div id="preface" class="section"> + <h2 class="section_title"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pagevii" title="vii"> </a>PREFACE.</h2> + + <p><span class="first_word">It</span> is the object of this little work, to draw the + attention of those who are preparing for the christian + ministry, or who have just entered it, to a mode + of preaching which the writer thinks has been too + much discountenanced and despised; but which, under + proper restrictions, he is persuaded may add + greatly to the opportunities of ministerial usefulness. + The subject has hardly received the attention it deserves + from writers on the pastoral office, who have + usually devoted to it but a few sentences, which offer + little encouragement and afford no aid. Burnet, in + his Treatise on the Pastoral Care, and Fenelon in his + Dialogues on Eloquence, have treated it more at large, + but still very cursorily. To their arguments and their + authority, which are of great weight, I refer the more + distinctly here, because I have not quoted them so + much at large as I intended when I wrote the beginning + of the second chapter. Besides these, the + remarks of Quinctilian, x. 7. on the subject of + speaking extempore, which are full of his usual good + sense, may be very profitably consulted.</p> + + <p>It has been my object to state fully and fairly the + benefits which attend this mode of address in the + <a class="pagenum" id="pageviii" title="viii"> </a>pulpit, and at the same time to guard against the + dangers and abuses to which it is confessedly liable. + How far I may have succeeded, it is not for me to + determine. It would be something to persuade but + one to add this to his other talents for doing good in + the church. Even the attempt to do it, though unsuccessful, + would not be without its reward; since + it could not be fairly made without a most salutary + moral and intellectual discipline.</p> + + <p>It is not to be expected—nor do I mean by any + thing I have said to intimate—that every man is capable + of becoming an accomplished preacher in this + mode, or that every one may succeed as well in this + as in the ordinary mode. There is a variety in the + talents of men, and to some this may be peculiarly + unsuited. Yet this is no good reason why <em>any</em> should + decline the attempt, since it is only by making the + attempt that they can determine whether or not + success is within their power.</p> + + <p>There is at least one consequence likely to result + from the study of this art and the attempt to practise + it, which would alone be a sufficient reason for urging + it earnestly. I mean, its probable effect in breaking + up the constrained, cold, formal, scholastic mode of + address, which follows the student from his college + duties, and keeps him from immediate contact + with the hearts of his fellow men. This would be + effected by his learning to speak from his feelings, + rather than from the critical rules of a book. His + address would be more natural, and consequently + better adapted to effective preaching.</p> + </div> + <p class="internal_title"><span class="super_emphasis">HINTS</span><br /> + ON EXTEMPORANEOUS PREACHING.</p> + <div id="chapter_i" class="chapter"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page1" title="1"> </a> + + <h2 class="chapter_title">CHAPTER I.</h2> + + <p><span class="first_word">It</span> is a little remarkable that, while some + classes of christians do not tolerate the + preaching of a written discourse, others + have an equal prejudice against all sermons + which have not been carefully precomposed. + Among the latter are to be + found those who favor an educated ministry, + and whose preachers are valued for + their cultivated minds and extensive + knowledge. The former are, for the most + part, those who disparage learning as a + qualification for a christian teacher, and + whose ministers are consequently not accustomed + to exact mental discipline, nor + familiar with the best models of thinking + and writing. It might seem at first view, + that the least cultivated would require + the greatest previous preparation in order + profitably to address their fellow-men, + and that the best informed and most accustomed + <a class="pagenum" id="page2" title="2"> </a>to study might be best trusted to + speak without the labor of written composition. + That it has been thought otherwise, is + probably owing, in a great measure, to the + solicitude for literary exactness and elegance + of style, which becomes a habit in + the taste of studious men, and renders all + inaccuracy and carelessness offensive. + He who has been accustomed to read and + admire the finest models of composition + in various languages, and to dwell on those + niceties of method and expression which + form so large a part of the charm of literary + works; acquires a critical delicacy of + taste, which renders him fastidiously sensitive + to those crudities and roughnesses + of speech, which almost necessarily attend + an extemporaneous style. He is apt to + exaggerate their importance, and to imagine + that no excellencies of another kind + can atone for them. He therefore protects + himself by the toil of previous composition, + and ventures not a sentence which he + has not leisurely weighed and measured. + An audience also, composed of reading + people, or accustomed to the exactness of + written composition in the pulpit, acquires + something of the same taste, and is easily + offended at the occasional homeliness of + <a class="pagenum" id="page3" title="3"> </a>diction, and looseness of method, which + occur in extemporaneous speaking. Whereas + those preachers and hearers, whose + education and habits of mind have been + different, know nothing of this taste, and + are insensible to these blemishes; and, if + there be only a fluent outpouring of + words, accompanied by a manner which + evinces earnestness and sincerity, are + pleased and satisfied.</p> + + <p>It is further remarkable, that this prejudice + of taste has been suffered to rule in + this way in no profession but that of the + ministry. The most fastidious taste never + carries a written speech to the bar or + into the senate. The very man who dares + not ascend the pulpit without a sermon + diligently arranged, and filled out to the + smallest word, if he had gone into the profession + of the law, would, at the same age + and with no greater advantages, address + the bench and the jury in language altogether + unpremeditated. Instances are not + wanting in which the minister, who imagined + it impossible to put ten sentences together + in the pulpit, has found himself able, + on changing his profession, to speak fluently + for an hour.</p> + + <p>I have no doubt that to speak extempore + <a class="pagenum" id="page4" title="4"> </a>is easier at the bar and in the legislature, + than in the pulpit. Our associations + with this place are of so sacred a character, + that our faculties do not readily play + there with their accustomed freedom. + There is an awe upon our feelings which + constrains us. A sense, too, of the importance + and responsibility of the station, and + of the momentous consequences depending + on the influence he may there exert, has + a tendency to oppress and embarrass the + conscientious man, who feels it as he ought. + There is also, in the other cases, an immediate + end to be attained, which produces + a powerful immediate excitement; an + excitement, increased by the presence of + those who are speaking on the opposite + side of the question, and in assailing or answering + whom, the embarrassment of the + place is lost in the interest of the argument. + Whereas in the pulpit, there is + none to assault, and none to refute; the + preacher has the field entirely to himself, + and this of itself is sufficiently dismaying. + The ardor and self-oblivion which present + debate occasions, do not exist; and the + solemn stillness and fixed gaze of a waiting + multitude, serve rather to appal and + abash the solitary speaker, than to bring + <a class="pagenum" id="page5" title="5"> </a>the subject forcibly to his mind. Thus + every external circumstance is unpropitious, + and it is not strange that relief has + been sought in the use of manuscripts.</p> + + <p>But still, these difficulties, and others + which I shall have occasion to mention + in another place, are by no means such as + to raise that insuperable obstacle which + many suppose. They may all be overcome + by resolution and perseverance. As + regards merely the use of unpremeditated + language, it is far from being a difficult attainment. + A writer, whose opportunities + of observation give weight to his opinion, + says, in speaking of the style of the younger + Pitt—“This profuse and interminable + flow of words is not in itself either a rare + or remarkable endowment. It is wholly a + thing of habit; and is exercised by every + village lawyer with various degrees of + power and grace.”<a href="#footnote_1" id="fnm1" title="Europe; &c. by a Citizen of the United States." class="fnmarker">1</a> If there be circumstances + which render the habit more difficult + to be acquired by the preacher, they + are still such as may be surmounted; and + it may be made plain, I think, that the advantages + which he may thus ensure to + himself are so many and so great, as to + <a class="pagenum" id="page6" title="6"> </a>offer the strongest inducement to make + the attempt.</p> + + <p>That these advantages are real and substantial, + may be safely inferred from the + habit of public orators in other professions, + and from the effects they are known to produce. + There is more nature, more + warmth in the declamation, more earnestness + in the address, greater animation in + the manner, more of the lighting up of the + soul in the countenance and whole mien, + more freedom and meaning in the gesture; + the eye speaks, and the fingers speak, and + when the orator is so excited as to forget + every thing but the matter on which his + mind and feelings are acting, the whole + body is affected, and helps to propagate + his emotions to the hearer. Amidst all the + exaggerated colouring of Patrick Henry’s + biographer, there is doubtless enough that + is true, to prove a power in the spontaneous + energy of an excited speaker, superior in + its effects to any thing that can be produced + by writing. Something of the same + sort has been witnessed by every one who + is in the habit of attending in the courts of + justice, or the chambers of legislation. + And this, not only in the instances of the + most highly eloquent; but inferior men + <a class="pagenum" id="page7" title="7"> </a>are found thus to excite attention and produce + effects, which they never could have + done by their pens. In deliberative assemblies, + in senates and parliaments, the + larger portion of the speaking is necessarily + unpremeditated; perhaps the most eloquent + is always so; for it is elicited by the + growing heat of debate; it is the spontaneous + combustion of the mind in the conflict + of opinion. Chatham’s speeches + were not written, nor Sheridan’s, nor that + of Ames on the British treaty. They + were, so far as regards their language and + ornaments, the effusions of the moment, + and derived from their freshness a power, + which no study could impart. Among the + orations of Cicero, which are said to have + made the greatest impression, and to have + best accomplished the orator’s design, + are those delivered on unexpected emergencies, + which precluded the possibility of + previous preparation. Such were his + first invective against Catiline, and the + speech which stilled the disturbances at + the theatre. In all these cases, there can + be no question of the advantages which + the orators enjoyed in their ability to make + use of the excitement of the occasion, unchilled + by the formality of studied preparation. + <a class="pagenum" id="page8" title="8"> </a>Although possibly guilty of many + rhetorical and logical faults, yet these + would be unobserved in the fervent and + impassioned torrent, which bore away the + minds of the delighted auditors.</p> + + <p>It is doubtless very true, that a man of + study and reflection, accustomed deliberately + to weigh every expression and analyze + every sentence, and to be influenced + by nothing which does not bear the test of + the severest examination, may be most + impressed by the quiet, unpretending reading + of a well digested essay or dissertation. + To some men the concisest statement of + a subject, with nothing to adorn the naked + skeleton of thought, is most forcible. They + are even impatient of any attempt to assist + its effect by fine writing, by emphasis, tone, + or gesture. They are like the mathematician, + who read the Paradise Lost without + pleasure, because he could not see that it + proved any thing. But we are not to judge + from the taste of such men, of what is + suitable to affect the majority. The multitude + are not mere thinkers or great + readers. From their necessary habits + they are incapable of following a long discussion + except it be made inviting by the + circumstances attending it, or the manner + <a class="pagenum" id="page9" title="9"> </a>of conducting it. Their attention must be + excited and maintained by some external + application. To them,</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <p>Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant</p> + <p>More learned than their ears.</p> + </div> + + <p>It is a great fault with intellectual men, + that they do not make sufficient allowance + for the different modes of education and + habits of mind in men of other pursuits. + It is one of the infelicities of a university + education, that a man is there trained in a + fictitious scene, where there are interests, + associations, feelings, exceedingly diverse + from what prevail in the society of the + world; and where he becomes so far + separated from the habits and sympathies + of other men, as to need to acquire a new + knowledge of them, before he knows how + to address them. When a young man + leaves the seclusion of a student’s life to + preach to his fellow-men, he is likely to + speak to them as if they were scholars. + He imagines them to be capable of appreciating + the niceties of method and style, + and of being affected by the same sort of + sentiment, illustration, and cool remark, + which affects those who have been accustomed + to be moved and guided by the + dumb and lifeless pages of a book. He + <a class="pagenum" id="page10" title="10"> </a>therefore talks to them calmly, is more + anxious for correctness than impression, + fears to make more noise or to have more + motion than the very letters on his manuscript; + addressing himself, as he thinks, + to the intellectual part of man; forgetting + that the intellectual man is not very easy + of access, that it is barred up, and must + be approached through the senses and affections + and imagination.</p> + + <p>There was a class of rhetoricians and + orators at Rome in the time of Cicero, + who were famous for having made the + same mistake. They would do every + thing by a fixed and almost mechanical + rule, by calculation and measurement. + Their sentences were measured, their + gestures were measured, their tones were + measured; and they framed canons of + judgment and taste, by which it was pronounced + an affront on the intellectual nature + of man to assail him with epithets, + and exclamations, and varied tones, and + emphatic gesture. They censured the + free and flowing manner of Cicero as + “tumid and exuberant,” nec satis pressus, + supra modum exultans et superfluens. + They cultivated a more guarded and concise + style, which might indeed please the + <a class="pagenum" id="page11" title="11"> </a>critic or the scholar, but was wholly unfitted + to instruct or move a promiscuous + audience; as was said of one of them, + oratio—doctis et attente audientibus erat + illustris; a multitudine autem et a foro, + cui nata eloquentia est, devorabatur. The + taste of the multitude prevailed, and Cicero + was the admiration of the people, + while those who pruned themselves by a + more rigid and philosophical law, <em>coldly + correct and critically dull</em>, “were frequently + deserted by the audience in the midst + of their harangues.”<a href="#footnote_2" id="fnm2" title="Middleton’s Life of Cicero, III. 324." class="fnmarker">2</a></p> + + <p>We may learn something from this. + There is one mode of address for books + and for classical readers, and another for + the mass of men, who judge by the eye + and ear, by the fancy and feelings, and + know little of rules of art or of an educated + taste. Hence it is that many of + those preachers who have become the + classics of a country, have been unattractive + to the multitude, who have deserted + their polished and careful composition, for + the more unrestrained and rousing declamation + of another class. The singular + success of Chalmers, seems to be in a considerable + measure owing to his attention + <a class="pagenum" id="page12" title="12"> </a>to this fact. He has abandoned the pure + and measured style, and adopted a heterogeneous + mixture of the gaudy, pompous, + and colloquial, offensive indeed to the ears + of literary men, but highly acceptable to + those who are less biassed by the authority + of a standard taste and established models. + We need not go to the extreme of + Chalmers,—for there is no necessity for + inaccuracy, bombast, or false taste—but + we should doubtless gain by adopting his + principle. The object is to address men + according to their actual character, and + in that mode in which their habits of + mind may render them most accessible. + As but few are thinkers or readers, a congregation + is not to be addressed as such; + but, their modes of life being remembered, + constant regard must be had to their need + of external attraction. This is most + easily done by the familiarity and directness + of extemporaneous address; for + which reason this mode of preaching has + peculiar advantages, in its adaptation to + their situation and wants.</p> + + <p>The truth is, indeed, that it is not the + weight of the thought, the profoundness of + the argument, the exactness of the arrangement, + the choiceness of the language, + <a class="pagenum" id="page13" title="13"> </a>which interest and chain the attention of + even those educated hearers, who are able + to appreciate them all. They are as + likely to sleep through the whole as others. + They can find all these qualities in + much higher perfection in their libraries; + they do not seek these only at church. + And as to the large mass of the people, + they are to them hidden things, of which + they discern nothing. It is not these, so + much as the attraction of an earnest manner, + which arrests the attention and makes + instruction welcome. Every day’s observation + may show us, that he who has this + manner will retain the attention of even + an intellectual man with common-place + thoughts, while with a different manner he + would render tedious the most novel and + ingenious disquisitions. Let an indifferent + reader take into the pulpit a sermon + of Barrow or Butler, and all its excellence + of argument and eloquence would not + save it from being accounted tedious; + while an empty declaimer shall collect + crowds to hang upon his lips in raptures. + And this manner, which is so attractive, is + not the studied artificial enunciation of the + rhetorician’s school, but the free, flowing, + animated utterance, which seems to come + <a class="pagenum" id="page14" title="14"> </a>from the impulse of the subject; which + may be full of faults, yet masters the attention + by its nature and sincerity. This + is precisely the manner of the extemporaneous + speaker—in whom the countenance + reflects the emotions of the soul, + and the tone of voice is tuned to the feelings + of the heart, rising and falling with the + subject, as in conversation, without the + regular and harmonious modulation of the + practised reader.</p> + + <p>In making these and similar remarks, + it is true that I am thinking of the best + extemporaneous speakers, and that all + cannot be such. But it ought to be recollected + at the same time, that all cannot + be excellent <em>readers</em>; that those who + speak ill, would probably read still worse; + and that therefore those who can attain to + no eminence as speakers, do not on that + account fail of the advantages of which I + speak, since they escape at least the unnatural + monotony of bad reading; than + which nothing is more earnestly to be + avoided.</p> + + <p>Every man utters himself with greater + animation and truer emphasis in speaking, + than he does, or perhaps can do, in reading. + Hence it happens that we can listen + <a class="pagenum" id="page15" title="15"> </a>longer to a tolerable speaker, than to a + good reader. There is an indescribable + something in the natural tones of him who + is expressing earnestly his present thoughts, + altogether foreign from the drowsy uniformity + of the man that reads. I once + heard it well observed, that the least animated + mode of communicating thoughts to + others, is the reading from a book the + composition of another; the next in order + is the reading one’s own composition; the + next is delivering one’s own composition + memoriter; and the most animated of all + is the uttering one’s own thoughts as they + rise fresh in his mind. Very few can + give the spirit to another’s writings which + they communicate to their own, or can + read their own with the spirit, with which + they spontaneously express their thoughts. + We have all witnessed this in conversation; + when we have listened with interest + to long harangues from persons, who tire + us at once if they begin to read. It is + verified at the bar, and in the legislature, + where orators maintain the unflagging attention + of hearers for a long period, when + they could not have read the same speech + without producing intolerable fatigue. It + is equally verified in the history of the + <a class="pagenum" id="page16" title="16"> </a>pulpit; for those who are accustomed to + the reading of sermons, are for the most + part impatient even of able discourses, + when they extend beyond the half hour’s + length; while very indifferent extemporaneous + preachers are listened to with unabated + attention for a full hour. In the former + case there is a certain uniformity of tone, + and a perpetual recurrence of the same + cadences, inseparable from the manner of + a reader, from which the speaker remains + longer free. This difference is perfectly + well understood, and was acted upon by + Cecil, whose success as a preacher gives + him a right to be heard, when he advised + young preachers to “limit a written sermon + to half an hour, and one from notes + to forty minutes.”<a href="#footnote_3" id="fnm3" title="Cecil’s Remains—a delightful little book." class="fnmarker">3</a> For the same reason, + those preachers whose reading comes nearest + to speaking, are universally more interesting + than others.</p> + + <p>Thus it is evident that there is an attractiveness + in this mode of preaching, which + gives it peculiar advantages. He imparts + greater interest to what he says, who is governed + by the impulse of the moment, than + he who speaks by rule. When he feels + the subject, his voice and gesture correspond + <a class="pagenum" id="page17" title="17"> </a>to that feeling, and communicate it + to others as it can be done in no other way. + Though he possess but indifferent talents, + yet if he utter himself with sincerity and + feeling, it is far pleasanter than to listen to + his cold reading of what he wrote perhaps + with little excitement, and delivers with + less.</p> + + <p>In thus speaking of the interest which + attends an extemporaneous delivery, it is + not necessary to pursue the subject into a + general comparison of the advantages of + this mode with those of reading and of + reciting from memory. Each has prevailed + in different places and at different + periods, and each undoubtedly has advantages + and disadvantages peculiar to itself. + These are well though briefly stated in the + excellent article on Elocution in Rees’ Cyclopædia, + to which it will be sufficient to refer, + as worthy attentive perusal. The question + at large I cannot undertake to discuss. + If I should, I could hardly hope to satisfy + either others or myself. The almost universal + custom of reading in this part of the + world, where recitation from memory is + scarcely known, and extempore speaking + is practised by very few except the + illiterate, forbids any thing like a fair + <a class="pagenum" id="page18" title="18"> </a>deduction from observation. In order to + institute a just comparison, one should have + had extensive opportunities of watching + the success of each mode, and of knowing + the circumstances under which each + was tried. For in the inquiry, which is + to be preferred in the pulpit,—we must + consider, not which has most excellencies + when it is found in perfection, but which + has excellencies attainable by the largest + number of preachers; not which is first + in theory or most beautiful as an art, but + which has been and is likely to be most + successful in practice. These are questions + not easily answered. Each mode + has its advocates and its opponents. In the + English church there is nothing but reading, + and we hear from every quarter complaints + of it. In Scotland the custom of + recitation prevails, but multitudes besides + Dr. Campbell<a href="#footnote_4" id="fnm4" title="See his fourth Lecture on Pulpit Eloquence." class="fnmarker">4</a> condemn it. In many parts + of the continent of Europe no method is + known, but that of a brief preparation and + unpremeditated language; but that it + should be universally approved by those + who use it, is more than we can suppose.</p> + + <p>The truth is, that either method may + fail in the hands of incompetent or indolent + <a class="pagenum" id="page19" title="19"> </a>men, and either may be thought to + succeed by those whose taste or prejudices + are obstinate in its favor. All that I + contend for, in advocating unwritten + discourse, is, that this method claims + a decided superiority over the others + in some of the most important particulars. + That the others have their own advantages, + I do not deny, nor that this is + subject to disadvantages from which they + are free. But whatever these may be I + hope to show that they are susceptible of a + remedy; that they are not greater than + those which attend other modes; that they + are balanced by equal advantages, and that + therefore this art deserves to be cultivated + by all who would do their utmost to render + their ministry useful. There can be no good + reason why the preacher should confine + himself to either mode. It might be most + beneficial to cultivate and practise all. + By this means he might impart something + of the advantages of each to each, and correct + the faults of all by mingling them + with the excellencies of all. He would + learn to read with more of the natural accent + of the speaker, and to speak with + more of the precision of the writer.</p> + + <p>The remarks already made have been + <a class="pagenum" id="page20" title="20"> </a>designed to point out some of the general + advantages attending the use of unprepared + language. Some others remain to be + noticed, which have more particular reference + to the preacher individually.</p> + + <p>It is no unimportant consideration to a + minister of the gospel, that this is a talent + held in high estimation among men, and + that it gives additional influence to him + who possesses it. It is thought to argue + capacity and greatness of mind. Fluency + of language passes with many, and those + not always the vulgar, for affluence of + thought; and never to be at a loss for + something to say, is supposed to indicate + inexhaustible knowledge. It cannot have + escaped the observation of any one accustomed + to notice the judgments which are + passed upon men, how much reputation + and consequent influence are acquired by + the power of speaking readily and boldly, + without any other considerable talent, and + with very indifferent acquisitions; and how + a man of real talents, learning, and worth, + has frequently sunk below his proper level, + from a mere awkwardness and embarrassment + in speaking without preparation. So + that it is not simply superstition which + leads so many to refuse the name of + <a class="pagenum" id="page21" title="21"> </a>preaching to any but extemporaneous harangues; + it is in part owing to the natural + propensity there is to admire, as something + wonderful and extraordinary, this + facility of speech. It is undoubtedly a + very erroneous standard of judgment. But + a minister of the gospel, whose success in + his important calling depends so much on + his personal influence, and the estimation + in which his gifts are held, can hardly be + justified in slighting the cultivation of a + talent, which may so innocently add to his + means of influence.</p> + + <p>It must be remembered also, that occasions + will sometimes occur, when the want + of this power may expose him to mortification, + and deprive him of an opportunity of + usefulness. For such emergencies one + would choose to be prepared. It may be + of consequence that he should express his + opinion in an ecclesiastical council, and + give reasons for the adoption or rejection + of important measures. Possibly he may + be only required to state facts, which have + come to his knowledge. It is very desirable + to be able to do this readily, fluently, + without embarrassment to himself, and + pleasantly to those who hear; and in order + to this, a habit of speaking is necessary. + <a class="pagenum" id="page22" title="22"> </a>In the course of his ministrations also + amongst his own people, occasions will + arise when an exhortation or address + would be seasonable and useful, but when + there is no time for written preparation. + If then he have cultivated the art of extemporaneous + speaking, and attained to + any degree of facility and confidence in it, + he may avail himself of the opportunity to + do good, which he must otherwise have + passed by unimproved. Funerals and + baptisms afford suitable occasions of making + good religious impressions. A sudden + providence, also, on the very day of the + sabbath may suggest most valuable topics + of reflection and exhortation, lost to him + who is confined to what he may have previously + written, but choice treasure to him + who can venture to speak without writing. + If it were only to avail himself of a few + opportunities like these in the course of + his life, or to save himself but once the + mortification of being silent when he ought + to speak, is expected to speak, and would + do good by speaking, it would be well + worth all the time and pains it might cost + to acquire it.</p> + + <p>It is a further advantage, not to be forgotten + here, that the excitement of speaking + <a class="pagenum" id="page23" title="23"> </a>in public strikes out new views of a + subject, new illustrations, and unthought of + figures and arguments, which perhaps never + would have presented themselves to the + mind in retirement. “The warmth which + animates him,” says Fenelon, “gives birth + to expressions and figures, which he never + could have prepared in his study.” He + who feels himself safe in flying off from + the path he has prescribed to himself, + without any fear lest he should fail to find + his way back, will readily seize upon these, + and be astonished at the new light which + breaks in upon him as he goes on, and + flashes all around him. This is according + to the experience of all extemporaneous + speakers. “The degree in which,” says + Thomas Scott,<a href="#footnote_5" id="fnm5" title="Life, p. 268." class="fnmarker">5</a> who practised this method + constantly, “after the most careful + preparation for the pulpit, new thoughts, + new arguments, animated addresses, often + flow into my mind, while speaking to a + congregation, even on very common subjects, + makes me feel as if I was quite + another man than when poring over them + in my study. There will be inaccuracies; + but generally the most striking things in + my sermons were unpremeditated.”</p> + + <p><a class="pagenum" id="page24" title="24"> </a>Then again, the presence of the audience + gives a greater seeming reality to the + work; it is less like doing a task, and + more like speaking to men, than when one + sits coolly writing at his table. Consequently + there is likely to be greater plainness and + directness in his exhortations, more closeness + in his appeals, more of the earnestness + of genuine feeling in his expostulations. He + ventures, in the warmth of the moment, + to urge considerations, which perhaps in + the study seemed too familiar, and to + employ modes of address, which are allowable + in personal communion with a + friend, but which one hesitates to commit + to writing, lest he should infringe the dignity + of deliberate composition. This forgetfulness + of self, this unconstrained following + the impulse of the affections, while + he is hurried on by the presence and attention + of those whom he hopes to benefit, + creates a sympathy between him and his + hearers, a direct passage from heart to + heart, a mutual understanding of each + other, which does more to effect the true + object of religious discourse, than any thing + else can do. The preacher will, in this + way, have the boldness to say many things + which ought to be said, but about which, + <a class="pagenum" id="page25" title="25"> </a>in his study, he would feel reluctant and + timid. And granting that he might be led + to say some things improperly, yet if his + mind be well disciplined, and well governed, + and his discretion habitual, he + will do it exceedingly seldom; while no + one, who estimates the object of preaching + as highly as he should, will think an + occasional false step any objection against + that mode which ensures upon the whole + the greatest boldness and earnestness. He + will think it a less fault than the tameness + and abstractness, which are the besetting + sins of deliberate composition. At any + rate, what method is secure from occasional + false steps?</p> + + <p>Another consideration which recommends + this method to the attention of + preachers, though at the same time it indicates + one of its difficulties, is this; that + all men, from various causes, constitutional + or accidental, are subject to great inequality + in the operations of their minds—sometimes + laboring with felicity and sometimes + failing. Perhaps this fact is in no + men so observable as in preachers, because + no others are so much compelled to + labor, and exhibit their labors, at all seasons, + favorable and unfavorable. There is + <a class="pagenum" id="page26" title="26"> </a>a certain quantity of the severest mental + toil to be performed every week; and as + the mind cannot be always in the same + frame, they are constantly presenting + proofs of the variation of their powers. + Now an extemporaneous speaker is of + course exposed to all this inequality of + spirits, and must expect to be sometimes + mortified by ill success. When the moment + of speaking arrives, his mind may be + slow and dull, his thoughts sluggish and + impeded; he may be exhausted by labor, + or suffering from temporary indisposition. + He strives in vain to rally his powers, and + forces his way, with thorough discomfort + and chagrin, to the end of an unprofitable + talk. But then how many men <em>write</em> under + the same embarrassments, and are + equally dissatisfied; with the additional + mortification of having spent a longer time, + and of being unable to give their poor + preparation the interest of a forcible manner, + which the very distress of an extemporaneous + effort would have imparted.</p> + + <p>But on the other hand, when his mind is + bright and clear, and his animal spirits lively, + he will speak much better after merely + a suitable premeditation, than he can possibly + write. There will be more point + <a class="pagenum" id="page27" title="27"> </a>and vigor and animation, than he could + ever throw into writing. “Every man,” + says Bishop Burnet, “may thus rise far + above what he could ever have attained in + any other way.” We see proof of this in + conversation. When engaged in unrestrained + and animated conversation with + familiar friends, who is not conscious of + having struck out brighter thoughts and + happier sayings, than he ever put upon paper + in the deliberate composition of the + closet? It is a common remark concerning + many men, that they pray much better + than they preach. The reason is, that + their sermons are made leisurely and sluggishly, + without excitement; but in their + public devotions they are strongly engaged, + and the mind acts with more concentration + and vivacity. The same thing has + been observed in the art of music. “There + have been organists, whose abilities in unstudied + effusions on their instruments have + almost amounted to inspiration, such as + Sebastian Bach, Handel, Marchand, Couperin, + Kelway, Stanley, Worgan, and + Keeble; several of whom played better + music extempore, than they could write + with meditation.”<a href="#footnote_6" id="fnm6" title="Rees’ Cyclopædia." class="fnmarker">6</a></p> + + <p><a class="pagenum" id="page28" title="28"> </a>It is upon no different principle that we + explain, what all scholars have experienced, + that they write best when they write + rapidly, from a full and excited mind. + One of Pope’s precepts is, “to write with + fury and correct with phlegm.” The author + of Waverley tells us, “that the works + and passages in which he has succeeded, + have uniformly been written with the + greatest rapidity.” Fenelon’s Telemachus + is said to have been composed in + this way, and sent to the press with one + single erasure in the manuscript. The + celebrated Rockingham Memorial at the + commencement of the late war, is said to + have been the hasty composition of a single + evening. And it will be found true, + I believe, of many of the best sermon + writers, that they revolve the subject till + their minds are filled and warmed, and + then put their discourse upon paper at a + single sitting. Now what is all this but + <em>extemporaneous writing</em>? and what does + it require but a mind equally collected and + at ease, equally disciplined by practice, and + interested in the subject, to ensure equal + success in <em>extemporaneous speaking</em>? Nay, + we might anticipate occasional superior success; + since the thoughts sometimes flow, + <a class="pagenum" id="page29" title="29"> </a>when at the highest and most passionate + excitement, too rapidly and profusely for + any thing slower than the tongue to afford + them vent.</p> + + <p>There is one more consideration in favor + of the habit I recommend, which I think + cannot fail to have weight with all who are + solicitous to make progress in theological + knowledge; namely, that it redeems time + for study. The labor of preparing and + committing to paper a sermon or two + every week, is one which necessarily occupies + the principal part of a minister’s + time and thoughts, and withdraws him + from the investigation of many subjects, + which, if his mind were more at leisure, + it would be his duty and pleasure to pursue. + He who <em>writes</em> sermons, is ready to consider + this as the chief object, or perhaps the + sole business of his life. When not actually + engaged in writing, yet the necessity + of doing it presses upon his mind, and so + binds him as to make him feel as if he + were wrong in being employed on any + thing else. I speak of the tendency, which + certainly is to prevent a man from pursuing, + very extensively, any profitable study. + But if he have acquired that ready command + of thought and language, which + <a class="pagenum" id="page30" title="30"> </a>will enable him to speak without written + preparation, the time and toil of writing are + saved, to be devoted to a different mode + of study. He may prepare his discourses + at intervals of leisure, while walking or + riding; and having once arranged the outlines + of the subject, and ascertained its + principle bearings and applications, the + work of preparation is over. The language + remains to be suggested at the moment.</p> + + <p>I do not mean by this, that preparation + for the pulpit should ever be made slightly, + or esteemed an object of small importance. + It doubtless demands, and should receive + the best of a man’s talents and labors. + What I contend for is, that a habit of mind + may be acquired, which shall enable one + to make a better and more thorough preparation + at less expense of labor and time. + He may acquire, by discipline, that ease + and promptitude of looking into subjects + and bringing out their prominent features, + which shall enable him at a glance, as it + were, to seize the points on which he + should enlarge. Some minds are so constituted + as “to look a subject into shape” + much more readily than others. But the + power of doing it is in a great measure + <a class="pagenum" id="page31" title="31"> </a>mechanical, and depends upon habit. All + may acquire it to a certain extent. When + the mind works with most concentration, + it works at once most quickly and most + surely. Now the act of extempore speaking + favors this concentration of the powers, + more than the slower process of leisurely + writing—perhaps more than any + other operation; consequently, it increases, + with practice, the facility of dissecting + subjects, and of arranging materials for + preaching. In other words, the completeness + with which a subject is viewed + and its parts arranged, does not depend + so much on the time spent upon it, as on + the vigor with which the attention is applied + to it. That course of study is the best, + which most favors this vigor of attention; + and the habit of extemporaneous speaking + is more than any thing favorable to it, from + the necessity which it imposes of applying + the mind with energy, and thinking + promptly.</p> + + <p>The great danger in this case would be, + that of substituting an easy flow of words + for good sense and sober reflection, and + becoming satisfied with very superficial + thoughts. But this danger is guarded + against by the habit of study, and of writing + <a class="pagenum" id="page32" title="32"> </a>for other purposes. If a man should + neglect all mental exertion, except so far + as would be required in the meditation of + a sermon, it would be ruinous. We witness + its disastrous effects in the empty wordiness + of many extemporaneous preachers. + It is wrong however to argue against + the practice itself, from their example; + for all other modes would be equally condemned, + if judged by the ill success of indolent + and unfaithful men. The minister + must keep himself occupied,—reading, + thinking, investigating; thus having his + mind always awake and active. This is + a far better preparation than the bare writing + of sermons, for it exercises the powers + more, and keeps them bright. The + great master of Roman eloquence thought + it essential to the true orator, that he + should be familiar with all sciences, and + have his mind filled with every variety of + knowledge. He therefore, much as he + studied his favorite art, yet occupied more + time in literature, philosophy, and politics, + than in the composition of his speeches. + His preparation was less particular than + general. So it has been with other eminent + speakers. When Sir Samuel Romilly + was in full practice in the High + <a class="pagenum" id="page33" title="33"> </a>Court of Chancery, and at the same time + overwhelmed with the pressure of public + political concerns; his custom was to enter + the court, to receive there the history of the + cause he was to plead, thus to acquaint + himself with the circumstances for the first + time, and forthwith proceed to argue it. His + general preparation and long practice enabled + him to do this, without failing in justice + to his cause. I do not know that in + this he was singular. The same sort of + preparation would ensure success in the + pulpit. He who is always thinking, may + expend upon each individual effort less + time, because he can think at once fast + and well. But he who never thinks, except + when attempting to manufacture a + sermon (and it is to be feared there are + such men), must devote a great deal of + time to this labor exclusively; and after + all, he will not have that wide range of + thought or copiousness of illustration, + which his office demands and which study + only can give.</p> + + <p>In fact, what I have here insisted upon, is + exemplified in the case of the extemporaneous + <em>writers</em>, whom I have already named. I + would only carry their practice a step further, + and devote an hour to a discourse instead + <a class="pagenum" id="page34" title="34"> </a>of a day. Not to all discourses, for + some ought to be written for the sake of writing, + and some demand a sort of investigation, + to which the use of the pen is essential. But + then a very large proportion of the topics + on which a minister should preach, have + been subjects of his attention a thousand + times. He is thoroughly familiar with + them; and an hour to arrange his ideas + and collect illustrations, is abundantly + sufficient. The late Thomas Scott is said + for years to have prepared his discourses + entirely by meditation on the Sunday, and + thus gained leisure for his extensive studies, + and great and various labors. This is + an extreme on which few have a right to + venture, and which should be recommended + to none. It shows, however, the power + of habit, and the ability of a mind to + act promptly and effectually, which is + kept upon the alert by constant occupation. + He who is always engaged in thinking + and studying, will always have thoughts + enough for a sermon, and good ones too, + which will come at an hour’s warning.</p> + + <p>The objections which may be made to + the practice I have sought to recommend, + I must leave to be considered in another + place. I am desirous, in concluding this + <a class="pagenum" id="page35" title="35"> </a>chapter, to add the favorable testimony of + a writer, who expressly disapproves the + practice in general, but who allows its excellence + when accompanied by that preparation + which I would every where imply.</p> + + <p>“You are accustomed,” says Dinouart,<a href="#footnote_7" id="fnm7" title="Sur l’Eloquence du Corps, ou L’Action du Prédicateur." class="fnmarker">7</a> + “to the careful study and imitation + of nature. You have used yourself + to writing and speaking with care on different + subjects, and have well stored your + memory by reading. You thus have provided + resources for speaking, which are + always at hand. The best authors and + the best thoughts are familiar to you; you + can readily quote the scriptures, you express + yourself easily and gracefully, you + have a sound and correct judgment on + which you can depend, method and precision + in the arrangement of proofs; you + can readily connect each part by natural + transitions, and are able to say all that + belongs, and precisely what belongs to the + subject. You may then take only a day, + or only an hour, to reflect on your subject, + to arrange your topics, to consult your + memory, to choose and to prepare your + illustrations,—and then, appear in public. + <a class="pagenum" id="page36" title="36"> </a>I am perfectly willing that you should. + The common expressions which go to + make up the body of the discourse, will + present themselves spontaneously. Your + periods, perhaps, will be less harmonious, + your transitions less ingenious, an ill placed + word will sometimes escape you; but + all this is pardonable. The animation of + your delivery will compensate for these + blemishes, and you will be master of your + own feelings, and those of your hearers. + There will, perhaps, be apparent throughout + a certain disorder, but it will not prevent + your pleasing and affecting me; your + action as well as your words will appear + to me the more natural.”</p> + </div> + <div id="chapter_ii" class="chapter"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page37" title="37"> </a> + <h2 class="chapter_title">CHAPTER II.</h2> + + <p><span class="first_word">Against</span> what has been advanced in + the preceding pages, many objections will + be urged, and the evils of the practice I + recommend be declared more than sufficient + to counterbalance its advantages. Of + these it is necessary that I should now take + notice, and obviate them as well as I may.</p> + + <p>It should be first of all remarked, that + the force of the objections commonly + made, lies against the exclusive use of + extempore preaching, and not against its + partial and occasional use. It is of consequence + that this should be considered. + There can be no doubt, that he would + preach very wretchedly, who should always + be haranguing without the corrective + discipline of writing. The habit + of writing is essential. Many of the objections + which are currently made to this + mode of address, fall to the ground when + this statement is made.</p> + + <p>Other objections have been founded + on the idea, that by <em>extemporaneous</em> is + <a class="pagenum" id="page38" title="38"> </a>meant, <em>unpremeditated</em>. Whereas there + is a plain and important distinction between + them, the latter word being applied + to the thoughts, and the former to the + language only. To preach without premeditation, + is altogether unjustifiable; although + there is no doubt that a man of + habitual readiness of mind, may express + himself to the greatest advantage on a + subject with which he is familiar, after + very little meditation.</p> + + <p>Many writers on the art of preaching, as + well as on eloquence in general, have given + a decided judgment unfavorable to extempore + speaking. There can be no fairer + way of answering their objections, than by + examining what they have advanced, and + opposing their authority by that of equal + names on the other side.</p> + + <p>Gerard, in his Treatise on the Pastoral + Charge, has the following passage on this + subject.</p> + + <p>“He will run into trite, common-place + topics; his compositions will be loose and + unconnected; his language often coarse + and confused; and diffidence, or care to + recollect his subject, will destroy the management + of his voice.” At the same time, + however, he admits that “it is very proper + <a class="pagenum" id="page39" title="39"> </a>that a man should be able to preach in + this way, when it is necessary;—but no + man ought always to preach in this way.” + To which decision I have certainly nothing + to object.</p> + + <p>Mason, in his Student and Pastor, says + to the same effect, that “the inaccuracy + of diction, the inelegance, poverty, and + lowness of expression, which is commonly + observed in extempore discourses, will + not fail to offend every hearer of good + taste.”</p> + + <p>Dinouart,<a href="#footnote_8" id="fnm8" title="Sur l’Eloquence du Corps, ou l’Action du Prédicateur." class="fnmarker">8</a> who is an advocate for recitation + from memory, says that “experience + decides against extemporaneous + preaching, though there are exceptions; + but these are very few; and we must not + be led astray by the success of a few first + rate orators.”</p> + + <p>Hume, in his Essay upon Eloquence, + expresses an opinion that the modern deficiency + in this art is to be attributed to + “that extreme affectation of extempore + speaking, which has led to extreme carelessness + of method.”</p> + + <p>The writer of an article, on the Greek + Orators, in the Edinburgh Review,<a href="#footnote_9" id="fnm9" title="No. LXXI. p. 82." class="fnmarker">9</a> observes, + <a class="pagenum" id="page40" title="40"> </a>that “among the sources of the + corruption of modern eloquence, may + clearly be distinguished as the most fruitful, + the habit of extempore speaking, acquired + rapidly by persons who frequent + popular assemblies, and, beginning at the + wrong end, attempt to speak before they + have studied the art of oratory, or even duly + stored their minds with the treasures of + thought and language, which can only be + drawn from assiduous intercourse with the + ancient and modern classics.”</p> + + <p>These are the prominent objections + which have been made to the practice in + question. Without denying that they have + weight, I think it may be made to appear + that they have not the unquestionable preponderance, + which is assumed for them. + They will be found, on examination, to be + the objections of a cultivated taste, and to + be drawn from the examples of undisciplined + men, who ought to be left entirely + out of the question.</p> + + <p>1. The objection most urged is that + which relates to style. It is said, the expression + will be poor, inelegant, inaccurate, + and offensive to hearers of taste.</p> + + <p>To those who urge this it may be replied, + that the reason why style is an important + <a class="pagenum" id="page41" title="41"> </a>consideration in the pulpit, is, not that the + taste of the hearers may be gratified, for + but a small part of any congregation is + capable of taking cognizance of this matter;—but + solely for the purpose of presenting + the speaker’s thoughts, reasonings, + and expostulations distinctly and forcibly + to the minds of his hearers. If this be + effected, it is all which can reasonably be + demanded. And I ask if it be not notorious, + that an earnest and appropriate elocution + will give this effect to a poor style, + and that poor speaking will take it away + from the most exact and emphatic style? + Is it not also notorious that the peculiar + earnestness of spontaneous speech, is, + above all others, suited to arrest the attention, + and engage the feelings of an audience? + and that the mere reading of a + piece of fine composition, under the notion + that careful thought and finished diction + are the only things needful, leaves the majority + uninterested in the discourse, and + free to think of any thing they please? “It + is a poor compliment,” says Blair, “that + one is an accurate reasoner, if he be not + a persuasive speaker also.” It is a small + matter that the style is poor, so long as it + answers the great purpose of instructing + <a class="pagenum" id="page42" title="42"> </a>and affecting men. So that, as I have + more fully shown in a former place, the + objection lies on an erroneous foundation.</p> + + <p>Besides, if it were not so, it will be + found quite as strong against the <em>writing</em> + of sermons. For how large a proportion + of sermon writers have these very same + faults of style! what a great want of force, + neatness, compactness, is there in the + composition of most preachers! what + weakness, inelegance, and inconclusiveness; + and how small improvement do they + make, even after the practice of years! + How happens this? It is because they + do not make this an object of attention + and study; and some might be unable to + attain it if they did. But that watchfulness + and care which secure a correct and + neat style in writing, would also secure it + in speaking. It does not naturally belong + to the one, more than to the other, and + may be as certainly attained in each by + the proper pains. Indeed so far as my + observation has extended, I am not certain + that there is not as large a proportion + of extempore speakers, whose diction is + exact and unexceptionable, as of writers—always + taking into view their education, + which equally affects the one and the other. + <a class="pagenum" id="page43" title="43"> </a>And it is a consideration of great + weight, that the faults in question are far + less offensive in speakers than in writers.</p> + + <p>It is apparent that objectors of this sort + are guilty of a double mistake; first, in + laying too great stress upon mere defects + of style, and then in taking for granted, + that these are unavoidable. They might + as well insist that defects of written style + are unavoidable. Whereas they are the + consequence of the negligent mode in + which the art has been studied, and its + having been given up, for the most part, to + ignorant and fanatical pretenders. Let it + be diligently cultivated by educated men, + and we shall find no more cause to expel + it from the pulpit than from the forum or + the parliament. “Poverty, inelegance, + and poorness of diction,” will be no longer + so “generally observed,” and even hearers + of taste will cease to be offended.</p> + + <p>2. A want of order, a rambling, unconnected, + desultory manner, is commonly + objected; as Hume styles it, “extreme + carelessness of method;” and this is so + often observed, as to be justly an object + of dread. But this is occasioned by that + indolence and want of discipline to which + we have just alluded. It is not a necessary + <a class="pagenum" id="page44" title="44"> </a>evil. If a man have never studied + the art of speaking, nor passed through a + course of preparatory discipline; if he + have so rash and unjustifiable a confidence + in himself, that he will undertake to speak, + without having considered what he shall + say, what object he shall aim at, or by + what steps he shall attain it; the inevitable + consequence will be confusion, + inconclusiveness, and wandering. Who + recommends such a course? But he + who has first trained himself to the + work, and whenever he would speak, has + surveyed his ground, and become familiar + with the points to be dwelt upon, and the + course of reasoning and track of thought + to be followed; will go on from one step to + another, in an easy and natural order, and + give no occasion to the complaint of confusion + or disarrangement.</p> + + <p>“Some preachers,” says Dinouart, + “have the folly to think that they can + make sermons impromptu. And what a + piece of work they make! They bolt out + every thing which comes into their head. + They take for granted, what ought to be + proved, or perhaps they state half the argument, + and forget the rest. Their appearance + corresponds to the state of their + <a class="pagenum" id="page45" title="45"> </a>mind, which is occupied in hunting after + some way of finishing the sentence they + have begun. They repeat themselves; + they wander off in digression. They + stand stiff without moving; or if they are + of a lively temperament, they are full of + the most turbulent action; their eyes and + hands are flying about in every direction, + and their words choke in their throats. + They are like men swimming, who have + got frightened, and throw about their + hands and feet at random, to save themselves + from drowning.”</p> + + <p>There is doubtless great truth in this + humorous description. But what is the + legitimate inference? that extemporaneous + speaking is altogether ridiculous and mischievous? + or only that it is an art which + requires study and diligence, and which + no man should presume to practice, until + he has fitted himself for it?</p> + + <p>3. In the same way I should dispose of + the objection, that this habit leads to barrenness + in preaching, and the everlasting + repetition of the same sentiments and topics. + If a man make his facility of speech an + excuse for the neglect of all study, then + doubtless this will be the result. He who + cannot resist his indolent propensities, + <a class="pagenum" id="page46" title="46"> </a>had best avoid this occasion of temptation. + He must be able to command himself to + think, and industriously prepare himself + by meditation, if he would be safe in this + hazardous experiment. He who does this, + and continues to learn and reflect while he + preaches, will be no more empty and monotonous + than if he carefully wrote every + word.</p> + + <p>4. But this temptation to indolence in + the preparation for the desk, is urged as + in itself a decisive objection. A man finds, + that after a little practice, it is an exceedingly + easy thing to fill up his half-hour + with declamation which shall pass off + very well, and hence he grows negligent + in previous meditation; and insensibly + degenerates into an empty exhorter, without + choice of language, or variety of ideas. + This is undoubtedly the great and alarming + danger of this practice. This must be + triumphed over, or it is ruinous. We + see examples of it wherever we look + among those whose preaching is exclusively + extempore. In these cases, the evil + rises to its magnitude in consequence of + their total neglect of the pen. The habit + of writing a certain proportion of the time + would, in some measure, counteract this + dangerous tendency.</p> + + <p><a class="pagenum" id="page47" title="47"> </a>But it is still insisted, that man’s natural + love of ease is not to be trusted; that + he will not long continue the drudgery of + writing in part; that when he has once + gained confidence to speak without study, + he will find it so flattering to his indolence, + that he will involuntarily give himself + up to it, and relinquish the pen altogether; + that consequently there is no security, + except in never beginning.</p> + + <p>To this it may be replied, that they + who have not principle and self-government + enough to keep them industrious, + will not be kept so by being compelled to + write sermons. I think we have abundant + proof, that a man may write with as little + pains and thinking, as he can speak. It + by no means follows, that because it is on + paper, it is therefore the result of study. + And if it be not, it will be greatly inferior, + in point of effect, to an unpremeditated + declamation; for in the latter case, there + will probably be at least a temporary excitement + of feeling, and consequent vivacity + of manner, while in the former the + indolence of the writer will be made doubly + intolerable by his heaviness in reading.</p> + + <p>It cannot be doubted, however, that if + any one find his facility of extemporaneous + <a class="pagenum" id="page48" title="48"> </a>invention, likely to prove destructive + to his habits of diligent and careful application; + it were advisable that he refrain + from the practice. It could not be worth + while for him to lose his habits of study + and thinking for the sake of an ability to + speak, which would avail him but little, + after his ability to think has been weakened + or destroyed.</p> + + <p>As for those whose indolence habitually + prevails over principle, and who make no + preparation for duty excepting the mechanical + one of covering over a certain + number of pages,—they have no concern + in the ministry, and should be driven to + seek some other employment, where their + mechanical labor may provide them a livelihood, + without injuring their own souls, or + those of other men.</p> + + <p>If the objection in question be applied + to conscientious men, whose hearts are in + their profession, and who have a sincere + desire to do good, it certainly has very + little weight. The minds of such men + are kept active with reflection, and stored + with knowledge, and warm with religious + feeling. They are therefore always ready + to speak to the purpose, as well as write + to the purpose; and their habitual sense + <a class="pagenum" id="page49" title="49"> </a>of the importance of their office, and their + anxiety to fulfil it in the best manner, will + forbid that indolence which is so disastrous. + The objection implies, that the consequence + pointed out is one which cannot be avoided. + Experience teaches us the contrary. + It is the tendency—but a tendency which + may be, for it has been, counteracted. + Many have preached in this mode for + years, and yet have never relaxed their + diligence in study, nor declined in the + variety, vigor, and interest of their discourses;—sometimes + dull, undoubtedly; + but this may be said with equal truth of + the most faithful and laborious writers.</p> + + <p>5. Many suppose that there is a certain + natural talent, essential to success in extempore + speaking, no less than in poetry; + and that it is absurd to recommend the + art to those who have not this peculiar + talent, and vain for them to attempt its + practice.</p> + + <p>In regard to that ready flow of words, + which seems to be the natural gift of some + men, it is of little consequence whether it + be really such, or be owing to the education + and habits of early life, and vain self-confidence. + It is certain that the want of + habit, and diffidence are great hindrances + <a class="pagenum" id="page50" title="50"> </a>to fluency of speech; and it is equally + certain, that this natural fluency is a very + questionable advantage to him who would + be an impressive speaker. It is quite observable + that those who at first talk easiest, + do not always talk best. Their very + facility is a snare to them. It serves to + keep them content; they make no effort + to improve, and are likely to fall into slovenly + habits of elocution. So that this unacquired + fluency is so far from essential, + that it is not even a benefit, and it may be + an injury. It keeps from final eminence + by the very greatness of its early promise. + On the other hand, he who possesses originally + no remarkable command of language, + and whom an unfortunate bashfulness + prevents from well using what he + has; is obliged to subject himself to severe + discipline, to submit to rules and + tasks, to go through a tedious process of + training, to acquire by much labor the + needful sway over his thoughts and words, + so that they shall come at his bidding, + and not be driven away by his own diffidence, + or the presence of other men. + To do all this, is a long and disheartening + labor. He is exposed to frequent mortifications, + and must endure many grievous + <a class="pagenum" id="page51" title="51"> </a>failures, before he attain that confidence + which is indispensable to success. But + then in this discipline, his powers, mental + and moral, are strained up to the highest + intenseness of action; after persevering + practice, they become habitually subject + to his control, and work with a precision, + exactness, and energy, which can never + be the possession of him, who has depended + on his native, undisciplined gift. Of + the truth of this, examples are by no + means wanting, and I could name, if it + were proper, more than one striking instance + within my own observation. It + was probably this to which Newton referred, + when he said, that he never spoke + well till he felt that he could not speak at + all. Let no one therefore think it an obstacle + in his way that he has no readiness + of words. If he have good sense and no + deficiency of talent, and is willing to labor + for this as all great acquisitions must be + labored for, he needs not fear but that in + time he will attain it.</p> + + <p>We must be careful, however, not to + mistake the object to be attained. It is + not a high rank in oratory, consummate + eloquence. If it were, then indeed a + young man might pause till he had ascertained + <a class="pagenum" id="page52" title="52"> </a>whether he possessed all those extraordinary + endowments of intellect, imagination, + sensibility, countenance, voice, + and person, which belong to few men in + a century, and without which the great + orator does not exist. He is one of those + splendid formations of nature, which she + exhibits but rarely; and it is not necessary + to the object of his pursuit that the minister + be such. The aim and purpose of his + office are less ambitious, to impart instruction + and do good; and it is by no means + certain that the greatest eloquence is best + adapted to these purposes in the pulpit. + But any man, with powers which fit him + for the ministry at all,—unless there be a + few extraordinary exceptions—is capable + of learning to express himself clearly, correctly, + and with method; and this is precisely + what is wanted, and no more than + this. I do not say eloquently; for as it is + not thought indispensable that every writer + of sermons should be eloquent, it cannot + be thought essential that every speaker + should be so. But the same powers which + have enabled him to write, will, with sufficient + discipline, enable him to speak; + with every probability that when he comes + to speak with the same ease and collectedness, + <a class="pagenum" id="page53" title="53"> </a>he will do it with a nearer approach + to eloquence. Without such discipline + he has no right to hope for success; + let him not say that success is impossible, + until he has submitted to it.</p> + + <p>I apprehend that these remarks will be + found not only correct in theory, but + agreeable to experience. With the exceeding + little systematic cultivation of the + art which there is amongst us, and no actual + instruction, we find that a great majority + of the lawyers in our courts, and not a + small portion of the members of our + legislatures, are able to argue and debate. + In some of the most popular and quite + numerous religious sects, we find preachers + enough, who are able to communicate + their thoughts and harangue their congregations, + and exert very powerful and permanent + influence over large bodies of the + people. Some of these are men of as + small natural talents and as limited education, + as any that enter the sacred office. + It should seem therefore that no one needs + to despair.</p> + + <p>In the ancient republics of Greece and + Rome, this accomplishment was a necessary + branch of a finished education. A much + smaller proportion of the citizens were + <a class="pagenum" id="page54" title="54"> </a>educated than amongst us; but of these a + much larger number became orators. No + man could hope for distinction or influence, + and yet slight this art.<a href="#footnote_10" id="fnm10" title="It is often said that extemporaneous speaking..." class="fnmarker">10</a> The commanders + of their armies were orators as well as + soldiers, and ruled as well by their rhetorical + as by their military skill. There was + no trusting with them as with us, to a natural + facility, or the acquisition of an accidental + fluency by actual practice. But + they served an apprenticeship to the art. + They passed through a regular course of + instruction in schools. They submitted + to long and laborious discipline. They + exercised themselves frequently, both before + equals and in the presence of teachers, + who criticised, reproved, rebuked, excited + emulation, and left nothing undone which + art and perseverance could accomplish. + The greatest orators of antiquity, so far + from being favored by natural tendencies, + except indeed in their high intellectual + <a class="pagenum" id="page55" title="55"> </a>endowments, had to struggle against natural + obstacles; and instead of growing up + spontaneously to their unrivalled eminence, + they forced themselves forward by + the most discouraging artificial process. + Demosthenes combated an impediment + in speech and ungainliness of gesture, + which at first drove him from the forum + in disgrace. Cicero failed at first through + weakness of lungs, and an excessive vehemence + of manner, which wearied the + hearers and defeated his own purpose. + These defects were conquered by study + and discipline. Cicero exiled himself + from home, and during his absence in + various lands passed not a day without a + rhetorical exercise; seeking the masters + who were most severe in criticism, as + the surest means of leading him to the + perfection at which he aimed. Such too + was the education of their other great + men. They were all, according to their + ability and station, orators; orators, not + by nature or accident, but by education; + formed in a strict process of rhetorical + training; admired and followed even + while Demosthenes and Cicero were living, + and unknown now, only because it is + <a class="pagenum" id="page56" title="56"> </a>not possible that any but the first should + survive the ordeal of ages.</p> + + <p>The inference to be drawn from these + observations, is, that if so many of those + who received an accomplished education + became accomplished orators, because to + become so was one purpose of their study; + then it is in the power of a much larger + proportion amongst us, to form themselves + into creditable and accurate speakers. + The inference should not be denied until + proved false by experiment. Let this art + be made an object of attention, and young + men train themselves to it faithfully and + long; and if any of competent talents and + tolerable science be found at last incapable + of expressing themselves in continued + and connected discourse, so as to + answer the ends of the christian ministry; + then, and not till then, let it be said that + a peculiar talent or natural aptitude is + requisite, the want of which must render + effort vain; then, and not till then, let us + acquiesce in this indolent and timorous + notion, which contradicts the whole testimony + of antiquity, and all the experience + of the world. Doubtless, after the most + that can be done, there will be found the + greatest variety of attainment; “men will + <a class="pagenum" id="page57" title="57"> </a>differ,” as Burnet remarks, “quite as + much as in their written compositions;” + and some will do but poorly what others + will do excellently. But this is likewise + true of every other art in which men engage, + and not least so of writing sermons; + concerning which no one will say, that as + poor are not written, as it would be possible + for any one to speak. In truth, men + of small talents and great sluggishness, of + a feeble sense of duty and no zeal, will of + course make poor sermons, by whatever + process they may do it, let them write or + let them speak. It is doubtful concerning + some whether they would even steal good + ones.</p> + + <p>The survey we have now taken, renders + it evident, that the evils, which are + principally objected against as attending + this mode of preaching, are not necessary + evils, but are owing to insufficient study and + preparation before the practice is commenced, + and indolence afterward. This + is implied in the very expressions of the + objectors themselves, who attribute the + evil to “beginning at the wrong end, + attempting to speak before studying the + art of oratory, or even storing the mind + with treasures of thought and language.” + <a class="pagenum" id="page58" title="58"> </a>It is, also, implied in this language, that + study and preparation are capable of + removing the objections. I do not therefore + advocate the art, without insisting on + the necessity of severe discipline and + training. No man should be encouraged + or permitted to adopt it, who will not take + the necessary pains, and proceed with the + necessary perseverance.</p> + + <p>This should be the more earnestly + insisted upon, because it is from our loose + and lazy notions on the subject, that eloquence + in every department is suffering + so much, and that the pulpit especially + has become so powerless, where the most + important things that receive utterance + upon earth, are read like schoolboys’ + tasks, without even the poor pains to lay + emphasis on the right words, and to pause + in the right places. And this, because + we fancy that, if nature have not designed + us for orators, it is vain to make effort, + and if she have, we shall be such without + effort. True, that the noble gifts of mind + are from nature; but not language, or + knowledge, or accent, or tone, or gesture; + these are to be learned, and it is with + these that the speaker is concerned. + These are all matters of acquisition, and + <a class="pagenum" id="page59" title="59"> </a>of difficult acquisition; possible to be + attained, and well worth the exertion that + must be made.</p> + + <p>The history of the world is full of testimony + to prove how much depends upon + industry; not an eminent orator has + lived, but is an example of it. Yet in + contradiction to all this, the almost universal + feeling appears to be, that industry + can effect nothing, that eminence is the + result of accident, and that every one + must be content to remain just what he may + happen to be. Thus multitudes, who + come forward as teachers and guides, + suffer themselves to be satisfied with the + most indifferent attainments, and a miserable + mediocrity, without so much as inquiring + how they might rise higher, much + less making any attempt to rise. For any + other art they would have served an + apprenticeship, and would be ashamed to + practise it in public before they had learned + it. If any one would sing, he attends a + master, and is drilled in the very elementary + principles; and only after the most + laborious process dares to exercise his + voice in public. This he does, though + he has scarce any thing to learn but the + mechanical execution of what lies in + <a class="pagenum" id="page60" title="60"> </a>sensible forms before his eye. But the + extempore speaker, who is to invent as + well as to utter, to carry on an operation + of the mind as well as to produce sound, + enters upon the work without preparatory + discipline, and then wonders that he fails! + If he were learning to play on the flute for + public exhibition, what hours and days + would he spend in giving facility to his + fingers, and attaining the power of the + sweetest and most impressive execution. + If he were devoting himself to the organ, + what months and years would he labor, + that he might know its compass, and be + master of its keys, and be able to draw + out, at will, all its various combinations of + harmonious sound, and its full richness + and delicacy of expression. And yet he + will fancy that the grandest, the most + various, the most expressive of all instruments, + which the infinite Creator has + fashioned by the union of an intellectual + soul with the powers of speech, may be + played upon without study or practice; + he comes to it, a mere uninstructed tyro, + and thinks to manage all its stops, and + command the whole compass of its varied + and comprehensive power! He finds + himself a bungler in the attempt, is mortified + <a class="pagenum" id="page61" title="61"> </a>at his failure, and settles it in his + mind forever that the attempt is vain.</p> + + <p>Success in every art, whatever may be + the natural talent, is always the reward of + industry and pains. But the instances are + many of men of the finest natural genius, + whose beginning has promised much, but + who have degenerated wretchedly as they + advanced, because they trusted to their + gifts, and made no effort to improve. That + there have never been other men of equal + endowments with Demosthenes and Cicero, + none would venture to suppose; but + who have so devoted themselves to their + art, or become equal in excellence? If + those great men had been content, like + others, to continue as they began, and + had never made their persevering efforts + for improvement, what would their countries + have benefited from their genius, or + the world have known of their fame? + They would have been lost in the undistinguished + crowd, that sunk to oblivion + around them. Of how many more will + the same remark prove true! What encouragement + is thus given to the industrious! + With such encouragement, how + inexcusable is the negligence which suffers + the most interesting and important + <a class="pagenum" id="page62" title="62"> </a>truths, to seem heavy and dull, and fall + ineffectual to the ground, through mere + sluggishness in their delivery! How unworthy + of one who performs the high + function of a religious instructer, upon + whom depend, in a great measure, the + religious knowledge and devotional sentiment + and final character of many fellow + beings,—to imagine that he can worthily + discharge this great concern by occasionally + talking for an hour, he knows not + how, and in a manner which he has taken + no pains to render correct, impressive, or + attractive; and which, simply through + want of that command over himself which + study would give, is immethodical, verbose, + inaccurate, feeble, trifling. It has + been said of the good preacher, that + “truths divine come mended from his + tongue.” Alas, they come ruined and + worthless from such a man as this. They + lose that holy energy by which they are + to convert the soul and purify man for + heaven, and sink, in interest and efficacy, + below the level of those principles which + govern the ordinary affairs of this lower + world.</p> + </div> + <div id="chapter_iii" class="chapter"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page63" title="63"> </a> + + <h2 class="chapter_title">CHAPTER III.</h2> + + <p><span class="first_word">The</span> observations contained in the preceding + chapter make it sufficiently evident, + that the art of extemporaneous + speaking, however advantageous to the + christian minister, and however possible + to be acquired, is yet attended with embarrassments + and difficulties, which are + to be removed only by long and arduous + labor. It is not enough, however, to + insist upon the necessity of this discipline. + We must know in what it consists, + and how it is to be conducted. In + completing, therefore, the plan I have + proposed to myself, I am now to give a + few hints respecting the mode in which + the study is to be carried on, and obstacles + to be surmounted. These hints, + gathered partly from experience and + partly from observation and books, will + be necessarily incomplete; but not, it is + hoped, altogether useless to those who + are asking some direction.</p> + + <p>1. The first thing to be observed is, + that the student who would acquire facility + <a class="pagenum" id="page64" title="64"> </a>in this art, should bear it constantly in + mind, and have regard to it in all his + studies, and in his whole mode of study. + The reason is very obvious. He that + would become eminent in any pursuit, + must make it the primary and almost exclusive + object of his attention. It must + never be long absent from his thoughts, + and he must be contriving how to promote + it, in every thing he undertakes. It + is thus that the miser accumulates, by + making the most trifling occurrences the + occasions of gain; and thus the ambitious + man is on the alert to forward his purposes + of advancement by little events which + another would pass unobserved. So too he, + the business of whose life is preaching, + should be on the watch to render every + thing subservient to this end. The + inquiry should always be, how he can + turn the knowledge he is acquiring, the + subject he is studying, this mode of reasoning, + this event, this conversation, and + the conduct of this or that man, to aid the + purposes of religious instruction. He + may find an example in the manner in + which Pope pursued his favorite study. + “From his attention to poetry,” says + Johnson, “he was never diverted. If + <a class="pagenum" id="page65" title="65"> </a>conversation offered any thing that could + be improved, he committed it to paper; + if a thought, or perhaps an expression + more happy than was common, rose to + his mind, he was careful to write it; an + independent distich was preserved for an + opportunity of insertion, and some little + fragments have been found containing + lines, or parts of lines, to be wrought + upon at some other time.” By a like + habitual and vigilant attention, the preacher + will find scarce any thing but may be + made to minister to his great design, by + either giving rise to some new train of + thought, or suggesting an argument, or + placing some truth in a new light, or furnishing + some useful illustration. Thus + none of his reading will be lost; every + poem and play, every treatise on science, + and speculation in philosophy, and even + every ephemeral tale may be made to + give hints toward the better management + of sermons and the more effectual proposing + and communicating of truth.</p> + + <p>He who proposes to himself the art of + extemporaneous speaking should thus + have constant regard to this particular + object, and make every thing co-operate + to form those habits of mind which are + <a class="pagenum" id="page66" title="66"> </a>essential to it. This may be done not + only without any hindrance to the progress + of his other studies, but even so as to promote + them. The most important requisites + are rapid thinking, and ready command + of language. By rapid thinking I + mean, what has already been spoken of, + the power of seizing at once upon the + most prominent points of the subject to be + discussed, and tracing out, in their proper + order, the subordinate thoughts which + connect them together. This power depends + very much upon habit; a habit + more easily acquired by some minds than + by others, and by some with great difficulty. + But there are few who, should + they have a view to the formation of such + a habit in all their studies, might not + attain it in a degree quite adequate to + their purpose. This is much more indisputably + true in regard to fluency of language.</p> + + <p>Let it, therefore, be a part of his daily + care to analyze the subjects which come + before him, and to frame sketches of sermons. + This will aid him to acquire a + facility in laying open, dividing, and + arranging topics, and preparing those + outlines which he is to take with him into + <a class="pagenum" id="page67" title="67"> </a>the pulpit. Let him also investigate carefully + the method of every author he reads, + marking the divisions of his arrangement, + and the connexion and train of his reasoning. + Butler’s preface to his Sermons will + afford him some fine hints on this way of + study. Let this be his habitual mode of + reading, so that he shall as much do this, as + receive the meaning of separate sentences, + and shall be always able to give a better + account of the progress of the argument + and the relation of every part to the + others and to the whole, than of merely + individual passages and separate illustrations. + This will infallibly beget a readiness + in finding the divisions and boundaries + of a subject, which is one important + requisite to an easy and successful speaker.</p> + + <p>In a similar manner, let him always + bear in mind the value of a fluent and + correct use of language. Let him not be + negligent of this in his conversation; but + be careful ever to select the best words, + to avoid a slovenly style and drawling + utterance, and to aim at neatness, force, + and brevity. This may be done without + formality, or stiffness, or pedantic affectation; + <a class="pagenum" id="page68" title="68"> </a>and when settled into a habit is + invaluable.</p> + + <p>2. In addition to this general cultivation, + there should be frequent exercise of + the act of speaking. Practice is essential + to perfection in any art, and in none + more so than in this. No man reads well + or writes well, except by long practice; + and he cannot expect without it to speak + well, an operation which is equivalent to + the other two united. He may indeed + get along, as the phrase is; but not so + well as he might do and should do. He + may not always be able even to get along. + He may be as sadly discomfited as a + friend of mine, who said that he had made + the attempt, and was convinced that for him + to speak extempore was impossible; he + had risen from his study table, and tried + to make a speech, proving that virtue is + better than vice; but was obliged to sit + down without completing it. How could + one hope to do better in a first attempt, if + he had not considered beforehand what + he should say? It were as rational to + think he could play on the organ without + having learned, or translate from a language + he had never studied.</p> + + <p>It would not be too much to require of + <a class="pagenum" id="page69" title="69"> </a>the student, that he should exercise himself + every day, once at least, if not oftener; + and this, on a variety of subjects, + and in various ways, that he may attain a + facility in every mode. It would be a + pleasant interchange of employment to + rise from the subject which occupies his + thoughts, or from the book he is reading, + and repeat to himself the substance of + what he has just perused, with such additions + and variations, or criticisms, as may + suggest themselves at the moment. There + could hardly be a more useful exercise, + even if there were no reference to this + particular end. How many excellent + chapters of valuable authors, how many + fine views of important subjects, would be + thus impressed upon his mind, and what + rich treasures of thought and language + would be thus laid up in store. And + according as he should be engaged in a + work of reasoning, or description, or exhortation, + or narrative, he would be + attaining the power of expressing himself + readily in each of these various styles. + By pursuing this course for two or three + years, “a man may render himself such + a master in this matter,” says Burnet, + “that he can never be surprised;” and + <a class="pagenum" id="page70" title="70"> </a>he adds, that he never knew a man + faithfully to pursue the plan of study he + proposed, without being successful at last.</p> + + <p>3. When by such a course of study + and discipline he has attained a tolerable + fluency of thoughts and words, and a + moderate confidence in his own powers; + there are several things to be observed in + first exercising the gift in public, in order + to ensure comfort and success.</p> + + <p>It is recommended by Bishop Burnet + and others, that the first attempts be made + by short excursions from written discourses; + like the young bird that tries its + wings by short flights, till it gradually + acquires strength and courage to sustain + itself longer in the air. This advice is + undoubtedly judicious. For he may safely + trust himself in a few sentences, who + would be confounded in the attempt to + frame a whole discourse. For this purpose + blanks may be left in writing, where + the sentiment is familiar, or only a short + illustration is to be introduced. As success + in these smaller attempts gives him + confidence, he may proceed to larger; + till at length, when his mind is bright and + his feelings engaged, he may quit his + manuscript altogether, and present the + <a class="pagenum" id="page71" title="71"> </a>substance of what he had written, with + greater fervor and effect, than if he had + confined himself to his paper. It was + once observed to me by an interesting + preacher of the Baptist denomination, that + he had found from experience this to be + the most advisable and perfect mode; + since it combined the advantages of written + and extemporaneous composition. By + preparing sermons in this way, he said, + he had a shelter and security if his mind + should be dull at the time of delivery; + and if it were active, he was able to leave + what he had written, and obey the ardor + of his feelings, and go forth on the impulse + of the moment, wherever his spirit + might lead him. A similar remark I + heard made by a distinguished scholar of + the Methodist connexion, who urged, + what is universally asserted by those who + have tried this method with any success, + that what has been written is found to be + tame and spiritless, in comparison with the + animated glow of that which springs from + the energy of the moment.</p> + + <p>There are some persons, however, who + would be embarrassed by an effort to + change the operation of the mind from + reading to inventing. Such persons may + <a class="pagenum" id="page72" title="72"> </a>find it best to make their beginning with + a whole discourse.</p> + + <p>4. In this case, there will be a great + advantage in selecting for first efforts + expository subjects. To say nothing of + the importance and utility of this mode of + preaching, which render it desirable that + every minister should devote a considerable + proportion of his labors to it; it contains + great facilities and reliefs for the inexperienced + speaker. The close study + of a passage of scripture which is necessary + to expounding it, renders it familiar. + The exposition is inseparably connected + with the text, and necessarily suggested + by it. The inferences and practical + reflections are in like manner naturally + and indissolubly associated with the passage. + The train of remark is easily preserved, + and embarrassment in a great + measure guarded against, by the circumstance + that the order of discourse is + spread out in the open Bible, upon which + the eyes may rest and by which the + thoughts may rally.</p> + + <p>5. A similar advantage is gained to the + beginner, in discourses of a different + character, by a very careful and minute + division of the subject. The division + <a class="pagenum" id="page73" title="73"> </a>should not only be logical and clear, but + into parts as numerous as possible. The + great advantage here is, that the partitions + being many, the speaker is compelled frequently + to return to his minutes. He is + thus kept in the track, and prevented + from wandering far in needless digressions—that + besetting infirmity of unrestrained + extemporizers. He also escapes the mortifying + consequences of a momentary confusion + and cloudiness of mind, by having + it in his power to leave an unsatisfactory + train at once, before the state of his mind + is perceived by the audience, and take up + the next topic, where he may recover his + self-possession, and proceed without impediment. + This is no unimportant consideration. + It relieves him from the horror + of feeling obliged to go on, while conscious + that he is saying nothing to the purpose; + and at the same time secures the very essential + requisite of right method.</p> + + <p>6. The next rule is, that the whole subject, + with the order and connexion of all + its parts, and the entire train of thought, + be made thoroughly familiar by previous + meditation. The speaker must have the + discourse in his mind as one whole, whose + various parts are distinctly perceived as + <a class="pagenum" id="page74" title="74"> </a>other wholes, connected with each other + and contributing to a common end. There + must be no uncertainty, when he rises to + speak, as to what he is going to say; no + mist or darkness over the land he is about + to travel; but conscious of his acquaintance + with the ground, he must step forward + confidently, not doubting that he + shall find the passes of its mountains, and + thread the intricacies of its forests, by the + paths which he has already trodden. It + is an imperfect and partial preparation in + this respect, which so often renders the + manner awkward and embarrassed, and + the discourse obscure and perplexed.<a href="#footnote_11" id="fnm11" title="Nemo potest de eâ re..." class="fnmarker">11</a> + But when the preparation is faithful, the + speaker feels at home; being under no + anxiety respecting the ideas or the order + of their succession, he has the more ready + control of his person, his eye, and his + hand, and the more fearlessly gives up his + mind to its own action and casts himself + upon the current. Uneasiness and constraint + are the inevitable attendants of unfaithful + preparation, and they are fatal + to success. It is true, that no man can + attain the power of self-possession so + <a class="pagenum" id="page75" title="75"> </a>as to feel at all times equally and entirely + at ease. But he may guard against the + sorest ills which attend its loss, by always + making sure of a train of thought,—being + secure that he has ideas, and that they lie + in such order as to be found and brought + forward in some sort of apparel, even + when he has in some measure lost the + mastery of himself. The richness or + meanness of their dress will depend on + the humor of the moment. It will vary + as much as health and spirits vary, which + is more in some men than in others. But + the thoughts themselves he may produce, + and be certain of saying <em>what</em> he intended + to say, even when he cannot say it <em>as</em> + he intended. It must often have been + observed, by those who are at all in the + habit of observation of this kind, that the + mind operates in this particular like a + machine, which, having been wound up, + runs on by its own spontaneous action, until + it has gone through its appointed course. + Many men have thus continued speaking + in the midst of an embarrassment of mind + which rendered them almost unconscious + of what they were saying, and incapable + of giving an account of it afterward; while + yet the unguided, self-moving intellect + <a class="pagenum" id="page76" title="76"> </a>wrought so well, that the speech was not + esteemed unwholesome or defective by + the hearers. The experience of this fact + has doubtless helped many to believe that + they spoke from inspiration. It ought to + teach all, that there is no sufficient cause + for that excessive apprehension, which so + often unmans them, and which, though it + may not stop their mouths, must deprive + their address of all grace and beauty, of all + ease and force.</p> + + <p>7. We may introduce in this place + another rule, the observance of which + will aid in preventing the ill consequences + resulting from the accidental loss of self-possession. + The rule is, utter yourself + very slowly and deliberately, with careful + pauses. This is at all times a great aid + to a clear and perspicuous statement. It + is essential to the speaker, who would + keep the command of himself and consequently + of his hearers.</p> + + <p>One is very likely, when, in the course + of speaking, he has stumbled on an unfortunate + expression, or said what he would + prefer not to say, or for a moment lost + sight of the precise point at which he was + aiming, to hurry on with increasing rapidity, + as if to get as far as possible from his + <a class="pagenum" id="page77" title="77"> </a>misfortune, or cause it to be forgotten in + the crowd of new words. But instead of + thus escaping the evil, he increases it; he + entangles himself more and more; and + augments the difficulty of recovering his + route. The true mode of recovering + himself is by increased deliberation. He + must pause, and give himself time to think;—“ut + tamen deliberare non hæsitare videatur.” + He need not be alarmed lest + his hearers suspect the difficulty. Most + of them are likely to attribute the slowness + of his step to any cause rather than the + true one. They take it for granted, that he + says and does precisely as he intended + and wished. They suppose that he is + pausing to gather up his strength. It excites + their attention. The change of + manner is a relief to them. And the + probability is, that the speaker not only + recovers himself, but that the effort to do + it gives a spring to the action of his powers, + which enables him to proceed afterward + with greater energy.</p> + + <p>8. In regard to language, the best rule + is, that no preparation be made. There + is no convenient and profitable medium + between speaking from memory and from + immediate suggestion. To mix the two is + <a class="pagenum" id="page78" title="78"> </a>no aid, but a great hindrance, because it + perplexes the mind between the very different + operations of memory and invention. + To prepare sentences and parts of + sentences, which are to be introduced + here and there, and the intervals between + them to be filled up in the delivery, is the + surest of all ways to produce constraint. + It is like the embarrassment of framing + verses to prescribed rhymes; as vexatious, + and as absurd. To be compelled to shape + the course of remark so as to suit a sentence + which is by and by to come, or to + introduce certain expressions which are + waiting for their place, is a check to the + natural current of thought. The inevitable + consequence is constraint and labor, + the loss of every thing like easy and flowing + utterance, and perhaps that worst of + confusion which results from a jumble of + ill assorted, disjointed periods. It is unavoidable + that the subject should present + itself in a little different form and complexion + in speaking, from that which it took in + meditation; so that the sentences and modes + of expression, which agreed very well with + the train of remark as it came up in the + study, may be wholly unsuited to that + which it assumes in the pronunciation.</p> + + <p><a class="pagenum" id="page79" title="79"> </a>The extemporaneous speaker should + therefore trust himself to the moment for + all his language. This is the safe way + for his comfort, and the only sure way to + make all of a uniform piece. The general + rule is certain, though there may be + some exceptions. It may be well for example, + to consider what synonymous terms + may be employed in recurring to the chief + topic, in order to avoid the too frequent + reiteration of the same word. This will + occasion no embarrassment. He may + also prepare texts of scripture to be introduced + in certain parts of the discourse. + These, if perfectly committed to memory, + and he be not too anxious to make a place + for them, will be no encumbrance. When + a suitable juncture occurs, they will suggest + themselves, just as a suitable epithet + suggests itself. But if he be very solicitous + about them, and continually on + the watch for an opportunity to introduce + them, he will be likely to confuse himself. + And it is better to lose the choicest quotation, + than suffer constraint and awkwardness + from the effort to bring it in. Under + the same restrictions he may have ready, + pithy remarks, striking and laconic expressions, + pointed sayings and aphorisms, + <a class="pagenum" id="page80" title="80"> </a>the force of which depends on the precise + form of the phrase. Let the same rule + be observed in regard to such. If they + suggest themselves (which they will do, + if there be a proper place for them), let + them be welcome. But never let him run + the risk of spoiling a whole paragraph in + trying to make a place for them.</p> + + <p>Many distinguished speakers are said to + do more than this,—to write out with care + and repeat from memory their more important + and persuasive parts; like the <em>de + bene esse’s</em> of Curran, and the splendid + passages of many others. This may undoubtedly + be done to advantage by one + who has the command of himself which + practice gives, and has learned to pass + from memory to invention without tripping. + It is a different case from that mixture of + the two operations, which is condemned + above, and is in fact only an extended + example of the exceptions made in the + last paragraph. With these exceptions, + when he undertakes, <em>bonâ fide</em>, an extemporaneous + address, he should make no preparation + of language. Language is the last + thing he should be anxious about. If he + have ideas, and be awake, it will come of + itself, unbidden and unsought for. The + <a class="pagenum" id="page81" title="81"> </a>best language flashes upon the speaker as + unexpectedly as upon the hearer. It is + the spontaneous gift of the mind, not the + extorted boon of a special search. No + man who has thoughts, and is interested + in them, is at a loss for words—not the + most uneducated man; and the words he + uses will be according to his education and + general habits, not according to the labour + of the moment. If he truly feel, and wish to + communicate his feelings to those around + him, the last thing that will fail will be language; + the less he thinks of it and cares + for it, the more copiously and richly will + it flow from him; and when he has forgotten + every thing but his desire to give + vent to his emotions and do good, then + will the unconscious torrent pour, as it + does at no other season. This entire surrender + to the spirit which stirs within, is + indeed the real secret of all eloquence. + “True eloquence,” says Milton, “I find + to be none but the serious and hearty love + of truth; and that whose mind soever is + fully possessed with a fervent desire to + know good things, and with the dearest + charity to infuse the knowledge of them + into others,—when such a man would + speak, his words, like so many nimble and + <a class="pagenum" id="page82" title="82"> </a>airy servitors, trip about him at command + and in well ordered files, as he would + wish, fall aptly into their own places.” + Rerum enim copia (says the great Roman + teacher and example) verborum copiam + gignit; et, si est honestas in rebus ipsis + de quibus dicitur, existit ex rei naturâ + quidam splendor in verbis. Sit modo is, + qui dicet aut scribet, institutus liberaliter + educatione doctrinâque puerili, et flagret + studio, et a naturâ adjuvetur, et in universorum + generum infinitis disceptationibus + exercitatus; ornatissimos scriptores oratoresque + ad cognoscendum imitandumque + legerit;—næ ille haud sane, quemadmodum + verba struat et illuminet, a magistris istis + requiret. Ita facile in rerum abundantiâ + ad orationis ornamenta, sine duce, naturâ + ipsâ, si modo est exercitata, labetur.<a href="#footnote_12" id="fnm12" title="De Or. iii. 31." class="fnmarker">12</a></p> + + <p>9. These remarks lead to another suggestion + which deserves the student’s consideration. + He should select for this exercise + those subjects in which he feels an + interest at the time, and in regard to + which he desires to engage the interest of + others. In order to the best success, extemporaneous + efforts should be made in + an excited state, when the mind is burning + <a class="pagenum" id="page83" title="83"> </a>and glowing, and longs to find vent. + There are some topics which do not admit + of this excitement. Such should be + treated by the pen. When he would + speak, he should choose topics on which + his own mind is kindling with a feeling + which he is earnest to communicate; and + the higher the degree to which he has + elevated his feelings, the more readily, + happily, and powerfully will he pour forth + whatever the occasion may demand. + There is no style suited to the pulpit, + which he will not more effectually command + in this state of mind. He will + reason more directly, pointedly, and convincingly; + he will describe more vividly + from the living conceptions of the moment; + he will be more earnest in persuasion, + more animated in declamation, more urgent + in appeals, more terrible in denunciation. + Every thing will vanish from before + him, but the subject of his attention, + and upon this his powers will be concentrated + in keen and vigorous action.</p> + + <p>If a man would do his best, it must be + upon topics which are at the moment + interesting to him. We see it in conversation, + where every one is eloquent upon + his favorite subjects. We see it in deliberative + <a class="pagenum" id="page84" title="84"> </a>assemblies; where it is those + grand questions, which excite an intense + interest, and absorb and agitate the mind, + that call forth those bursts of eloquence + by which men are remembered as powerful + orators, and that give a voice to + men who can speak on no other occasions. + Cicero tells us of himself, that the + instances in which he was most successful, + were those in which he most entirely + abandoned himself to the impulses of + feeling. Every speaker’s experience will + bear testimony to the same thing; and + thus the saying of Goldsmith proves true, + that, “to feel one’s subject thoroughly, + and to speak without fear, are the only + rules of eloquence.” Let him who would + preach successfully, remember this. In + the choice of subjects for extemporaneous + efforts, let him have regard to it, and + never encumber himself nor distress his + hearers, with the attempt to interest them + in a subject, which excites at the moment + only a feeble interest in his own mind.</p> + + <p>This rule excludes many topics, which it + is necessary to introduce into the pulpit, + subjects in themselves interesting and important, + but which few men can be trusted + to treat in unpremeditated language; + <a class="pagenum" id="page85" title="85"> </a>because they require an exactness of definition, + and nice discrimination of phrase, + which may be better commanded in the + cool leisure of writing, than in the prompt + and declamatory style of the speaker. + The rule also forbids the attempt to speak + when ill health, or lowness of spirits, or + any accidental cause, renders him incapable + of that excitement which is requisite + to success. It requires of him to watch + over the state of his body—the partial + derangement of whose functions so often + confuses the mind—that, by preserving a + vigorous and animated condition of the + corporeal system, he may secure vigour + and vivacity of mind. It requires of him, + finally, whenever he is about entering + upon the work, to use every means, by + careful meditation, by calling up the strong + motives of his office, by realizing the nature + and responsibility of his undertaking, + and by earnestly invoking the blessing of + God—to attain that frame of devout engagedness, + which will dispose him to speak + zealously and fearlessly.</p> + + <p>10. Another important item in the discipline + to be passed through, consists in + attaining the habit of self-command. I + have already adverted to this point, and + <a class="pagenum" id="page86" title="86"> </a>noticed the power which the mind possesses + of carrying on the premeditated + operation, even while the speaker is considerably + embarrassed. This is, however, + only a reason for not being too much distressed + by the feeling when only occasional; + it does not imply that it is no evil. + It is a most serious evil; of little comparative + moment, it may be, when only occasional + and transitory, but highly injurious + if habitual. It renders the speaker + unhappy, and his address ineffective. If + perfectly at ease, he would have every + thing at command, and be able to pour + out his thoughts in lucid order, and with + every desirable variety of manner and expression. + But when thrown from his self-possession, + he can do nothing better than + mechanically string together words, while + there is no soul in them, because his mental + powers are spell-bound and imbecile. + He stammers, hesitates, and stumbles; + or, at best, talks on without object or + aim, as mechanically and unconsciously + as an automaton. He has learned little + effectually, till he has learned to be collected.</p> + + <p>This therefore must be a leading object + of attention. It will not be attained by + <a class="pagenum" id="page87" title="87"> </a>men of delicacy and sensibility, except + by long and trying practice. It will be + the result of much rough attrition with the + world, and many mortifying failures. And + after all, occasions may occur, when the + most experienced will be put off their + guard. Still, however, much may be done + by the control which a vigorous mind has + over itself, by resolute and persevering + determination, by refusing to shrink or give + way, and by preferring always the mortification + of ill success, to the increased weakness + which would grow out of retreating.</p> + + <p>There are many considerations, also, + which if kept before the mind would operate + not a little to strengthen its confidence + in itself. Let the speaker be sensible + that, if self-possessed, he is not likely + to fail; that after faithful study and preparation, + there is nothing to stand in his + way, but his own want of self-command. + Let him heat his mind with his subject, + endeavour to feel nothing, and care for + nothing, but that. Let him consider, that + his audience takes for granted that he + says nothing but what he designed, and + does not notice those slight errors which + annoy and mortify him; that in truth such + errors are of no moment; that he is not + <a class="pagenum" id="page88" title="88"> </a>speaking for reputation and display, nor + for the gratification of others, by the exhibition + of a rhetorical model, or for the + satisfaction of a cultivated taste: but + that he is a teacher of virtue, a messenger + of Jesus Christ, a speaker in the name of + God; whose chosen object it is to lead + men above all secondary considerations + and worldly attainments, and to create in + them a fixed and lasting interest in spiritual + and religious concerns;—that he himself + therefore ought to regard other things + as of comparatively little consequence + while he executes this high function; that + the true way to effect the object of his + ministry, is to be filled with that object, + and to be conscious of no other desire but + to promote it. Let him, in a word, be + zealous to do good, to promote religion, + to save souls, and little anxious to make + what might be called a fine sermon—let + him learn to sink every thing in his subject + and the purpose it should accomplish—ambitious + rather to do good, than to do + well;—and he will be in a great measure + secure from the loss of self-command and + its attendant distress. Not always—for + this feeble vessel of the mind seems to be + sometimes tost to and fro, as it were, upon + <a class="pagenum" id="page89" title="89"> </a>the waves of circumstances, unmanageable + by the helm and disobedient to the + wind. Sometimes God seems designedly + to show us our weakness, by taking from + us the control of our powers, and causing + us to be drifted along whither we would + not. But under all ordinary occurrences, + habitual piety and ministerial zeal will be + an ample security. From the abundance + of the heart the mouth will speak. The + most diffident man in the society of men + is known to converse freely and fearlessly + when his heart is full, and his passions engaged; + and no man is at a loss for words, + or confounded by another’s presence, who + thinks neither of the language, nor the + company, but only of the matter which + fills him. Let the preacher consider this, + and be persuaded of it,—and it will do + much to relieve him from the distress + which attends the loss of self-possession, + which distorts every feature with agony, + and distils in sweat from his forehead. + It will do much to destroy that incubus, + which sits upon every faculty of the soul, + and palsies every power, and fastens down + the helpless sufferer to the very evil from + which he strives to flee.</p> + + <p>After all, therefore, which can be said, + <a class="pagenum" id="page90" title="90"> </a>the great essential requisite to effective + preaching in this method (or indeed in + any method) is a devoted heart. A strong + religious sentiment, leading to a fervent + zeal for the good of other men, is better + than all rules of art; it will give him courage, + which no science or practice could + impart, and open his lips boldly, when the + fear of man would keep them closed. Art + may fail him, and all his treasures of + knowledge desert him; but if his heart be + warm with love, he will “speak right on,” + aiming at the heart, and reaching the + heart, and satisfied to accomplish the great + purpose, whether he be thought to do it + tastefully or not.</p> + + <p>This is the true spirit of his office, to be + cherished and cultivated above all things + else, and capable of rendering all its labors + comparatively easy. It reminds him that + his purpose is not to make profound discussions + of theological doctrines, or disquisitions + on moral and metaphysical science; + but to present such views of the + great and acknowledged truths of revelation, + with such applications of them to the + understanding and conscience, as may affect + and reform his hearers. Now it is + not study only, in divinity or in rhetoric, + <a class="pagenum" id="page91" title="91"> </a>which will enable him to do this. He + may reason ingeniously, but not convincingly; + he may declaim eloquently, but not + persuasively. There is an immense, though + indescribable difference between the + same arguments and truths, as presented + by him who earnestly feels and desires to + persuade, and by him who designs only a + display of intellectual strength, or an exercise + of rhetorical skill. In the latter + case, the declamation may be splendid, + but it will be cold and without expression; + lulling the ear, and diverting the fancy, but + leaving the feelings untouched. In the + other, there is an air of reality and sincerity, + which words cannot describe, but + which the heart feels, that finds its way + to the recesses of the soul, and overcomes + it by a powerful sympathy. This is a difference + which all perceive and all can account + for. The truths of religion are not + matters of philosophical speculation, but of + experience. The heart and all the spiritual + man, and all the interests and feelings of + the immortal being, have an intimate concern + in them. It is perceived at once + whether they are stated by one who has + felt them himself, is personally acquainted + with their power, is subject to their influence, + <a class="pagenum" id="page92" title="92"> </a>and speaks from actual experience; + or whether they come from one + who knows them only in speculation, has + gathered them from books, and thought + them out by his own reason, but without + any sense of their spiritual operation.</p> + + <p>But who does not know how much + easier it is to declare what has come to + our knowledge from our own experience, + than what we have gathered coldly at second + hand from that of others;—how much + easier it is to describe feelings we have + ourselves had, and pleasures we have ourselves + enjoyed, than to fashion a description + of what others have told us;—how + much more freely and convincingly we can + speak of happiness we have known, than + of that to which we are strangers. We + see, then, how much is lost to the speaker + by coldness or ignorance in the exercises + of personal religion. How can he effectually + represent the joys of a religious + mind, who has never known what it is to + feel them? How can he effectually aid + the contrite, the desponding, the distrustful, + the tempted, who has never himself passed + through the same fears and sorrows? or + how can he paint, in the warm colors of + truth, religious exercises and spiritual desires, + <a class="pagenum" id="page93" title="93"> </a>who is personally a stranger to them? + Alas, he cannot at all come in contact + with those souls, which stand most in need + of his sympathy and aid. But if he have + cherished in himself, fondly and habitually, + the affections he would excite in others, + if he have combated temptation, and + practised self-denial, and been instant in + prayer, and tasted the joy and peace of + a tried faith and hope;—then he may + communicate directly with the hearts of + his fellow men, and win them over to that + which he so feelingly describes. If his + spirit be always warm and stirring with + these pure and kind emotions, and anxious + to impart the means of his own felicity to + others—how easily and freely will he pour + himself forth! and how little will he think + of the embarrassments of the presence of + mortal man, while he is conscious only of + laboring for the glory of the ever present + God.</p> + + <p>This then is the one thing essential to + be attained and cherished by the Christian + preacher. With this he must begin, and + with this he must go on to the end. Then + he never can greatly fail; for he will + <span class="small_all_caps">FEEL HIS SUBJECT THOROUGHLY, AND + SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR</span>.</p> + + </div> + <div id="footnotes" class="section"> + <h2 class="section_title">Footnotes</h2> + <ol> + <li id="footnote_1">Europe; &c. by a Citizen of the United States. <a href="#fnm1" title="Return to marker 1" class="returnFN">Return</a></li> + <li id="footnote_2">Middleton’s Life of Cicero, III. 324. <a href="#fnm2" title="Return to marker 2" class="returnFN">Return</a></li> + <li id="footnote_3"><cite>Cecil’s Remains</cite>—a delightful little book. <a href="#fnm3" title="Return to marker 3" class="returnFN">Return</a></li> + <li id="footnote_4">See his fourth Lecture on Pulpit Eloquence. <a href="#fnm4" title="Return to marker 4" class="returnFN">Return</a></li> + <li id="footnote_5">Life, p. 268. <a href="#fnm5" title="Return to marker 5" class="returnFN">Return</a></li> + <li id="footnote_6">Rees’ Cyclopædia. <a href="#fnm6" title="Return to marker 6" class="returnFN">Return</a></li> + <li id="footnote_7">Sur l’Eloquence du Corps, ou L’Action du Prédicateur. <a href="#fnm7" title="Return to marker 7" class="returnFN">Return</a></li> + <li id="footnote_8"> Sur l’Eloquence du Corps, ou l’Action du Prédicateur. <a href="#fnm8" title="Return to marker 8" class="returnFN">Return</a> </li> + <li id="footnote_9"> No. LXXI. p. 82. <a href="#fnm9" title="Return to marker 9" class="returnFN">Return</a> </li> + <li id="footnote_10"> + It is often said that extemporaneous speaking is + the distinction of modern eloquence. But the whole + language of Cicero’s rhetorical works, as well as + particular terms in common use, and anecdotes recorded + of different speakers, prove the contrary; + not to mention Quinctilian’s express instructions on + the subject. Hume, also, tells us from Suidas, that + the writing of speeches was unknown until the time + of Pericles. + <a href="#fnm10" title="Return to marker 10" class="returnFN">Return</a> + </li> + <li id="footnote_11"> + Nemo potest de eâ re, quam non novit, non + turpissime dicere. Cic. de Or. + <a href="#fnm11" title="Return to marker 11" class="returnFN">Return</a> + </li> + <li id="footnote_12"> De Or. iii. 31. <a href="#fnm12" title="Return to marker 12" class="returnFN">Return</a> </li> + + </ol> + </div> + <div id="the_end"> </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Hints on Extemporaneous Preaching, by Henry Ware + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HINTS ON EXTEMPORANEOUS PREACHING *** + +***** This file should be named 26308-h.htm or 26308-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/3/0/26308/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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