A TREATISE
ON THE
PREJPARATION AND DELIVERY
OF
S A R M 0 NS.
BY
JOHN A BROADUS, D.D., LL.D.,
PROFESSOR IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
GREENVILLE, S. C.
First Edition
PHILADELPHIA
SMITH, ENGLISH & CO.,
No. 23 NORTH SIXTH STREET.
NEW YORK: SHELDON & CO., 500 BROADWAY.
1871.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by
JOHN A. BROADUS,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
I AT J. PFAGAN & SON,
STEREOTYPE FOUNDERS,
A PHILADELPHIA.
~
CANTON PRESS OF SHERMAN & co

This work is designed, on the one hand to be a text book for classes, and on the other to be read by such ministers, younger or older, as may wish to study the subjects discussed.

As a teacher of Homiletics for ten years, the author had felt the need of a more complete text-book, since a course made up from parts of several different works would still omit certain important subjects, and furnish but a meager treatment of others, leaving the class to a great extent dependent entirely upon the lectures. The desire thus arose to prepare, whenever possible, a work which should be full in its range of topics, and should also attempt to combine the thorough discussion of principles with an abundance of practical rules and suggestions. When the labor involved in teaching this and at the same time another branch of Theology became excessive, and it was necessary to relinquish Homiletics though always a favorite branch the author determined, before the subject should fade from his mind, to undertake the work he had contemplated.

The treatise is therefore a result of practical instruction, but it is not simply a printed course of lectures. The materials existing in the form of brief notes have been everywhere rewrought, the literature of the subject carefiully re-examined, and the place which had been occupied by text-books, filled by an independent discussion.

Those who may think of employing the work as a textbook are requested to note, that it is divided into.independent Parts, which, while arranged in the order indicated by the nature of the subject, may be taken up in any other order required by the exigencies of instruction. Some would prefer to begin with Arrangement, in order that students may at once have the benefit of this in preparing sermons or sketches. Others might begin with Style, in order to general exercises in composition; and possibly others with Delivery. The author would himself prefer, if using the book, to take, after the Introduction, the first three chapters of Part I, and then Part II and perhaps other portions before completing Part I. The cross references from one part to another will be found somewhat numerous. In the plan of the work, a few instances occur of departure from a strict technical distribution of the topics, for the sake of practical convenience. Thus the matters embraced under Illustration, Expository Preaching, or Imagination, would strictly belong to several different parts of the work, but it is practically better to discuss all at the same time.

It may be necessary to explain the introduction of copious chapters on the Interpretation of a Text, and on Argument. The former subject is discussed in treatises on Hermeneutics. But besides the fact that not a few of those who use this book will not have previously studied Hermeneutics, those who have done so may be interested and profited by a discussion bearing more directly on the work of preaching; and such students will be able to read the chapter rapidly. Much improvement has been made during the past century in respect to pulpit interpretation, but it is a point as to which our young ministers still need to be very carefully guarded. The subject of Argument is thought by some to be out of place in a treatise on Homiletics or on Rhetoric in general. But preaching and all public speaking ought to be largely composed of argument, for even the most ignorant people constantly practice it themselves, and always feel its force when properly presented; and yet in many pulpits the place of argument is mainly filled by mere assertion and exhortation, and the arguments employed are often carelessly stated, or even gravely erroneous. Treatises on Logic teach the critical inspection, rather than the construction of argument, and so the latter must be discussed in works on Rhetoric, if anywhere. The well-known chapters of Whately have been here freely employed, but with very large additions, and with the attempt to correct some important errors. The examples of argument given are nearly all drawn from religious truth. With these explanations it is left to instructors to use or omit these portions of the work at their pleasure.

But the great mass of young ministers, particularly in some denominations, never study Homiletics under a teacher, whether they have or have not enjoyed a Collegiate education. The attempt has been everywhere made to adapt the present work to the wants of these students, as well as the purposes of a text-book. They will choose for themselves what portions to take up first, but such as have had no College education may be urged not to abandon the book without reading the discussion of Arrangement and Style, as well as of Interpretation, Subjects of Preaching, and Argument. For the sake of those who have enjoyed few advantages, occasional explanations have been introduced, which other readers would hardly need.

Those who have had much experience in preaching often find it interesting and useful to examine a treatise on the preparation and delivery of sermons. New topics and new methods may be suggested, things forgotten or hitherto neglected are recalled, ideas gradually formed in the course ocf experience are made clearer and more definite, and where the views advanced are not deemed just, re sewed reflection on some questions need not be unprofitable. Moreover, the desire for high excellence in preaching may receive a fresh stimulus. Such readers will remember that many practical matters which to them have now become obvious and commonplace, are precisely the points upon which a beginner most needs counsel. And while there are in the present treatise numerous divisions and subdivisions, so marked as to meet the wants of students, the attempt has been made to preserve the style from becoming broken and unreadable.

The author's chief indebtedness for help has been to Aristotle, Cicero and Quintilian, and to Whately and Vinet. The two last (together with Ripley) had been his text-books,- and copious extracts are made from them on certain subjects. A good deal has been derived fronm Alexander, Shedd, Day, and Hoppin, from Coquerel and Palmer, and a great variety of others writers, as the Index will show. Besides quotations, there are numerous references to works in which may be found some impressive statement of similar opinions, or further considerations bearing on the subject in hand. Only such references have been given as it was thought really worth while for the student to consult. At the close of the Introduction, there is a list of the principal works forming the Literature of Homiletics, with brief notices of their character and value. It is believed that to give in a treatise sonme account of previous works on the subject, as judged from the author's point of view,% a thing appropriate and calculated to be useful. Such notices, in the case of contemporary writers, ought not to be reckoned discourteous if they frankly express disapprobation in some respects as well as praise in others. Were they somewhat more extended, these critical appreciations would be more useful. Besides this general account of the literature, essays and treatises upon particular branches of Rhetoric or Homiletics are briefly characterized in foot-notes, upon the introduction of the respective topics. Two important and valuable works, MecIlvaine on Elocution (New York, 1870), and Dabney's Sacred Rhetoric (RPichmond, 1870), were received after the Introduction was stereotyped, but are noticed in Part IV, chapter II, and were made useful in that and the following chapters. Two articles published by the author On the Baptist Quarterly for January, 1869, and January, 1870. have been incorporated into the work, with the necessary rewriting; and some articles forming other portions of it have appeared in the Religious Herald, and the Central Baptist. The author is grateful to his colleagues and his pastor, for sympathy in his undertaking and for valuable suggestions. The Index has been prepared by the Rev. John C. Long, of Virginia.

Special pains have been taken, at the proper points of the treatise, to give practical suggestions for extemporaneous speaking. Most works confine their instruction as regards the preparation of sermons to the case of writing out in full; and many treat of delivery, as if it were in all cases to be reading or recitation. The effort has here been to keep the different methods in view, and to mention, in connection with matters applicable to all alike, such as apply to one or another method in particular.

As to many of the practical questions connected with the preparation and delivery of sermons, there is much difference of opinion; and an experienced pr her in reading ally treatise on the subject, must find points here and there which he would prefer to see treated othlerwise. He would decide whether, notwithstanding, the work is likely to be useful. In the present case, critic,ism, whether favorable or adverse, would be welcomed. Where the author is in error, he would greatly prefer to know it. Where the views presented are just, they may become more useful through discussion.

No one could prepare a work on this subject without feeling, and sometimes deeply feeling, the responsibility he incurred. It is a solemn thing to preach the gospel, and therefore a very solemn thing to attempt instruction or even suggestion as to the means of preaching well.

Julz, 1870. There are several classes of persons besides ministers, to whom portions of this work may perhaps prove acceptable and useful. The treatises on Rhetoric now studied, in schools and College, are nearly all designed to prepare the student for writing, rather than distinctively for speaking; and speakers upon whatsoever subject, may really find more of what they need in a book on preaching. The ablest lawyers and statesmen have often studied sermons, as specimens of eloquence; why not learn something from treatises on the prepar'ation and delivery of sermons? The portions which nmight be recommended to this class are after the Introduction, Pairt I, chapters 4-8 Part II, chapters 1 and 2; Part III; and Part IV; and these may,he taken in any order. Lay preachers, and persons desirous of speaking in public on religious subjects, might be not a little helped by the first three chapters of Part I, by Part V, and by such other portions of the work as they may find time to read. To Sunday-School teachers are recommended Part I, chapters 2-7, and- 8, with the close of chapter 3; and Part V. Intelligent Christians, of both sexes, must be often grieved at the false estimate of preaching, the wrong notions of what it is, and wllhat it ought to bwhich are so prevalent. By reading something practical on the':et, they would be better prepared to sustain those who preach properly, and to improve the tone of social conversation in regard to this matter. They might also become more sympathizing and appreciative hearers; and good listeners are, in proportion, quite as rare as good preachers. To these are recomumended the Introduction; Part I, chapters 1-4, 7 and 8; Part II, chapter 3; Part IV; and Part V.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

1. Importance of Preaching.............................................
Difficulty of preaching well.......................................
. 2. Nature of Eloquence...................................................
3. Requisites of effective preaching, viz., piety, natural gifts,
knowledge, skill....................................................
4. Origin of the Rules of Rhetoric...................................
5. Dangers of rhetorical studies.......................................
6. Relation of Homiletics to Rhetoric................................
7. Literature of Homiletics.............................................

PART I.

MATERIALS OF PREACIIING.
CHAPTER I.
THE TEXT - SELECTION.

1. Meaning of the term Text....................
Q 2. Advantages of having a Text........................................
8 3. Rules (eight) for the selection of Texts..........................
CHAPTER II.
THE TEXT - INTERPRETATION.
38
89
41
I 1. Obligation to interpret carefully and strictly.................. 51
{ 2. Chief sources of error in the interpretation of texts........ 53

CONTENTS.
Misunderstanding the text itself................................
Disregarding the connection of the text.....................
Impl)roper spiritualizing........................................
Q 3 Examples (nineteen) of texts often misapplied................
{ 4. Rules (six) for interpreting a text.................................
CHAPTER III.
SUBJECTS - CLASSIFIED.
1. Doctrinal subjects...................................................... 88
Evidences of Christianity.......................................... 93
Controversy with other professed Christians................. 95
# 2. Subjects of morality.................................................. 97
Political preaching.................................................. 99
Temperance, Amusements, etc.................................... 104
8 3. Historical subjects................................................ 105
Q 4. Experimental subjects.......................................... 109
5. Occasional sermons..................................................... 111
Funeral sermons..................................................... 111
Academic sermons................................................... 113
Sermons to children................................................ 114
CHAPTER IV.
GENERAL MATERIALS OF PREACHING -ORIGINALITY
AND PLAGIARISM.
1. Materials possessed beforehand.................................... 118
The Scriptures a preacher's chief study..................... 121
Systematic Theology................................................ 122
Other reading......................................................... 123
2. Materials provided at the time...................................... 126
3. Original materials.................................................... 127
Absolute and relative originality................................ 127
Why originality is so desirable.................................. 130
Obstacles to originality....................................... 132
4. Borrowed materials and Plagiarism............................... 135
Proper use of ideas derived from others...................... 136
Proper acknowledgment of having borrowed.............. 141

CONTENTS.
PAGE
Science.................................................................. 221
Hiistory, news, anecdotes......................................... 223
Literature altd art.................................................... 225
Scripture................................................................. 228
{ 3. Cautions as to the employment of Illustration................. 228
CHAPTER VIII.
APPLICATION.
Importance of the Application............................................ 230
Persuasion, and three classes of motives.............................. 232
Exciting emotion.............................................................. 234
PART II.
ARRANGEMENT OF A SERMON.
CHAPTER I.
IMPORTANCE OF ARRANGEMENT.
CHAPTER II.
THE SEVERAL PARTS OF A SERMON.
1. The Introduction........................................................ 248
Sources of introduction............................................ 250
Qualities of a good introduction................................. 254
2. Plan and Divisions..................................................... 257
No discourse without a plan...................................... 257
Always seek the best plan........................................ 258
The Proposition...................................................... 260
Divisions............................................................... 262
Are divisions necessary?........................................... 262
Number of divisions................................................ 266
Character of the divisions........................................ 268
Order of the divisions.............................................. 27.1
Statement of the divisions........................................ 272
Shall they be announced beforehand?......................... 273

CONTENTS.
PAOGM
Science.................................................................. 221
HIistory, news, anecdotes.................................. 223
Literature aindart..................................................... 225
Scripture................................................................ 228
{ 3. Cautions as to the employment of Illustration................. 228
CHAPTER VIII.
APPLICATION.
Importance of the Application............................................ 230
Persuasion, and three classes of motives.............................. 282
Exciting emotion.............................................................. 284
PART II.
ARRANGEMENT OF A SERIMON.
CHAPTER I.
IMPORTANCE OF ARRANGEMENT.
CHAPTER II.
THE SEVERAL PARTS OF A SERMON.
1. The Introduction........................................................ 248
Sources of introduction............................................ 250
Qualities of a good introduction................................. 254
2. Plan and Divisions...................................................... 257
No discour ithout a plan......................................257
Always seek the best plan........................................ 258
The Proposition..................................................... 260
Divisions............................................................... 262
Are divisions necessary?........................................... 262
Number of divisions.................................................. 266
Character of the divisions........................................ 268
Order of the divisions.............................................. 27.1
Statement of the divisions....................................... 272
9hall they be announced beforehand?......................... 273

CONTENTS.
TAGE
Transitions............................................................ 274
3. Conclusion................................................................. 277
Should be carefully prepared................................... 278
Recapitulation........................................................ 279
Application, of different kinds................................ 279
Concluding exhortation............................................ 284
Preparation of the conclusion.................................... 286
CHAPTER III.
DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SERMONS.
Three species distinguished............................................... 288
Q 1. Subject-sermons......................................................... 289
Q 2. Text-sermons....................................................... 293
{ 3. Expository sermons.................................................... 299
Advantages and disadvantages.................................. 300
Suggestions as to construction and management.......... 302
List of good specimens............................................. 316
PART III.
STYLE.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON STYLE,
1. Nature and importance of style....................... 319
{ 2. Means of improving style............................................. 324
Study of language........................................... 325
Study of literatre................................,.,...329
Practice, in writing and speaking................... 334
CHAPTER 11.
PERSPICUITY OP STYLE.
Importance of perspicuity.................................................. 339
Perspicuity as depending on terms...................................... 343

CONTENTS.
PAGE
On the construction of sentences and paragraphs.................. 347
On general brevity and diffuseness...................................... 352
CHAPTER III.
ENERGY OF STYLE.
Nature of energy, and requisites thereto..............................
Energy in terms..............................................................
Energy in construction.......................................
Conciseness in order to energy............................................
Figures which promote energy..........................................
-CHAPTER IV.
ELEGANCE OF STYLE.
Elegance in different species of composition.......................... 380
" in use of terms................................................... 386
in arrangement of words...................................... 387
" in use of figures.................................................. 390
Simplicity conducive to elegance........................................ 391
CHAPTER V.
IMAGINATION IN ITS RELATION TO ELOQUENCE.
1. Uses of imagination to the orat or......................3............ 95
{ 2. Means of cultivating the imagination............................. 400
PART IV.
DELIVERY OF SERMONS.
CHAPTER I.
THE THREE METHODS OF PREPARATION AND DELIVERY.
General remarks on Delivery........................................... 406
, 1. Reading sermons........................................................ 408
2. Recitation-to write and repeat from memory................ 420

CONTENTs.
PAGE
Free speaking......................................................... 423
8 3. Extemporaneous speaking........................................... 425
Q 4. Brief History of the three methods................................ 436
# 5. General and special preparation for extemporaneous
preaching........................................................... 439,
CHAPTER II.
ON DELIVERY AS REGARDS VOICE.
1. General remarks on Delivery........................................ 444
Q 2. The voice-its distinct powers..................................... 450
Q 3. General improvement of voice...................................... 452
Q 4. Management of voice when actually preaching............... 458
Note on Minister's Sore Throat.................................. 461
CHAPTER III.
ON DELIVERY AS REGARDS ACTION.
Action as expressing thought............................................. 464
Expression of countenance................................................. 467
Posture in speaking.......................................................... 468
Gesture-use of hands..................................................... 471
Rules with regard to action................................................ 475
PART V.
CONDUCT OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
Worship proper often neglected.......................................... 476
Q 1. Reading Scripture.................................................. 478
Q 2. Reading Hymns.................................................. 484
Q 3. Public Prayer...................................492
Q 4. Length of Services..................................................... 499
@ 5. Pulpit Decorum................................................ 502
i 6. Concluding Remarks................................................... 504

THE PREPARATION AND DELIVERY OF SERMONS. INTRODUCTION. 1. IMPORTANCE OF PREACHING AND DIFFICULTY OF PREACHING WELL. ~ 2. NATURE OF ELOQUENCE. ~ 3. REQUISITES TO EF FECTIVE PREACHING. ~ 4. ORIGIN OF TJIE RULES OF RHEITORIC. Q 5. DANGERS OF RHETORICAL STUDIES. ~ 6. RELATION OF HOM ILETICS TO RHETORIC. ~ 7. LITERATURE OF HOMILETICS. -REACHING is characteristic of Christianity. No false religion has ever provided for the regular and frequent assembling of the masses of men, to hear religious instruction and exhortation.* Judaism had something like it in the prophets, and afterwards in the readers and speakers of the synagogue; but Judaism was a true religion, designed to be developed into Christianity. The great appointed means of spreading the good tidings of salvation through Christ is preaching- words spoken, whether to the individual, or to the assembly. And this, nothing can supersede. Printing has become a mighty agency for good and for evil; and Christians should employ it, with the utmost diligence and in every possible way, * Comp. Vinet, p. 21.

for the spread of truth. But printing can never take the place of the living word. When a man who is apt in teaching, whose soul is on fire with the truth which he trusts has saved him and hopes will save others, speaks to his fellow-men, face to face, eye to eye, and electric sympathies flash to and fro between him and his hearers, till they lift each other up, higher and higher, into the inltensest thought, and the most impassioned emotion -higher and yet higher, till they are borne as on chariots of fire above the world,- there is a power to move men, to influence character, life, destiny, such as no printed page can ever possess. Pastoral work is of immense importance, and all preachers should be diligent in performing it. But it cannot take the place of preaching, nor fully compensate for lack of power in the pulpit. The two help each other, and neither of them is able, unless supported by the other, to achieve the largest and most blessed results. When he who preaches is the sympathizing pastor, the trusted counsellor, the kindly and honored friend of young and old, of rich and poor, then "truths divine comei mended from his lips," and the door to men's hearts, by the magical power of sympathy, will fly open at his word. But on the other hand, when he who visits is the preacher, wh9se thorough knowledge of Scripture and elevated views of life, whose able and impassioned discourses have carried conviction and commanded admiration, and melted into one the hearts of the multitude, who is accustomed to stand before them as the ambassador of God, and is associated in their minds with the authority and the sacredness of God's Word, - when he comes to speak with the suffering, the sorrowing, the tempted, his visit has a meaning and a power of which otherwise it must be destitute. If a minister feels himself specially drawn towards either of these departments of effort, let him also constrain himself to diligence in the other. Religious ceremonies may be instructive and impressive.