Who Are the Great Preachers?
The great preachers of the world have been those who were in direct sympathy with human life, and who had an end to gain with the men before them. But with culture and scholastic habits, men have interpreted the word of God, “Follow me, and I will make you a preacher of sermons.” The end of preaching is not a good sermon, but a holy heart. Fine sermons have nearly ruined good preaching. If ministers cared more for their people, and less for their own sermons, they would be more useful. Preaching has almost ceased to be a living business between a man’s heart and the wants of his congregation. Learning, rhetoric, eloquence, are good as collateral influences; but no man will win souls who does not feel the throbbing pulse of his whole congregation—who does not know their wants—who does not study their lives—who does not understand how to take the primary truths of Christianity, and apply them to the consciences of men in their daily business life. Such preachers, and only such, will be certainly efficacious; and such preaching is necessary to the filling of the churches. Were such preaching universal in our time, not only would our churches be filled to overflowing, but thousands would have to be built. For you may depend upon it, there is never a man who preaches intelligent truth, and preaches it with a living sympathy for men, that people do not flock to hear him.—Sel.