Simplicity in Preaching: Uncle Sam's Story
MANY years ago some young preachers were in a habit of preaching at a certain place. Among their habitual hearers was a sincere and humble, but uneducated, Christian slave, called Uncle Sam, who, on his return, would try to tell his mistress what he could remember of the sermon; but he would always complain that the young men were too deep and learned for him. One day, however, he came home in great good humor, saying that a poor, unlearned old man, just like himself, had preached that day, who, he supposed, was hardly fit to preach to the white people; but he was glad he came for his sake, for he could remember everything he said. On inquiry, it was found that Uncle Sam’s “unlearned” old preacher was Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander, the theological professor, who, when he heard the criticism, said it was the highest compliment ever paid to his preaching. “Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world, that no flesh should glory in his presence?”