CRITICISM OF PREACHERS, BY A JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
By J. H. G.
“Ministers do not exercise good sense in addressing the people. They are afraid of repetition. They use language not well understood by the common people. Their illustrations are not taken from the common pursuits of life. They write in too elevated a style, read without repetition, and are not understood by the people. If lawyers were to take such a course, they would ruin themselves and their cause. When I was at the bar I used to take it for granted when I had a jury before me, that I should have to repeat over my main positions about as many times as there were persons in the jury-box. I learned that unless I did so—illustrated and repeated, and turned over and over the main points of the law and the evidence—I should lose my cause. “One object in addressing a jury is to get their minds settled before they leave the jury-box; not to make a speech in language only partially understood by them; not to let ourselves out in illustrations entirely above their apprehension; not to display our oratory and then let them go. We are set on getting a verdict, and hence we are set upon being understood. We mean to convince them; and if they have doubts as to the law we make them understand it, and rivet it in their minds. We expect to get a verdict and to get it on the spot; so that when they go to their room it will be found that they have understood us, and that they have been convinced by the facts and arguments. If we do not thus take pains to urge home every thought and every word and every point, so as to lodge it in their convictions, we are sure to lose our cause. We must overcome their prejudices; we must overcome their ignorance; we must overcome their interest, even in our client, if they have any. “Now if ministers would do all this the effects of their preaching would be unspeakably different from what they are. They go into their study and write a sermon, then they go into the pulpit and read it, and those that listen to it but poorly understand it. Many words they will not understand unless they go home and consult their dictionaries. Ministers do not seem to address the people expecting to convince them and get a verdict in favor of Christ upon the spot. They rather appear to aim at making fine literary productions and displaying great eloquence and an ornate use of literature and language.” There is a great deal of downright hard common sense in these remarks, which it would be well for all preachers to lay to heart. Especially should the young, who are just entering upon their work, give earnest heed to these words. Their temptation is to go far in the opposite direction, and to imagine that it is by beautiful sermons they can convert the world. And it sometimes requires the experience of some years to convince them that they must aim at simplicity of style, directness of address, and earnestness of soul, in order to make successful ministers of the gospel.—J. H. G., in Herald and Presbyter.