Letter to a Preacher by J. W. Raymond

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1863

Letter to a Preacher.

By J. W. Raymond

[THE following extracts are taken from a pamphlet written by Dr. Adam Clarke, in 1820. Though intended as advice to ministers, the extracts which I have made will doubtless be read with interest by every reader of the Review. The reader cannot fail to see the marked antithesis between the Doctor's advice in regard to the manner of treating the word of God, and the mystical, allegorical manner in which it is now treated. Let those who are in any way inclined to grow ludicrous over the practice of Seventh-day Adventists in abandoning the use of tea and coffee, note especially the last paragraph of these extracts. Read, contrast, and ponder.—J. W. RAYMOND.]

Remember, God is the fountain of all good: whatever comes from him will lead to him. His blessing is on his own productions, and his curse on everything besides. Son of man, saith the Lord, receive the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. Deeply consider that to be successful in bringing souls to God, you must bring the spirit of the gospel into the work of the ministry. In order to this, see to it that you

retain a clear sense of God's mercy to your own soul,

and while you feel this love in your heart, it will not only support you in all your trials and difficulties, but it will induce you cheerfully to spend and be spent for the salvation of those for whom Christ has died. You preach, not merely to explain God's word, but to save souls. Whenever you forget this, you go astray. Now as no man can see the worth of the salvation which God has provided for him till he be convinced of his want of it, therefore preach the law and its terrors to make way for the gospel of Christ crucified. But take heed lest while you announce the terrors of the Lord, in order to awaken sinners and prepare them for Christ, that you do not give way to your own spirit, especially if you meet with opposition. Remember that admirable advice, given by the greatest preacher God ever made, to a young man just setting out in the work: "The servant of God must not strive, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves." 2 Tim. ii, 24, 25. . . . . I have known ministers, and of no mean note either, who seldom have a soul comforted under their ministry, merely because of their harsh, austere manner of preaching the gospel. Others, far their inferiors in point of ministerial qualifications, get souls for their hire wherever they come, principally (under God), through their affectionate manner of recommending the gospel of the grace of God. Of the former it has been justly said, They make even the promises of God too hot to be held. . . . .

Never take a text that you do not fully understand, and make it a point of conscience to give the literal meaning of it to the people. This is a matter of great and solemn importance. To give God's words a different meaning from what he intended them to convey, or to put a construction upon them which we have not the fullest proof he has intended, is awful indeed. Any person who is but little acquainted with spiritual things, may give a spiritual interpretation (according to his own opinion), to any text, but it is not every person that can give the literal sense. The spiritual meaning must ever be drawn from the literal, and, indeed, when the first is known, the latter, which is its use and application, will naturally spring from it; but, without controversy, the literal meaning is that which God would have us first to understand. By not attending to this, heresies, false doctrines, and errors of all kinds have been propagated, and multiplied in the world.

Remember you are called not only to explain the things of God, but also the words of God. The meaning of the thing is found in the word, and if the word which comprises the original idea be not properly understood, the meaning of the thing can never be defined, and upon this ground the edification of the people is impossible. . . . .

Never appear to contradict the Holy Spirit by what is called treating a subject negatively and positively. I shall waive all strictures on the barbarism of showing "negatively what a thing is not"—and will beg leave to state the following:

A citizen of no mean city took his text from Luke xii, 32: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." In opposition to the letter of the text, the preacher labored to prove that the flock of Christ is not a little, but a very large, flock. And in order to this, brought in multitudes of pious heathens, vast multitudes who sought and found mercy in their last hour, together with myriads of infants, idiots, &c.

Who does not see that in the above case, ignorance, or inattention to the literal meaning of the text, was the grand cause of this absurdity and contradiction? . . . .

Seldom take a very short text, because a short one may not afford you sufficient matter to entertain and instruct your congregation. There are not many to be found who have the ability to use a few words of Scripture as Addison and Steele used the Greek and Latin mottoes of their spectators. And those who have the ability should not use it in this way, for this plain reason, that in preaching God should be heard more than man. But where imagination and invention are put to the rack to supply the place of the words of God, the hearers may admire the address of the preacher, but are not likely to be fed with the bread of life. In such cases man speaks most, God least. Such preaching must leave the people ignorant

of the Scriptures. With many at present preaching is become more of a human art than a divine science. And when this is considered we need not wonder that the pulpit is so often employed without becoming a means of salvation to them that hear. . . . .

Go from your knees to the chapel. Get a renewal of your commission, every time you go to preach, in a renewed sense of the favor of God. Carry your authority to declare the gospel of Christ, not in your hand, but in your heart. When in the pulpit, be always solemn. Say nothing to make your congregation laugh. Remember, you are speaking for eternity; and trifling is inconsistent with such awful subjects as the great God, the agony and death of Christ, the torments of hell, and the happiness of heaven.

Never assume an air of importance in the pulpit; you stand in an awful place, and God hates the proud man. . . . .

The pulpit appears to me analogous to the box in which witnesses are sworn in a court of justice, "to say the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." You are a witness for God, and are bound by more, if possible, than an oath, to speak the truth in righteousness, and to declare faithfully and solemnly, according to the best of your knowledge, the whole counsel of God. . . . .

In your prayers, avoid long prefaces and circumlocution. You find none of these in the Bible. Some have got a method of complimenting the Most High on the dignity of his nature, and the glory of his heavens. This you should studiously avoid. He that cometh to God, must know that HE IS; and a proper consideration of his being, power, holiness, and mercy, cannot fail deeply to impress your mind, and lead you at once even to his seat. You should never come into the congregation but in the spirit of prayer. Let your mind be wound up in that spirit in your closet, and then in your prayers in the congregation you will appear what you should be, a man familiar with God. Examine the Scriptures, and you will find that all the holy men of God prayed in this way. They came directly to the throne and preferred their suit; ever considering themselves in the presence of God, the very commencement of their supplications seems no other than an external continuance of prayers in which their hearts had been long previously engaged. . . . .

You may easily find many treatises written on the gift of preaching, the eloquence of the pulpit, the composition of the sermon, both in our own language, and in foreign tongues; and he who has a good judgment may profit by them. But I must confess, all I have ever read on the subject has never conveyed so much information to my mind on the original, and in my opinion the only proper mode of preaching, as Neh. viii, 8: "So they read in the book of the law of God, distinctly, and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading." A few moments spent considering this subject will not be lost. . . . .

First. They read in the book of the law of God. The words of God are the proper matter of preaching, for they contain the wisdom of the Most High, and reveal to man the things which make for his peace.

Second. They read distinctly: m'phorash, from parash, to expand—they analyzed, dilated, and expounded it at large.

Third. They gave the sense—v'son sekel, put weight to it—i. e., showed its importance and utility; thus applying verbal criticism and general exposition to the most important purpose.

Fourth. They caused them to understand the reading: vaiyabinu bammikra, and they understood, had a mental taste and perception of the things which were in the reading—i. e., in the letter and spirit of the text. . . . .

While you are engaged in the pulpit in recommending the salvation of God, endeavor to feel the truth you preach, and diffuse a divine animation through every part. As the preacher appears to preach, the people hear and believe. You may set it down as an incontrovertible truth, that none of your hearers will be more affected with your discourse than yourself. A dull, dead preacher, makes a dull, dead congregation. . . . .

Seventeen years ago I met with Mr. Wesley's letter on tea. I read it, and resolved from that hour to drink no more of the juice of that herb till I could answer his arguments and objections. I never saw that tract since, and from that day until now, I have not drank a cup of tea or coffee. For these things I mostly found a substitute in the morning, and when I could not, I cheerfully went without breakfast; and in their place I never took anything in the evening. By this line of conduct I have not only joined hands with God to preserve a feeble constitution; but I can demonstrate that I have actually saved two whole years of time which otherwise must have been irrecoverably lost; and perhaps my soul with it.