p. 197 | Plain Preaching by C. A. Osgood

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

Plain Preaching.

By C. A. Osgood

God has given us his word to be our guide and comfort; to warn us of danger, and show us the way to Heaven. It is called a revelation, because in it he reveals his will to mankind. He does not seek by employing words, adapted to the comprehension of the learned alone, to conceal his truth from the rest of the world, but he makes use of language easy to be understood by the young and ignorant. This is true with regard to the Hebrew and Greek of the Old and New Testaments. And this is true of the common English version to a great extent. Some commentators, by the bigness of their style, instead of explaining the scripture, make it obscure. Fleetwood's "Life of Christ," is a sort of New Testament got up in the style of the learned, but it is not half so well fitted for the instruction of the common people as the real one. Isaiah was commanded to show the people of Israel their sins. This he could not do unless he spoke in a manner that they could understand. The Saviour, in his preaching, made use of language familiar to the people, and his parables were drawn from the common scenes and circumstances of life. And it is true that "the common people heard him gladly." Peter, on the day of Pentecost, very plainly and pointedly told the people of their guilt in rejecting and crucifying the Saviour, and simply told them what they must do to be saved.

The apostles were very plain preachers. They told the story of Jesus and the resurrection. They adapted their discourses to the condition and wants of their hearers. When they preached to the Jews, they reasoned from the Old Testament, to show that Jesus was the one anointed of God, foretold by the prophets. When they addressed the Gentiles they labored to show them the folly of worshiping idols, and exhorted them to repent.

Paul "used great plainness of speech" in preaching. He says, "By manifestation of the truth we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." To manifest is to bring out the light, not to hide. Ministers commend themselves to men's consciences

only when they bring the light of truth to bear upon them.

Again Paul says, "I had rather speak five words with my understanding (so as to be understood) that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." Why so? Because if he spoke in an unknown tongue, he would not be understood, and the hearers would not be instructed. Now there is in these days a dialect used in books, and frequently by public speakers, not much in the ordinary conversation of the common people, which by the multitude is but little better understood than a foreign language. We are now living in a grand and awful period of the world. The day of the Lord hasteth greatly. A great work is to be done, and done quickly. The world is to be warned of its doom, and a people prepared to stand when Jesus shall appear. Truth preached and printed is the instrument by which these things are to be done. The third message commences thus: "If any man worship the beast," &c. A message sent forth and addressed to "any man," ought to be proclaimed in the simplest, clearest manner possible, so that "any man," young or old, foolish or wise, ignorant or learned, may easily comprehend it; and so it will be when the loud voice goes forth. It is to be feared, however, that some preachers of this message preach to a considerable extent in the learned dialect, and were they, after giving a discourse, to ask many of their hearers, Did you understand what you heard? they would be compelled to answer, No, sir; it was very little I could understand. Should it not be a cause of sorrow to such preachers that the truth they preach is not understood, and of course not obeyed, because presented in a style not fitted to the wants of their hearers? The minister is to study to be a workman that needs not be ashamed. A tailor that cannot make a garment to fit his customer, may well be ashamed, and needs to learn his trade again. So also the teacher who cannot make his pupils understand what he is teaching. He who teaches present truth should be ashamed if he does not present it in a manner to be understood. He needs to study simplicity of speech, that he may commend himself to every man's conscience. This high-fangled form of expression so much in use, is a hindrance to the success of truth. A few highly-educated communities might understand it; but to a large part of the inhabitants of the United States and Canada it is but little better than a barbarian language. Those who preach this message need like Paul to "use great plainness of speech." Some, too, who write for the Review have adopted this style, so that their usefulness is much hindered; and even some writers in the Instructor have fallen into the same error. May the Lord give us all grace, and wisdom, and a willingness so to study and labor as to attain to the highest usefulness. Yes, that by and by the Master may say to each of us, Well done, good and faithful servant.

C. A. OSGOOD.

Bronte, C. W.