THERE is a numerous class in the church of God whose gifts are not marked, who yet can sometimes speak half an hour or less at the street corner to edification and profit. These may not be called to leave their earthly callings, but preach as opportunity offers or occasion requires.
It is to this class that we address ourselves. And we have the young or new beginners primarily in view. How fine it is to see Christian young men stand up to tell that wonderful story of redemption that angels might covet to proclaim! To such we would offer, in the spirit of meekness, a few practical suggestions.
1.
BE SOBER. A spirit of lightness ill becomes those who stand forth to speak on solemn themes—death, judgment, heaven, hell, eternity! How unseemly to hear them jokingly ask each other, Have you got your sword? Have you got your sermon ready? and like flippant expressions, with which some of us are not altogether unfamiliar. And in preaching, our language, whatever else it lack, should be always solemn, though not sanctimonious, cheerful but not light. A brother told us of a stranger he once heard preaching on the street. He was a young man, and was preaching the gospel fairly well, and our friend was arrested. But when the too smart preacher said, “I have heard sinners say they were seeking the Saviour, but I never knew the Saviour was lost,” he turned away deeply grieved. Alas these are the “dead flies” which cause the otherwise sweet-scented “ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking sour.” Such attempts at cheap wit may catch the ear of an undesirable few, but the men most likely to be benefitted by our preaching are those to whom such expressions from the lips of one who stands forth as an ambassador for Christ are repugnant. Be sober!
2.
BE BRIEF. This advice is not necessary, perhaps, to those just beginning to speak in public. Such are so timid and words with them so hard to find, that the exhortation, “Let thy words be few,” would be lost upon them. It is the somewhat practiced speaker, who has perhaps a natural fluency of language (which is never an evidence of real gift), who needs to remember that long sermons, like “long prayers,” are not always the most effectual. Ten or fifteen minutes is about as long as most men can hold the attention of an audience in the open air. And in a hall or room there are not many who can continue more than thirty minutes to edification. How often we have noticed a brother’s discourse to be edifying up to a certain point (when it was evident that he ought to have stopped), but he would go on, and so undid much of his good, and wearied his audience up to the straining point. As a rule, brief discourses edify most. Gifted men are generally brief. No rule, however, can be laid down as to length of time. Most unconverted people (and to these we preach the gospel) would prefer to have a speaker, however gifted, stop under forty-five minutes than to exceed that limit. “Five words” to edification are better than “ten thousand words” of a man who imagines he shall be heeded for his much speaking. We remember a brother who used to continue to preach in the open air until he saw the back of his last auditor. When remonstrated with by his brethren, he replied: “Oh, it seems a pity to stop while there is anybody listening!” Whose failing follow not. Be brief!
3.
BE POINTED. Do not attempt to cover too much ground. We have listened to preachers who ranged through the fields of Scripture “from Dan to Beersheba,” and “from the river to the ends of the earth.” They rambled in an aimless fashion through almost every book in the Bible, and one might think they were laboring to give an epitome of all that the Scriptures contained, historical, doctrinal, prophetic, and preceptive. They appeared to wish to give their patient listeners a complete body of divinity —creation, redemption, sanctification, justification, regeneration, and all. They quoted freely from patriarchs, apostles, and prophets. Their knowledge of Scripture seemed amazing; and it was—it put all in a maze who attempted to follow them in their Biblical intricacies and theological subtleties. It was like a soldier on a modern battle-field attempting to kill off the enemy with a large-bore, flare-muzzled, short-barrelled shot-gun. It may make a deafening, reverberating roar, but it is the short, sharp crack of the carefully aimed rifle that does the work and wins the day. Let us speak to the point, and press home upon the consciences of sinners a few plain facts of the gospel, and not bewilder them with a mass of Biblical information. Be pointed!
4.
BE WISE— “wise as serpents.” Avoid as much as possible stands in the open air where the preaching will be likely to create disturbance. Do not continue singing after a crowd has gathered, but get to preaching at once. Singing is but the bell-ringing to gather your congregation. Let the helpers stand before you. This forms a little nucleus for a crowd, and the larger the crowd of listeners appears to be the more likely are passers-by to stop. Do not, in preaching, shout at the top of your voice, or pitch it four or five times higher than usual. It is penetration and distinctness that is required rather than volume. The more natural one can be the better; and do not fear to be a little colloquial as you go along. Use illustrations frequently and fittingly. It helps to hold attention, throws light on your subject, or clinches what you are saying. As soon as you notice the crowd getting restless and beginning to move on, stop at once. Have your “lastly” ever at your tongue’s end, ready for instant use. Sing a rousing hymn rousingly, and when the crowd is again somewhat settled let another speaker begin. If the wind is blowing, stand with your back to it in speaking. Always if possible, face a wall while speaking. It will save your lungs wonderfully. Do not distribute tracts until the meeting is over, or the tracts will distract. If they will do it, it is better to have the people come to you for the tracts. They will appreciate them more than if thrust upon them. Be wise!
5.
BE GENTLE― “harmless as doves.” Avoid harshness of tone and asperity of manner. Your language may be forced without being fiery, you may warn without anathematizing, and be faithful without being fierce. In speaking of future punishment (as you surely must), do it with tenderness; and be sure you feel in your soul the force of what you say. The successful surgeon must needs probe deep at times and with the sharpest of instruments, but how gently he goes about it. How tenderly he touches the wounded spot, even as with velvet fingers, and where the knife cuts into the place that is most painful his voice is softest. Avoid the word “hell” as much as possible. Other words will answer equally as well or better, and will not be so likely to grate upon the ear. “Everlasting punishment,” “The lake of fire,” “The blackness of darkness forever,” etc., are expressions more startling and quite as scriptural. Persuade men urgently, constantly, fearlessly, as you know the “terror of the Lord,” but be sure it is “the love of Christ” constraining you. A college boy told us that he was once moved almost to the point of yielding himself to the Lord by the tears he saw in the eyes of a loving young Christian who was urging him to come to Christ. A single tear will sometimes move a soul when sermons are lost upon it. Be gentle!
6.
BE PATIENT― patient with your fellow-workers, patient with your critics, and patient with the cold, callous world to which you preach. They may malign and persecute you, but preach on; do not allow yourself to become soured, as some, alas have done and now sleep, prophet-like, beneath the juniper tree of depression, in whose branches their silver trumpet of redemption hangs unused. Courage, brethren your work is glorious and your reward is sure. “But ye have need of patience.” “In due season ye shall reap if ye faint not.” Be patient!
C.K.