BEING A TREATISE ON THE ART OF PREACHING, AS ADAPTED TO A CHURCH OF ENGLAND CONGREGATION: CONTAINED IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO A YOUNG CLERGYMAN. BY THE REV. W. GRESLEY, M.A. CURATE OF ST. CHAD'S, LICHFIELD, AND LATE STUDENT OF CHRIST CHURCH. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL. 1835. PREFACE. THE greater part of the materials of the work now presented to the Public had been collected by the Author, from various sources, for his sole benefit. When he thought of preparing them for publication, it was under the impression that the knowledge which he had found to be useful to himself would prove not less beneficial to others. But before bringing his work to a conclusion he discovered, upon further inquiry into the subject, that many of his ideas had been anticipated and better expressed by previous writers. Yet, as they appear in a new shape, and with new illustrations, and as the work is still, in fact, the only one which takes a comprehensive view of the one particular subject of which it treats, the Author has thought it may not be unacceptable to those for whom it is intended. Should any one object that the undertaking is presumptuous in an unknown and unauthorized individual, it is answered, first, that the Author presumes to offer his suggestions only to his brethren several years younger than himself, who are just entering upon their ministerial duties; and, secondly, that he conceives the subject to be rather suited to a man of moderate ability, than to one of great and original genius. High talent works rather by impulse than by rule. He who has himself experienced the difficulty of preaching, and the need of rules, and has in some degree surmounted the difficulties which he met with, and worked out the rules for himself, is the most likely to direct his attention to those minute details which, though useful and necessary to most persons, would be liable to be passed over by men of first-rate genius. Or, should the Author's personal friends be surprised that one, who has so little pretension to eloquence in the pulpit, should think himself competent to teach others, he can only remind them of what Horace says about a whetstone, "Acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi," and assure them that it is a much easier thing to give an opinion than an example. He would also state, that on all important points he has confirmed his own assertions and rules by constant reference to the highest authorities. 66 It may be necessary to add a few words on a topic which concerns all rhetoricians, but especially one who attempts to give rules for preaching. Some persons are disposed to undervalue rhetoric altogether. Sincerity and earnestness," they say, "are better than all the rules which can be devised. Let a preacher only be sincere, and his labours will be blessed with more success than if he were a perfect master of rhetoric." assertion is admitted without hesitation: sincerity This is the soul of preaching. An earnest preacher, even though of inferior ability, will be more effective than the most complete orator. But, though the Author entirely admits this as an indisputable truth, yet he does not admit the inference which some would draw from it, that rhetoric is useless: for he considers it to be a no less undoubted truth than the former, that a sincere preacher with skill is likely to be the means of drawing more sinners to salvation than |