within reach； ought to be a thankful man。
Fewer still； I believe； realize what enormous strides medicine and
surgery have made in the last two centuries； and are continually making
in the present。 Of course death still reigns； and will reign until
Christ returns in glory。 Kings and their subjects； rich and poor； all
alike die； and will die until death is swallowed up in victory。 And no
marvel！ The human body is a frail and delicate machine。 〃Strange that a
harp of a thousand strings should keep in tune so long。〃 But that the
duration of life in this age is greatly increased by the advance of
medical science； and that many diseases are preventable； manageable； or
curable； which were once always thought fatal； are facts entirely
beyond dispute。 Let any one read Baxter's semi…medical sermon in the
Morning 。Exercises； and observe his receipts for hypochondria and
dyspepsia； and then say whether he ought not to be thankful that he
lives in the nineteenth century。 The mere fact that our ancestors knew
nothing of quinine； chloroform； vaccination； the carbolic spray； the
stethoscope； the laryngoscope； the ophthalmoscope； or the right
treatment of the lunatic； the idiot； the deaf and dumb； and the blind；
is a fact that speaks volumes to any intelligent mind。
None； perhaps； have such constant opportunities of seeing the value of
a medical man's services as Christian ministers。 We meet them in
sick…rooms； and by the side of death…beds； and we know the self…denying
labour which their profession entails； and the ungrudging and often
unpaid attention which the sick almost invariably receive at their
hands。
There ought always to be the utmost harmony and friendly feeling
between the two professions。 The sick…room is the mon ground on
which they meet。 On that ground they can greatly help one another。 I
think the minister of religion can help the medical man by teaching his
patients the paramount importance of obedience to orders； of submission
to advice； of attention to rules about diet and sanitary matters； and
by encouraging patience and quietness of spirit。 I am sure the doctor
can help the minister by gently and wisely reminding those whose cases
are past recovery； that it is their duty to accept the inevitable； that
this life is not all； that they have souls as well as bodies； and that
it is wise to look calmly at their latter end； and a world to e； and
to prepare to meet God。
There is much in mon in the two professions； the one in caring for
men's bodies； and the other in caring for men's souls。 We ministers
cannot mand success。 Too often we visit in vain； exhort in vain；
advise in vain； preach in vain。 We find that spiritual life and death
are in higher hands than ours。 The doctor finds that under the most
skilful treatment people will die； and we find that under the most
faithful teaching many continue unmoved in conscience； and dead in
sins。 Like the doctor； we often feel our ignorance； cannot diagnose or
discern symptoms； and feel doubtful what to say。 Both ministers and
medical men have great need to be clothed with humility。 But I trust；
to use the words which were placed on the tomb of Sir Henry Lawrence；
we both 〃try to do our duty；〃 and persevere。 Duties are ours； but
events are God's。
That there never may be wanting in Great Britain a continual supply of
able； right…minded； faithful medical men； and that we who minister to
the soul； and those who minister to the body； may always work
harmoniously together； and help one another； is my earnest prayer。
__________________________________________________________________
＇2＇ The substance of this paper was originally delivered as a sermon in
Liverpool Cathedral at the opening of the Annual Conference of the
British Medical Association in Liverpool； on July 31st； 1883。
__________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER III
Eccles。 12：12。
SIMPLICITY IN PREACHING。
＇3＇
KING SOLOMON says； in the book of Ecclesiastes； 〃Of making many books
there is no end〃 （Eccles。 12：12）。 There are few subjects about which
that saying is more true than that of preaching。 The volumes which have
been written in order to show ministers how to preach are enough to
make a small library。 In sending forth one more little treatise； I only
propose to touch one branch of the subject。 I do not pretend to
consider what should be the substance and matter of a sermon。 I
purposely leave alone such points as 〃gravity； unction； liveliness；
warmth；〃 and the like； or the parative merits of written or
extempore sermons。 I wish to confine myself to one point； which
receives far less attention than it deserves。 That point is simplicity
in language and style。
I ought to be able to tell my readers something about 〃simplicity；〃 if
experience will give any help。 I began preaching forty…five years ago；
when I first took orders in a poor rural parish； and a great portion of
my ministerial life has been spent in preaching to labourers and
farmers。 I know the enormous difficulty of preaching to such hearers；
of making them understand one's meaning； and securing their attention。
So far as concerns language and position； I deliberately say that I
would rather preach before the University at Oxford or Cambridge； or
the Temple； or Lincoln's Inn； or the Houses of Parliament； than I would
address an agricultural congregation on a fine hot afternoon in the
month of August。 I have heard of a labourer who enjoyed Sunday more
than any other day in the week；…〃Because；〃 he said； 〃I sit fortably
in church； put up my legs； have nothing to think about； and just go to
sleep。〃 Some of my younger friends in the ministry may some day be
called to preach to such congregations as I have had； and I shall be
glad if they can profit by my experience。
Before entering on the subject； I wish to clear the way by making four
prefatory remarks。
（a） For one thing； I ask all my readers to remember that to attain
simplicity in preaching is of the utmost importance to every minister
who wishes to be useful to souls。 Unless you are simple in your sermons
you will never be understood； and unless you are understood you cannot
do good to those who hear you。 It was a true saying of Quintilian； 〃If
you do not wish to be understood； you deserve to be neglected。〃 Of
course the first object of a minister should be to preach the truth；
the whole truth； and nothing but 〃the truth as it is in Jesus。〃 But the
next thing he ought to aim at is； that his sermon may be understood；
and it will not be understood by most of his hearers if it is not
simple。
（b） The next thing I will say； by way of prefatory remark； is； that to
attain simplicity in preaching is by no means an easy matter。 No
greater mistake can be made than to suppose this。 〃To make hard things
seem hard；〃 to use the substance of a saying of Archbishop Usher's； 〃is
within the reach of all； but to make hard things seem easy and
intelligible is a height attained by very few speakers。〃 One of the
wisest and best of the Puritans said two hundred years ago； 〃that the
greater part of preachers shoot over the heads of the people。〃 This is
true also in 1837！ I fear a vast proportion of what we preach is not
understood by our hearers any more than if it were Greek。 When people
hear a simple sermon； or read a simple tract； they are apt to say； 〃How
true！ how plain！ how easy to understand！〃 and to suppose that any one
can write in that style。 Allow me to tell my readers that it is an
extremely difficult thing to write simple； clear； perspicuous； and
forcible English。 Look at the sermons of Charles Bradley； of Clapham。 A
sermon of his reads most beautifully。 It is so simple and natural； that
any one feels at once that the meaning is as clear as the sun at
noonday。 Every word is the right word； and every word is in its right
place。 Yet the labour those sermons cost Mr。 Bradley was very great
indeed。 Those who have read Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield attentively；
can hardly fail to have noticed the exquisite naturalness； ease； and
simplicity of its language。 And yet it is known that the pains and
trouble and time bestowed upon that work were immense。 Let the Vicar of
Wakefield be pared with Johnson's Rasselas； which was written off in
a few days； it is said； under higher pressure； hand the difference is
at once apparent。 In fact； to use very long words； to seem very
learned； to make people go away after a sermon saying； 〃How fine！ how
clever！ how grand！〃 all this is very easy work。 But to write what will
strike and stick； to speak or to write that which at once pleases and
is understood； and bees assimilated with a heater's mind and a thing
never forgottenthat； we may depend upon it； is a very difficult thing
and a very rare attainment。
（c） Let me observe； in the next place； that when I talk of simplicity
in preaching； I would not have my readers suppose I mean childish
preaching。 If we suppose the poor like that sort of sermon； we are
greatly mistaken。 If our hearers once imagine we consider them a parcel
of ignorant folks for whom any kind of 〃infant's food〃 is good enough；
our chance of doing good is lost altogether。 People do not like even
the appearance of condescending preaching。 They feel we are not
treating them as equals； but inferiors。 Human nature always dislikes
that。 They will at once put up their backs； stop their ears； and take
offence； and then we might as well preach to the winds。
（d） Finally； let me observe； that it is not coarse or vulgar preaching
that is needed。 It is quite possible to be simple； and yet to speak
like a gentleman； and with the demeanour of a courteous and refined
person。 It is an utter mistake to imagine that uneducated and
illiterate men and women prefer to be spoken