illiterate men and women prefer to be spoken to in an illiterate way；
and by an uneducated person。 To suppose that a lay…evangelist or
Scripture…reader； who knows nothing of Latin or Greek； and is only
familiar with his Bible； is more acceptable than an Oxford first…class
man； or a Cambridge wrangler （if that first…class man knows how to
preach）； is a plete error。 People only tolerate vulgarity and
coarseness； as a rule； when they can get nothing else。
Having made these prefatory remarks in order to clear the way； I will
now proceed to give my readers five brief hints as to what seems to me
the best method of attaining simplicity in preaching。
I。 My first hint is this： If you want to attain simplicity in
preaching； take care that you have a clear view of the subject upon
which you are going to preach。 I ask your special attention to this。 Of
all the five hints I am about to give； this is the most important。
Mind； then； when your text is chosen； that you understand it and see
right through it； that you know precisely what you want to prove； what
you want to teach； what you want to establish； and what you want
people's minds to carry away。 If you yourself begin in a fog； you may
depend upon it you will leave your people in darkness。 Cicero； one of
the greatest ancient orators； said long ago； 〃No one can possibly speak
clearly and eloquently about a subject which he does not
understand；〃…and I am satisfied that he spoke the truth。 Archbishop
Whately was a very shrewd observer of human nature； and he said rightly
of a vast number of preachers； that 〃they aimed at nothing； and they
hit nothing。 Like men landing on an unknown island； and setting out on
a journey of exploration； they set out in ignorance； and travelled on
in ignorance all the day long。〃
I ask all young ministers especially； to remember this first hint。 I
repeat most emphatically； 〃Take care you thoroughly understand your
subject。 Never choose a text of which you do not quite know what it
means。〃 Beware of taking obscure passages such as those which are to be
found in unfulfilled and emblematic prophecies。 If a man will
continually preach to an ordinary congregation about the seals and
vials and trumpets in Revelation； or about Ezekiel's temple； or about
predestination； free will； and the eternal purposes of God； it will not
be at all surprising to any reasonable mind if he fails to attain
simplicity。 I do not mean that these subjects ought not to be handled
occasionally； at fit times； and before a suitable audience。 All I say
is； that they are very deep subjects； about which wise Christians often
disagree； and it is almost impossible to make them very simple。 We
ought to see our subjects plainly； if we wish to make them simple； and
there are hundreds of plain subjects to be found in God's Word。
Beware； for the same reason； of taking up what I call fanciful subjects
and acmodated texts； and then dragging out of them meanings which
the Holy Ghost never intended to put into them。 There is no subject
needful for the soul's health which is not to be found plainly taught
and set forth in Scripture。 This being the case； I think a preacher
should never take a text and extract from it； as a dentist would a
tooth from the jaw； something which； however true in itself； is not the
plain literal meaning of the inspired words。 The sermon may seem very
glittering and ingenious； and his people may go away saying； 〃What a
clever parson we have got！〃 But if； on examination； they can neither
find the sermon in the text； nor the text in the sermon； their minds
are perplexed； and they begin to think the Bible is a deep book which
cannot be understood。 If you want to attain simplicity； beware of
acmodated texts。
When I speak of acmodated texts； let me explain what I mean。 I
remember hearing of a minister in a northern town； who was famous for
preaching in this style。 Once he gave out for his text； 〃He that is so
impoverished that he hath no oblation； chooseth unto him a tree that
will not rot〃 （Isa。 40：20）。 〃Here；〃 said he； 〃is man by nature
impoverished and undone。 He has nothing to offer； in order to make
satisfaction for his soul。 And what ought he to do？ He ought to choose
a tree which cannot rot； even the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ。〃On another occasion； being anxious to preach on the doctrine
of indwelling sin； he chose his text out of the history of Joseph and
his brethren； and gave out the words； 〃The old man of whom ye spake； is
he yet alive？〃 （Gen。 43：27）。 Out of this question he ingeniously
twisted a discourse about the infection of nature remaining in the
believer；a grand truth； no doubt； but certainly not the truth of the
passage。 Such instances will； I trust； be a warning to all my younger
brethren。 If you want to preach about the indwelling corruption of
human nature； or about Christ crucified； you need not seek for such
far…fetched texts as those I have named。 If you want to be simple； mind
you choose plain simple texts。
Furthermore； if you wish to see through your subjects thoroughly； and
so to attain the foundation of simplicity； do not be ashamed of
dividing your sermons and stating your divisions。 I need hardly say
this is a very vexed question。 There is a morbid dread of 〃firstly；
secondly； and thirdly〃 in many quarters。 The stream of fashion runs
strongly against divisions； and I must frankly confess that a lively
undivided sermon is much better than one divided in a dull； stupid；
illogical way。 Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind。 He
that can preach sermons which strike and stick without divisions； by
all means let him hold on his way and persevere。 But let him not
despise his neighbour who divides。 All I say is； if we would be simple；
there must be order in a sermon as there is in an army。 What wise
general would mix up artillery； infantry； and cavalry in one confused
mass in the day of battle？ What giver of a banquet or dinner would
dream of putting on the table the whole of the viands at once； the
soup； the fish； the entrees； the joints； the salads； the game； the
sweets； the dessert； in one huge dish？ Such a host would hardly be
thought to serve his dinner well。 Just so I say it is with sermons。 By
all means let there be orderorder； whether you bring out your
〃firstly； secondly； or thirdly；〃 or notorder； whether your divisions
are concealed or expressedorder so carefully arranged that your
points and ideas shall follow one another in beautiful regularity； like
regiments marching past before the Queen on a review day in Windsor
Park。
For my own part； I honestly confess that I do not think I have preached
two sermons in my life without divisions。 I find it of the utmost
importance to make people understand； remember； and carry away what I
say； and I am certain that divisions help me to do so。 They are； in
fact； like hooks and pegs and shelves in the mind。 If you study the
sermons of men who have been and are successful preachers； you will
always find order； and often divisions； in their sermons。 I am not a
bit ashamed to say that I often read the sermons of Mr。 Spurgeon。 I
like to gather hints about preaching from all quarters。 David did not
ask about the sword of Goliath； Who made it？ who polished it？ what
blacksmith forged it？ He said； 〃There is nothing like it；〃 for he had
once used it to cut off its owner's head。 Mr。 Spurgeon can preach most
ably； and he proves it by keeping his enormous congregation together。
We ought always to examine and analyze sermons which draw people
together。 Now when you read Mr。 Spurgeon's sermons； note how clearly
and perspicuously he divides a sermon； and fills each division with
beautiful and simple ideas。 How easily you grasp his meaning！ How
thoroughly he brings before you certain great truths； that hang to you
like hooks of steel； and which； once planted in your memory； you never
forget！
My first point； then； if you would be simple in your preaching； is；
that you must thoroughly understand your subject； and if you want to
know whether you understand it； try to divide and arrange it。 I can
only say for myself； that I have done this ever since I have been a
minister。 For forty…five years I have kept blank MS。 books in which I
put down texts and heads of sermons for use when require& Whenever I
get hold of a text； and see my way through it； I put it down and make a
note of it。 If I do not see my way through a text； I cannot preach on
it； because I know I cannot be simple； and if I cannot be simple； I
know I had better not preach at all
II。 The second hint I would give is this： Try to use in all your
sermons； as far as you can； simple words。 In saying this； however； I
must explain myself。 When I talk of simple words； I do not mean words
of only one syllable； or words which are purely Saxon。 I cannot in this
matter agree with Archbishop Whately。 I think he goes too far in his
remendation of Saxon； though there is much truth in what he says
about it。 I rather prefer the saying of that wise old heathen Cicero；
when he said； that orators should try to use words which are 〃in daily
mon use〃 amongst the people。 Whether the words are Saxon or not； or
of two or three syllables。 it does not matter so long as they are words
monly used and understood by the people。 Only； whatever you do；
beware of what the poor shrewdly call 〃dictionary〃 words； that is； of
words which are abstract； or scientific； or pedantic； or plicated；
or indefinite； or very long。 They may seem very fine； and sound very
grand； but they are rarely of any use。 The most powerful and forcible
words； as a rule； are very short。
Let me say one word more to confirm what I have stated about that
mon fallacy of the desirableness of always using Saxon English。 I
would remind you that