THE hint I gave some time ago, Brethren, about your preaching slow, You took, it seems;—and thereupon Could make two Sermons out of one. Now this regard to former lines Paid so successfully, inclines To send my counsel's second part,— "Try if you cannot preach by heart." Be not alarm'd, as if regard To this would prove so very hard. My first admonishment you fear'd Would so turn out; till it appear'd That custom only made to seem So difficult in your esteem What, upon trial, now procures Your hearers' ease, and also yours. Do but consider how the case Now stands in fact in ev'ry place, All Christendom almost around, Except on our reformed ground, The greatest part untaught to brook A preacher's reading from a book, Would scarce advance within his reach, Or then acknowledge him to preach. Long after preaching first began How unconceiv'd a READING plan! The rise of which, whatever date May be assign'd, is very late. The manuscriptal READING rote Is from antiquity remote; No need, no reason prompted then The pulpit to consult the pen. However well prepar'd before By pond'ring or by writing o'er What he should say, still it was SAID By him that preach'd,—it was not READ. Could ancient memory, then, better Forbear from poring o'er the letter Than yours? Brethren, if you'll but try, That fact I'll venture to deny. Moderns of late give proofs enow, Too many!—as it seems to you, That matters of religious kind Stor'd up within the thoughtful mind, With any care and caution stor'd,— Sufficient utterance afford To tell an audience what they think, Without the help of pen and ink. How apt to think, too, is the throng A preacher short, a reader long! The people claim to be the book That should attract a pastor's look. If you lament a careless age, Averse to hear the pulpit page, Speak from @3within@1 not from @3without,@1 And heart to heart will turn about. Try this,—and if you can't succeed, 'Twill then be right for you to read; Altho' the heart, if that's your choice, Must still accompany the voice. Should you at length succeed, and take The hint, you must not merely make Preaching EX TEMPORE the view, But EX ÆTERNITATE too. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MIDSUMMER BIRDS by ROBERT FROST JESUS - THE SWEETEST NAME by BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: BENJAMIN PANTIER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS CHRISTMAS AT SEA by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON VERSES ADDRESSED TO IMITATOR OF FIRST SATIRE OF HORACE by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU |