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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 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 s