ELEMENTARY

HOMILETICSOR

RULES AND PRINCIPLES

IN THE

~reparatton anD ~reacbtng of Sermons

BY

THE REV. JACOB FRY, D.D.PROFBSSOR OF HOMILETICS AND SACRED ORATORY IN THB LUTHltRAN

THEOLOGICAL SBMINARY AT MOUNT AIRY, PHILADKLPHJA, PA.

NEW YORK

THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE CO.

1897

PREFACE.

FOUR years ago I had printed in pamphletform some rules and notes in my departmentof Homiletics, for the. use of students in theLutheran Theological Seminary at Mount Airy,Philadelphia. To these notes others wereadded from time to time, which, with the ex­amples given under the various rules, becamesufficiently copious to appear now in bookform.

The book does not claim nor pretend to bea treatise on Homiletics, nor a set of lectureson the subject in full form. That field isabundantly covered; but there seemed to be aneed of a text-book giving only rules and ex­planatory notes, which would form the basisof free lectures, which are always preferablein the department of Practical Theology, andgive the instructor every opportunity to makehis own additions, comments, and illustrations.

It may also be of helpful service to youngministers, whether they have studied largerworks on the subject or not, in presenting insuccinct form those elements and first princi­ples and rules in the preparation of sermons

3

4 PREFACE.

which should ever be kept in view, but are toooften overlooked or forgotten. The examplesgiven under many of the rules will aid in un­derstanding their force and meaning.

Consisting, therefore, chiefly of first ele­ments and rules, and intended for those be­ginning the great work of preaching, I havecalled this book ELEMENTARY HOMILETICS, andas such send it forth to find and fill its place.

JACOB FRY.

MOUNT AIRY, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 1897.

CONTENTS..AGB

Preface.................... •••• •••.•..• •••• 3

Table of Examples • • • • .. ....•..•... 7

CHAPTER

I. Definition and Importance of Homiletics. 9

Invention. The Selection of Subjects

and Texts .. . . . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . II

II. The Theme and Material of the Sermon 25III. Disposition or Division.... .... ... 37

Rules for Main and Sub-divisions , . . 39

IV. Methods of Division. The Analytical

and Synthetical Methods. . . . . . . . . . 48

V. Methods of Division (Coni.). The Prop­

ositional, Interrogative, and Expos­

itory Methods.... .. .... ..... .... 60

General Remarks on Methods of Divi-

sion..... 75VI. The Introduction and Conclusion. . . . . . 79

VII. The Composition of the Sermon .. . . . . . 91VIII. Ornamentation of Language. . . . . . . . . .. 104­

Figures of Speech. The Use of Illustra­

tions and the Imagination.... . . . .. 1 1 J

IX. Originality and Imitation 115

The Study of Models 118

5

6

CHAPTER

CONTENTS.

PAGB

"""

X. Declamation or Delivery. Vocal Cult-

ure; Utterance ••• 122

Posture and Gesture ..............•... 133Methods of Delivery 139

XI. Concluding Notes and Principles. . . . •• 143

EXAMPLES OF DIVISION.PAGE

Gen. i........ 73ii................. 74iii . . . . . .. • • ..• . . . . 74

r,Jf •••XXV1l1 •••••• ••••••• 73

Ex. xxxiii: 18-19... " 60Dent. xxxiii: 2S...... 64I. Sam. ii : 2S.... .... 62II. Sam. xviii: 29. .. • . 68Ps, xvii: 15. .... ..... 47

xix: 12............ 67xliv: I........ ... 685Ii: 10 •••••••••••.• 8Ixxi.i~ : 24 . .. . .. . . . . 68

!sa. xn i 3 .. .. 51xxi : 11-12 . • . ... 63

Matt. v: IS.......... 46v. 23-24........... 62viii: 3· .......•.. ·. S3xi: 28............. 50xvi: 16............ 46xx:8 62xxi: 28... 49xxi: 28-29 '" 522

Lake ii :49 6vn:9··· ··•· .. 44xiv: 21 8Sxiv: 28.... ......• 86XV:2 49xvii: J2... 4Sxix: 41............ 69xxii : 61-62.. • . .. . .. 669xxiii: 42........ ... 8

John i: S............ 64iv : 9.... S7

j

PAGE

John viii: 36......... 85x: 9..•••..•••.•••• 8Sx: II 44xi: 28............. 67xi: 40............. 75xiii: 17........ 52xix:5 64

Acts ii :47........... 67iv: 23............. 63ix: 6. S3ix: 26 69xvi . j4xviii: 2j 64xxii: 16. ......••.• 61

Rom. v: I 86viii :32 54x:9··· ......•.... 54xi: 33 77xiv: 12 66

Gal. v: 6............ Sov: 22-23··.·....... 77vi: 14 63

Eph. ii:8 51iv: 13· 57iv: 30............. 6S

1. Thess. iv: 16 . . . .. • 65II. Tim. iv: j-8.... .. 43Heb. ii: 18.......... 50

xi:2 65Jas. i: IS............ 76I. Pet. iv: 17 67Rev. iii: 8. . . . . . .. 42

xxii: 13.... .......• 86

HOMILETICS.

CHAPTER 1.

DEFINITION AND IMPORTANCE OF HOMILETICS.

CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND TEXTS.

Homiletics is that branch of theology whichteaches the principles and rules according towhich sermons are prepared and delivered.It covers the whole subject, science, and art ofpreaching or public address before the congre­gation. Homiletics is therefore the chief aimand end of all theological study; the comple­tion and crown of the whole course.

Preaching is the chief business of theChristian ministry, and the most frequentform of public speech. More sermons aredelivered in any year than all other public ad­dresses combined. In this fact there is an ele­ment of strength and of weakness; of strength,because of the frequent opportunity to influ­ence public thought and action; of weakness,because this frequency brings the temptationto become careless in preparation.

There is a wide difference between a sermonscantily prepared and a sermon erroneouslyconstructed. The latter may be found in ser­mons of elaborate preparation, and is a faultchargeable not to lack of time, but lack ofobservance of the principles and rules of truehomiletics.

9

10 HOMILETICS.

The objection that preaching is too sacredto be made a matter of art, and too varied inits topics and ends to be governed by rulesand forms, is of no more weight than whenapplied to any other business or duty. Everysermon has two elements, divine and human.It is divine in its substance, which is the truthas revealed in God's Word-but it is human inso far as it is the product of human learningand skill in its preparation and delivery. Asa human product every sermon is a matter ofart, and as such demands the highest skill andbest method of which the preacher is capable.In both elements it will show the marks of itsmaker.

Rules in homiletics are meant to aid and notto hinder the best and most effective kind ofpreaching. "What is worth doing at all isworth doing well," and the greater and granderthe work the more important is it to observethis rule. Truth may be presented in suchoverwrought or stiffened form as to lose itsforce and end, but true homiletics will put thepreacher on his guard against this as well asother faults by which sermons are spoiled.Every preacher will have some method orrule in his preparation and preaching. Thequestion is-which is the best method andrule? To aid students in finding this out andbecoming familiar with it, is the importantpurpose of this branch of study.

The term Homiletics is derived from theGreek bp.IAlw, signifying both to assemble andto converse together, and is repeatedly used inthe New Testament. [Su Luke xxiv: 14, 15.Acts xx: II, and xxiv: 26. I. Cor. xv: 33.]

ITS PARTS. II

From this is derived the word Homily whichwas the earliest form of public discourse inChristian congregations, and from this in turncomes the term Homiletics. The word Ser­mon, from the Latin sermo, has the same sig­nification as Homily, but generally expressesa more elaborate and finished discourse. Theterm Postils is derived from the first words inthe sentence "Post ilia verba textus," withwhich many homilies in the middle ages began.

Homiletics is usually divided into fourparts:

I. Invention, or the selection of texts ortopics and the gathering of material.

2. Disposition, or the division and arrange­ment of the subject and matter of the sermon.

3. Composition, or the development, elabo­ration, and style of the discourse.

4- Declamation, or its public delivery.

INVENTION.

The term Invention is derived from theLatin ImJenio, signifying to find, to discover,to contrive, to procure; and expresses the actof the mind in searching out a text or theme,and finding out what to say and how to say it.It may be in its beginning an act of the imagi­nation, as the artist sees in his own mind theimage before he touches the marble or can­vas-or it may be a discovery, the result ofdiligent study of the Scriptures, or revealedto us in our own experience and observationsof life.

This inventive faculty or gift should be cul­tivated and developed by every preacher. It

12 INVENTION.

will liken him to a man .. that is an house­holder, which bringeth forth out of his treasurethings new and old." It will keep his mindand heart awake and active, give freshness andinterest as well as material aid to his sermons,and furnish a constant source of pleasure anddelight in his studies and preparations for thepulpit.

We divide Invention into four parts: thechoice of subjects, the selection of texts, thedetermination of the theme, and the gatheringof material.

THE CHOICE OF SUBJECTS.

The observance of the Church Year withits various seasons and appropriate lessonsfrom the Gospels and Epistles, ordinarily de­termines the subject of the sermon at the chiefservice on the Lord's day.

Luther, in revising and reforming the Orderof worship and public service, retained theobservance of the Church Year as it had comedown from the early ages of the ChristianChurch; and while he abolished many super­fluous festivals, held fast to the chief festivalsand seasons, and their appropriate lessons foreach Sunday and festival of the year, selectedfrom the Gospels and Epistles of the NewTestament.

Occasions, however, will arise and circum­stances demand that other subjects bepreached on besides those contained in the peri­copes. This will generally be the case whenthere is a second or evening service, and quitefrequently also at the first or morning service.

CHOICE OF SUBJECTS. 13

;; It is important, therefore, to have some rulesand suggestions for guidance in the choice ofsubjects.

SUBJECTS TO BE AVOIDED.

I. Those irrelevant to the purpose ofpreaching. Such as sermons on abstractmetaphysics; on natural philosophy and sci­ence; the mechanical arts or agriculture;mere social or sanitary questions; partisanpolitics, etc.

Sometimes there may be need of and pro­priety ill a brief allusion to such topics, butthey should never supplant the gospel by be­ing made the subject of an entire discourse.

3. Certain great subjects, belief in whichshould be taken for granted, and whichcould not be covered in an ordinary sermon.Such as the existence of God; the immortal­ityof the soul; the general evidences of Chris­tianity, etc. Attempts to prove or explaingreat truths like these often raise doubts ratherthan confirm faith, and at best produce butlittle benefit. It is unwise to disturb goodfoundations.

3. Nor should subjects of great terror andawe be made the topics of entire sermons.We are to declare the whole counsel of Godand not keep back any of His warnings,-butterrible things should not be discussed toofamiliarly, but presented as motives in the ap­plication of sermons rather than made thechief topic.

4- Controversial sermons should be avoid­ed except the occasion be imperative. Thepulpit is not the place for the criticism and

14 INVENTION.

condemnation of brethren who differ from us,unless the difference amounts to fundamentalheresy. Nor is it the place for any personalcontroversy or grievance a minister may havewith members of his congregation.

5. All sensational topics, including what­ever is merely odd and curious, are to be re-

. ligiouslyexcluded. The temptation to selectand announce such topics to attract a crowd isvery great, but it is a confession of pitiableweakness to be compelled to resort to them,and a perversion of God's gospel and grace toemploy them.

SUBJECTS TO BE CHOSEN.

The whole range of Christian doctrinesand duties, together with subjects pertainingto church life and personal experience,will furnish a great variety of topics whichare always proper and profitable.

In selecting your subject out of this varietyseveral considerations should guide you.

I. Take the subject which lies most uponyour heart, and to which you seem to be mostdrawn. Subjects of doctrine, duty, or experi­ence will often suggest themselves, and askand urge a hearing. These may be thepromptings of the Holy Spirit who guides usinto all truth.

3. Consider the state and needs of thecongregation and what will be most profit­able for them at the time. Not always whatyou feel like choosing, but what they needshould often decide your choice.

3. Consider what will be suitable and ap·

TOPICS AND TEXTS.

propriate to the occasion; to the day or sea­son of the year, etc., which would add interestand give special point to the sermon. Suchwould be times of special incidents, calamityor concern, etc.

Also days set apart for Thanksgiving or forFasting, appointed by the civil authorities­and also the Sundays nearest the Fourth ofJuly, Washington's birthday, and other na­tional holidays, will give opportunitiy for ser­mons of a national character, which may beuseful and should sometimes be preached.They should never be of a partisan character,discuss purely political questions, nor criticisethe rulers of the land. These occasions shouldbe used to remind the people that our govern­ment was founded by Christian men on relig­ious principles-that our national prosperitydepends on the continued favor of God-andthat our laws should ever be in accordancewith the teachings of His Word.

4. Consider what has been neglected.Keep a record or list of subjects as you preachon them, and an occasional examination ofthis will reveal what important subjects havebeen unintentionally omitted, which should bepresented.

THE SELECTION OF TEXTS.

I. Every sermon should be founded on atext, i.e, on some passage of Scripture. Onlyin extraordinary circumstances, as in deliver­ing a discourse on some special occasion orsome topic outside the usual range of ser­mons. should this rule be dispensed with-as

16 INVENTION.

it is better to take no text than. to put into onewhat was never intended.

2. The advantages and benefits of hav­ing a text are:

(a.) It keeps us to the true idea of preach­ing, viz., to explain and enforce the Word ofGod. A sermon is not a mere religious ad­dress or exhortation. It proceeds from theWord of God, leads into that Word, continueswith that Word, and attains its highest pur­pose and end in making clear and plain themeaning of that Word.

(0.) The text gives strength and authority tothe discourse. The power of the pulpit con­sists in the fact its occupants can say "Thussaith the Lord." Without this foundation thesermon loses its claim that men should hear,believe, and obey it. The text therefore isthe ground and pillar of the sermon.

(c.) It is a great aid to the preacher inpreparing his sermons, and to the hearers inremembering it, as it fixes the mind on some­thin~ definite.

(d.) While preventing the preacher fromwandering away into unprofitable topics, textsof scripture also furnish the richest varietyof thoughts, arguments, and illustrations themind or heart can desire.

3. The sermon must be really based uponthe text, the thought of which should runthrough the entire discourse. It is a misuseof God's Word to take a passage from it as thetext of the sermon, and then make no furtheruse of it or allusion to it. This is making it apretext instead of a text. On that portiontaken as the text, the sermon is constructed and

SELECTION OF TEXTS. 17

developed. The text is therefore not merelythe beginning of the sermon, but that onwhich it rests for its assertions, authority, andpower; and the meaning, spirit, and life ofwhich must pulsate through it from beginningto end.

4. Texts should neither be too long norabsurdly short. If a very extended passageis selected (except for Expository preaching),the mind is confused by the variety of subjectsincluded, and the text is not easily rernem­bered. Texts may be very short if they coverthe entire theme of the sermon, and give thesense of the passage, e.g., "God is love,""Jesus wept," "Maran-atha," "And he said,Come," etc. But usually to select but one ortwo unimportant words, as has sometimesbeen done, seems like trifling with the Wordof God and the great business of preaching.A sermon on the New Testament fulfillingthe Old was based on the words "This wasthat;" and another on Excuses had for itstext the single word "But:' Such triflingcannot be too severely condemned.

5. Passages should not be chosen fortexts simply because they are unusualand striking, if they do not teach what thesermon is meant to set forth. A sermon by apopular preacher, on the value of public meet­ings in which Christians relate their religiousexperience and give personal testimony, wasbased on Ps. cvii : 2, "Let the redeemed of theLord say so:' Any intelligent hearer whoknew the connection and meaning of this pas­sage might be amused, but neither convincednor edified by the sermon.i

18 INVENTION.

So too, mere incidental sayings or state­ments in Scripture, which contain no doctrineor important fact upon which to base an edi­fying sermon should not be chosen for texts.Some little incidental statements may be andare rich in instruction and suggestion, andhave been used to great advantage, but ordi­narily it is better and safer to select passagesin which truth is more fully and directlytaught.

6.' It is a mistake to give preference toOld Testament texts, rather than thosetaken from the New. There is a temptationto do this from the fact that Old Testamenttexts are less familiar, or are generally con­nected with an attractive story.

But while the entire Bible is our storehouseor armory from which our supplies are drawn,we must not forget we are ministers of theNew Testament rather than of the Old.

Old Testament texts may be admirably em­ployed to illustrate the New, but texts whichteach positive truths and doctrines are farstronger than those which simply illustrateby comparison or figure. Christian doctrine,duty, and life do not rest on the Old Testamentbut on the New, and the latter should there­fore be our chief text-book.

7. This brings up the question whether it isproper to use texts by way of accommo­dation, i.e., selecting a text for the purposeof illustrating some truth to which the texthas no reference or connection. E.g. Dr.Ruperti's sermon on "God's love to rebelliousman," his text being I1. Sam. xiv: 33, "Theking kissed Absalom"; Dr. Seiss' sermon on

SELECTION OF TEXTS.

"People who start for heaven but never getthere "-his text being Gen. xi :32, "Terah diedin Haran " ; or Dean Stanley's sermon on "Thediscouragement of God's servants"-based onthe remark of Elijah's servant, "There isnothing" (I. Kings xviii: 43) ; and many otherexamples which might be given, for the cus­tom of treating texts by way of accommo-dation is very common. ,

The chief objection urged against it is thatit is an unauthorized use of the sacred narra­tive, and puts a meaning into it which wasnever intended. But this can be urged againstthe spiritualizing of the miracles and otheracts of our Lord, which has always been re­garded as proper when kept within bounds;as the cure of Bartimeus is an illustration ofthe cure of those spiritually blind, etc.

Where texts are chosen by way of accom­modation and used cautiously and wisely, thereis force in the argument in its favor that itopens up the historical parts of the Bible as arich field for suggestive texts. And it reallydoes no violence to God's Word, provided thetruths presented and illustrated thereby arereally taught in other parts of the Bible. It isemploying the art and power of illustrationdrawn from the Word of God itself, and at­tracts attention from the start through thestory or narrative on which the sermon isbased.

Furthermore there is Divine warrant forsuch use of texts in the fact that many thingsin the Old Testament history were types ofthe Gospel and are so explained by Christ andthe Apostles.; as in John vi : 31-35, in which

20 INVENTION.

Jesus applies the story of the Manna to Him­self; or I. Cor. x: 4, where Paul says the rocksmitten by Moses "was Christ"; or Gal. iv:19, "Which things (Sarah and Hagar) are anallegory"; or Heb. ix: 19, where it is saidAbraham received Isaac "in a figure" ; and invs. 26, Moses is said to have "esteemed thereproach of Christ greater riches than thetreasures in Egypt," etc.

Under proper limitations, which the con­scientious preacher will always observe, theuse of texts by way of accommodation, not forteaching but illustrating truth, is justifiableand sometimes of special value.

8. Another general rule in selecting freetexts is to give preference to such as are reallyGod's words. Many sayings in the Biblewere uttered by heathen or wicked people,those who were God's enemies, and even bySatan himself. Sermons are not unusual onJob i : 9, "Doth Job fear God for nought?"the purpose being to teach no man serves Godwithout being rewarded. This is true, butsurely Satan ought not to be the person toteach it. Unless the preacher is careful to statewhose words they are and why he chooses them,such texts may be mischievous to those famil­iar with their origin. It would seem strangeto take that text when the words of our Lordin Matt. xix: 29, would be more suitable andforcible.

9. Texts should not be taken from theApocryphal books. While they are printedin some editions of the Bible and have a cer­tain value, they are not the inspired Word ofGod, and should not be used as texts. For

THE PERICOPES. 21

the same reason several passages in the ca­nonical books, like John v : 4, and I. John v: 1,which are now regarded by the best authoritiesas interpolations, should not be taken.

10. Ordinarily the text of the sermon for thechief service of the day should be taken fromthe Gospel or Epistle for that day, eitherwhole or in part.

The advantages of preaching on these peri­copes may be briefly stated:

(a.) It makes Christ the centre and themeof our sermons and presents the chief facts ofHis life and doctrines He taught, in regular or­der once every year. It is therefore eminentlyChristian.

(b.) It accords with and preserves the cuttusand spirit of our church, which bases her orderof worship and instruction upon the churchyear. It is therefore eminently churchly.

(c.) It maintains the communion of saints infurnishing the same topic and thought for allcongregations assembled on any particular day.

(d.) It preserves the congregation from be­ing subject to the special whims, likes or dis­likes of the preacher in his choice of textsand topics.

(e.) It saves the preacher the perplexity andloss of time incident to selecting texts at ran­dom.

I I. Other texts, not in the pericopes, but ap­propriate to or suggested by the particularthought of the day or season of the churchyear, may be used to great advantage. Manysuch texts can be found both in the Old andNew Testaments which will bring out suchparticular thought equally well, and sometimes

22 INVENTION.

in more striking form than the pericopes them­selves. While maintaining the church-yearidea, they give variety and interest to our ser­mons beyond what is possible when the textsare always chosen from the Gospel or Epistlefor the day.

As a rule it is not wise to choose the sametexts which have been repeatedly preached onbefore. The wise householder brings out ofthe storehouse things new and old. ClausHarms's reply to a question about repeatingold sermons, was" 0 sing unto the Lord a newsong." His objections to being altogether con­fined to the Gospels for the day, in the matterof texts, are interesting and forcible. Whilethe extended passages which form these peri­copes give great variety of topics of discourse,and therefore are not open to the objection tothe repeated use of the same short texts, it iswise often to take other texts appropriate tothe particular Gospel, day, or season of thechurch-year, rather than always to use thewords of that particular Gospel.

It is hard to make a new sermon on a textfrequently used before, and the Bible is veryfull of new ones which the diligent student isnot long in discovering. Luther made a greatdiscovery in the library of Erfurt when hefound there was a great deal in the Bible whichwas not in the pericopes. To choose a text onlybecause it is unfamiliar is a mistake, but themistake is not much less to take familiar andoft-used texts when new ones, equally impor­tant, appropriate, and instructive can be hadfor the searching.

For reasons given in paragraph 9, the Gos-

TEXTS FOR THE SEASONS. 23

pel for the day should generally furnish thetext for that day,-but even during the prin­cipal seasons of the church-year other textsof great force and propriety will suggest them­selves, and sometimes ought to be used. E.g.,on the rst Sunday in Advent, texts contain­ing prophecies, types, and promises concerningChrist, and such passages as Ps. cxxx: 6; Sol.Song v : 2 ; Acts iii : 24 ; Heb. i : 1-2, and ii : 13 ;1. Pet. i: 10-11, and II. Pet. i : 19-21, will beappropriate.

On the ad Sunday, the many texts concern­ing Christ's second coming will be in place,as well as texts like Luke xviii: 8, or xix: 13,etc.

On the 3d and 4th Sundays, texts relatingto the character, mission, and work of Johnthe Baptist, such as Acts xiii : 25; John i : 7, orv: 35, etc., will give rich variety to Adventsermons.

In a more subjective sense, texts on the prep­aration of the heart to receive Christ may beused with good effect during: this season.

The Epiphany season brings before the con­gregation not only the manifestation of Christto the Gentiles, but His entire public life,ministry, and teaching. Texts referring toChrist as our teacher, example, etc., belonghere,-such as Acts x : 38, and xxvi: 26 ; Lukeix :56; Matt. vii : 28-29, and viii: 20; II. Cor.viii: 9, etc. Missionary sermons also are veryappropiate to this season, and will suggestnumerous texts.

The season of Lent is especially rich in ap­propriate texts, many of which, as in Advent,will be found in the types, sacrifices, and proph-

INVENTION.

ecies of the Old Testament. On the first Sun­day, which brings before us Christ tempted ofthe devil, suitable texts will be Ps. xvii: 4 ; II.Cor. ii: II; I John iii :8, etc. Texts for ser­mons on the sufferings of Christ, will be foundin Isa. liii, and throughout the Epistle tothe Hebrews, e.g., ii: 10, 14, 17, 18; iv: 15 ;V : 8-9 ; vii : 25-26; xii: 2-3. Lent is also theseason for sermons on penitence and humili­ation, and on the trials and sorrows of life,texts for which abound in every part of theBible.

The Easter season, extending to Ascensionday, will be found short enough for sermonsbased on or suggested by our Lord's resurrec­tion. The different appearances of the risenLord will furnish topics and texts of wonder.ful interest, as will other passages like Isa.lxiii: I; Matt. xxi: 42; II. Tim. i : 10; Heb,xiii: 20-21; I. Pet. i :3; Rev. i: 18, and v: 5-6.

These are but few out of many which mightbe mentioned to show how other texts besidesthose in the pericopes can be used, whilst thechurch-year thought is carefully observed.

12. A convenient blank-book in which tonote texts as they occur to your mind in yourstudies or pastoral work, is a help in choosingtexts. The particular thought, purpose, appli­cation, or arrangement which strikes the mindat the time, should also be noted.