ON THE COMPOSITION OF A SERMON; WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, AND ONE HUNDRED SKELETONS OF SERMONS, BY THE REV. CHARLES SIMEON, M. A. FELLOW OF KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. ON THE CHOICE OF BOOKS, DESIGNED TO AID AND ASSIST CLERGYMEN AND OTHERS IN THE LONDON: JAMES CORNISH, 1, MIDDLE ROW, HOLBORN BARS: LIVERPOOL. 1844. THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. I. Why the Author published Claude's Essay. THIS Essay on the Composition of a Sermon was originally written by the Rev. John Claude, a minister of the reformed religion in France, who preached upwards of forty years with great acceptance, first at St. Afrique, afterwards at Nismes, and lastly at Charenton. It was translated from the French, and published in the year 1778 by the Rev. Robert Robinson, who also was a man of very considerable erudition, and who presided over a dissenting congregation in Cambridge. The Essay itself appears admirably calculated to answer the end proposed: but, it must be confessed, the notes which the translator has added, and which are at least four times as large as the original work, are not altogether so unexceptionable as might be wished. The compiler says in his preface (which will enable us to form a pretty accurate judgment of the whole), "The following short Essay was published in its present form for the use of those studious ministers in our protestant dissenting churches, who have not enjoyed the advantage of a regular academical education." He afterwards informs us, that he translated the Essay for his own edification; then added several quotations, intending them for small exercises for one of his sons; and that ten years afterwards, having sprained his ancle, he improved the leisure which this accident occasioned, in preparing this book for publication." And then he concludes with saying, "This plain tale is the best account I can give of a work, which it might have appeared arrogant in me to publish, and of a collection of notes, which must seem an odd farrago, unless the different views of the compiler at different times be considered." It would be invidious and unbecoming to suggest any thing unnecessarily that should depreciate the compiler's merit; but it will be expected that some reason should be assigned for the omission of almost all his notes. We are under the necessity therefore of observing (what any person who reads a single page of them must see) that they were compiled for " dissenting ministers ;" and that, after making all possible allowance for the views of the compiler, they are indeed " AN ODD FARRAGO." But a far more serious ground of objection against them is, that they are replete with levity, and teeming with acrimony against i the established church. The preface itself, short as it is, will afford us but too just a specimen, both of the matter contained in them, and of the spirit which they breathe throughout. "] will venture to affirm, says Mr. Robinson, "in spite of Lord Clarendon and Dr. Burn, that we have not a brother so ignorant, and so impudent, as to dare to preach to seven old women in a hogstie, what Doctors and Bishops have preached before Universities and Kings." The reader may judge from hence of some out of many reasons which induce the Editor, as a minister of the established church, to publish this Essay without the incumbrances with which the translator had loaded it. There can be little doubt but that the notes have prevented many from perusing it, who might otherwise have been much profited by its contents; and it is hoped that, now it is sent forth in its native dress, and may be read without exciting either bigotry or disgust, it will become an object of more general attention. II. Why he annexed the Gospel Message and the Four Skeletons to it. THE various methods which Mr. Claude has proposed for the treating of different subjects, are all exemplified in the Skeletons annexed to his Essay. But the particular topics, which he mentions as sources of invention, may be rendered more profitable by being brought into one view. And the different modes of treating subjects, which he suggests, may be more clearly understood by being all exemplified on one text. This idea having occurred to the author's mind, he has maturely weighed it; and the more it engaged his attention, the more firmly he was persuaded of the utility of carrying it into effect. But he was aware that, to propose a text in four different points of view, without introducing any material repetitions, was no easy matter. If indeed he had chosen to take separate parts of the text for the several discourses, he would have found it easy enough to avoid the most distant approach to tautology: but such a mode of discussing subjects he does not altogether approve the principal points in every text ought, in his judgment, to be the leading features of the discourse formed upon it: and upon that principle he has constructed the Skeletons which are annexed to this Sermon. Another and a far greater difficulty was to include no less than twenty-seven different topics in one discourse, and yet to preserve (what no sermon should want) unity and perspicuity throughout. But being very solicitous that nothing should be omitted which could contribute to the perfection and usefulness of that invaluable Essay, he has made the attempt; with what success he leaves to a candid public to determine. He begs the reader, however, to take notice, that the introducing of all the topics into one discourse is a thing by no means to be imitated. It is done here only with an intention to set in a clear light the nature and use of those topics. In fact, a person who would write a judicious discourse must not only not undertake to bring in every topic, but he must not fetter himself by an endeavour to illustrate any topic. He must consult the nature of the text or subject he is discussing, and must follow whithersoever that may lead him. The mind filled with any subject will naturally suggest such topics as are most calculated to reflect light upon it: whereas a regard to this or that particular topic will be very likely to render the discourse incoherent and confused. III. The Nature and Intent of his own Skeletons. INSTRUCTION relative to the composition of sermons is of great importance, not only to ministers, but, eventually, to the community at large; and it were much to be wished that more regard were paid to this in the education of those who are intended for the ministry. It has sometimes been recommended to the younger clergy to transcribe printed sermons for a season, till they shall have attained an ability to compose their own. And it is to be lamented that this advice has been too strictly followed for, when they have once formed this habit, they find it very difficult to relinquish it: the transition from copying to composing of sermons is so great, that they are too often discouraged in their first attempts, and induced, from the difficulty they experience in writing their own sermons, to rest satisfied in preaching those of others. Hence has arisen that disgraceful traffic in printed sermons, which, instead of meeting with encouragement from the clergy, ought to have excited universal indignation. To remove, as far as possible, these difficulties from young beginners, is the intent of these Skeletons. The directions given in Mr. Claude's Essay on the Composition of a Sermon, which is prefixed to these Skeletons, cannot fail of being helpful to every one who will study them with care: but there appears to be something further wanted; something of an intermediate kind between a didactic essay like Claude's, and a complete sermon; something which may simplify the theory, and set it in a practical light. Mr. Claude himself has interspersed several sketches, with a view to illustrate the different parts of his Essay; but these, though suited to the end which he proposed, are not sufficiently full to subserve the purpose of which we are now speaking. A scheme, or Skeleton of a discourse is that species of composition to which we refer. It should be not merely a sketch or outline, but a fuller draft, containing all the component parts of a sermon, and all the ideas necessary for the illustration of them, at the same time that it leaves scope for the exercise of industry and genius in him who uses it. The pious and learned |
