Thoughts on preaching by J. W. Alexander (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'Sketches of the pulpit in ancient and in modern times'.
Firstly, Alexander winds up his examination of the Anglican pulpit.
Then he moves to the Puritans, giving particular attention to Baxter.
Next a considerable number of pages are dedicated to the French pulpit, both Catholic and Protestant.
Finally, Alexander gives a few words regarding plagiarism and warnings against making sermons with 'a mere literary eye'.
Strange that Alexander should recommend Roman Catholic preachers...
Helpful advice regarding pulpit plagiarism: 'There is a tacit covenant between preachers and hearers, in our Church and country, which makes it a deception for any man to preach that which is not original. Pulpit larceny is the most unprofitable of all frauds; it is almost certain of detection, and it leaves a stigma on the fame even beyond its intrinsic turpitude. But surely an honest soul may wander among valuables without any necessity of thieving. Some have excluded books of sermons from their libraries, and by a "self-denying ordinance" have abstained from perusing them, lest, forsooth, they should damage their own originality. This is about as wise as if an artist should refrain from looking at the frescoes of the Vatican, and the galleries of Florence, Dresden, and the Louvre. We have seen the works of a Western painter, who is said to have acted on such a maxim; he would see no Baffaelles or Van Dycks, lest he should spoil his native manner. He has certainly succeeded in avoiding all that one beholds in these great masters. But in all labours, to the success of which, judgment, taste, and practice must combine, the highest capacity of production is fostered by studying the works of others; and we see not why this is less true in homiletics than in the arts. If a man may not read good sermons, we suppose he may not hear them. The wise student will, with the utmost avidity, both read and hear all that is accessible of the greatest achievements in the declaration of God's truth. At the same time, he will sit down to his labours as if he had known no performances but his own. He will borrow no man's plan; he will shun all repositories of skeletons and what are ironically named " Preachers' Helps;" and will be himself, even in his earliest and faintest efforts.'
Stealing sermons is plainly wrong and such preaching should not expect to be honoured by the Holy Spirit. But like Alexander I do think gleaning ideas from others is a wise practice.
Commence
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