A BRIEF ESSAY ON THE STYLE OF THE PULPIT, PUBLISHED AT THE UNANIMOUS REQUEST OF BY THE REV. WILLIAM BREWIS, Penrith. YORK: J. ALLOM, BOOKSELLER, &c., BRIDGE-STREET; 1818. THE STYLE OF THE PULPIT. IF the Barrister studies a style suited to the judicial court, and the Senator to the political arena and the parliamentary debate, should not the Public Teacher of Religion, who occupies a position far more important than either, at least, in the estimation of Him who, beholding every thing in the light of eternity, judges not as man judgeth, assiduously cultivate a style the best fitted, instrumentally considered, to secure the all-momentous ends contemplated by the preaching of the gospel? We hear a great deal about the power of the Press, and certainly it is immense; we have now, however, to do with the power of the Pulpit; and surely so mighty an engine ought not to be merely played with, but properly plied. Whilst every thing should be done to facilitate its legitimate working, every thing should be avoided that would tend, in the slightest degree, to weaken its influence or impair its efficiency. The matter of a Sermon is confessedly the primary, but not the only thing to be considered. The method of conveying that matter is not to be overlooked. Even an inspired preach er seems to have been intently concerned to discover the most suitable mode of imparting his instructions. He knew by experience much study to be a weariness of the flesh, for he spared no pains in selecting such expressions as appeared the best adapted to arouse the lethargic, to arrest the inattentive, and to establish the undecided. "Because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails, fastened by the masters of assemblies." The same eminent individual said, |