Themes for the pulpit...

Front matter

THREE THOUSAND TDPIOS WITH TgXTS,

SUITABLE FOR

PUBLIC DISCOURSES

Preface

The design of this book is obvious from its title. There are few clergymen who have not at times found it more difficult to select an interesting and useful subject for a discourse, than to prepare a sermon after a suitable subject had been found. To afford timely assistance to his brethren in such circumstances, has been the object of the compiler in preparing the present work.

The plan pursued is different, it is believed, from any thing of the kind hitherto attempted. There have been published at different times, books containing Skeletons, or Outlines of Sermons, for the use of those who are either incompetent, or too indolent to frame a discourse without assistance. But such helps as these, are far worse than useless ; they serve to destroy the inventive powers of the preacher, and make of him a complete drone. A clergyman who prepares his discourses by merely filling up plans made by others, ceases to respect himself, and so far as his practice is known, loses the respect of the community; and what is still worse, he will be likely to starve his hearers. Discourses thus composed will w^ant unction, — their several parts, being made up by different minds of diverse habits of thinking and feeling, will be as incongruous as the iron and the clay in Nebuchadnezzar's image. Such books ought to be banished at once from every clergyman's Library, unless a very different use is made of them from that intended by their authors. If a preacher is really unable to prepare a discourse unless the framework is constructed to his hands, it is incumbent on him to pause, and seriously inquire whether he has not mistaken his

PREFACE.

calling. If he is too indolent to do it, there is reason to fear that he has mistaken not only his calling, but his own heart.

As this book furnishes nothing but Subjects and Texts, it is believed that, without affording any temptation or even facilities for being indolent, it will often be of essential service to the preacher, by suggesting interesting and important trains of thought which he will carry out independently, and which will be wholly his own. Some of the greatest and happiest efforts of the human mind have owed their origin to a single thought suggested by another mind, or to a striking text of Scripture. The intellectual powers are frequently stimulated to vigorous action upon the mere announcement of an interesting and appropriate theme.

There are here presented nearly three thousand subjects for the pulpit, most of which have been already discussed with much interest and profit by able divines. This latter circumstance, however, does not constitute the least objection to their being discussed again by other minds. Subjects and Texts (but not Skeletons) are common property. A preacher may discourse on a topic which others have canvassed before him with just as much of originality and profit as if he were the first person who made it a theme for the pulpit. There is one consideration in favour of a subject that has been once discussed with interest in the desk, and that is, the preacher may know that his theme has sufficient scope for a sermon, as it has been successfully tested.

The subjects in this volume are arranged, it will be perceived, with reference to convenience, and not to the order in which they should follow each other in a Theological System.

PREFACE.

As it is frequently desirable to preach a number of sermons on the same general subject, there are appended several valuable Series, which may serve to assist the preacher in planning courses of Lectures for himself.

Permission has been kindly granted to insert the Analysis of Dwight's Theology. There are here given, at one view, the topics of a complete body of Divinity, logically arranged. Although most clergymen probably have this invaluable work in their Libraries, they may still find it convenient to have the Analysis of it in a small volume designed to lie upon their study-table.

Most of the subjects have connected with them appropriate texts of Scripture. In some few cases, however, the appropriateness of the texts given, and the correctness of their interpretation, may with propriety be questioned. The compiler wishes it to be distinctly understood that he takes no part of the responsibility of the interpretation of the texts quoted in this volume, but throws it entirely upon the authors of the discourses from whom the subjects are taken. The student should in all cases examine the interpretation of a text for himself before using it as the foundation of a discourse.

It was the compiler's intention, when he commenced this work, to place in the margin against each subject, the names of various authors who had written upon it ; but as this was aside from his main design, and found to be the occasion of much inconvenience and delay in preparing the work for the press, it was thought best to abandon this part of the plan. Except in a few cases, therefore, the name of that author only is given from whose productions the subject was selected. Provision is made, by leaving a wide margin, for adding with a pen or pencil other names, as the owner of the book may see fit,

PREFACE.

Occasionally the name of an author has been omitted in the margin through inadvertence.

It is not pretended that this book contains all those subjects which are profitable for pulpit discussion. It is presumed that every Pastor keeps a blank book in which he enters from time to time topics appropriate to the spiritual wants of his people, which are suggested to him in his reading, conversation, and pastoral labours. This collection is by no means intended to supersede the necessity of his keeping such a book. The blank leaves bound up with this volume are designed for him to use for this purpose. In this part of the book he can add subjects as they occur to him, arranged either according to the plan of the preceding pages, or according to a plan of his own.

To his younger brethren in the sacred office, the compiler trusts this work will be particularly useful. It will serve not only to help them to a subject for a discourse occasionally, but it will give them some idea of the vast field of discussion that lies before them, which they sometimes may have regarded as in a measure circumscribed.

Theological students when leaving the seminary will find this volume, it is believed, of considerable utility as they enter upon the arduous duties of the ministry.

To the Clergy generally of all evangelical denominations, this work is respectfully and affectionately submitted. If it serve to assist them in their studies — to give greater variety to their preaching— and in time of need to give an impulse to their minds in a profitable direction, the labour of preparing it will not have been spent in vain. That it may facilitate their labours in feeding the church of God, and winning souls to Christ, is the sincere prayer of their brother and fellow labourer, A. C. BALDWIN.

New-York, May 1st, 1841.