Right, this hasn’t been available online for ages – which needs sorted, as I don’t want to overhype it, but if I was only allowed to keep one sermon, this would probably be it.
Preached at Aber 2002.
by Mr John Livingstone [1603-1672, minister in Killinchy, Stranraer and Ancrum]
[The first in a series of potential actually useful to somebody posts of things that aren't available anywhere else]
It is most probable that no gift, no pains, a man takes to fit himself for preaching, shall ever do good to the people or himself, except a man labour to have and keep his heart in a spiritual condition before God, depending on him always for furnishing and blessing. Earnest faith and prayer, a single aim at the glory of God and good of people, a sanctified heart and carriage, shall avail much for right preaching. There is sometimes somewhat in preaching that cannot be ascribed either to the matter or expression, and cannot be described what it is, or from whence it cometh, but with a sweet violence it pierceth into the heart and affections, and comes immediately from the Lord. But if there be any way to attain to such thing, it is by a heavenly disposition of the speaker. A man should especially read the writings, and labour to follow the gifts of those who God hath, in the most eminent manner, blessed with the converting and confirming of their hearers, rather than those who seem to have rare gifts for learning and delectation, without such success.
It is very neefdul that a man prudently discern what is the nature and extent of the gift that God hath given him, that in offering to imitate others he does not stretch beyond his own line, but only corrects the defects of his own gift; and what is good therein, labour to improve and exalt that.
It is very fitting that a man have plenty and choice words, that as need requires, he may vary his expression; and sometimes the enforcing of the same thing with diverse words to the same purpose hath its own use, especially to a dull auditory; and so we find, that often in the Prophets and Psalms, and poetic Scriptures, the same thing will be twice expressed only in different words. But a custom of multiplying synonymous words and epithets, and sentences to the same purpose, is very unsavoury to an understanding hearer, that seeks matter and not words, and would feign to proceed from scarcity of matter, and a desire to fill the hour any way.
The light of nature, which is a spark of the will of God, hath taught many useful rules, even to Pagans, [concerning] the right way of making solemn speeches before others, the most of which are to be applied to preaching with due discretion; so that what is thought unseemly in the one is to be avoided in the other. But the best rulers are taken from the preachings of Christ, of the apostles and prophets.
I. For Matter.
Moreover, these faults should be shunned:
1. Too many particular points, reckoned as 8, 10, &c., loads memory, and too few is flat.
2. Too exquisite method, and none almost at all.
3. Too much should not be left to [the Spirit's] assistance in the time, and yet not all premeditated.
4. Ordinarily go not beyond the hour.
5. Not too much Scripture cited, nor too little.
6. Not to insist long in proving clear doctrines.
7. Not too few doctrines, nor too many.
8. Not to insist on points that may be spoken to on any text.
9. Neither too many similitudes, nor none at all.
Livingstone said, approaching his death, “I cannot say much of great services; yet if ever my heart was lifted up, it was in preaching of Jesus Christ”.
Taken from Thomas Houston, Life of Rev. John Livingstone, Works, iv, pp 320-3.
See also: Stuart Olyott – Reading the Bible and praying in public
1. Read a proper blog. See the Moderator’s Diary for reports of GAC | BDC | GDC | BAC. And a visit to the Robert Hanna that wasn’t at camp! “Nice to have a McCullough contributing something useful online!!!” – PL
2. Gareth has 10 concert videos up so far, more to come:
You sortof need to see the other video they showed along with it!
The other mastermind round
3. BBC Producer Bert Tosh on ‘Does the hymn have a future?’ (via jmark)
“I might mention in passing the practice of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, one of Ireland’s smaller denominations with about 3,000 members. They’re sometimes known as Covenanters, which suggests their Scots antecendence. What is distinctive about their worship is that they sing metrical psalms only and without accompaniment, like some of the smaller Scottish Presbyterian churches. They have broadened their repertoire from the 1650 Psalter, but what has struck me when I’ve produced one of their services (there weren’t any in the period I’ve been looking at) is that you get a congregation of all ages from eight to eighty singing their psalms tunefully and enthusiastically in four-part harmony. I look around and I think, this shouldn’t be happening: teenagers singing 350 year old words to very four-square tunes. But it is…
4. Recognise anyone in the new Stran prospectus?
Incidentally, the roadworks in Ballykelly keep you waiting longer than any other roadworks in the history of the world!!
5. Sarah Warnock in the Edinburgh Evening News:
Sarah Warnock, 23, has been attending St Columba’s for five years. She says: “For me, Sundays are special. It’s the one day on which you can completely rest in today’s crazy world.”
Her Sundays consist of a morning service at 11.20am, followed by lunch with members of the congregation, which can mean anything from 50 fellow diners in the church hall to a meal at another student’s flat for four or five.
She says: “It really does turn into a family. I have never once had a Sunday lunch on my own since I came to Edinburgh.” she says.
Sarah deliberately avoids studying on a Sunday, and says as an architecture student at Edinburgh University that’s not always been easy – “Especially when the pressure is on and I know other people are in the studio working but I do find that taking that day sets me up for the rest of the week.”
Update: The weekend will be held on the traditional dates after all! 11th-13th September!
Details below. Forms should be available in churches this weekend. Or you can download them here. Haven’t been at one of these things for a while, so I’m not sure if ‘Free time’ on the Saturday evening is a euphemism for ‘Poland v. Northern Ireland’. Or a birthday party for James…
Venue: Mullartown House, Annalong
Dates: 11th-13th September
Speaker: Andrew Lucas | Seminars: Barry G and Aggers
Cost: £40 if booked by 27 Aug, £45 after
Actually the funniest application form I’ve ever seen. Go on the Sween! Annalong is a mere 109 miles from Londonderry according to the AA, which is probably a bit of an overestimate, but still! Not complaining, just noting!