Victorian Religion/Extempore Preaching

THERE are some good people who, at this late day, dislike exceedingly to listen to a preacher who makes use of written sermons. A minister whom we fell in company with a day or two since, gave us a little of his early experience on this point, and related the following incident: -

He said that, just before leaving the theological school, he was sent to a certain Baptist church in the country, to supply for a single Sabbath, and was directed, when he arrived, to call on one of the members – an old farmer – at whose house it was expected he would put up.

When he arrived, the old farmer received him cordially, and immediately commenced conversation as follows: -

Farmer (eyeing him very closely): You have come to preach for us, have you?
Student: Yes, sir, I have come with that expectation.
Farmer: Do you make use of written sermons?
Student: I do.
Farmer: You do? Then we don’t want you. I’ll speak to the people myself, first; we want a man that can open his mouth and have the gospel flow our like water gushing out at the tail of a saw-mill, and that will melt down the hearts of the people like honey….

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