Preaching and Preachers

The Preparation of the Preacherthe same time do something to you. Again I would emphasise that itis most important that the preacher should know not only himself ingeneral but also his particular moods and states and conditions. Thepreacher should never be moody; but he will have varying moods. Noman can tell what he will feel like tomorrow morning; you do not controlthat. Our business isto do something about these changing moodsand not to allow ourselves to become victims of them. You are notexactly the same two days running, and you have to treat yourselfaccording to your varying conditions. So you will have to discoverwhat is the most appropriate reading for yourself in these varyingstates.You will find, I think, in general, that the Puritans are almostinvariably helpful. I must not go into this overmuch, but there arePuritans and Puritans! John Owen on the whole is difficult to read; hewas a highly intellectual man. But there were Puritan writers whowere warmer and more direct and more experimental. I shall nevercease to be grateful to one of them called Richard Sibbes who wasbalm to my soul at a period in my life when I was overworked andbadly overtired, and therefore subject in an unusual manner to theonslaughts of the devil. In that state and condition to read theologydoes not help, indeed it may be well-nigh impossible; what you needis some gentle tender treatment for your soul. I found at that timethat Richard Sibbes, who was known in London in the early seventeenthcentury as 'The Heavenly Doctor Sibbes' was an unfailingremedy. His books The Bruised Reedand The Soul's Conftut quietened,soothed, comforted, encouraged and healed me. I pity thepreacher who does not know the appropriate remedy to apply to himselfin these various phases through which his spiritual life mustinevitably pass.This may sound strange to some, even wrong. You may have atheoretical outlook; you have not been in the ministry and you knownothing of its problems and cares and trials. The Apostle Paul knewwhat it was to experience 'without were fightings, within were fears'.He knew what it was to be 'cast down' and 'in great conflict' and to be175