To address the hearts of others, one must only understand his own.
His mode of preaching, both to saints and to sinners, was solemn, affectionate, and remarkably plain. His style was simple, perspicuous, and energetic. His illustrations were familiar and striking; such as rendered his discourses intelligible to persons of the weakest capacity; and, at the same time, interesting to persons of the most cultivated intellect. He always commanded the attention of his audience. Every eye was fixed, and a solemn stillness pervaded the assembly. There was an earnestness in his manner which carried conviction to the minds of his hearers, that he believed what he spoke, and that he believed it to be truth of everlasting moment. There was also a directness in his preaching which made the hearers feel that they were the persons addressed; and such was his knowledge of the human heart, and of the feelings which divine truth excites when presented to the minds of unsanctified men, that he was able to anticipate objections, and to follow the sinner through his various refuges of lies, and strip him of all his excuses. So great was his skill in this respect, that it often seemed to individuals while listening to his preaching, that he must know their thoughts. And, in a certain sense, it was true. By knowing his own heart, he knew the hearts of others; because, “as in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” He understood from his own experience what thoughts and feelings would be excited in the minds of sinners by the contemplation of particular doctrines. When, therefore, he exhibited these doctrines in his preaching, and perceived that the attention of his hearers was fixed upon them, he did know, to some extent, what were their thoughts and feelings; and this enabled him to adapt his instructions to their circumstances, and to give to each one a portion in due season.
—Bennet Tyler, The Life and Labours of Asahel Nettleton (Banner of Truth, 1975), 298–299.
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Posted in: Asahel Nettleton · Bennet Tyler · Church History · The Life and Labours of Asahel Nettleton
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2 Comments:
#1 || 11·09·20··08:54 || Kim Shay
This sounds like a really good book.
#2 || 11·09·20··13:59 || David Kjos
The accounts of Nettleton’s theology and preaching are the best (so far). Some of the detailed accounts of various revivals seem a bit overdone and become monotonous. I’m looking forward to the parts involving conflict with Finney.