Evangelical Eloquence: A Course of Lectures on Preaching

Book Description:

In these days of the soundbite and the autocue, public speaking is a declining art-form, though it is not extinct and still has its own weight and force.

 In New Testament times, unlike today, rhetoric was a highly regarded skill and works were written about it which are still read. Dabney quotes liberally from these, but does not always agree with them. He knew that gospel preaching was not to be 'with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect'.

'Evangelical eloquence', for Dabney, was unique. It consisted in 'the soul's virtuous energy exerted through speech' which applied 'the authority of God to the conscience' and formed 'the image of Christ upon the souls of men'.

Table of Contents:
LECTURE I. INTRODUCTORY
LECTURE II. THE PREACHER'S COMMISSION
LECTURE III. DISTRIBUTION OF SUBJECTS
LECTURE IV. THE SAME TOPICS CONTINUED
LECTURE V. THE TEXT
LECTURE VI. THE TEXT (Continued)
LECTURE VII. CARDINAL REQUISITES OF THE SERMON
LECTURE VIII. CARDINAL REQUISITES OF THE SERMON (Continued)
LECTURE IX. CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF THE SERMON
LECTURE X. CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF THE SERMON (Continued). - EXPLICATION AND PROPOSITION
LECTURE XI. CONSTITUENT MEMBERS OF DISCOURSE (Continued). - ARGUMENT AND CONCLUSION
LECTURE XII. SOURCES OF ARGUMENT
LECTURE XIII. RULES OF ARGUMENT
LECTURE XIV. RULES OF ARGUMENT (Continued)
LECTURE XV. DIVISION OF THE ARGUMENT
LECTURE XVI. PERSUASION
LECTURE XVII. PERSUASION (Continued)
LECTURE XVIII. PREACHER'S CHARACTER WITH HEARERS
LECTURE XIX. STYLE
LECTURE XX. STYLE (Continued)
LECTURE XXI. ACTION
LECTURE XXII. ACTION (Continued)
LECTURE XXIII. MODES OF PREPARATION
LECTURE XXIV. PUBLIC PRAYER

Author:

Robert L. Dabney (March 5, 1820 - January 3, 1898) was an American Christian theologian, a Southern Presbyterian pastor, and Confederate Army chaplain.

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