A NICE EXPOSURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1477, 21 November 1872, Page 3

A NICE EXPOSURE.

(From tlie Liverpool Mercury.) Some curious correspondence has come into our possession, for the authenticity of wbich we can vouch. It consists of a series of letters which passed between a person who made ifc his trade to write sermons, and a Church. of England clergyman, who mude it his business to preach them in a church some 4J cr 50 miles from Liverpool. The sermon-writer would appear to h ye been a newspaper reporter out of work. The clergyman (who carried on the correspondence under a feigned name, and had his •letters and MSS. addressed under cover to his g-roe-vrl was a much esteemed rector, with ' a liviug »f his own to subsist on. The ball seems to have been opened by the sermon-writer with an advertisement in a Manchester paper, addressed "to clergymen," j and offering "original sermons," on terms to be ascertained of the advertiser. To this the clergyman replies, asking what the terms are, aud intimating that, as he is not blessed with a " long purse," there will be no trade done " unless the price is very low indeed." The sermon-writer replies that his "usual ierms are a guinea per sermon," but that if the clergyman " is likely to become a regular customer," he will " put them in for half a guinea each." The clergyman writes back that he is likely to become a regular cus-j tomer ; offers to take twelve sermons a I month, "if he can have them afc the rate of three for five and- twenty shillings ;" and states, finally, that "if these terms are accepted, the sermon-writer may at once send the first " on approval." The sermon- writer replies tbat he will do the work for the sum stated, on condition that no MSS. are to be returned if the first three are accepted. The clergyman assents, the sermon writing begins, and the correspondence becomes more interesting. It would seem that two of the sermons have been delivered, and that the writer of

Itheraj fceing-eilheiN distrustful ©r- M hard ap," •has applied* for- " something on- aacount." At all events, he gets this letter:.— ; "Dean sir, if • you will send' rae a, sermon forthwith ou the Christian's victory over 'death, founded'upon a similar passage to the one ia- lßfc Corinthians, 15th chapter— ' The :last enemy, &c.'— and I approve of- it, then I will remit you the 255, upon receipt of which you can send as soon as possible three more on stirring suhjects suitable for Sabbath evening useß." The sermon goes, and in reply comes this letter: — "Dear sir,— l have just received MS. Shall not need it to-morrow. Approve of ifc with one exception, which I should like you to remedy. Will then remit you. Having given a description of man whendeath entered into the world, I think in as glowing language as possible, a description should be given of Christ's resurrection from the dead, when death was conquered and the devil defeated. Let me have this appendage as soon as possible. Will then fulfil beforementioned agreement, npon receipt of which you will please please send two more at once on Btriking subjects dressed in as glowing flowery language as you like." At this point the correspondence, except so far as it relates to remittances, breaks oi? for a month, from which we judge that ths writer laid on the colour with a sufficiently unsparing hand. Then we get this: " Dear sir, having been from home, I did not receive yours until this day. Approve of it if you will please append a graphic description of God's love manifested in the gift of his Son for sinners, coupled with a glowing description of Cbrist's dying on the cross, the consummation of love. Was too late this evening for P. 0.0. Will send it on Monday." The next letter set forth that " one of the last sent (that on .« wheat and tares ') could not be used, having taken the very same subject only a few Sundays before." " Can you take this back," the clergyman proceeds, " and send me two, one on the nature and advantages of faithful prayer, founded on such a subject as the Syrophceniciau woman— should like that subject— the other on the rewards of a holy life, founded on such a passage as ' Say ye to the righteous/ Sec, or, ' There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God.' Your attention will oblige." i he sermon-writer replies that he is quite willing to write on either of the subjects sug - gested, but he declines point blank to tuke back " »Vheat and tares." "The compact was that no MSS. were to be returned if the first tbree were accepted." What became of that unhappy sermon, therefore, must remain a mystery. Perhaps it was " saved up" for future use. After this, however, the clergyman is prudent enough to furnish hi 3 own texts (.which he seldom did before), and even to sketch out the form of treatment to be adopted. For instance— "Please send me a sermon ou the words ' Work while it is yet day.' First, the introduction ; then on ' the day.' Secondly, on the nature of the * work ' — —firstly, the sinner's work : salvation ; secondly, the Christian's 'work:' lo aid in mending this bad world, in diffusing and spreading the gospel, with a glowing description of the evil that surrounds us; and thirdly, the reward of * work;' the wages paid. Later on again we get this : "Dear sir, will you send me the second sermon of present course from these words — 'And yet there is room?' My idea of the passage runs something after the following:— First, introduction Bring in forcibly and clearly tho reason and occasion of the words. First division, the gospel provision in the church of Christ, with a bold and striking glance at the number of believers of every caste and character who have been admitted into its pale. The church on earth compared to a railway train— passengers of all ages, &c. A vessel playing on the waters of the sea, &c. - econdly, the 'room' in heaven, with a pathetic picture of the saved— and yet there is for all — room for me, &c. The 'room' — room third text wiil send in a few days, when please enclose account." The next and concluding letter of the series is too long to quote in full. It begins about " the account" and "the remittance," and goes on to ask for a sermon on the words ' Not by might, nor by power, bufc by ray spirit, saith the Lord." The writer i* to adopt his own course in introduction," hut he is to get in a description, "in as forcible : and graphic language as possible," of the "first apostles — fish m en, tai-^atherers, &c," and contrast them " with the great ones, the leading ones, of tbis day." He is also to "bring in the Reformation, Martin Luther," &c> in "as glowing language iis possible," and then to describe " the position of the church at the present day — perfect machinery — every advantage taken for a glorious ingathering of souls," &c. After this there is to be a " vivid picture of the sinner saved, not by a visible hand j»tretched from heaven, not by a perceptible voice ringing forth from the throne, not by an angel with his brilliant wings, not by might nor by power, but by," &c. Lastly, tbe "door of heaven " is to be "seen distinctly open, with the saved Christian triumphantly entering ifc." " You will perceive. from the above sketch," says the clergyman, " that I like the flowery style. Will you try to accommodate me ?" This last sermon seems never to have been written. Whether it was beyond the reporter's power, or whether he got something better to do, doeß not appear. All that does appear is, the correspondence suddenly ceases, and doeß not get resumed. We append no comment to these remarkable documents. We do not care even to characterise them; we print them in illustration of a enrious and, we trust, very limited phase of clerical life, of wbich we have often heard, but never before had the opportunity of inspecting; and we leave them, with all their queer coincidences and strange incongruities, to speak for themselve*.