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Gospel Preachers - Charles Simeon

 


Charles Simeon was born on September 24th, 1759, in Berkshire, England. He served as the vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge until his death in 1836—over 54 years. He held that his conversion, in 1779, was greatly influenced by Thomas Wilson’s writings. Simeon found a copy of Essay on the Composition of a Sermon. This book set the trajectory of Simeon’s preaching towards text-driven exposition. First, as a great expositor, he translated it into English and had it republished. He held a deep conviction to help the next generation of preachers towards textual faithfulness. This stands as the foundation of his major written work, Horae Homileticae—a twenty-one-volume sermon outline of exposition. He had some impactful accomplishments, including his role in founding the Church Missionary Society (1799) and establishing the Simeon Trust (1816). Charles Simeon’s entire ministry exhibited a “radical commitment to Scripture and a passion for preaching.”[1] Charles Simeon’s example of gospel preaching provides us four principles for us to follow:

 Maintain Textual Faithfulness

Simeon was committed to the faithful proclamation of the text. To that end, Simeon said, “[I have] endeavoured to derive from the Scriptures alone his views of religion; and to them it is his wish to adhere, with scrupulous fidelity; never wresting any portion of the word of God to favour a particular opinion.”[2] He insisted that the preacher must draw out of Scripture what is actually there. He cautioned against inserting personal ideas or theological pets into the sermon. Rather, he demonstrated staying with the “natural meaning” of the text and even asserted that he was “no friend to systematizers in Theology.”[3]

Expose the Big Idea

Simeon taught preachers to reduce the text to a single proposition and build the sermon around that unified theme. But building that proposition rested fully upon maintaining textual faithfulness. Simeon wrote, “Every text has its proper subject, which should be brought forth, without mutilation or addition of any kind.”[4] Simeon argued for preaching that had unity, perspicuity, and simplicity. He wrote, “I would entreat [preachers] to retain his compositions: unity in his subject, perspicuity in his arrangement, and simplicity in his diction; for without these the great mass of his audience will derive no profit from his labours.” [5]

Preach to Yourself First

Charles Simeon wrote, “Let him get his text into him in his study, and then get into his text in the pulpit.”[6] Simeon stressed that the minister should spend sufficient time in the study, allowing the text to move, motivate, and mold him. The preacher should be shaped so thoroughly by the text that they preach from their encounter with God rather than from their knowledge of the text. Simeon’s preaching demonstrated that entering the pulpit with only superficial preparation or relying on rhetorical skill is to be avoided. This becomes a lecture devoid of the power of the Holy Spirit and ultimately stale bread for the soul of the congregation.

Maintain Pastoral Warmth

Simeon’s primary driver for his pastoral warmth in preaching rested on the perspicuity of Scripture. He recognized that Scripture is unified in its design, clear in its arrangement, and plain in its message. Scripture reveals God and how mankind should respond to God. Through that view, Simeon led by example when controversy arose in his parish. He stated, “But the Gospel of Christ has afforded me still more abundant ground for hope in fleeing to the Saviour . . . not coming to Christ, as one who was warranted to do so by any holiness he had attained, but as one whose iniquities could not in any other way be pardoned, and who hoped that God would glorify Himself in saving the very chief of sinners.”[7] His correspondence contained gentleness toward those who were angered at him, and his hope was for their reconciliation.

 

 


[1] Matthew McKellar, “Great Preachers and Their Preaching: Charles Simeon,” from Equip the Called (Aug 5, 2024), https://equipthecalled.com/ps-article/great-preachers-and-their-preaching-charles-simeon/?utm_source=copilot.com

[2] Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae: Genesis to Leviticus, vol. 1 (London: Samuel Holdsworth, 1836), xxiii.

[3] Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae: Genesis to Leviticus, vol. 1 (London: Samuel Holdsworth, 1836), xxiii.

[4] William Carus, ed., Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. Charles Simeon (London: Hatchard and Son, 1848), 505.

[5] William Carus, ed., Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. Charles Simeon (London: Hatchard and Son, 1848), 507.

[6] Arthur Pollard and Michael Hennell, eds., Charles Simeon (London: SPCK, 1959), p. 39.

[7] William Carus, ed., Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. Charles Simeon (London: Hatchard and Son, 1848), 245.

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