The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers. By Warren W. Wiersbe and Lloyd M. Perry. Chicago: Moody Press, 1984. 325 pages. Cloth, $19.95.  

Two of the best-known authorities on homiletics have surveyed twenty centuries of preaching from the chronological, rhetorical, biographical, and illustrational perspectives and collected the most helpful information from preachers and preaching texts. This volume reflects their keen insights and broad knowledge of preaching.  

Wiersbe and Perry begin part one by dividing the history of preaching chronologically into nine periods and sketching the most prominent preachers and features of preaching in each era. The remaining chapters of part one develop the nine periods in more detail. One chapter is devoted to American preaching.  

Part Two traces the development of classical rhetoric and examines its influence on homiletics. The authors group some of the traditional items of homiletics under the five divisions of classical rhetoric. Then they trace the influence of oratory on sermon style, examine the ways in which rhetoric has changed through the centuries, and devote a chapter to American rhetoric.  

Part Three, though short, is valuable because it contains capsule biographies of preachers. All those included were not “great,” but made significant contributions to preaching. No living preacher is included.  

The section on illustrations, Part Four, which contains anecdotes about some of the best-known preachers, is entertaining, interesting, and may be used as a source of illustrations itself. Vignettes from the lives of Moody, Morgan, Spurgeon, and others, some humorous, some sorrowful, enable the reader to identify with a number of those who occupy such large places in the history of preaching.  

As he studies the approaches to biblical interpretation, sermon form, and principles of communication taken by others, the contemporary preacher will discover ways to strengthen and enrich his own preaching. For all those who desire such help from past pulpit giants, this volume is good news. Extensive documentation, biographical sketches, and bibliography make this a valuable reference manual and guide to the study of preaching history. It is organized well and written in a clear, readable style.