In New Testament times, unlike today, rhetoric was a highly regarded skill to be acquired and practiced, Dabney quotes liberally from these, but does not always agree with the. 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.

Author

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