Allegorical Illustration Methods

The allegorical illustration has the advantage that the preacher can make it himself, with every detail of the allegory precisely adapted to the purpose it is designed to serve. The Miracle Play and “Morality” of the Middle Ages, with all their crudities, were very effective allegorical methods of presenting spiritual truth to the minds of the people, who could take in nothing that was not given concrete embodiment. Who can measure the influence of Bunyan’s allegories in elucidating and popularising the Biblical theology of “grace abound- ing”?

The allegory, however, needs skilful handling. Nothing is duller and flatter and more nauseating than a badly conducted allegory. The allegory should have the romance of the fairy tale, it should be realistic, it should excite curiosity and sustain attention, and it should be told with conviction and dramatic effect. General Principles of Illustration The success on the stage of “Everyman” shows that dramatically presented allegory can be made as popular in our days as ever it was.

Some of the best speakers to children make large use of the allegorical method. Addison, whose Spectator allegories are the best of their kind in our literature, says: “Allegories, when well chosen, are like so many tracks of light in a discourse, that make everything about them clear and beautiful; and noble metaphor, when it is placed to an advantage, casts a glory round it, and darts a lustre through a whole sentence.”

Every preacher should be familiar with “The Pil- grim’s Progress,” and “The Holy War,” and he will draw many a telling illustration from Bunyan’s mar- vellous incarnation of the friends and foes of the Christian in his pilgrimage and warfare. Various uses of allegory are illustrated in the following examples :-