Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Austin Phelps (American Clergyman)

Austin Phelps (1820–90) was an American Congregational minister, educator, theologian, and writer known for his significant contributions to 19th-century religious literature and Christian thought. Serving as president of Andover Theological Seminary for a decade, his works became foundational texts in Christian theological education and remain in print today.

Born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, he attended Amherst College before studying at Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1844. He trained for ministry under the influence of religious revival movements, becoming a vocal advocate for reform in church life and theology. As a professor of sacred rhetoric at Andover, he taught preaching and homiletics, shaping future ministers through his emphasis on clarity and passion.

His most notable works include His Theory of Preaching (1881) and English Style in Public Discourse (1883,) both standard texts on sermon delivery. His devotional classic, The Still Hour (1859,) remains in publication. Other significant works include Studies of the Old Testament (1878) and The Still Hour: or, Communion with God (1860.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Austin Phelps

Wear the old coat and buy the new book.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Books, Reading

Through its whole history the Christian religion has developed supreme affinities for best things. For the noblest culture, for purest morals, for magnificent literatures, for most finished civilizations, for most energetic national temperaments, for most enterprising races, for the most virile and progressive stock of mind, it has manifested irresistible sympathies. Judging its future by its past, no other system of human thought has so splendid a destiny. It is the only system which possesses undying youth.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Christianity

Vigilance in watching opportunity; tact and daring in seizing upon opportunity; force and persistence in crowding opportunity to its utmost of possible achievement—these are the martial virtues which must command success.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Opportunity

Genius is not essential to good preaching, but a live man is.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Preaching

In the destiny of every moral being there is an object more worthy of God than happiness.—It is character.—And the grand aim of man’s creation is the development of a grand character—and grand character is, by its very nature, the product of probationary discipline.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Character

Conscience has nothing to do as lawgiver or judge; but is a witness against me if I do wrong, and which approves if I do right. To act against conscience is to act against reason and God’s Law.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Conscience

Christianity is the only system of faith which combines religious beliefs with corresponding principles of morality.—It builds ethics on religion.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Christianity

We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Prayer

A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend.—It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.
—Austin Phelps

Prayer is the preface to the book of Christian living; the text of the new life sermon; the girding on of the armor for battle; the pilgrim’s preparation for his journey. It must be supplemented by action or it amounts to nothing.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Prayer

The tendency of Christian ideas is to mental growth.—The mind must expand that takes them in with cordial sympathy. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus wrought in him an intellectual as well as a moral revolution.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Christianity

A great idea is usually original to more than one discoverer. Great ideas come when the world needs them. They surround the world’s ignorance and press for admission.
—Austin Phelps
Topics: Ideas, Originality

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