He who the sword of heaven will bear, should be as holy as severe.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
To love to preach is one thing—to love those to whom we preach, quite another.
—Richard Cecil
All things with which we deal preach to us. What is a farm but a mute Gospel? The chaff and the wheat, weeds and plants, blight, rain, insects, sun,—it is a sacred emblem from the first furrow of spring to the last stack which the snow of winter overtakes in the fields.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The clergyman is expected to be a kind of human Sunday.
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902) British Victorian Novelist, Essayist, Critic
Though we live in a reading age and in a reading community, yet the preaching of the Gospel is the form in which human agency has been and still is most efficaciously employed for the spiritual improvement of men.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
The world looks at preachers out of church to know what they mean in it.
—Richard Cecil
The defects of a preacher are soon spied. Let him be endued with ten virtues, and have but one fault, and that one fault will eclipse and darken all his virtues and gifts, so evil is the world in these times.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
That we should practice what we preach is generally admitted; but anyone who preaches what he and his hearers practice must incur the gravest moral disapprobation.
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
It was said of one who preached very well, and lived very ill, “that when he was out of the pulpit it was pity he should ever go into it; and when he was in the pulpit, it was pity he should ever come out of it.”
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Pulpit discourses have insensibly dwindled from speaking to reading; a practice of itself sufficient to stifle every germ of eloquence.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
The life of a pious minister is visible rhetoric.
—Thomas Hooker (c.1586–1647) English-born American Nonconformist Clergyman
It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty men what were good to be done, than to be one of twenty to follow mine own teaching.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
One filled with joy preaches without preaching.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
Genius is not essential to good preaching, but a live man is.
—Austin Phelps (1820–90) American Clergyman, Author, Professor
A preacher should have the skill to teach the unlearned simply, roundly, and plainly; for teaching is of more importance than exhorting.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades, but the best of all professions.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
The meanness of the earthen vessel which conveys to others the Gospel of treasure, takes nothing from the value of the treasure. A dying hand may sign a deed of gift of incalculable value. A shepherd’s boy may point out the way to a philosopher. A beggar may be the bearer of an invaluable present.
—Richard Cecil
Many a meandering discourse one hears, in which the preacher aims at nothing, and—hits it.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
The world is dying for want, not of good preaching, but of good hearing.
—George Boardman the Younger (1828–1903) American Clergyman, Author
Preaching is the expression of moral sentiments applied to the duties of life.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
But, good my brother, do not, as some ungracious pastors do. Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven whilst like a puffed and reckless libertine himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and wrecks not his own.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Men of God have always, from time to time, walked among men, and made their commission felt in the heart and soul of the commonest hearer.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Some plague the people with too long sermons; for the faculty of listening is a tender thing, and soon becomes weary and satiated.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Few sinners are saved after the first 20 minutes of a sermon.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
It is in vain to hope to please all alike. Let a man stand with his face in what direction he will, he must necessarily turn his back on one half of the world.
—George D. Prentice (1802–70) American Journalist, Editor, Poet
One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than fifty preaching it.
—Knute Rockne (1888–1931) American College Football Coach
It is hardly to be believed how spiritual reflections when mixed with a little physics can hold people’s attention and give them a livelier idea of God than do the often ill-applied examples of his wrath.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way: The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear, fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear.
—Edgar Guest (1881–1959) British-born American Poet
The world looks at ministers out of the pulpit to know what they mean when in it.
—Richard Cecil
In pulpit eloquence, the grand difficulty lies here; to give the subject all the dignity it so fully deserves, without attaching any importance to ourselves. The Christian messenger cannot think too highly of his Prince, or too humbly of himself.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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