“Preach simply . . . To preach truths and notions above the hearers’ capacity, is like a nurse that should go to feed a child with a spoon too big to go into its mouth” (William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, pp. 64-65). … [Read more...]

“Keep a clear conscience; he cannot be a bold reprover, that is not a conscientious liver; such a one must speak softly, for fear of waking his own guilty conscience. Unholiness in the preacher’s life, either will stop his mouth from reproving, or the people’s ears from … [Read more...]

“How oft hath the coward been killed in a ditch, or under some hedge, when the valiant soldier that stood his ground and kept his place, got off with safety and houours?” (William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, p. 63). … [Read more...]

“Jeremiah seemed the only man likely to lose his life by his bold preaching; yet he had fairer quarter at last than the smooth preachers of his time. If thou are free and bold, thou mayest, indeed, be mocked by some, but thous wilt be reverenced by more: yea, even they that wag … [Read more...]

It is not thy sermon in thy head, or notes in thy book, that will enable thee to preach, except God open thy mouth; acknowledge, therefore, God in all thy ways, and lean not to thy own understanding: the swelling of the heart, as well as of the wall, goes before a fall. How much … [Read more...]

“That minister . . . whose preaching results in the actual conversion of human beings, contributes far more, in the long run, to the progress of society, literature, art, science, and civilization, than he does, who, neglecting these themes of sin and grace, makes a direct effort … [Read more...]

“Spiritual eloquence should arise out of the preacher’s almost desperate love for the gospel truth itself and the people for whom accepting the truth is a matter of life and death” (Keller, Preaching, p. 14). … [Read more...]

“The social manners of the clergyman ought, therefore, to be a just mingling of gravity and affability” (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, p. 374). … [Read more...]