“Eloquence, in its highest forms and effects, is a joint product of two factors; of an eloquent speaker, and an eloquent hearer” (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, p. 259). … [Read more...]

“The gospel of the Son of God is the only system that is not subject to fashions and changes” (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, p. 257). … [Read more...]

“He must employ the rhetoric which Jael used upon Sisera, putting his nail to the head of his auditor, and driving it sheer and clear through his brain” (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, p. 252). … [Read more...]

“No man can cultivate and employ a vigorous, direct, and forcible rhetoric, without finding that he is driven to solid and earnest themes, in order to originate, and sustain it” (Shedd, Homiletic and Pastoral Theology, p. 251). … [Read more...]

“Clear, evangelical ideas favor lucid, earnest style” (Shedd, Homiletic and Pastoral Theology, p. 250). … [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...]

“When the clergy shall dare to speak to the people, with extemporaneous boldness, out of a full heart, full head, and clear mind, we may expect . . .” divine blessing (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, p. 244). … [Read more...]

“Hence, the language he did use is full of meaning; as one said, ‘every word weighs a pound’” (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, p. 238). … [Read more...]

“He that is ashamed in small things, will extend his pusillanimity to greater” (Herbert, The Country Parson, p. 110). … [Read more...]

“The warm emotions are kept from exhaling, and becoming vapory and obscure, by the systematizing tendency of the logical faculty, and the hard, dry forms of logic are softened, and enlivened, by the vernal breath of the emotions” (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, p. 233). … [Read more...]

“The Country Parson, if there be any of his parish that hold strange Doctrines, useth all possible diligence to reduce them to the common Faith” (Herbert, The Country Parson, p. 89). … [Read more...]

“When once all have learned the words of the Catechism, he thinks it the most useful way that a Pastor can take, to go over the same, but in other words: for many say the Catechism by rote, as parrots, without ever piercing into the sense of it” (Herbert, The Country Parson, p. … [Read more...]

“Curiosity in prying into high speculative and unprofitable questions, is another great stumbling block to the holiness of Scholars” (Herbert, The Country Parson, p. 67). … [Read more...]

“In order that the human faculties may work with the greatest harmony and energy, the heart must be in the head, and the head in the heart” (Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, pp. 227-228) … [Read more...]

“The Parson’s Method in handling of a text consists of two parts: first, a plain and evident declaration of the meaning of the text; and secondly, some choice Observations drawn out of the whole text, as it lies entire, and unbroken in the Scripture itself” (Herbert, The Country … [Read more...]