A man who is good enough to go to heaven is not good enough to be a clergyman.
A minister asked a little boy how to get to the Post Office. After the little boy told him, the minister said, Why don't you come to church tonight? I'm giving instructions on how to get to heaven. After thinking a minute, the boy replied, I don't think so. You don't even know how to get to the Post Office.
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.
Every accent, every emphasis, every modulation of voice, was so perfectly well turned and well placed, that, without being interested in the subject, one could not help being pleased with the discourse; a pleasure of much the same kind with that received from an excellent piece of music. This is an advantage itinerant preachers have over those who are stationary, as the latter can not well improve their delivery of a sermon by so many rehearsals.
Few sinners are saved after the first twenty minutes of a sermon.
Go into the street, and give one man a lecture on morality, and another a shilling, and see which will respect you most.
He preaches well that lives well.
I just wanted to be an ordinary parish priest.
I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.
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.
If the truth were known, many sermons are prepared and preached with more regard for the sermon than the souls of the hearers.
If you think practicing what you preach is rough, just try preaching what you practice.
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.
One filled with joy preaches without preaching.
One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than fifty preaching it.
Preach in the name of God. The learned will smile; ask the learned what they have done for their country. The priests will excommunicate you; say to the priests that you know God better than all of them together do, and that between God and His law you have no need of any intermediary. The people will understand you, and repeat with you: We believe in God the Father, who is Intelligence and Love, Creator and Teacher of Humanity. And in this saying you and the People will conquer.
Preaching is heady wine. It is pleasant to tell people where they get off.
Preaching is the expression of moral sentiments applied to the duties of life.
Preaching is to much avail, but practice is far more effective. A godly life is the strongest argument you can offer the skeptic.
Sermons remain one of the last forms of public discourse where it is culturally forbidden to talk back.