Would I describe a preacher,
. . . .
I would express him simple, grave, sincere;
In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain,
And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste,
And natural in gesture; much impress'd
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
May feel it too; affectionate in look,
And tender in address, as well becomes
A messenger of grace to guilty men.
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Judge not the preacher; for he is thy judge:
If thou mislike him, thou conceiv'st him not.
read more
Judge not the preacher; for he is thy judge:
If thou mislike him, thou conceiv'st him not.
God calleth preaching folly. Do not grudge
To pick out treasures from an earthen pot.
The worst speak something good. If all want sense,
God takes a text, and preaches patience.
And pulpit, drum ecclesiastic,
Was beat with fist instead of a stick.
And pulpit, drum ecclesiastic,
Was beat with fist instead of a stick.
God preaches, a noted clergyman,
And the sermon is never long;
So instead of getting to heaven read more
God preaches, a noted clergyman,
And the sermon is never long;
So instead of getting to heaven at last,
I'm going all along.
He that negotiates between God and man,
As God's ambassador, the grand concerns
Of judgment and of read more
He that negotiates between God and man,
As God's ambassador, the grand concerns
Of judgment and of mercy, should beware
Of lightness in his speech.
I venerate the man whose heart is warm,
Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life,
read more
I venerate the man whose heart is warm,
Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life,
Coincident, exhibit lucid proof
That he is honest in the sacred cause.
Of right and wrong he taught
Truths as refined as ever Athens heard;
And (strange to tell) read more
Of right and wrong he taught
Truths as refined as ever Athens heard;
And (strange to tell) he practis'd what he preach'd.
But Cristes loore, and his Apostles twelve
He taughte, but first he folowed it hymselfe.
But Cristes loore, and his Apostles twelve
He taughte, but first he folowed it hymselfe.
The things that mount the rostrum with a skip,
And then skip down again, pronounce a text,
read more
The things that mount the rostrum with a skip,
And then skip down again, pronounce a text,
Cry hem; and reading what they never wrote
Just fifteen minutes, huddle up their work,
And with a well-bred whisper close the scene!
Go forth and preach impostures to the world,
But give them truth to build on.
Go forth and preach impostures to the world,
But give them truth to build on.
