Religion
‹ 9 · Outline · 11 ›
10.The ministry and the clergy
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 147The priest pleads sacrilege in attacking a churchman.read · scan
- p. 150Don Quixote fears excommunication for striking a churchman, professing respect for priests as a faithful Catholic.read · scan
- p. 232Curate explains benefices and clerical posts a squire might get; Sancho resolves to pray that God guide his master.read · scan
- p. 234Curate fears that dressing as a woman profanes a priest's dignity and proposes swapping roles with the layman barber.read · scan
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsVol. 10
- p. 133–134Church benefices and holy orders attract learned men; Scottish and Geneva churches show modest benefices suffice.read · scan
10a.The true pastor and ideal priest
See also: Duty 11a · Courage 5d · Charity 7a
Paul, The First Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 494Ministers like Paul and Apollos are God's fellow-workers; Christ is the sole foundation; believers are God's temple.read · scan
- p. 501Paul defends his apostleship, whose seal is the Corinthian church, and the apostles' right to maintenance.read · scan
- p. 501Paul defends ministers' right to live by the gospel, yet forgoes it and becomes all things to all men to spread the gospel.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 517Apostles are helpers of the church's joy, not lords over its faith.read · scan
- p. 518Apostles are a savor of Christ, life to the saved and death to the perishing, speaking sincerely.read · scan
- p. 518–519Ministers gain sufficiency from God; believers are transformed into the image of the Lord.read · scan
- p. 521–522The ministry of reconciliation; ambassadors for Christ; now is the day of salvation.read · scan
- p. 529Ministry of Christ and anxiety for all the churches.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 468Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders urges repentance, faith and vigilance over the church against false teachers.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 76–77Ambrose, bishop and preacher, receives him kindly as a father; his sound teaching of salvation contrasts with Manichaean delusions.read · scan
The Song of RolandVol. 49
- p. 148–149Turpin, a fighting archbishop, loathes Abime as a heretic who denies Mary's Son; Franks say he saves his cross.read · scan
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; The Nun's Priest's TaleVol. 40
- p. 23The poor Parson is a learned, devout priest who preaches Christ's gospel, teaches his parishioners, and tends the sick faithfully.read · scan
- p. 24–25The ideal Parson practises what he preaches, refuses to neglect his flock for a lucrative chantry, and draws folk to heaven by example.read · scan
William Caxton, Prefaces and EpiloguesVol. 39
- p. 17Priestly office, heaven's reward and punishment for neglected souls in the parish.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 207Priests as interpreters of God's will counsel euthanasia as godly.read · scan
- p. 229Utopia's few priests, chosen by the people, oversee divine matters and manners; excommunication is the most feared punishment.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 259Laity's zealous thirst to hear God's Word; ministers as faithful pastors and stewards.read · scan
- p. 260Adversaries, stirred by Satan, suppress the profitable clerical conferences; describes ordination of ministers and bishops after Edward VI's form.read · scan
- p. 261Argues for merging small city churches to remedy shortage of sufficient clergy.read · scan
- p. 267Defends reformed clergy: sober apparel, hospitality, charity and piety compared favorably with the peacock-like popish priests.read · scan
- p. 379–380Proposes that universities supply able pastors to vacant benefices to end simony and train people in obedience to God.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 150–151The governor of the house is a Christian priest who offers service to the strangers as Christians.read · scan
- p. 170–171He carries crosier and pastoral staff and blesses the people in silence, with pitying aspect.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 329–330Godly clergy serve the altar, ambitious to do good; Morton asks Donne to fast and pray before answering his proposal.read · scan
- p. 330–331Morton urges Donne to enter holy orders as an ambassador for the God of glory, offering his benefice.read · scan
- p. 331–332The sacred calling is destined to him by a higher hand that finally compels compliance.read · scan
- p. 340Donne is urged by the King to enter the ministry and reluctantly weighs the sacred calling, praised as it was in early Christianity.read · scan
- p. 341Donne's struggle over fitness for holy orders ends in embracing the priesthood, ordained by Bishop King.read · scan
- p. 363Joy of faith and comforted consciences of others through ministry.read · scan
- p. 365–366He faces east awaiting the second coming of the Saviour; epitaph recounts his entering sacred orders.read · scan
- p. 366Donne counts his great change as from temporal to spiritual employment, serving God at the altar.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 386He resolves to enter sacred orders and serve at God's altar, to make the priesthood honourable.read · scan
- p. 391–392He resolves to enter the sacred orders of the priesthood.read · scan
- p. 393–394Herbert, fearing the account for so many souls, fasts, prays and suffers spiritual conflicts before accepting the priesthood and Bemerton.read · scan
- p. 394–395Herbert prostrates himself before the altar at induction and vows rules for a holy life; Walton praises his sanctity and piety.read · scan
- p. 395Herbert dedicates himself to Jesus as master, taking joy in God's service and priesthood above all title.read · scan
- p. 396He rejoices in the name of Jesus my Master and his choice to serve at God's altar.read · scan
- p. 397He acts as a Christian clergyman caring for his parishioner, who goes home praising God.read · scan
- p. 397–399Herbert repairs the church, adorns the chapel, and sets rules for a holy priestly life in The Country Parson, longing for ordination.read · scan
- p. 399Herbert's sermons and country parson rules: charity, comforting the sick, plain preaching and catechising toward heaven.read · scan
- p. 407Herbert instructs the ignorant and comforts the afflicted by humility and mercy, in imitation of Christ, and trusts God's promise of reward.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 32The pictured man holds the best of Books, with the world behind him and a crown above.read · scan
- p. 32–33The picture shows the true minister, authorized guide, who despises the present world for his Master's service and heavenly glory.read · scan
- p. 285–286The keeper at the King's charge allegorizes Christ's care for the flock and the young.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 359Ministers must be made by Christ and their lives must model their doctrine, or they are mere babblers.read · scan
- p. 359–360True ministers do not make a trade of godliness; to be like Christ is to be a Christian, and regeneration leads to the Kingdom.read · scan
Sir Richard Steele, The Spectator ClubVol. 27
- p. 87The clergyman of great sanctity and probity treats divine topics with authority, hastening toward his hopes.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 80–81Compares English and French clergy, their education, marriage and conduct.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 237The priest confides the principles and faith governing his life.read · scan
- p. 239A poor peasant made a priest, found the obligation exceeded what he could perform.read · scan
- p. 302–304Vicar praises the pastor's calling, vows to preach virtue and never persecution or hatred of neighbors.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 176True ministry springs from inward purifying and the Spirit's operation, not from one's own will or worldly wisdom; modes of worship vary.read · scan
- p. 239–240Woolman travels on a ministerial visit, speaking only what the spirit of truth opens in him and laboring with the unfaithful.read · scan
- p. 244–245The minister's office is weighty and must rely on the Lord, not smooth friendship or his own way.read · scan
- p. 309–310Ministers must depend on Christ's daily guidance, renewing their concern for each meeting and guarding against self.read · scan
- p. 310–311Ministry is a work of divine love; ministers wait for openings and follow Christ's leading in pure obedience.read · scan
- p. 311–312Ministers should keep to the meek, suffering life of truth, following Christ and not desiring dominion.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 509The village preacher lives a godly life, relieving the wretched, praying and leading his flock toward heaven.read · scan
- p. 509The pastor comforts the dying, wins scoffers to prayer at church; his thoughts rest in heaven.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 235Ecclesiastics as tutors and companions attach gentlemen to the church and liberalize the church.read · scan
- p. 237–238The great need religion's consolations; the church should be honored in courts and parliaments, mixed through all classes, with clergy not degraded by poverty.read · scan
- p. 278–279Church power, persecution and intellectual sovereignty of former clergy are contrasted with a milder present temper suited to the sacred function.read · scan
- p. 279Burke reports the French clergy as learned, moderate and decorous, unlike the slanders circulated about them.read · scan
- p. 279–280Persecution and plunder of the church will degrade the clergy and end science and erudition in the Gallican church.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 106–108Praises liberal Ayr preachers, manly Christians, and a minister blamed for his doctrine.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 416–418The priest is praised as faithful shepherd; assembly stands beneath God's heaven.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 348The people flock to see the archbishop, bells ringing; the tormented man seeks spiritual help from him.read · scan
- p. 351He entered the Church, taught Christian doctrine to the ignorant and relieved the sick and needy.read · scan
- p. 352–353Christian principle that superiority lies in service to fellow men guides his career in the Church.read · scan
- p. 357–358As bishop he teaches poor children, calls them his lambs, and is severe on negligent pastors.read · scan
- p. 361–362The Cardinal welcomes the outlaw's visit as a happy occasion for a bishop, in pastoral zeal.read · scan
- p. 362Federigo receives the visitor with serene welcome; his authority inspires veneration.read · scan
- p. 363A bishop's pastoral love and prayer for a sinner.read · scan
- p. 366–367The good shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep for the lost one.read · scan
- p. 383–384Cardinal's visitation, prayer and intercession of the Madonna frame the events.read · scan
- p. 399–400The Cardinal's charity and blessing on the house express his ministry.read · scan
- p. 406–407Villagers greet the Cardinal's pastoral visitation with arches, decorations and procession; the church is adorned.read · scan
- p. 407–408The Cardinal blesses the crowd, prays at the altar and speaks of affection and salvation; his entries are pastoral labors.read · scan
- p. 414–415A bishop calls a parish priest to account for his conduct in the ministry.read · scan
- p. 416Priestly office and the example of the Good Shepherd are the standard of conduct for the clergy.read · scan
- p. 417–418Martyrs and prayer to God for strength illustrate the religious life of the ministry.read · scan
- p. 422–423Bishop and priest are to humble themselves together before God and depend on Him.read · scan
- p. 456Federigo's priests give food, clothing and the last consolations of religion to the dying in the streets.read · scan
- p. 457The cardinal and clergy, through parish priests, organize charitable relief.read · scan
- p. 465Cardinal Federigo gives each countryman a coin and a reaping sickle as a new act of charity.read · scan
- p. 504–505Cardinal Federigo orders priests to urge the people to report every case of contagion.read · scan
- p. 527The clergy faithfully tend the dying with spiritual and temporal aid; over sixty parish-priests die of the contagion.read · scan
- p. 527–528The archbishop consoles the sick and urges priests to win souls to Christ in the plague.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 446Abbot claims piety has power over evil spirits and tries to redeem Manfred.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1287The pastor reads the service and offers words of warning and cheer, shepherd of a wandering flock at sea.read · scan
- p. 1300Villagers revere the priest, the Angelus sounds, and they dwell in love of God and man.read · scan
- p. 1311–1313Father Felician calms a violent mob in the church with the crucified Christ's prayer; evening service of Ave Maria and devotion lifts souls.read · scan
- p. 1316The faithful priest goes from fire to fire consoling and blessing, likened to Paul shipwrecked.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 165Priests kept to spiritual matters under the Archbishop and were better loved than the civil stewards.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Twenty-Four Years AfterVol. 23
- p. 402A clergyman is brought to make the boy's end hopeful.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 106–107Milton gives St. Peter mitre and keys, showing he honors true episcopal power while condemning false claimants in the clergy.read · scan
- p. 108–109Church evils arise from bishops desiring power over light; a bishop's office is to oversee and know each of his flock, including the poor.read · scan
10b.Hireling and worldly clergy
See also: Virtue and Vice 10d
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 404–405Disciples praise God at Jesus' entry; he drives traders from the temple, a house of prayer made a den of robbers.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 28Clergy, popes and cardinals are among the avaricious.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 361–363Invective against clergy trading in sanctuary and pope who cancels with excommunication for gainread · scan
- p. 377–378Denounces the clergy's pomp, corpulence and luxury; prelates covered by cloaks show corrupt Church.read · scan
- p. 407Preachers use jests and gibes rather than the Gospel Christ gave; credulous crowds prize indulgences and Saint Anthony's swine are fed.read · scan
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; The Nun's Priest's TaleVol. 40
- p. 26–28Church officials Summoner and Pardoner abuse ecclesiastical discipline and absolution for gain.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 165Christ's teachings are more at odds with the world than his speech; preachers perverted his doctrine to suit men's manners.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 293Roman clergy neglect study and prayer, ignorant of faith; oaths and laws weaken Christianity.read · scan
Martin Luther, Concerning Christian LibertyVol. 36
- p. 371–372Blind pastors promote indulgences and works without teaching faith; prayer and fasting should not seek advantage.read · scan
John Cabot's Discovery of North AmericaVol. 43
- p. 47Church offices treated as objects of patronage and ambition.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 218Bishops' rank and authority, the corruption of prelates seeking earthly esteem, and demands to reform church discipline.read · scan
- p. 253–254Anselm's letter likens king and archbishop to two oxen drawing the church's plough; Becket's pride and clerical ambition censured.read · scan
- p. 267Corruption of church benefices, patronage and episcopal elections in England and France; reform of the ministryread · scan
- p. 269Contempt for the ministry and poor maintenance of preachers; empty choir stalls and prebends abused; prays for reformationread · scan
- p. 336Satirizes Gothic priests who stand at mass on bear skins, and pardons granted for providing them.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 50–51Proud prelates like Becket rival royal power, dangerous when dependent on foreign authority or elected by the people.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 12–13The king and Gaveston abuse the Bishop of Coventry, mocking his robes and holiness; the bishop curses them.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 759The cardinal bought the papal aspiration by bribes, a corrupt churchman.read · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 385–386Changes of religion are traced to unpleasing priests; failing virtue in pastors makes faith fail in the people.read · scan
John Milton, AreopagiticaVol. 3
- p. 209–210Prelates claimed all learning would fall if church revenues and pluralities were redistributed, which Milton calls a sordid claim.read · scan
- p. 213–215Licensing insults ministers and their flocks, implying a gospel-taught people is shaken by any pamphlet.read · scan
- p. 218–219Enforced conformity and licensing breed dull ease among the people and lazy clergy relying on ready-made sermons and commonplace books.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 72Saint Peter, pilot of Galilee, appears with keys to rebuke corrupt clergy.read · scan
- p. 72Corrupt clergy, blind mouths who do not know a shepherd's art, feed themselves while the hungry sheep rot and are not fed.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written During the Civil War and the Protectorate, 1642-1658Vol. 4
- p. 81–82Faith and Love ripen a just soul for God; her works follow her to bliss and Cromwell is asked to save free conscience from hireling clergy.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 155Satan climbing into God's fold likened to lewd hirelings climbing into the Church.read · scan
- p. 342The Spirit comes to the Apostles; the church is corrupted by wolves turning mysteries to lucre and ambition.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 307Church discipline: laments making unworthy priests easily and forbidding complaint, though discipline was once changeable.read · scan
John Dryden, Preface to Fables, Ancient and ModernVol. 39
- p. 162–163Defends Chaucer's satire on clerical vices, distinguishing corrupt priests from the sacred function and the Good Parson.read · scan
- p. 163–164Dispute of king and Archbishop over God's Church honor; Dryden on priests' reverence and bad priests undermining Christianity.read · scan
- p. 171–172Dryden answers a clergyman critic who claims he attacked priesthood, asking pardon only of good priests.read · scan
- p. 173Questions whether a divine's zeal, and his reading of bawdy classical plays, befits his clerical function.read · scan
Jonathan Swift, A Letter of Advice to a Young PoetVol. 27
- p. 107–108Mocks the alliance of priests and poets, with bishops of poetry ordaining by laying on hands.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 69Quakers refuse paid clergy, holding Gospel must be freely given and charity not entrusted to hirelings.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 238–239Defends the endowed clergy and church, mocking reformers who demand primitive evangelical poverty while being hypocrites.read · scan
- p. 280–282An elective clergy will corrupt the church with electioneering and is a step toward abolishing Christianity.read · scan
- p. 282–283Popular election of bishops and pillage of clergy would corrupt the church; bigotry and atheism both wreck true religion.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 119–120The mother and priest confiscate the jewels for the Church, which can digest ill-gotten wealth; satire of clerical greed.read · scan
- p. 121–124The priest pockets the trinkets promising heavenly reward; Margaret cannot wear them in church.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 58–60Black gowns of every denomination are driven among Death's guilty crowd.read · scan
- p. 124–126The woman leaves the sword for the church but tires of her sanctified sot of a chaplain.read · scan
- p. 130–132Churches said to be built to please the priest, a satire on clergy.read · scan
- p. 224–226Satirical epigram on a minister's text and calf-like clergy.read · scan
- p. 226–228Mocks a pedantic priest full of Hebrew lore against the feeling heart.read · scan
- p. 235–236Clergy and priesthood jested about.read · scan
- p. 240–242Priests' hell invoked; mock prayer to the Muse.read · scan
- p. 375–377Satire of a priest riding the mare hard.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 17–18He became a priest for comfort and standing, not for the obligations of the ministry.read · scan
- p. 118The curate prevents a marriage rite by smothering Lucia's words, blocking the formula of a sacred act.read · scan
- p. 475–476Belief in the Unnamed's conversion and Don Abbondio's neglect of his church show clerical and lay faith.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 161The parson and sexton, clergy who lecture on propriety, are themselves caught and made ridiculous.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, An Address Delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity CollegeVol. 5
- p. 34A formalist preacher defrauds worshippers; prayers fail to uplift and the church is unreal beside a real snow-storm.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-RelianceVol. 5
- p. 64Satirizes the parish minister as a retained attorney who cannot say a spontaneous word; dead church and Bible Society.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, BeautyVol. 5
- p. 298Clergy are criticized as no certificate of spiritual health, and priests' constant meditation on death is shown to spoil healthful diversion.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 443–444Priests dare not hint at a Providence that ignores English utility; satire mocks religion and philosophy.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 276The Archbishop whispers evil against her and crowns her with spite.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 303–304The padre has no zeal for religion, so his life seems wasted.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1051–1053Bitter charge that churchmen have neglected burial and prayer, killing their church as churches killed Christ.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1075–1078Worldly churchman mixes saints, mass and incense with pagan Pans and nymphs, showing corrupt devotion.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 105–106The quoted lines attack unfaithful clergy who intrude into the fold while the hungry sheep are not fed.read · scan
- p. 107–108Three classes of men dishonestly seek church power: those who creep by secret influence, intrude by insolence, climb by selfish learning.read · scan
- p. 110Milton's keys of gold and iron interpreted as heaven's key and the prison key for wicked teachers, contrasted with Dante's two keys.read · scan
10c.Priesthood of all believers and the critique of mediators
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 265Attacks the first wall, arguing all Christians are of the spiritual estate, differing only in office, through one baptism, Gospel and faith.read · scan
- p. 266Luther argues baptism makes all Christians priests; ordination, tonsure and vestments make no spiritual man, only a hypocrite.read · scan
- p. 266–267Priesthood is only an office and function, not a separate estate; all Christians are one body in Christ.read · scan
- p. 267–268Clergy differ from other Christians only in concern with the word and sacraments; all are priests.read · scan
- p. 270–271Holy Spirit dwells in pious souls, not in office.read · scan
- p. 302Church office, bishops and ministers should follow the Apostles and Scripture rather than Roman ordinance.read · scan
- p. 304–305Luther claims a Christian's authority to warn neighbours against sins and dangers.read · scan
- p. 325The Holy Ghost is not bound to popes, bishops or ranks, and speaks through whom He will.read · scan
- p. 330Clergy are above the Emperor only in preaching, teaching and sacraments.read · scan
Martin Luther, Concerning Christian LibertyVol. 36
- p. 354–355Christ's priesthood is inward and spiritual, not outward vestments; faith of heart is the substance of righteousness.read · scan
- p. 355–356All believers share Christ's kingship and priesthood, a royal priesthood.read · scan
- p. 356–357Believers are priests who pray for others and teach one another; unbelievers' prayers turn into sin.read · scan
- p. 357–358Luther argues all Christians are priests; clergy are only ministers and servants, and preaching must teach faith rather than merely narrate Christ's life.read · scan
John Milton, AreopagiticaVol. 3
- p. 217–218Satirizes the wealthy man who hands his religion to a hired divine, making the man himself his religion, and others who accept any prescribed faith.read · scan
Sir Henry Vane, A Healing QuestionVol. 43
- p. 123Condemns clerical rule over conscience by bishops, presbyteries and their successors.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 437Abbot urges Manfred to reconcile with the church; Manfred refuses any mortal mediator between himself and heaven.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, An Address Delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity CollegeVol. 5
- p. 37Religion is stationary, treating inspiration as past; men follow saints and sects rather than knowing God firsthand.read · scan
- p. 38–39Preachers should love God without mediator or veil and bring men to Deity at first hand, acting as priest.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-RelianceVol. 5
- p. 69–70Teachers, texts and temples fall before the simple mind receiving divine wisdom; worship of the past is rejected.read · scan
Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of GrassVol. 39
- p. 407–408Predicts priests will vanish, churches become those of men and women, each man his own priest.read · scan
10d.Preaching
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 519–520Gospel light blinded from unbelievers; preach Christ as Lord, not ourselves.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 364–365Jesus teaches in synagogues on the sabbath and preaches the kingdom of God.read · scan
- p. 377–378Disciples sent to preach the kingdom of God, travelling without possessions; those who refuse are testified against.read · scan
- p. 381Seventy sent out to preach the kingdom of God and heal, receiving hospitality; rejecting them is rejecting Jesus and God.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 433The apostles proclaim Jesus as Prince and Saviour, giving repentance and remission of sins.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 55Exhortation to weep in the valley of tears and speak with the fire of charity, bringing others to God.read · scan
- p. 82Ambrose's Sunday sermons unravel the Manichees' calumnies against Scripture and correct Augustine's rash condemnation of the Catholic faith.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 407Preachers let the Gospel sleep and offer their own inventions and fables to shine, while the flock is fed wind.read · scan
Martin Luther, Concerning Christian LibertyVol. 36
- p. 358–359Preaching should promote faith in Christ for each believer; the faithful are kings and priests whose acts please God.read · scan
- p. 365Preaching aims to raise faith through consolation after humbling.read · scan
- p. 375Ministers must teach faith along with works lest belief in works defiles souls and damns them.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 342Donne's new calling turns his studies and affections to divinity and to converting others through preaching.read · scan
- p. 343–344Donne clothes religion in loveliness and reproof in beauty.read · scan
- p. 344His duty to preach the gospel disperses his sadness and brings him back to the light.read · scan
- p. 345–346Donne preaches at Lincoln's Inn, the former neglecter of Christianity becoming a Paul and an example of holy life.read · scan
- p. 346–347The Queen of Bohemia rejoices to see him a clergyman and hear his powerful preaching.read · scan
- p. 362–363Zealous prayer and sacred preaching as holy ambition; joy at fulfilling the duty.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 331Noah preaches repentance and builds the ark at God's bidding.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 12Many hear a sermon as they hear vespers, mechanically.read · scan
Jonathan Swift, A Letter of Advice to a Young PoetVol. 27
- p. 114Satirizes preachers who dress up sad stuff in verse to please congregations who come for entertainment.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 7Uncle Benjamin was very pious, attending sermons and transcribing them in shorthand.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Life of Addison, 1672-1719Vol. 27
- p. 170–171Addison's later Spectator papers grew more serious, with a greater proportion of religious essays than in the former series.read · scan
- p. 180–181Addison's wit served religion and turned many to righteousness.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 179Quaker itinerant ministry: meetings held, companion preaching the gospel, Woolman's care to speak only what truth opened.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 150Enthusiasts thought the Revolution fit theme for devout sacred eloquence.read · scan
- p. 150–151Burke objects to Dr. Price's political sermon: the church should hear only Christian charity, and mixing politics with the pulpit harms religion and civil liberty.read · scan
- p. 202The preacher applies Simeon's 'nunc dimittis' to the French Revolution.read · scan
- p. 203Preachers use Simeon's words and prayer to sanctify political triumph.read · scan
- p. 204–205A preacher profanes the 'nunc dimittis' by applying it to a horrid spectacle.read · scan
- p. 209Mocks the dissenting preacher who compares this triumph to the birth of the Prince of Peace.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 257–258New Protestant preachers speak from the heart and prove their case from the Bible, drawing crowds against the Latin-choked clergy.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 98–100Satirizes the Holy Fair sermons: fire-and-brimstone preacher, moral preacher lacking faith, and doubting Orthodoxy.read · scan
- p. 100–102After the sermons, crowd debates scripture in the alehouse; hellfire preaching frightens hearers until a snorer is mistaken for the pit.read · scan
- p. 267–269Playful sermon-text jest about sinners and angels, and commending a friend to God's goodness.read · scan
- p. 323–325Ministers urged to preach on hoarse, mocking pulpit-crying.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 83–84The friar holds up the cross and rosary, and Rodrigo scorns a sermon in his house.read · scan
- p. 391The village calls the conversion a miracle; the Cardinal's sermon at the altar, explaining the Gospel, moves them.read · scan
- p. 392A moving sermon makes the congregation weep and teaches contentment and thanks to God despite famine.read · scan
- p. 424–425He invokes the parable of the Bridegroom and urges offering hearts to God to be filled with charity.read · scan
- p. 592–593Father Felice's sermon blesses God in death and life and calls survivors to thanksgiving and prayer.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 200The princess changes herself into a preaching priest in a church to elude her father, who listens to the sermon.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, CharacteristicsVol. 25
- p. 326–327Socinian preachers proclaim benevolence everywhere with little effect.read · scan
John Henry Newman, The Idea of a UniversityVol. 28
- p. 37Religious teaching relies on the living presence of a teacher and oral tradition, catechizing, as in the early Church.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, An Address Delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity CollegeVol. 5
- p. 36Tradition-bound preaching and worship come from memory, not soul; a few pious clergy keep public worship alive.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, CompensationVol. 5
- p. 85A church congregation heard the doctrine without remark.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Over-SoulVol. 5
- p. 143True teachers speak from within, like Jesus; preaching from without is useless; finding one's home in God shows in manner.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Samuel PepysVol. 28
- p. 300–301Sermon praised as showing righteousness a surer way to riches; Gospel reduced to a manual of worldly prudence for the respectable.read · scan
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