April 21, 2020

To a Student at Maynooth in Joyce Sugg, A Packet of Letters, Oxford 1983.

As to the writing or delivery of sermons . . . the great thing seems to be to have your subject distinctly before you; to think over it till you have got it perfectly in your head; to take care that it should be one subject not several; to sacrifice every thought however good and clever, which does not tend to bring out your one point and to aim earnestly and supremely to bring home that one point to the mind of your hearers.

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I cannot think of better guidance for preachers – and speakers of all sorts. I would ask him what he means by one subject. I think that a single subject may have several aspects, points or implications that need to be drawn out. That, however, may just be my excuse for trying to cover several subjects in one sermon!