SAYINGS OF MARTIN LUTHER, FOR MINISTERS AND OTHERS.
“There is no sermon that can improve like a gospel sermon.” “He who seeks a comfortable life should not be a teacher of religion.” “Do thou preach, and let God convert souls.” “The gain of souls must animate the preacher, or he is not a true preacher.” “Three things preserve the church,—faithful teaching, diligent prayer, and patient suffering.” “The word of God must be preached in its purity.” “In order that a man may lift up his head toward Heaven, he must find nothing on earth whereon to lean it.” “Be not double-tongued, and have not two hearts.” “A good preacher must be able to compress a sermon into two or three words, and also out of one flower to make a whole meadow.” “Form your judgment not from the opinion of the world, but from the Word.” “The life of a Christian must be a warfare, and ministers of the Word must lead the army.” “I earnestly entreat you to contemplate simple sayings and narratives recorded in the Bible.” “Three properties belong to a good prayer: first, the laying hold upon the promise; second, an anxious feeling concerning what is asked for; third, thankfulness and confession. The prayer also should be diligent, increasing, untiring, ever withstanding suspicion, unbelief, and despair.” “He is the best Christian who has most love; after that, he who has most faith.” “Knowledge without works is like a tree without fruit.” “To stand still is to go back.”—Selected.