The Connecticut Observer, And New York Congregationalist

LUTHER'S DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD PREACHER.

1. He should preach orderly.
2. He should have a ready wit.
3. He should be eloquent.
4. He should have a good vein.
5. A good memory.
6. He should know when to make an end.
7. He should be sure of what he advances.
8. He should venture and engage body and blood, wealth and honor, by the word.
9. He should suffer himself to be buffeted and mocked by every one.

A preacher to please the world
1. He must be learned.
2. He must have a fine delivery.
3. He must have neat and quaint words.
4. He must be a proper person whom the women may fancy.
5. He must not take, but give money.
6. He must preach such things as people willingly hear.

I would not have preachers, said Luther, torment their hearers with long and tedious preaching. When I am in the pulpit I regard neither doctors nor magistrates, of whom above forty are here in the church; but I have an eye to the multitudes of young people, children and servants, of whom there are more than two thousand. Christ taught by parables, that all could understand, and this is the true art of speaking. Philip Melancthon and Justus Jonas are learned men, and well skilled in scripture. I would not make a step into the pulpit for them. It is said that Melancthon on some occasion, arose to preach a sermon on the text. "I am the good shepherd." On looking around upon his numerous and respectable audience, his natural timidity entirely overcame him, and he could only repeat the text over and over again. Luther who was in the desk with him, at length impatiently exclaimed, "you are a very good sheep," and telling him to sit down, took the same text and preached an excellent discourse from it.