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The World's Great Sermons
VOLUME I
BASIL TO CALVIN
By Grenville Kleiser
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POWER & PERSONALITY IN SPEAKING
$1.25, net; by mail, $1.40
HOW TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC
$1.25, net; by mail, $1.40
HUMOROUS HITS, &C.
$1.00, net; by mail, $1.11
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FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY NEW YORK AND LONDON
THE WORLD'S GREAT SERMONS
Compiled By
GRENVILLE KLEISER
Formerly of Yale Divinity School Faculty;
Author of "How to Speak in Public," Etc.
With Assistance from Many of the Foremost Living Preachers and Other
Theologians
INTRODUCTION BY LEWIS O. BRASTOW, D.D.
Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology in Yale University
IN TEN VOLUMES
VOLUME. I—BASIL TO CALVIN
Copyright, 1908, By Funk & Wagnalls Company
Printed in the United States of America
PREFACE
The aim in preparing this work has been to bring together the bestexamples of the products of the pulpit through the Christian centuries,and to present these masterpieces in attractive and convenient form. Itis believed that they will be found valuable as instruction to ministersof to-day. They should also be helpful to others who, tho not preachers,yet seek reading of this kind for the upbuilding of personal characterand for strengthening their Christian faith.
The sermons have been chosen in some cases for their literary andrhetorical excellences, but in every case for their helpfulness insolving some of the problems of Christian living. No two persons arelikely to agree upon "the best" of anything, and readers will probablywish in particular instances that some other clergymen or sermons hadbeen included. It is confidently believed, however, that the list heregiven is fairly representative of the preaching that characterized theage to which each sermon respectively belongs.
While some of the sermons of the early centuries may not seem exactlyfitted to modern needs, it is thought that those presented will repaycareful perusal, since they each contain a distinct message for latergenerations. Moreover, a comparison extending over the whole field ofsermonic literature, such as the preacher may make with this collectionbefore him, should prove most valuable as showing what progress andchanges have come over homiletic matter and methods. Such a comparisonshould in fact throw much light on the spirit and conditions of varioushomiletic periods.
In choosing sermons by living preachers considerable difficulty has beenfound, not only in deciding upon sermons, but upon preachers. The listmight have been extended indefinitely. Whenever possible the preacher,when living, has himself been consulted as to what he considered hismost representative sermon.
Thanks are due, and are hereby acknowledged, to numerous clergymen,publishers, librarians, and others who have generously ass