Definitions HQ

The Preacher (n.) who ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is paid inspires confidence by taking money for what he says — for how could that be the truth which did not procure a man money and reputation?

A Preacher (n.) who ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is popular proves by his honored success that the good Christian has his reward in the world — even if eternity believes ten times over that he has lost it.

A Preacher (n.) who ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠keeps silent about mercy to speak about charity deserves the woe pronounced on those who devour widows' inheritances — the poor man in the pew must groan against him.

A Preacher (n.) finds ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠it easy to win men by enticing them and easy to scare them off; the hard thing is to invite with irresistible warmth and in the same breath cry, beware.

A Preacher (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not commissioned by God to collect others' debts of sincerity; claiming that commission would make him insincere toward God himself.

A Preacher (n.) fights ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the air by saying it was this bad eighteen hundred years ago, three hundred, thirty-three years ago, but not now, "at least not in the most recent times," which is how every age has spoken.

A Preacher (n.) worth ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠hearing does not drag the youth from the ball; he waits till he has danced himself weary, for the evening, then sits in the next room and speaks more seriously.

A Preacher (n.) who ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠wants adherents to strengthen his cause, and does not check whether they truly adhere, has in a deeper sense no cause.