_The World's Great Sermons_ VOLUME I BASIL TO CALVIN _By Grenville Kleiser_ * * * * * 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_ * * * * * 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 best examples of the products of the pulpit through the Christian centuries, and to present these masterpieces in attractive and convenient form. It is believed that they will be found valuable as instruction to ministers of to-day. They should also be helpful to others who, tho not preachers, yet seek reading of this kind for the upbuilding of personal character and for strengthening their Christian faith. The sermons have been chosen in some cases for their literary and rhetorical excellences, but in every case for their helpfulness in solving some of the problems of Christian living. No two persons are likely to agree upon "the best" of anything, and readers will probably wish in particular instances that some other clergymen or sermons had been included. It is confidently believed, however, that the list here given is fairly representative of the preaching that characterized the age to which each sermon respectively belongs. While some of the sermons of the early centuries may not seem exactly fitted to modern needs, it is thought that those presented will repay careful perusal, since they each contain a distinct message for later generations. Moreover, a comparison extending over the whole field of sermonic literature, such as the preacher may make with this collection before him, should prove most valuable as showing what progress and changes have come over homiletic matter and methods. Such a comparison should in fact throw much light on the spirit and conditions of various homiletic periods. In choosing sermons by living preachers considerable difficulty has been found, not only in deciding upon sermons, but upon preachers. The list might have been extended indefinitely. Whenever possible the preacher, when living, has himself been consulted as to what he considered his most representative sermon.