Excerpt from History and Repository of Pulpit Eloquence, Deceased Containing the Masterpieces of Bossuet, Bourdaloue With Discourses From Chrysostom, Basil and Others Among the Fathers, and From Wickliffe, Luther of the Reformers, Vol. 1 of 2 IT is believed that nothing like this work, either in design or arrangement, has ever been issued from the press. Its nearest resemblance is found In a German work, entitled Geschichte der Christlichen Homiletik, by C. G. H. Lentz, in two volumes, 1839. It is a history of Christian homiletics - in their principles and practice - in all ages. The plan is, to give sketches of prominent men, criticisms upon their preaching, and brief specimens of their manner of discourse. In this way there are introduced about three hundred pulpit orators. The work of Lentz, however, which has never been translated, differs from this work, not only in the charac ter of the selections, and in many other particulars, but especially in this, that it contains only brief specimens, or extracts, from the several men represented; while in that here submitted, the rule has been to give an entire discourse - thus affording the fairest View of the preachers, as well as furnishing a large number of sermons of the highest order. The design of the work may be stated in few words. It is, First, to render available, to the lovers of sacred things, the great master pieces of pulpit eloquence, and the best discourses of all countries and times - hitherto either locked up in foreign languages, or pro cured with much difficulty and expense: Secondly, to furnish a history of preaching in all parts of the world where the Christian religion has prevailed, from its introduction into each respective country down to the present time, with a View of the pulpit as it now stands: Thirdly, to bring again upon the stage the great and the good of other days; keeping alive and promoting their acquaint ance, and allowing them to speak to the living - which is done by giving sketches of their lives, and by reproducing their choicest discourses. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.