Bishop of Ripon On Sermon Preparation

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Yet no sooner has a young man of twenty-three been ordained than it is boldly assumed that he is competent to instruct from the pulpit the people of the parish to which he is licensed as a curate. He may never in his life have addressed ten people in a group; he may never, save for a Bishop's Examining Chaplains, have composed the simplest homily; he may be absolutely devoid Of natural aptitude for Speaking in public, or for putting his thoughts upon paper at his leisure. Nevertheless, if he satisfy the Bishop upon other points, he may, nay, he assuredly will, enter the pulpit to preach as soon as he has been ordained. A deacon, fresh from the hands of the Bishop of London, has been left in charge of a parish and all the services of the Church on the very Sunday after he was ordained. No doubt that was a scandal; but it is also an illustration of the way in which, because he has been ordained, a young man is presumed capable of exercising duties as trying as they are serious.