body supposes, that the sermon a man preaches is, if not
entirely, at least as to the most part, his own composition.

I now set about putting a printed sermon into a suitable form, and
committing it to memory. It was hard work. There is no joy in man's own
doings and choosings. It took me nearly a whole week to commit to memory
such a sermon as would take up nearly an hour in repeating. I got through
it, but had no enjoyment in the work. It was on August 27, 1826, at eight
in the morning, in a chapel of ease, in connexion with which my friend was
schoolmaster.5 At eleven I repeated the same sermon verbatim in the parish
church. There was one service more, in the afternoon, at which I needed
not to have done any thing; for the schoolmaster might have read a printed
sermon, as he used to do. But having a desire to serve the Lord, though I
often knew not how to do it scripturally; and knowing that this aged and
unenlightened clergyman had had this living for forty-eight years, and
having therefore reason to believe, that the gospel scarcely ever had been
preached in that place; I had it in my heart to preach again in the
afternoon. But I had no second sermon committed to memory. It came,
however, to my mind to read the 5th chapter of Matthew, and to make such
remarks as I was able. I did so. Immediately upon beginning to expound
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, &c." I felt myself greatly assisted; and
whereas in the morning my sermon had not been simple enough for the people
to understand it, I now was listened to with the greatest attention, and I
think was also understood. My own peace and joy were great. I felt this a
blessed work. After the service I left the aged clergyman as soon as
possible, lest I should lose my enjoyment.

On my way to Halle I thought, this is the way I should like always to
preach. But then it came immediately to my mind, that such sort of
preaching might do for illiterate country people, but that it never would
do before a well educated assembly in town. I thought, the truth ought to
be preached at all hazards, but it ought to be given in a different form,
suited to the hearers. Thus I remained unsettled in my mind as it regards
the mode of preaching; and it is not surprising that I did not then see
the truth concerning this matter, for I did not understand the work of the
Spirit, and therefore saw not the powerlessness of human eloquence.
Further, I did not keep in mind, that if the most illit