# “You can never be a deep preacher without it” by John Wesley

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2009/09/04/you-can-never-be-a-deep-preacher-without-it-by-john-wesley/
- Published: 2009-09-04T15:56:24-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear, to this day, is lack
of reading. I scarce ever knew a preacher who read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting
it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase.
It is just the same as it was seven years ago.

It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety; there is no compass of thought.
Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself
greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more 
than a thorough Christian.

Oh begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercise. You may acquire the taste
which you have not; what is tedious at first will afterward be pleasant. Whether
you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other 
way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty, superficial preacher.

Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself
any longer. Take up your cross and be a Christian altogether. Then will all the 
children of God rejoice (not grieve) over you, and in particular yours.”

–John Wesley, writing to a younger minister, as quoted in D.A. Carson and John D.
Woodbridge, _[Letters Along The Way: A Novel of the Christian Life](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0891076735?tag=toletaupanre-20)_(
Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1993), 169.

More quotes from [John Wesley](https://tollelege.net/category/john-wesley/) · More
on [Reading](https://tollelege.net/category/reading/)

## Comments

### By: daniel

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2009/09/04/you-can-never-be-a-deep-preacher-without-it-by-john-wesley/comment-page-1/#comment-2712
- Published: 2009-09-16T05:31:06-05:00

Nick, we (the people) need more quotes. Stop twittering and update Tolle Lege.

### By: tollelege

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2009/09/04/you-can-never-be-a-deep-preacher-without-it-by-john-wesley/comment-page-1/#comment-2713
- Published: 2009-09-16T23:26:34-05:00

You and the two other people who read this blog can now rejoice. I posted a new 
quote.

–nr