Neither the shoe nor the sermon must fit too snugly.

I am a clergyman, but I hope I am also a man of common sense--a practical man, Mr.Gray.The general moral law and the means of grace, those are the proper themes of the preacher.

And the pastor ought to understand the individual characters and pursuits of his parishioners, that he may avoid all personality in applying the truth." "Clearly," said Mr.Gray.
"For instance," reasoned the Doctor, as he slowly stirred his toddy, and gesticulated with one skinny forefinger, occasionally sipping as he went on, "if I have a deacon in my church who is a notorious miser, is it not plain that, if I preach a strong sermon upon covetousness, every body in the church will think of my deacon--will, in fact, apply the sermon to him?
The deacon, of course, will be the first to do it.

And then, why, good gracious! he might even take his hat and cane and stalk heavily down the broad aisle, under my very nose, before my very eyes, and slam the church door after him in my very face! Here at once is difficulty in the church; hard feeling; perhaps even swearing.

Am I, as a Christian clergyman, to give occasion to uncharitable emotions, even to actual profanity?
Is not a Christian congregation, was not every early Christian community, a society of brothers?
Of course they were; of course we must be.