Indeed, some preachers, it is confessed, act an imprudent part. They declare the most offensive truths in the most offensive terms, and in those terms against their hearers or many of them are greatly prejudiced, and which they really misunderstand, having been long accustomed to affix to them a wrong meaning. This is not to teach the truth; but it is the way to prevent the knowledge of it, and the way not to do good but hurt. There are two extremes in this, as in other cases. One is not to declare im- portant and useful truth faithfully; the other is to declare it either in words not understood in the sense in which they are used by the speaker, or before the hearers are prepared to receive it, having learned other truths necessary previously to be known. (p. 11)