The Pulpit Leads the Church

It is not in the nature of things to be expected that the spiritual character of the church should ever be superior to that of the ministry: and it is perfectly consistent with what we know of human nature to expect that it will always hold itself excused for being inferior. It will not tread a path which its spiritual guides are slow to pursue; and will deem it an affectation of sanctity, and a presumptuous ambition, to attempt to advance beyond them. How else than by admitting a deficiency of our piety can we account for the fact of a diminished efficiency in our ministry?

—John Angell James, 'An Earnest Ministry the Want of the Times,' 59–60