Cotton Mather on Preaching

Cotton Mather, who died in 1728, wrote this in the Preface of his book Student and Preacher, a declaration he termed "Directions for a Candidate of the Ministry:"

The great design and intention of the office of a Christian preacher are to restore the throne and dominion of God in the souls of men; to display in the most lively colours, and proclaim in the clearest language, the wonderful perfections, offices and graces of the Son of God; and to attract the souls of men into a state of everlasting friendship with Him.

(As quoted in Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today by John Stott.)