THE NEED FOR ILLUSTRATIONS

'The Country Parson is full of all knowledge. They say that it is an ill mason that refuseth any stone; and that there is no knowledge, but in a skillful hand serves either positively as it is, or else to illustrate some other knowledge. He condescends even to the knowledge of tilling and pasturage, and makes great use of them in teaching, because people by what they understand are best led to what they understand not.'

George Herbert, The Country Pastor (in The Complete English Works), p.200. 

ILLUSTRATIONS

'The essence of a good illustration ...is to evoke a remembered sense experience and bring it into connection with a principle. That makes the truth real both by helping listeners better understand it and by inclining their hearts more to love it.' 

Timothy Keller, Preaching, p.173. 

ILLUSTRATIONS

'The country parson is full of all knowledge. They say it is an ill mason that refuseth any stone; and that there is no knowledge, but in a skilful hand serves either positively as it is, or else to illustrate some other knowledge. He condescends even to the knowledge of tillage and pasturage, and makes great use of them in teaching, because people by what they understand are best led to what they understand not.' 

George Herbert, 'The Country Parson' in The Complete English Works, p.200.