Preface To The American Edition, … Page 5
Preface By The Author, … Page 7
Chapter I. … Page 15
To Address Men Well, They Must Be Loved Much.

The Gospel enjoins universal Benevolence.
The Men of the present Age have a special Claim to our Love.
The success of Preaching depends upon our loving them.
Wherein true Apostolical Eloquence consists.

Chapter II. … Page 40
The People.

The actual State of the People.
Their good and bad Qualities.
The People in large Cities.
The People in small Towns.
The People in rural Districts.
How to benefit these Three Classes of the People.
One powerful Means is to act upon the People through the upper Classes, and upon the latter through the former.

Chapter III. … Page 118
The Order Of A Sermon.

The Exordium.
Divisions.
Proofs.
Are there many Unbelievers in France?
Manner of refuting Objections.

Chapter IV. … Page 136
The Sermon Should Be Popular.

What constitutes true Popularity?
Popularity in Words, in Thought, in Sentiment.
One of the most popular Sentiments in France is Patriotism.
Means to utilize that Sentiment.
The Relationship between Popularity and Genius.
Demosthenes.
Saint John Chrysostom.
Daniel O'Connell.

Chapter V. … Page 160
The Sermon Should Be Plain.

An obscure Sermon is neither Christian nor French.
Abuse of philosophical Terms.
Philosophical Speculations not popular amongst us.
The French mind is clear and logical.
Plainness of Speech.
Plainness of Thought.
Starting from the Known to the Unknown.
Metaphors.
Similes.
Parables.
Facts.
PÈre Lejeune.
M. l'AbbÉ Ledreuil.

Chapter VI. … Page 183
The Sermon Should Be Short.

The Discourses of the Fathers were short.
The French Mind is quick to apprehend.
Sermons are generally too long.
Sermons of Ten, Seven, and of Five Minutes.

Chapter VII. … Page 197
Tact And Kindliness.

We should assume that our Hearers are what we wish them to be.
Reproaches to be avoided.
How to address Unbelievers.
Special Precautions to be taken in small Towns and Rural Districts.
How to treat Men during times of public Commotion.
Forbearance due to the Church for being obliged to receive Money from the Faithful.

Chapter VIII. … Page 222
Interest. Emotion, and Animation.

We should endeavor to excite Interest by Thoughts, by Sallies or Epigrams, by Studies of Men and Manners.
The Truth should be animated.
The PÈre Ravignan.
The PÈre Lacordaire.
The Heart is too often absent.

Chapter IX. … Page 243
The Power And Accent Of Conviction.

The Divine Word has always been the first Power in the World.
The Gospel still the first of Books.
There can be no Christian Eloquence without the Accent of personal Conviction.

Chapter X. … Page 254
Action.

Action should be:

first, true and natural;
secondly, concentrated;
thirdly, edifying

It should be cultivated.
How cultivated by the Society of Jesus Suggestions.

Chapter XI. … Page 275
Study.

Study a Duty
The State of the World calls for Knowledge on the part of the Clergy.
Knowledge has always been one of the Glories of Religion.
All the eminent Men in the Church were Men of Study.
Reasons adduced for not studying, answered:

Want of Leisure,
Natural Aptitude,
The Plea of having already studied sufficiently;
That one is fully equal to the Requirements of the People committed to his Charge.

Chapter XII. … Page 287
Zeal.

The Excellency of Zeal.
Love for the Body should be coupled with Love for the Soul.
The Zeal of the Wicked.
How Zeal should be exercised.
Associations:

of Apprentices,
of Operatives,
Conferences of Saint Vincent de Paul,
of Domestics,
of Clerks,
of the Young.

Circulation of good Books.
Happy Results of the same.
The Advantages and Difficulties of Opposition.
Great Occasions.

The Clergy And The Pulpit
In Their Relations To The People.