"It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher"

In this quote, George Whitefield is stressing the value of difficult and provoking the audience through a preaching. He believes that a sermon ought to not just be a feel-good message that leaves the listeners content and unchanged. Instead, an effective sermon ought to stimulate emotions and trigger the audience to reflect on their own actions and beliefs. Whitefield argues that a preaching that does not offend or challenge the audience is not effective in producing real modification. He thinks that a great sermon ought to make the listeners uncomfortable and dissatisfied with their present state, leading them to strive for enhancement.