the form of an eagle, standing often upon a globe, bearing the Bible
upon its outspread wings. The eagle, because of its lofty heavenward
flight, is the symbol of inspiration, and its position upon the globe
and its outspread wings remind us how the Word of God is to be carried
into all the world.

There are, then, certain thoughts which the lectern should bring us:
the reverent honor which "God's most holy Word" should ever receive
from us; the privilege of its use as "a lantern unto my feet and a
light unto my paths"; our missionary obligations and privileges--to
make the outspread wings of the eagle a reality and not merely a symbol.

_The Pulpit._--The pulpit suggests the thought of the sacred and
important work of the Christian Ministry as preachers of the Word of
God.

{46}

It is a common thing to hear persons say that they care little for the
sermon and speak lightly of preaching. They forget that the preacher
is one "sent," that our Lord Himself made preaching one of the great
means for the spread of the Gospel and for the salvation of men. And
as such persons do not reflect, in this disparagement of preaching, the
mind of our Lord, so neither do they represent the estimate of the
Church. The Church takes care to provide for it, and that, too, in
connection with her most solemn act of worship, the celebration of the
Holy Communion. Among the rubrics following the Creed in the Communion
Office is this: "Then shall follow the Sermon." So, also, the Church,
through the Bishop, demands of the man who comes to be ordained, "Are
you determined, out of the Scriptures, to instruct the people committed
to your charge?" And when he is ordered a Priest, this is a part of
the authority given to him: "Take thou authority to preach the Word of
God."

The discharge of this work, to do which the Minister is placed under
vow, and for which he is given authority, is one of his most solemn
obligations. The pulpit should, then, ever remind us of the loving
care on the part of Christ and His Church for {47} our soul's health
and our growth in grace, which is thus expressed.

But it should remind us of something else, also,--of a duty on our part.

In "The Form and Manner of Ordering Priests" there is a prayer just
before the Benediction, of which this is a part: "Grant that we may
have grace to hear and receive what they shall deliver out of Thy most
holy Word, or agreeable to the same, as the means of our salvatio