said by way of introduction
to these addresses. When the manuscript was out of my hands and in those
of the printer, I was informed that Archdeacon Wilberforce had, in one of
his books, a sermon on much the same lines that are found in my chapter
entitled "A Devil's Trinity." I have only to say that, so far as I
know, I have never seen a line from the pen of Archdeacon Wilberforce.
And in this connection I should like to quote a sentence or two from the
Preface to my book on _The Gospel and Social Questions_. I remark there
that, fortunately or otherwise for me, I have a tenacious memory which
retains for long, not only a thought which arrests me, but the form in
which it is expressed. Where I have made use of a quotation, or tried to
paraphrase something I have read--and this applies to the following
addresses--I have indicated the circumstances in the usual way.

The concluding chapter of this series is, in the main, a transcript of my
booklet on _The Responsibility of God_, published by Oliphant, Anderson
and Ferrier, of Edinburgh. I have to thank these gentlemen, and I do so
heartily, for their permission to make this further use of it.
Considerable changes are made in the reproduction; but I think this
admission is due to any buyers the book may secure. I have also to
mention my great indebtedness to Rev. J. F. Shepherd, M.A., of
Manchester, for his help with the proofs, and for some valuable
suggestions as to emendations of expression.

AMBROSE SHEPHERD.

6, Thornville Terrace,
Glasgow.

CONTENTS

I

YOUTH AND AFTER

II

YOUTH'S STRATEGIC PLACES

III

THE WORSHIP OF LUCK

IV

A DEVIL'S TRINITY

V

TEMPTATION AND RESPONSIBILITY

VI

SELF-RESPECT AND COMPANIONSHIPS

VII

THE ROYAL LAW

VIII

'HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED'

IX

'WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?'

X

DOES GOD HAVE FAIR-PLAY?

YOUTH AND AFTER

"And Terah died in Haran."--Gen. xi. 32.

YOUTH AND AFTER

"And Terah died in Haran." This bit of prosaic information becomes
suggestive by the emphasis of one word: "And Terah _died_ in Haran."
This was not his birthplace, but here he ended his days, and that for a
reason over which it is worth our while to pause. "And Terah died in
Haran." What of that? All people have died somewhere, who have lived
and are dead.

When we first meet this man, he was a citizen of no mean city. Ur of
the Chaldees was a great and represen