the great characteristic of the
old-time preacher in the South is his ignorance, and if we should
select one point at which a change needs to take place, it is at this
point of instruction. He needs to be intelligent.

Now, to these things ought to be added training in all branches of
knowledge, just as widely as possible, but we must fix our attention
especially upon one source of knowledge, namely, the Word of God.
The missionary preacher needs to be a man established in the
Scriptures. John the Baptist grew in grace. Our blessed Lord Himself
grew in grace. The man who is to be effective as a preacher in
elevating the world is a man who grows in grace. What is grace? It is
the undeserved favor of God exhibited in the plan of salvation for
the redemption of man. And the first truths of that grace say simply,
but how grandly, "grow in grace;" we are to be "ministers of grace;"
to be "masters of grace." The minister in the South is to be a master
of grace. Do you know how far it is away? It seems but a step, but
oh, what a work when we begin to comprehend the great things of God!
Do you know the height, depth and length of the great salvation of
the love of God? Ezekiel tells us of the depth of the stream when he
first came to it, that to his apprehension the water came up to his
foot, but, as he advanced, it came to the ankle, and the knee and the
loin, and then it was water to swim in, a river that could not be
passed over. Oh, my brethren, we need to understand these great
things of God, so that we may become masters of grace, for if we do
not, the missionary preacher that comes up under our influence will
not be thoroughly qualified for his duties.

Then there is another quality; the missionary preacher, to be
effective as a missionary, must be, not only a "shining," but like
John also a "burning light." Then nothing shall be concealed. What
does the Scripture say in that psalm? "There is nothing hid from the
light?" No; "There is nothing hid from the heat thereof." We want a
Gospel preacher among those people who has a Gospel heat from which
nothing can be hid. How many things we can say of this fuel! We have
spoken of the Word of God. The Word of God is the light, and it is
the fuel for a fire. Our blessed Saviour when He was on the way to
Emmaus with the Disciples enkindled their hearts, not by his personal
presence; but when he opened the Scriptures, then they testified,
"Did not our hearts burn within us?" Th