le of the Divine Pity was never yet believed from lips that
were not felt to be moved by human pity."--GEORGE ELIOT.

[20] Not to mention the social element in His preaching comprehended in
the doctrine of the Kingdom of God. The comparative absence of the
patriotic element from apostolic preaching is chiefly due to the fact
that the apostles were missionaries in cities and countries where they
were strangers. In some respects modern ministers in settled charges are
liker the prophets than the apostles.

[21] For example, there will rarely be any delicacy at the time of an
election in urging on the people that it is their duty to go to the
poll, but it will nearly always be an indiscretion to indicate from the
pulpit for whom they should vote. Very often good causes are lost or
long delayed, not because the sentiment of the electorate is opposed to
them, but because large numbers are too apathetic to vote at all.

[22] "When I would cast my mind back to what we have earned and reaped
from these men, it strikes me perhaps more than anything which I have
yet named, that we should thank them for the passionate quest of a
glorious ideal. It is such ideals, even when they are unattainable,
which lift up the character of men and nations. I think that no worthy
historian has yet been found to tell, as it ought to be told, how much
Scotland owes to this splendid vision which these men sought, the vision
of a consecrated land of saints ruled by a covenanted king, loyal to
Christ. It hovered before the rapt eyes of these saints of Scotland
until it well-nigh turned them into seers, it elevated them until it
made them heroes, and though the picture seemed to fade before the eyes
of their children, as though it had been painted by the morning light on
the mist of their own moorland, still, it has done its work, for it has
contributed mightily to educate the hearts of Scotchmen. But has it so
faded? Or is it not simply thrown forward, as the old Jew learned to
throw his Messianic hopes forward, from one anticipated Christ to
another, better and greater yet to come?"--J. OSWALD DYKES, D.D.

LECTURE IV.

THE PREACHER AS A MAN OF THE WORD.

Gentlemen, in the lecture before last I spoke of the prophet's call to
the service of God, and in the last lecture of the work itself which
he had to do. To-day I am to speak of the instrument with which he did
it.

This was the Word; the prophet was a Man of the Word. In accomplishin