In this love
and vision he went forth the door; in this love and vision he returned
leading the late returning child back again to home and rest and peace
and purity. The parable is for preachers as well as prodigals. Oh,
for the passion, the far, far sight of this old history! They are our
greatest need to-day!

Passion! How is it with us now? Have we this absolutely essential
possession in our hearts, in our preaching, as we have had it
aforetime, as our fathers had it? Are we so set upon giving glory to
Christ that we long for the opportunity to come to speak His name in
the congregation? Are we so given up to the enterprise of saving men
that we rest not day nor night for very longing for their salvation?
Are we so full of the sense of the triumph drawing nearer that our
hearts are already rejoicing with the joy of Harvest? These are
questions for us all, and we may discover the quality of our preaching
from their answers, if only we will whisper them to ourselves with
faithfulness to God and men and our own souls.

BOOK II

THE MESSAGE:--

ITS ESSENTIAL NOTES

THEORY OF BOOK II.

The Effectiveness of the Message arises from the Completeness with
which it Meets the Needs of Men. We believe that the Measure of the
Gospel is the Measure of Man's Spiritual and Moral Necessity, and we
plead for a Full Statement thereof in order that it may Prove its
"Power unto Life."

_What are the Essential Notes of the Message?_

CHAPTER I.

The Note of Accusation.

In a purely heathen country the first business of the preacher must
naturally be concerned with the publication of the great historical
facts upon which the Christian faith is based. In such a land as ours,
where these facts are already the subject of common knowledge, his
first service to every soul to whom he is sent is to bring home the
truth of that soul's condition and necessity. It is not a pleasant
task. It is not an easy one. It forms a duty from which we
instinctively shrink, but no ministry is complete in which it is
neglected. No ministry that is incomplete can be effective and
successful.

Now an examination of the history of preaching will reveal to us that
all the great preachers have been examples of faithfulness concerning,
not only the softer, but also the sterner portions of their message.
Before us are the Hebrew prophets. By them was Israel arraigned at the
bar of God. Could anything be more fearful than