derstanding, of delusion, even of prejudice, and so should not be
taken too much to heart. They may serve, however, to remind us of two
truths which ought to be often in mind. The first is that Christianity
needs the Church; the second, that the Church needs Christianity. As
to the former proposition:--The Church is the Christian organism. It
is principally through her agencies and activities that the purposes of
Christianity are to be realised. This is true not only of those
universal purposes which include the ideals of world-wide sovereignty,
but, let men say what they will, it is true of those which relate to
the realisation of Christ's will in the individual soul. It is not the
fact that men find it as easy to live the Christian life outside the
Church as within. This is sufficiently demonstrated by experience.
Personal religion grows in the fellowship and the sacrifice, in the
labours, the strength and inspiration consequent upon membership in a
great and imperial family.

But the Church needs Christianity, and this, too, the preacher, for her
sake, must deeply and constantly realise. The best antidote to the
tendency toward a Churchless Christianity will be found, not in
argument or command; certainly not in denunciations addressed to those
who are outside the fold, but in the realisation by the Church herself
of her glorious possibilities both as to character, labour and
conquest. What is needed to save the Church from the opposing
influences of our times is simply more of what she _may_ have _if she
will_. She needs a definite and not a nebulous belief. She needs a
living and burning enthusiasm; a joy that will not be silent, and a
hope that will not cower before the pessimism of the age. She needs
such a piety as shall furnish a splendid contrast to the lives of all
around her. In short, she must realise the ideals of her Founder, and
every glorious prophecy shall be fulfilled. All the nations of the
world shall flow into her. Kings shall come to the brightness of her
rising. Men shall flock to her courts as doves to glowing windows from
the cold and darkness of the wintry night.

So, for the sake of the world which cannot spare the Church, and for
the sake of the Church which cannot dispense with what the preacher has
to give, it is required that this duty of the Christian ministry be
emphasised. Another reason must be stated that it may be
underlined:--Faith, piety and enthusiasm, labour, s