truly edifying preaching
that is without theology. By such knowledge is the Church built up,
and the preacher will teach it to his people in the form in which it
can be assimilated. One thing he will surely not forget:--That upon
him rests a great responsibility, not only in regard to the Church of
to-day, but also concerning the Church of to-morrow, as now gathered
before him in the persons of the young people preparing for life and
service. He ought, certainly, to provide strengthening food for them
in view of responsibilities to come. It is a great charge, this of
building up the body of Christ, and it is upon us all to ask ourselves
to what extent we have endeavoured to discharge this obligation. We
admit that the temptations to evade it are many. Doctrinal and
expository preaching require so much thought, such careful preparation,
such scrupulous exactness in expression. It is little wonder that,
wearied by other activities, the preacher sometimes seeks for subjects
which can be treated with greater ease and less expenditure of
intellectual effort than those we have indicated.

And such wonder as we may have is further diminished when we recollect
that the idea is very commonly held that the people do not want
preaching of this type; that, even within the churches indeed, they
prefer being _pleased_ to being taught. Possibly this is not so true
as has been assumed. Perhaps again, in that degree in which it _is_
true, the lesson to be learned from the fact is not that such preaching
should be withheld, but rather that an effort should be made to invest
it with elements of interest and attractiveness which have possibly too
often been lacking. On this point we will have something to say later
on. Meanwhile we are open to maintain that people do not dislike
exposition and theology _as such_. The late Doctor McLaren was an
expository preacher, and his sermons were as charming as fairy tales,
multitudes flocking, through a long course of years, to hear them. C.
H. Spurgeon was a doctrinal preacher, and untold thousands hung
entranced upon his lips. Each man built up a great congregation, in
which the fruits of the spirit flourished in a perpetual harvest of
virtues, works and sacrifice. To-day the greatest churches in London
are, almost without exception, those whose members sit at the feet of
great preachers who are also, according to their separate schools,
great theologians and masters in the art of in