of material on his hands and, notwithstanding its
quality, the commission to build it up into strength and beauty still
applies.

Clearly, in such cases, the duty of the edifying preacher is not to
hide, but _to emphasise_ the demands of Jesus Christ for active
participation in some form of Christian service. "The harvest truly is
plenteous but the labourers are few," and altogether apart from the
advantages to be gained by the Church from the bringing in of the
sheaves, there is a benefit to be won by the reaper as he garners the
grain, which is entirely beyond calculation. Our fathers made it their
business in the case of every new convert to find him "something to
do." Sometimes the results were unfortunate, in that men were put to
work they were not qualified to attempt; but the new employment kept
many a man from falling, and often helped to make useful and polished
instruments out of very unpromising material. Nearly a thousand years
ago Peter the Hermit passed like a flame of fire across the provinces
of Europe calling upon men to wrest the Holy places from the hands of
the Saracen. In countless thousands they responded to his call, even
little children arising and pressing eastward on the great emprise.
Surely there is need enough for crusading to-day. Surely, too, there
are multitudes who, for their own souls' sake, and for the sake of the
Church, would be all the better for the health and vigour which a
little crusading would bring. Upon us rests the obligation in Christ's
name to call these hitherto unemployed and ineffective ones to the
standard of the Cross.

And to this demand for service it is the preacher's duty to add, in
view of the advantages to follow in the life and character, the faith
and influence of the Church, an equally strong demand for sacrifice.
It is no kindness of the pulpit to cut down the requirements of the
Lord upon the time, the strength, the comfort and the substance of
those who profess themselves His followers. He that would have life
eternal "let him go and sell all that he hath and give to the poor."
"He that will be My disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross and follow Me." "He that would save his life the same shall lose
it." In these figurative words lies one secret of spiritual growth and
health.

So then it comes to this:--That the edification of the Church and of
the individual believer, so far as it forms part of the task of this,
our messenger