lation to this matter when too late; when only the possibilities of
regret remained. To look back over the past and think that men have
suffered in relation to eternal things as a result of our lack of zeal
or of faithfulness, or from some preventable defect in our dispensing
of the word, must be a sad occupation for those years when the
grasshopper has become a burden. The echo of our sermons will be in
our ears at the last. That echo will be either a song of gladness to
sing itself forever, or a lamentation to be soothed to sleep no more!

To be of some little service in the course of this personal and private
inquiry this volume is sent out. It claims only to be a reminder of
things perfectly well known, but of the sort that need repeating. Will
our brethren of their charity acquit us of the charge of presumption in
taking up the theme now timidly approached? Many, very many, who turn
these leaves will bring to their perusal far greater ability, and
knowledge, and experience than we are able to wield in their writing.
A few men learn the value of wealth from the possession of it; more
from a lack thereof. Nothing better teaches the value of money than
the association in the learner's experience of hunger with an empty
pocket. What slight qualification for the production of this book we
possess has been obtained in a similar way. Some few things we have
learned; some we have proved through our many mistakes; some, again,
through our frequent failures. They will be found set down in the
chapters yet to come.

As a general statement of the plan of our endeavour, it may be said
that we will try to speak of some essentials of effective and
successful preaching, essentials first in the preacher, then in the
substance of his message, and, finally, in the form and manner of its
presentation and delivery.

BOOK I.

THE MAN.

THEORY OF BOOK I.

To have Effective Preaching you must have the Effective Preacher.
Jesus Christ first Chose and Called His men and then communicated the
Substance of the Message He wished them to Declare to the World. To
every Preacher it is left to speak that Message in his Own Way. The
Importance of the MAN in relation to the accomplishment of the purposes
of the Message is therefore obvious, and with him we begin.

_What are the Essential Qualities of the Effective Preacher?_

CHAPTER I.

The Designation of the Preacher.

The preaching of the Gospel is more than