ns"
contains them. We have nothing to say in praise of such treasuries.
We have none to recommend for purchase. The best treasury of
illustrations is the memory of that man who keeps his eyes and ears
open and has a preaching mind.

Following the naming of illustration as a means of lighting up the
sermon comes the mention of application. Truth must be related to be
understood. How wonderfully the application of a truth to familiar
circumstances makes it clear. It may be laboriously defined and leave
but a dim and indistinct impression upon the mind; but apply it to the
age, to the life of men; show its relation to the passing days, to
daily duties, daily trials, daily sins, and how deeply is it impressed.
In the greater shops are models whose business it is to "show off" the
gown the shopkeeper wishes to sell by wearing it before the possible
purchaser. The advantage of the plan is obvious. We must show truth
in the wear to make it understood!

After all these reflections, the fundamental word still remains to be
said:--_Clear preaching can only come from clear thinking_. What we
see _ourselves_ we may, by great effort and rare good fortune, make
others see; but when the preacher only beholds men as trees walking,
how can he make clear their features to his fellows? The foggy sermon
often proves the preacher's possession of a foggy mind. "If the light
that is in _thee_ be darkness, how great is that darkness," so said One
of old.

CHAPTER III.

On Appeal.

It is set before us in this last chapter of our lecture to say
something in reference to appeal as an essential quality of the sermon.
The discourse, it must always be borne in mind, is not an end in
itself, but a means to an end, and that end the bending of the human
will to "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ." To the full and perfect surrender which this implies men are
found to be opposed in every possible way. Pride is against it;
selfishness is against it; self-indulgence and the lusts of the flesh
are against it. Often, in addition to these natural elements of
opposition, a man's reluctance to yield himself to God will be
fortified by tradition and strengthened by association. A hundred
circumstances affecting his life, his comfort, his general well-being
may seem to encourage, almost necessitate his refusal. Then, again,
the teaching of all scripture goes to create and establish the belief
that there are