se, though it possess every other excellence, it will most
surely fail. How often have we heard, as a criticism, the one word
"tactless," which meant that the truth had been expressed in such
language, or in such a manner as to accentuate, rather than allay, the
opposition of the hearer; that, instead of getting _round_ the
prejudices of the congregation by a flanking movement, the preacher had
assailed them by a frontal attack, and so called to the ramparts every
sleeping power of opposition. Many a well conceived and convincing
sermon fails from just this cause.

So then we feel inclined to urge that the cultivation of tactfulness
should be reckoned an indispensable part of every preacher's training,
for there is no prevailing with men without it. For this, among other
things, he will require that thorough understanding of men of which we
spoke in an earlier chapter--an understanding which must include a
familiarity with their tastes, their prejudices, their weaknesses and
infirmities. To this understanding must be added the fruits of much
self-study and criticism. To be able so to speak as to secure
acceptance for the Word of Life is worth it all. The basis of appeal
is conciliation. The instrument of conciliation is tact!

And having, through the exercise of this gift of tact, secured for
himself and his message the toleration of the hearer, the preacher will
proceed to make the best of the advantage thus obtained. He has made
his man a listener but the great work still remains to be done, and
again we say that it is of all work the hardest to accomplish. At
once, let us acknowledge the impossibility of outlining a method that
will be effective in every case. At once, too, let us say that in no
branch of Christian service is so much left to the inventive and
initiative faculties of the worker as in preaching. Still some
principles there are which may well be named as worthy of remembrance
in the day of action.

And the first of these may well be this:--That the first assault should
be made through the intellect. The sermon must contain, at least, a
solid foundation of good reasoning. "Come now and let us reason
together, saith the Lord," was the prophet's invitation to Israel in
the day of her rebellion. The preacher should see to it that he
"render a reason." It is no compliment to an audience to fail to
recognise its mental powers. It is something less than a compliment
merely to _pretend_ to ar