innermost chamber whither he desires that it shall come. Fear and
courage, doubt and confidence, all should be assailed, for the
awakening of any one of them may bring to pass the accomplishment of
the preacher's glorious purpose. Of course we have become familiar
with all that is said by superior persons about what they are pleased
to decry as "mere sentiment." We know, but too well, the man who at
once, and invariably, characterises any preaching that touches the
hearts of men as "playing to the gallery,"--the man whose one and only
demand is for intellectualism. Him we know in his superiority to
feeling, his scorn of smiles and tears. We know him and, thank God! we
generally ignore him; as we must learn to do more and more. The city
of Mansoul has many gates--more, indeed, than honest Bunyan saw--and
happy may the preacher be if he can gain admission by any one of them!

Then, although the hearer is "a sinner," and must be approached as
such, the sermon that will lead him furthest along the upward way will
be one in which it is recognised that he is not so utterly depraved as
to be without some lingering, or latent, good to which appeal may, and
ought to be made. Find the good in a child and by the use of it lead
him to the best, is a sound principle in the training of the young. It
is equally sound as a rule for dealing with their elders. Find the
good in a man if you would save him wholly and for ever.

For "good" there is, and that in the very worst of men. No doctrine of
human depravity that theologians may teach can alter the fact, that,
deep in the heart of man, may be found a starting point whence the
highest heights may be gained if we have but the skill to lead him
forward. We may speak of him as being sick in head and heart, as "full
of wounds and bruises and putrifying sores." It is all true and yet,
paradoxical as it may appear, there are still in him the power to love;
some gift of gratitude; some sense of fair play; an elemental idea of
justice. There is still some secret reverence for purity and modesty
and truth. The preacher, notwithstanding all the schoolmen may tell
him, must believe this, or else he will not effectively preach.

There is much to be gained by every one in believing the best of human
nature. For the preacher such a belief will provide ways into the
city, the inner fortress of which he means to capture for his Lord. He
will call upon the best qualities in his heare