f faithfulness to "the old
Gospel"--a term getting, nowadays, rather out of date. They _said_
this, and they claimed to prove the statement by figures they unkindly
produced. The thing for the preacher to do, they contended, was the
work he was _sent_ to do. The greatest subjects possible to him were
the subjects _given_ unto him. Christ's word, they held, was
infinitely better worth repetition and interpretation than any other
"word" the world had ever heard. Who shall say these critics were
wrong? The preacher falls below the splendour of his high calling when
he turns from the thoughts of God to the dreams of men.

Of this mistake, however, there need be little fear if in his own soul
the preacher dwell upon the glory of his "treasure," the preciousness
of the seed he has to sow. "Thus saith the Lord." With these words he
will refresh his faith and courage what time he challenges the
attention and demands the reverence of men. "God hath spoken, once
have I heard this; nay twice," so he sings to his spirit as he enters
into controversy with those to whom he is sent. "Come, let us reason
together, saith the Lord," thus may he invite rebellious men into
confidence concerning all those things that matter to the soul. To
him, _even him_, God hath revealed Himself. Through the written word
has He spoken directly to _his_ heart and mind. To _his_ prayerful
inquiry and diligent searching has He made known His will, _his_ mind
being chosen as the organ of a revelation, honouring his devout spirit
and earnest striving to know the truth. Through the varying phases of
the experience of _this_ messenger of His He has shown him the deep
things of God and disclosed new applications of truths already known.
God reveals Himself to men to-day. Let us at least allow ourselves the
joy of believing that He has no favourites; that London or New York is
as dear to Him as Jerusalem; that He will, and _does_ speak as
certainly through the prophets of our times as through those of any
far-off century in the history of the race. Of this high doctrine
every new sermon ought to bring fresh proof to the preacher's own soul
as well as to the people who hear the latest word from heaven through
the spokesman of the skies. So the wonder grows!--_An ambassador of
the King, speaking the King's own word, spoken to me by the King
Himself, my heart burning within me the while He talked with me by the
way, my own soul growing strong in the