things too sacred to be always
open to scrutiny and investigation. No self-respecting man will spend
his time inquiring as to his wife's probity and honour. He makes up
his mind as to that when he marries her; and henceforth that question
is settled. It is not open to review. He would feel insulted if an
investigation were suggested. It is only the small things of life that
we are eternally questioning. We are reverently restful and serenely
silent about the biggest things of all. A man does not discuss his
wife's virtue or his soul's salvation on the kerbstone. The martyrs
all went to their deaths with brave hearts and morning faces, because
they were not prepared to reconsider or review the greatest decision
they had ever made. There are some things on which no wise man will
think of changing his mind. And he will decline to contemplate a
change because he knows that his wardrobe holds no better garb. It is
of no use doffing the robes of princes to don the rags of paupers.
'Eighty and six years have I served Christ,' exclaimed the triumphant
Polycarp; and he mounted the heavens in wreathing smoke and leaping
flame rather than change his mind after so long and so lovely an
experience.

IV

'PITY MY SIMPLICITY!'

It was a sultry summer's day a hundred and fifty years ago, and John
Wesley was on the rocky road to Dublin. 'The wind being in my face,
tempering the heat of the sun, I had a pleasant ride to Dublin. In the
evening I began expounding the deepest part of the Holy Scripture,
namely, the First Epistle of John, by which, above all other, even
above all other inspired writings, I advise every young preacher to
form his style. Here are sublimity and simplicity together, the
strongest sense and the plainest language! How can any one that would
speak as the oracles of God use harder words than are to be found
here?' With which illuminating extract from the great man's journal we
may dismiss him, the road to Dublin, and the text from which he
preached in the Irish capital, all together. I have no further
business with any of them. The thing that concerns me is the
suggestive declaration, made by the most experienced preacher of all
time, that _sublimity_ and _simplicity_ always go hand in hand. Here,
in this deepest part of Holy Scripture, says the master, are sublimity
and simplicity together. 'By this, above all other writings, I advise
every preacher to form his style. How can any one