ery soulfully. No man should be able to speak on
such things except with a sob in his throat and tears in his eyes. We
must warn men to flee from the wrath to come; but that wrath is the
wrath of a Lamb. Andrew Bonar one day told Murray McCheyne that he had
just preached a sermon on hell. 'And were you able to preach it with
tenderness?' McCheyne wistfully inquired. Fear is part of that
wondrous instrument on all the chords of which the minister is called
at times to play; but this chord must be struck with trembling fingers.

No mistake can be more fatal than to set off this aspect of things
against more attractive themes. All truth is related. Some years ago
in Scotland an express train stopped abruptly on a curve in the time of
a great flood. Just in front of the train was a roaring chasm from
which the viaduct had been swept away. Just behind the train was the
mangled frame of the girl who had warned the driver. _It is impossible
to understand that sacrifice lying just behind the guard's van unless
you have seen the yawning chasm just in front of the engine!_

'No fears, no grace!' said James.

'And this I took very great notice of,' said Mr. Greatheart, 'that the
Valley of the Shadow of Death was as quiet while Mr. Fearing went
through it as ever I knew it before or since; and when he came to the
river without a bridge, I took notice of what was very remarkable; the
water of that river was lower at this time than ever I saw it in all my
life. So he went over at last, not much above wet shod.'

Fear had done its work, and done it well. The bass notes had proved
the foundation of a music that blended at last with the very harmonies
of heaven. Fear, even with White Fang, led on to love; and perfect
love casteth out fear.

VI

A FRUITLESS DEPUTATION

It was in New Zealand, and I was attending my first Conference. I had
only a month or two earlier entered the Christian ministry. I dreaded
the Assembly of my grave and reverend seniors. With becoming modesty,
I stole quietly into the hall and occupied a back seat. From this
welcome seclusion, however, I was rudely summoned to receive the right
hand of fellowship from the President. Then I once more plunged into
the outer darkness of oblivion and obscurity. Here I remained until
once again I was electrified at the sound of my own name. It seemed
that the sorrows of dissension had overtaken a tiny church in a remote
bush district. One of t