to speak a word in season to
him that is weary." I like to dwell on this text. Learning should
not make deep sermons, hard to be understood; on the contrary, it
should be all employed to make the road simple and clear. Forgive
me for exhorting you so, but I can't refrain from it when I think
of the many learned men I know at home and here who employ their
learning in giving learned sermons, _not_ in making the way simple
and plain.'

The sermon referred to in the extract quoted above from the diary is
based on Matt. i. 21. It was never written out; but the notes of it lie
before us, and we quote them as an illustration of his way of addressing
both Chinese and English audiences. It may interest the reader to
endeavour to make out from it the line of thought, and any who may have
heard him preach or speak will find it easy to recall _how_ he preached
it.

'Matt. i. 21. 'He shall save people from their sins.'

'Talk to a man, he admits he is sinner; by-and-by he will break off
and become good.

'He does not really know what sin is. Egypt!

'It is a _disease_; if you get it can you leave it off? Your blood
is tainted.

'It is a _fire_; once light it, you can't quench it, it smoulders
and breaks out afresh.

'It is an _evil root_, evil weed, can easy sow, not extirpate.

'Sin is like the current above Niagara.

'It becomes a _habit_. Indulgence makes habit grow.

'It is like a _spider_; one thread after another binds up a fly.

'Such is sin--murder, robbery, theft, adultery, uncleanness, lying,
covetousness, hatred, anger, malice, want of love to God or man.

'Many of these sins you not accused of, but you have sin: sin is
fatal, can you free yourself? _Jesus is to do it._

'Disease, fire, root, current, habit, fly. _The man cannot free
himself: Jesus must set him free._

'Not only from _Hell_, but from sin.

'Suppose you were freed only from Hell, and transported to Heaven,
could you be happy? Who would be your companions?

'Ignorant (wicked) man in company of learned (holy).

'_A Tientsin vagrant_ became chair-bearer; had clothes, etc., but
only for a day; he was soon naked again.

'Christ does not transport to Heaven only.

'_Disease._--Not die from it; He cures it.

'_Fire._--Not consumed by it; He quenches it.

'_Root_ o