T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S suggested by such mental states, he should note at the time, or as soon after as possible, not only the text, but also the reasons why it arrested his atten tion, together with any trains of thought suggested, likewise any .isolated and spontaneous thoughts which have arisen in connection with it. The practical out come, after few years, will he an in valuable sermonic mental discipline, and a book of sermonic plans of more value to him than all the compiled hooks of plans ever published. How to Shorten Up An old preacher used to say to a young man who preached an hour, “ My dear friend, I do not care what else you preach about, but I wish you would always preach about forty minutes.” We ought seldom to go beyond that— forty minutes, or say three-quarters of an hour. If a fellow cannot say all he has to say in that time, when will he say it? But somebody said he liked “ to do justice to his subject.” Well, but ought he not to do justice to his people? If you ask me how you may shorten your sermons, I should say, study them better. Spend more time in the study and you will need less in the pulpit. We are gen erally longest when we have least to say.— C, H. Spurgeon. Petty Questions Too much the pulpits of today discuss petty questions. It is a tremendous thing to live in a world crowded with opportunities to preach the gospel to men. It is a fearful thing to be indif ferent to the spiritual welfare of our fellowmen. It is an inexcusable thing for a herald of God to lack earnestness, for many will conclude that the matters with which he deals are unimportant. No man is worth much in the pulpit un til he cries, “ Give me souls or I die.” Our word “ bless” is from the same root as the Saxon word “ blood.” This means that only the bleeding heart can bless. We are living in an age which robs religion of its inflammatory touch. We
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have enthroned the intellect and de throned passion. It is a tremendous thing for a man to stand before a con gregation, Sabbath after Sabbath, know ing that the salvation of many will de pend upon his faithfulness. If his preaching is not a savor of life it will be a savor of death. In the presence of this mighty fact, a minister dare not be careless. Indifference is disloyalty. Apathy is sin. If the passion of Christ can lay its hands upon the ministry of today, the kingdom, of God will move forward, swift and resistless as the march of God.—United Presbyterian. Get a Verdict The preacher is not a lecturer to ex pound a truth and leave it with his hearers to take it or leave it, to believe it or to disbelieve it. He is a pleader; he wants to win a verdict for Jesus Christ; he wants men to bow at the feet of Jesus, as their Saviour and Lord. A lecturer may be justified in taking up an impassive attitude; but that cannbt be the attitude of a preacher who tells men of the wonders and marvels of the divine love in Jesus Christ; of the hands outstretched to save and to bless; of Him that moves among men, still utter ing His yearning entreaty, “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” How can the preacher urge such claims cold ly? How can he keep the wooing note out of his voice? How can he be other than urgent in his entreaty that men will listen and obey and find deliverance and pardon and purity and new life in accepting the Saviour’s overtures?-— United Methodist. m le. MONTHLY ILLUSTRATIONS Sacrificial Giving Sacrifice is practiced sometimes in un expected places and in unexpected ways. In the collection basket of a native church in Africa were found three dried rats tied together, and attached to them was the collection envelope of one of
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