more mighty, and more often
victorious when they were plain and unlettered, than they were after
years of culture? How is it? Perhaps because they, knowing their
ignorance, were more earnest in prayer. We know that some of us feel,
when we have preached;--That was a good sermon, the arguments were
irresistible, the illustrations were beautiful, and so the people ought
to have yielded, but they did not! Did they?

If the pictures of this event we often see are to describe the future of
Christianity, we shall have to be as daring as though God did not fight
the battle, and as trustful as though we had never driven the alien army
back. When COURAGE is united to HUMILITY, the Philistine may get
measured for his coffin (leaving out the head), and the damsels of Israel
have their timbrels tuned, for there will be a procession goodly to look
upon!

BURNING THE BOOKS AT EPHESUS.

This was one of the results of faithful preaching. Paul had declared the
whole counsel of God, both in powerful addresses and in visiting from
door to door. Miracles were wrought, but what seems to have impressed
the writer of this account most of all, was not the healing of the sick,
or the casting out of devils, but men parting with that which was worth
so much money.

"THEY BROUGHT THEIR BOOKS TOGETHER, AND BURNED THEM BEFORE ALL MEN; AND
THEY COUNTED THE PRICE OF THEM, AND FOUND IT FIFTY THOUSAND PIECES OF
SILVER.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed!"

Has our religion been costly to us? Have we given up anything? These
converts gave up their money-making sins publicly; and their public and
costly repentance was made a great blessing. We wish every Christian who
is engaged in any business that has made money for him at the expense of
another's morals, would see it his duty to make a bonfire of it! We have
no doubt there are numbers of Christians whose consciences now and then
give them a goutlike twinge. We do not doubt their religion because they
do not obey their consciences; but we do say the word of God cannot grow
mightily, it is stunted, and in consequence they are religious dwarfs,
when they might have been giants in righteousness and holy influence.

XXXV. THE WAY TO PREACH TO THOSE WHO SLEEP IN SIN.

"_Nathan said to David_, _Thou art the Man_!"

But this was not the first thing he said. He approached the subject very
carefully. David would not have allowed anyone to bring that subject