ers than such as are
theological or Biblical. It ought to go without saying that the
preacher should know as much as he can possibly learn about the book in
which is written the revelation he has to hand on to others. It ought
to be equally well understood that he obtain, at least, a working
knowledge of the theology of the church to which he belongs and for
which he speaks. Again, it is, surely, not unreasonable to expect that
he will have some acquaintance with the "evidences" on which rests his
appeal to his fellows. A preacher should certainly be as well able to
defend his faith as the average man is to attack it. It must be
frankly recognised, of course, that it is impossible for every preacher
to be an expert on every question of Biblical criticism and
interpretation that may arise. Especially is this true in a Church
drawing the great majority of its preachers from classes untrained, in
the ordinary sense of the word, for their work. Still, it is possible
for every man among us to have an intelligent grasp of the subject upon
which he discourses. It is possible, we say, and it ought to be
required. With so elementary a proposition we do not even tarry for
discussion, excepting to say that he who will not so far give himself
to study as to secure this simple furnishing should not be surprised if
the people cease to ask for his services. It was a wise word of Dr.
Adam Clarke:--"Study yourself to death, and then pray yourself to life."

For the purposes of this lecture we take it for granted that every
reader is already so convinced of the need just set forth that there is
no need to dwell upon it. We do desire, however, to emphasise the need
of that understanding which goes beyond what is particularly known as
the Gospel. There is no department of life and experience which that
Gospel does not cover, and, therefore, there is no one who needs to
speak of so many matters as the preacher. Carlyle proposed a
professorship of things in general. The pulpit within certain limits
is such a chair!

It has long been the reproach of the studious class to which the
preacher belongs that its members, in their devotion to book-learning,
too often remain ignorant of "life," that they live in a world of paper
and print, of speculation and theory, which is seldom a faithful
reflection of the real world of men and women and actual affairs. Such
a man, in short, is apt to live in a world of his own--a very
delightful