lvation too.
Something is in our mind to ask concerning our presentation of this
last-named portion of our message:--Are we always quite faithful as to
what we call the conditions of salvation? In the presentation of these
conditions great skill and great care are required. It is so easy to
under--or over--emphasise, so easy, out of jealousy for God, to make
the way too hard or, out of a desire to win men, to make it too easy.
Perhaps in the latter possibility lies, in our time, the greater
danger. Do we always ask for _penitence_ as unmistakably as we ought?
There should be repentance "_toward_ God" as well as "faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ." We may at least suggest the question:--Whether we do
not sometimes call for the latter, saying too little of the former.
Again, in calling for faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, is it not easy to
appear to demand a mere belief in historic facts when what is required
is the trustful surrender of the soul to the Redeemer? We have seen
fifty people hold up their hands, at the request of a preacher, to
signify their turning to God, and we have noted that no outward sign of
deep emotion accompanied the act. We have watched a multitude pass
through an inquiry room where, though inquirers were many, tears were
few. That "there are diversities of operations" we know. "Old times
are changed, old manners gone." All this we admit, and, perhaps, we
should not demand to see again such things as Time has cast behind him.
But, oh! those were great days when the returning rebel smote upon his
breast and would not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven, as with
sobs and groans, he cried, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." Those
were glorious scenes when, in one and the same hour, he broke for ever
with old habits, old companionships, old loves and, with eyes still
streaming went forth exclaiming, "'Tis done, the great transaction's
done!"

CHAPTER III.

The Note of Idealism.

The Christian preacher is not only the accuser of men and the
ambassador of reconciliation; he is also the Prophet of a new order.
"Go, preach, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," so runs his commission.
His message must convey more than the promise of a deliverance from the
_consequences_ of sin. It must proclaim new possibilities for the
individual. It must point to higher altitudes for the race. The
preacher announces a New Jerusalem descending out of heaven. His
ministry is not to lead to the better