verage audiences, I know no style
more perfectly answering my idea than that of Mr Spurgeon,[31] in his
printed sermons of recent years. And I happen to know that Mr Spurgeon
has always taken great and systematic pains with his English.

[31] Since these words were written this great Christian and preacher
has passed away to his Master's presence.

FRENCH HEARERS OF ENGLISH.

Some preachers need much more than others a hint to keep their sentences
_straight_, and to avoid the tangle of parentheses, long or short. Here,
again, Mr Spurgeon gives me an admirable illustration. His sentences,
never thin or weak in matter, are always straight. If any of my younger
Brethren are tempted, as I confess I am, in the digressive direction, I
would recommend them (if they usually preach without writing) to _write_
a sermon now and then, and rigorously to exclude, or re-write, all
sentences which transgress. It occurred to me recently, when acting as a
summer chaplain in Switzerland, to find the benefit of a different
corrective. On one particular Sunday I had among my hearers in the
morning a French Presbyterian, in the afternoon a French Roman Catholic,
each understanding a little English; and in each case I had special
reasons for hope and longing that the sermon might bring some spiritual
help. Instinctively, I avoided every expression which could in the least
complicate my English and thus obscure the message to my foreign
friends. And so thankful was I for the pruning of periods that resulted,
that I am much disposed, in all future preaching, to put mentally
before me those same two hearers.

"WRITTEN OR EXTEMPORE?"

On that great question, Shall I preach from writing, or not? I say very
little. Speaking quite generally, and thinking now only of the regular
church congregation, not of the mission-room or open air, I would advise
my younger Brethren to write for some while, but usually with an
ultimate view to speech without writing. No hard rule can be laid down.
One man is so gifted that from the first he can express himself
correctly and well without any manuscript before him. Another finds, all
his life through, that he speaks best, and his people listen best, when
he reads (vividly and naturally) from his prayerfully-prepared
manuscript. But on the whole, I repeat it, writing is the best
discipline for a man in his early days of Ministry, while beyond doubt
the freely-spoken sermon, like the freely-spoken speech, (caref