Him too absolute for the longed-for spiritual results.

"_Would I describe a preacher, such as Paul,
Were he on earth, would hear, approve, and own,
Paul should himself direct me. I would trace
His master-strokes, and draw from his design.
I would express him simple, grave, sincere,
In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain,
And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste,
And natural in gesture; much impress'd
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
May feel it too; affectionate in look,
And tender in address, as well becomes
A messenger of grace to guilty men._"

COWPER.

CHAPTER XI.

_PREACHING_ (ii.).

_For Thy sake, beloved Lord,
I will labour in Thy Word;
On the knees, in patient prayer;
At the desk, with studious care;
In the pulpit, seeking still
There to utter all Thy will._

I pursue the subject of attractive preaching, taking still the word
attractive in its worthiest sense, and again laying stress on the
_necessity_ of attractiveness of the right sort. We have looked a little
already at some of the external requisites to this end; now let us
approach some which have to do with matter more than manner.

CONSIDERATENESS.

On the way, I pause to say a word in general on one of the reasons why
we should do our best to speak so that our hearers shall care to hear.
The supreme reason is manifest; it is the glory of our Master and the
good of souls. For His sake, and for the flock's sake, we long and must
strive to speak so as to draw their attention to His message and to
Himself. But subordinate to this great motive, and in fullest harmony
with it, there is another; and this is a motive which, once clearly
apprehended, will affect not our preaching only, but all parts of our
ministry--our conduct of public worship, our pastoral visitation, our
whole intercourse with our neighbours. I mean, the simple motive of a
loyal and faithful _considerateness for others_, as we are on the one
hand Christian men and English gentlemen, and on the other hand
servants, not masters, of the Church and parish. Possibly this aspect of
the Pastor's public and official ministry may not have presented itself
distinctively as yet to my younger Brother; but it cannot be recognized
and acted upon too early. Some things in our clerical position and
functions tend in their own nature to make us forget it, if we are not
definitely awake