ng and most instructive essay,
by the Rev. R. Glover, Vicar of St Luke's, West Holloway, entitled, _My
Cases of Old Sermons_.[35] The essay was simply an experienced
preacher's review of many years of pulpit labour, in the light of the
collected and ordered manuscripts which silently represented it. The
writer had much to say, to my great profit, about his methods of
preparation and delivery, and about the pains taken to distribute the
choice of texts widely and impartially over the field of Scripture.
Then he went on to speak of the ascertained spiritual history of some of
those many sermons; the messages to souls which in this or that instance
they had carried; the savour of life unto life, or perhaps, alas, of
death unto death, which had to his knowledge breathed from them. The
impressions left on my mind were, above all others, two; first, the call
to thorough diligence in preparation, if the preacher is to give his
account with joy; and then, the indescribable solemnity and greatness of
the work of a true pastor-preacher.

[35] In _The Churchman_ of August, 1891.

*BE A PREACHER INDEED.

I may seem to reiterate too much, but I _must_ say again, with new
emphasis, to my younger Brother, resolve to be a preacher indeed, by the
grace of God. Do not let secondary things, however good, distort your
attention from that supremely sacred commission, "Preach the Word; be
instant, in season, out of season[36] [2 Tim. iv. 2.]; reprove, rebuke,
exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine. _For_," the Apostle
significantly proceeds, "the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine." Therefore, an age impatient of thorough Scriptural
preaching is the very age in which to seek, in wisdom and courage, to
make much of it. Do not let organization spoil your preaching-work. Do
not let current events spoil it. Do not let elaboration of ritual spoil
it. Do not let organist and choir rule over you, and claim for music the
precious moments called for by the Word.

[36] That is, irrespective of _your own_ convenience.

* * * * *

"THE DIRECTORY."

Let me present to my reader, in this last chapter, an extract from an
old book which however may be new to him. The book is not one which as a
whole I greatly love; how could I? It is that sternly-imposed substitute
for the Book of Common Prayer, commonly known as the Parliamentary
Directory of 1645; the exact title is, _A Directory for the Pub