mean buildings that have by degrees been gathered round the sides of some majestic cathedral, and do you suppose that the sweeping away of those shanties would touch the solemn majesty of the mediaeval glories of the building that rises above them?  Take them away if need be, and it, in its proportion, beauty, strength, and heavenward aspiration, will stand more glorious for the sweeping away.  Preach positive truth.  Do not preach doubts.  You remember Mr. Kingsley’s book Yeast.  Its title was its condemnation.  Yeast is not meant to be drunk; it is meant to be kept in the dark till the process of fermentation goes on and it works itself clear, and then you may bring it out.  Do not be always arguing with the enemy.  It is a great deal better to preach the truth.  Remember what Jesus said:  ’Let them alone, they are blind leaders of the blind, they will fall into the ditch.’  It is not given to every one of us to conduct controversial arguments in the pulpit.  There are some much wiser and abler brethren amongst us than you or I who can do it.  Let us be contented with, not the humbler but the more glorious, office of telling what we have known, leaving it, as it will do, to prove itself.  You remember what the old woman, who had been favoured by her pastor with an elaborate sermon to demonstrate the existence of God, said when he had finished; ’Well, I believe there is a God, for all the gentleman says.’

As one who sees the lengthening shadows falling over the darkening field, may I say one word to my junior brethren, with all whose struggles and doubts and difficulties I, for one, do most tenderly sympathise?  I beseech them—­though, alas! the advice condemns the giver of it as he looks back over long years of his ministry—­to be faithful to the Gospel how that ’Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.’  Dear young friends, if you only go where Paul went, and catch the inspiration that he caught there, your path will be clear.  It was in contact with Christ, whose passion for soul-winning brought Him from heaven, that Paul learned his passion for soul-winning.  And if you and I are touched with the divine enthusiasm, and have that aim clear before us, we shall soon find out that there is only one power, one name given under heaven among men whereby we can accomplish what we desire—­the name of ’Jesus Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, and also maketh intercession for us.’  If our aim is clear before us it will prescribe our methods, and if the inspiration of our ministry is, ’I determine not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified,’ then, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear, they shall know that there hath been a Prophet among them.

[Footnote 1:  Preached before Baptist Union.]

WORLD-WIDE SIN AND WORLD-WIDE REDEMPTION