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THE WORK NOBLE.

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every way alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." And whichever way you finally select, strive always to be able to say: "Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord.

Whether

we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."

Working for the Master in this high spirit, the work which you do will be always noble; and the reward which comes after it will be sure, and immortal!

SECOND LECTURE.

Mr. President: Young Gentlemen:

I am very happy to meet you here again, — the more so, as an hour ago, while I was drifting about the Bay, I thought it very doubtful if I should be able to meet you at all. The fact is that you people who live on the wrong side of the East River are apt to get isolated — if you will pardon the pronunciation — in such weather as this; and we, who live where we ought to, find it hard work to get to you.

I ought perhaps, to add, before beginning upon my subject this afternoon, that I have been occupied, to-day, before leaving home, with some of those sad and exacting duties of which every minister meets so many, which for the time wholly occupy his mind, and draw largely

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SPEAKING TO STUDENTS.

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upon his sympathies; so that you may find me, I fear, even less prepared than I should otherwise have been to speak to you on the theme before us. I shall trust to your kindness to excuse the defects which you may observe.

I am again surprised by finding present not only the students of this institution, to whom, as being younger than myself, I had thought it possible that I might say something which should be of more or less service in their coming work, but also these distinguished men - Professors, Pastors, Secretaries, Editors, Presidents of Colleges, Lawyers, Teachers, and eminent Merchants, whom I have not come prepared to address. I can only say that when I am invited to breakfast or lunch I do not go dressed for an evening dinner-party; and when I am asked to speak to students, who may not know even as much as myself, I do not prepare myself to speak to others who know much more. I long ago found

out that when a Committee ask one to 'make a few remarks,' what they mean is an address of

half-an-hour.' But I certainly thought that I was perfectly safe in literally accepting the kind invitation of these Professors and Doctors of Divinity, and coming to speak to students only.

At any rate, I shall stick to the programme, and "talk," as I intended, without attempting any studied and elaborate address, suitable for these gentlemen accomplished in their professions.

Let me say, still further, that after my rapid talk of last week I was pursued with the fear that I must have seemed egotistical in it; as if I quite over-estimated the consequence of whatever experience I have had, in the matter of preaching without my notes. I hope, however, that you did me the justice to look at the thing from my point of view, and to recognize the fact that I said what I did only because it seemed inevitable, as laying the basis for my subsequent suggestions; and, also, as illustrating the fact that there was nothing whatever exceptional in my case; that the change in my method was not a sudden one; that whatever I have done in this

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS.

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direction has been only the result of continuous effort, and that anybody else who wishes to do it, and is willing to work for it, can do as much : some of you, I am sure, can do much more, as

I sincerely hope that you will.

Now for what I have principally to say to-day. After the preliminary suggestions which I made last week I propose to present to you certain specific conditions of success or what I esteem such—in the work of preaching without one's notes. First I shall speak of those which are especially physical and mental, and afterward of those which are moral and spiritual. Those of the latter class I shall hope to present next week. Of those of the former class I shall speak to-day. Some of them are essential; all of them are important; and in the absence of any one of them, the highest success can hardly, I think, be ever realized.

Before proceeding to consider them, however, one by one, let me say in general, as preliminary to every thing which is to follow, that I assume,

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