our work as much more exact and thorough than theirs as our work is more important!' *

If you do this, in the final result you will not fail; and if, in your preliminary efforts, you now and then do fail, be never discouraged. Make the failure a reason for more intense succeeding effort; a wing, not a weight; a spur, to stimulate to fresh endeavor, and not a stiletto, to stab out the life!

But, FINALLY, Gentlemen: Do no violence to your own nature; — and if you find, after sufficient conscientious trial, that you can do more useful service with the pen than without it, then use the pen, without reluctance, without reserve, and be thankful that you have it.

There are some men, no doubt, who can never acquire complete self-possession in presence of an audience, so as to be at ease and in vigor when addressing large numbers face to face. They are fewer, I am confident, than is commonly supposed. But there are some such; who can

*Note VIII.

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hardly, at any rate, prepare themselves for this office without such a martyrdom as they are not called to; while the same men may be swift, bold, powerful, with the pen, and in reading their writings may be very effective. It would be a wanton waste of time, if not indeed a sin against nature, for such men to give up their notes in the pulpit. They ought to use them, and to be grateful to God for this means of usefulness. The pen is a prodigious power in the world; an invincible moral and social force; a real lever to lift the race forward. It has blessed all times, since man first discovered the use of the alphabet. God Himself has put honor upon it, in writing His law on tables of stone, and not merely speaking it in articulate tones. He has honored it in the gospels, preserving by it the words of His Son. Any man should be glad and proud to use it, for Him from whom the power comes.

I have never believed it the best plan for all ministers to preach without notes. I only think it better for some. And my remarks, now and

hereafter, are intended only for those among you who think that it may be better for them. If you think so, I shall be delighted to say any word that may help you in your effort. For really I think the work you contemplate as great a work as ever is given to men on earth: to bring Divine truths, with earnest utterance, to human souls. Never look upon your congregation as so many 'cabbage-heads,' as some one has inconsiderately said, but always look on them as immortal intelligences, each one of whom shall live forever! and then bring all the power you can to urge them to righteousness, through thoughtful, fervent, inspiring speech. It is the noblest of human errands. Whether, therefore, you do your work with notes or without them, do it courageously, earnestly, with devotion; with a glad sense of the greatness of it, and a full consecration of every force and faculty to it.

If I might change one letter in a precept of St. Paul, I should say: "One man esteemeth one way above another; another man esteemeth

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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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