"This is the Gospel of labor, -ring it, ye bells of the The Lord of Love came down from above, to live with the men who work." (VAN DYKE, "The Toiling of Felix.") And the men who hear this Gospel and catch its note of humanity and brotherhood cannot live for themselves, but must do their part towards a better race and a happier earth. This is the vision of the Kingdom of God which makes the loudest call to the men of our age, and which our age specially needs. The preacher who puts his truth in the ethical and social form of the Kingdom of God makes the noblest appeal. It was Christ's distinctive message and his great imperative: "Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God." Such a pulpit has a manly message for a world of men. The words of Kipling apply to the preacher, as well as to every genuine toiler, "Go to your work and be strong, halting not in your ways, Balking the end half-won, for an instant dole of praise. Stand to your work and be wise, certain of word and pen, Who are neither children nor Gods, but men in a world of men." LECTURE IX THE PREACHER'S GROWTH GROWTH is the law of life. Every living thing grows. When growth stops, death begins. Man is higher than other earthly life in the power of his growth. He has the power of an ever unfolding, expanding, endless life. "Finds progress man's distinctive mark, Not God's and not the beast's: God is, alone, they are. Man partly is, and wholly hopes to be." ("A Death in the Desert.") A live preacher should be a shining example of the law of growth. The age demands this growth in the preacher. He cannot be an exception to the condition of success. Its enterprise, its struggle, its hope of mastery, call for a growing life. It sounds the note of efficiency. It calls for an increasing mastery of the powers and materials of work. It is ever calling for the vision and courage and energy of youth. It is seemingly ruthless in its treatment of weakness and neglect. "Take |