A McN. PREFACE. HIS book has been written almost wholly from TH a preacher's point of view. In these days the position of the preacher is often one of embarrassment, because he cannot fail to be aware that the Book out of which he takes his texts is regarded, probably by some of his own hearers, as at best but partially and intermittently inspired. The first thing the preacher has to do is to establish the inspiration of his text, or, against the will of his more critical hearers, to take it for granted. If preacher and hearer are disagreed as to the inspiration of the text, and the consequent authority of the text, the cleavage cannot but have a disastrous effect upon the sermon. The sermon may, indeed, not be lacking in good things, it may even be instructive and interesting; yet, de 592343 |