THERE is nothing more effective to draw, interest, and hold the average hearer, than the plain, simple, and loving truths of the gospel, presented with earnestness, tenderness, and directness, and so illustrated and enforced that each truth and fact shall be clearly and easily discerned. As you listen to the gospel from the lips of a certain distinguished American clergyman, who preaches every Sabbath to one of the largest and wealthiest and most cultivated audiences in the United States, you are so impressed with the simplicity of his language, the directness of his discourse, and the earnestness and tenderness of his appeal, that the speaker is lost sight of in the sweetness and richness of the thought, while you repair from the service unconsciously exclaiming, What a salvation and what a Saviour have been given to the world! It is said that soon after that distinguished divine arrived from his European home to assume the pastorate of his American church, some of his officials waited on him and informed him that he would need to change his method of sermonizing, and adopt a more philosophical, rhetorical, and scholastic method in order to meet the demands of his hearers. His only reply was, "Brethren, it would be impossible for me to follow your suggestions. Be patient and wait awhile." They waited until the church was crowded beyond its capacity, —waited until they were compelled to build larger—waited until they have an edifice worth a million of dollars—waited until they have a membership of nearly two thousand—waited until under his earnest, simple, and lucid gospel teaching, their benevolent contributions are numbered each year by the hundred thousand dollars. But that plain, direct, clear enunciation of gospel truth is the result of a constant, profound, and prayerful study of the Holy Scriptures. Simplicity in preaching differs widely from simpleness in the preaching. The former indicates thought, effort; the latter, the absence of thought and effort. Few have achieved the one—legions have attained to the other.—Sel.