A London pastor, who was accustomed to preach sermons of an ultra-Calvanistic sort, was surprised by a visitor handing him a considerable sum, on two or three occasions, because he had been so gratified by his pulpit ministrations. On inquiry, he found the man's domestic life was in open violation of morality; and the preacher came to the conclusion that sermons that comforted such a man, were not such as he ought to preach, and after two or three others of a different order, he saw no more either of his appreciative hearer or his gifts. It is sometimes gratifying to a preacher to know that his sermons are approved by unconverted hearers. It is well for him to endeavor to discover what there may be in them which renders them acceptable. Probably, in many cases it would be found that they lack in the presentation of truths which men need to hear. Herod for a time heard John "gladly." So long as the Baptist was proclaiming the coming of the Messiah his preaching did not annoy that voluptuary. It was when he began to deal out warning and denunciation on specific sins that Herod committed him to prison. So, there are men who visit our churches and listen to many sermons which not only do not offend them, but which they really enjoy. Discourses on notable events in patriarchal history, the miracles of Jesus, or the labors of Paul, are welcome to them, but were some favorite sin to be attacked it would be far different. Let revenge, covetousness, dishonesty, or untruthfulness be laid bare in all their turpitude, and, though they may be more politic in their behavior than Herod, they will nevertheless feel as much chagrin as he did under John's preaching. To preach the gospel in such a way as to irritate the ungodly, has been thought by some ministers an evidence of their "faithfulness," and many are the anecdotes of conversions which have followed when anger has given way to reason. It is possible for animosity to be awakened by the unwise handling of the truth, rather than by the truth itself. The concern of a preacher should be to present the "whole counsel of God," and it may be that, oftentimes, if a man would carefully study the reception given to his sermons by unconverted men, he might discover much that would be helpful to his real usefulness.