SUGGESTION 235
vailing arguments. But when the resort is made either to irrational passion or to suggestive indirection, the high func tion of persuasion is abdicated; and that surely is the true function of preaching. The ancient prophet represented Jehovah as issuing his broad and open invitation to men in these words : " Come now, and let us reason together." The great apostle of the Christian epoch uses even more emphatic language: "but [we] have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man s conscience in the sight of God." Again he says, " we persuade men." No nobler activity can engage one s mind than the per suasion of men to right action, and the fruition of such endeavour is the sweetest and most satisfying to which men can attain. Let the preacher, above all men, cultivate a scrupulous conscience as to the psychological method which he uses; and, guarding against all cheap and false substi tutes, keep himself faithfully to his function and make his appeals to the rational nature of men.
This duty is emphasized by the fact that the conditions under which convention requires that preaching usually be done render the method of suggestion peculiarly easy. No reply, no questioning, no interruption is permitted.
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