and represses than excites; he is regarded, very prop erly, as a modern representative of that class of prophets and evangelists composed of men like Elisha, John the apostle, and Melancthon; his songs, full of spiritual pathos, have melted many a hard heart and inspired many a rough soul to live a better life. "If Mr. Sankey," says Lord Shaftesbury, "had done no more than teach the song, 'Hold the Fort,' he has conferred an inestimable blessing upon the British Empire."

These evangelists are also wise in seeking to enlist in their services the co-operation of the clergy, and indeed of all evangelical Christians. Like the reformers of early times, and like Nettleton and Finney of later date, Mr. Moody begins with urging the church to faithful, earnest, and united Christian effort. the church he preaches "Faith," "Courage," and "Enthusiasm." Emerson says that "our chief want in life is somebody who can make us do what we can.' Here, partly, is the key to Mr. Moody's success with the church.

To

He also wisely confines his efforts within the strict provinces of an evangelist; he does his work in the rough; he awakens men and sets them to thinking in new directions; he persuades them to take a step, and then commits these childlike converts to the care of either the local clergy, or to the further instruction of his associated laborers. It has been well remarked that upon "the way in which these helpers, by advice, instruction, encouragement, and discreet and earnest sympathy, follow up and improve the first start or impulse communicated by Mr. Moody to incipient

converts, will most largely depend the success or failure of his work."

In his preaching, Mr. Moody is an excellent example of a man of one book. The Bible is, first and last, his ultimate appeal; he announces its fundamental truths without qualifications or explanations; details and definitions, such as properly belong to systematic theology, are far removed, and wisely so, from his purposes. He also handles the sacred Scriptures as if they needed from him neither apology nor vindication. Bible narrative and incident are so real in his faith, that under his presentation they are stripped of mysticisms and Orfentalisms, and become to his hearers pleasant and living realities.

In the development of his discourses, he often conforms with strict accuracy to the acknowledged principles and laws of sermonizing. His rhetorical

instincts seem to have done for him even more than the schools have done for many others. In each discourse, for illustration, he seizes upon one leading thought; his Scripture references, illustrations, and anecdotes are all made to contribute to that one idea: random firing and divergencies are rigidly guarded against. He thus comes at once to the main point, and is tempted scarcely for a moment to forsake his grasp upon it. We may safely say that no preacher in Boston is more successful in producing what must always be regarded as a prime quality in ser monizing, namely, unity of impression based upon unity of aim.

The plan and development of his sermons also, for the most part, seem to be spontaneous, natural, legiti

mate, and direct. His applications are brief, strong, forcible, and pertinent, demanding of the hearer immediate action. His diction is pure, his idiom thoroughly Saxon, his illustrations fresh, vivid, and intensely homelike, appearing never to be dragged into his discourses, but come as if evoked by the conditions and requirements of surrounding circumstances as well as of his sermonic material.

To the impenitent he affirms over and over again that Christ both wants to save them, and can save them, even if they are among the worst of men; and more, that they can be regenerated and saved instantaneously upon the conditions of immediate repentance and conversion.

He seems, likewise, to have a profound acquaintance with human nature; its wants, its sorrows, its helplessness, and its sinfulness are to him awful and solemn realities. In these matters he doubtless knows of what he speaks; a strong nature like his cannot of these things be in ignorance. He knows what have been his own experiences; he knows what he has seen in other men; his soul in consequence is aglow with earnestness; he would save his fellowmen and make them better. He would reform them morally; but, believing that moral reformation, in order to be safe and permanent, must spring from an antecedent spiritual renovation, he accordingly concentrates all his efforts in that singleness of purpose which would lead the guilty back to God and heaven through religious conversion and regeneration.* In spite of mangled grammar, incorrect interpretations,

* Appendix, VII.

and inadequate definitions, by reason of his lofty purpose he holds our sympathy whenever he speaks, and tears are in our eyes even when we offer our criticism.

As Mr. Moody stands before us, we recognize the presence of a plain, humble, honest, prayerful and good man, who deserves none of the abuse which Boston sceptics have heaped upon him.

We have tried thus far to give a fair estimate of the labors of these noted evangelists, and a natural explanation of their successes; but, with all others, we feel its inadequateness in fully explaining the phenomena involved.

After searching here and there, after making the most scrutinizing observations, and the most critical analyses, there will be found a large residuum unaccounted for. The repeated and grateful confession of Mr. Sankey, at the conclusion of their labors in different places, has been, "God is in it." Who will venture to contradict him? These men, if we mistake not, were called; they listened and obeyed. The same Spirit Infinite who called them has also given them the ears of two continents.*

*The confessions of the secular press and the attempted explanations from various sources are, to a careful observer, not wanting in interest. Says the Boston Transcript:

‘It is a marvel to many people how the preaching of Mr. Moody produces the effect which evidently does come from it. He is not a man learned in doctrines or profound in theological study. He is not even strikingly original in thought or forcible in style of expression. He has few of the arts or graces of oratory; and, yet he brings people together in greater crowds, and apparently produces more effect upon their thoughts, and feelings, and conduct than the most bril

V. WOMEN AS EVANGELISTS.

The data properly belonging to the subject under. discussion would not be complete without an allusion,

liant and cultured of popular divines. What is the secret of this success?"

The answer given by this writer is that earnestness and practical sagacity lie at the bottom of the success.

Rev. C. A. Bartol says that "Mr. Moody is a good and honest man, with otherwise no very striking faculties, but he is a great wire-puller and manager. He makes an able superintendent; and a railroad or factory always runs well when properly managed."

The Boston Times is somewhat outspoken, making the following observations:

"In fact, the more we become acquainted with Mr. Moody, the more astounding does it appear that he should ever have commanded so much of the attention of the world, and so much of the support of the religious classes.

...

“There never was a revivalist apparently so successful, and, gauged by the commonly accepted standards, there never was one who deserved success less.

he admits it himself, in

"Mr. Moody, it is admitted, fact, is an illiterate and poorly educated man, whose intellectual attainments are of a very inferior order. One cannot look at him without being struck with the admirable natural qualifications which he possesses for running a country farmyard or a city market-stall. And his language is in perfect keeping with his physical make-up: it is of the street, common, often slangy, and almost always coarse and inaccurate. How comes it that such a man has been able to travel over Anglo-Saxondom and eclipse, by his superior attractions as a preacher, the leading ministers of both England and America?

"One hundred years ago, when the average of intelligence was much lower than now, Moody would have been an im