We depend on Him as creatures. A singular power resides in preaching when it represents the God-man, the Saviour, the loving, gracious friend, as the object of personal faith. But whilst this theme is a powerful instrument, its real spiritual effectiveness in the pulpit is given only by the Holy Ghost. The history of preaching manifests that the Holy Spirit never fails to make use of it as a power in any preacher's hands. And experience, tested by ministerial work, undoubtedly exhibits the fact that the Holy Spirit does not make any other theme powerful for the conversion of men, the gathering of a Church, or the edifying of Saints.
Human nature is a curious compound.
Credulity and incredulity are twin sisters. We are obliged to take this peculiarity into the account. There is very much reality in society around us. And men and women to whom we preach desire above all things to see the evidences of reality in our speech. The uncharitableness of the remark need not hide the force of the illustration.