INTRODUCTORY SKETCH.
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pestuous waves of this sin-cursed world, is a great
test of religious manhood. Surrounded, as he who
preaches to this people is, with every temptation
that earth affords, one must be pure gold to stand
the test of fire—that overcomes temptations, that
controls his passions, and must preach the gospel
without mixture or error. He must be able to
preach the gospel in-its purity and with marked in¬
telligence. Truly, to successfully lead this people,
one must be more than the average preacher, and
more than the average Christian.
" In the morning congregations of this church,the
cream of the literary men and women of the city,
and the most expert critics and skeptics, make up
the majority of visitors. To properly benefit this
class of persons, the preacher must certainly be an
intelligent man—acquainted with all the various
doctrines and isms of infidelity, and how to handle
them with convincing scriptural arguments, capable
of counteracting them and captivating the reason¬
ing faculties of such persons, before these baneful
isms shall have deranged their souls beyond the
hope of recovery To speak without a figure, the
preacher must be able to present the plan of salva¬
tion to such men philosophically, logically and ir¬
refutably, or such people are not benefited, and for
the lack of which, many poor souls are led captive
by Satan to the gulf of misery, from whence no
traveler returns.
" If to meet this class of people was the only special
requisite, the preacher might have an easier task;
but this is not the case. At night there is a large
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