VITAL PREACHING
By Sidney M. Berry This little book (Independent Press, 3s. 6d.), by one of the most eminent preachers of the day, consists of lectures recently given in Scotland. It is distinguished by a pleasing modesty ; for Dr. Berry, though no Sabbath-drawler of old saws,"
would rather deliver a " poor " sermon which gets home than an eloquent oration which, as he puts it, preaches himself rather than Christ. He is like that minister who, when told that he had preached a fine sermon, replied, "That's just what the Devil told me in the pulpit." Nevertheless, there is no reason why an ordered and well-delivered discourse should not, on the average, do more good than one that is stuttering and ill-arranged ; and there is here much wise and soand advice for those who wish to master the important and difficult art of preaching. Much of this advice is based on the experi- ence and the theory not only of Dr. Berry himself but of great preachers of the past; especially—a good choice—Dr. Dale of Birmingham, whose admirable Yale Lectures one would guess to have been in Dr. Berry's mind when he was writing the book. Space forbids giving many examples ; but we cannot refrain from alluding to Dr. Berry's insistence on ,the fact that, on the whole, a good pastor will also be an effective preacher. A man must .know his audience before he can speak to it with acceptance. . .
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