With  proper  allowance  for  differences  of  topic  and  of  aims,
what  has  been  said  of  Mr.  Milburn's  sermons  is  true  also  of  his
lectures.  They  are  written  not  ovl\j  for  the  ear,  but,  so  to  speak,
"by  the  ear.  And  this  is  one  secret,  doubtless,  of  their  eminent  suc-
cess. The  popular  lecture  is  not  an  essay,  slowly  developing  its
lines  of  thought  from  a  central  point  in  careful  and  strictly  logi-
cal concatenation,  admitting,  and  often  requiring,  deliberate  and
repeated  reading  to  get  at  its  harmonious  connections,  or,  if  it  be
of  the  lighter  sort,  to  appreciate  its  delicate  turns  of  thought  and
niceties  of  phrase.  It  aims  rather  to  give  broad  views  that  may
be  apprehended  by  the  liearer  as  they  fall  from  the  lips  of  the
speaker;  to  afford  "ready-made  instruction  ;"  to  stir  up  the  hear-

*  The  Toiifnie  of  Fire,  p.  822,


INTRODUCTION.  XXl

er's  mind  to  quick  yet  not  laborious  activity — an  activity  that
sliall  cheer  and  enliven  the  intellect,  rather  than  weary  it.  Not
that  it  is  to  be  barren  of  thought:  its  range  may  be  as  wide
and  varied,  its  reach  even  may  be  as  profound  as  you  please,  but
it  must  convey  thought  by  strokes,  rather  than  by  elaboration  ;
it  must  tell  a  history  by  pictures,  rather  than  by  connected  nar-
rative ;  its  logic  must  be  that  of  analogy  and  illustration,  rather
than  of  obvious  syllogism ;  its  ethical  teaching  must  be  implied,
rather  than  direct.
