"SERMONS TJV—ANTS. 321 



upon my people's patience. Isn't that a pretty good 

 device to keep a garrulous old parson within bounds ?" 



The hearty laugh with which the Doctor put the ques- 

 tion sliowed how niucli he enjoyed the trick by which 

 he had tlanked the inlirniities of gathering years, and 

 held the interest of his auditors. A wise winner of souls 

 was lie ! 



But on this occasion the " copy-book " was left at 

 honij, and in simple words, delivered with quiet ear- 

 nestness and a tenderness that touched all and melted 

 many hearts, he held up to the people the great love of 

 the All-Father. The text was, " Yea, I have loved 

 thee witli an everlasting love.'- When it was announced, 

 the Calvanists in the congregation nudged each other, 

 and with significant nods of the head and brightened 

 eyes intimated that they expected a sermon upon 

 ''Electing Love," and heartily approved it. The Ar- 

 minians, on the other hand, ior the congregation w^as a 

 mixed one, bristled up, set their faces with a pugnacious 

 cast, and looked at the preacher with the tixed, hard 

 gaze of those who mean to hold fast their own opinions 

 against all comers. 



As the sermon advanced these countenances changed ; 

 lines of elation and approval, of combativeness and 

 dissent alike foded out, and the faces upturned toward 

 the pulpit wore a common look (varying with thepoints 

 of the discourse) of interest, assent, hope, religious joy. 



One might, perhaps, have found the Doctor's theo- 

 logical bent b}' slight logical soundings ; but it did not 

 so lie upon the surface as to mar the satisfaction of any 



