He lacks sense who broods over the past. 1751 _2 Kings x, 16._--"Jehu said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord." John Fox, the author of the "Book of Martyrs," was once met by a woman who showed him a book she was carrying, and said, "See you not that I am going to a sermon?" The good man replied, "If you will be ruled by me, go home, for you will do little good to-day at church." "When, then," asked she, "would you counsel me to go?" His reply was, "When you tell no one beforehand." 1752 A CRUSHING ARGUMENT AGAINST MANUSCRIPT SERMONS. A clergyman thought his people were making rather an unconscionable objection to his using a manuscript in delivering a sermon. They urged, "What gars ye tak' up your bit papers to the pu'pit?" He replied "that it was best, for really he could not remember his sermons, and he must have the paper." "Weel, weel, minister, then dinna expect that _we_ can remember them." 1753 PREACHING. A leading Welsh minister--and Welsh ministers are, I think, among the best preachers--was invited to preach an anniversary sermon before one of the great societies in London. Naturally anxious to disregard no propriety, he consulted the proper authority, the secretary. "Should I read my sermon?" "Oh, it is no matter, only bring some of your Welsh fire with you." "But you cannot, my dear sir, carry fire on paper." "No, that is true; but you may use the paper to kindle the fire." --_Rev. John Hall._ 1754 A SCOTCH PREACHER. The Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, rose from a poor shepherd boy to become a distinguished minister, and afterwards a celebrated professor, author of the "Self-Interpreting Bible," and many other works. Robert Turnbull said of him in one of his books:--"When a poor shepherd boy, he conceived the idea of learning Latin and Greek, and having procured a few old books, actually accomplished the task, while tending his cattle on the hills. So successful was he that some of the old and superstitious people in the neighborhood concluded that he must have been assisted by 'the evil spirit.' On one occasion he went to Edinburgh, plaided and barefoot, walked into a bookseller's shop, and asked for a Greek Testament. 'What are you going to do with a Greek Testament?' said the bookseller. 'Read it,' was the prompt reply. 'Read it!' exclaimed the sceptical bookseller with a smile; 'ye may have it for nothing if ye'll read it.' Taking the book, he quietly read off a few verses, and gave the translation; on which he was permitted to carry off the Greek Testament in triumph." --_Rob't Turnbull._ 1755 THE BEST SERMONS. If we would give ourselves only half an hour's reflection at the close of every day, we would preach to ourselves the best sermons that could be uttered every week. 1756 Oh ponder well! be not severe! --_Unknown._ 1757