It is obvious that in public prayer a spirit imbued with Divine influences is higher than all rules; it instinctively recognizes the true proprieties of prayer; and this, therefore, is chiefly to be sought. Nor do I forget that the mental and spiritual idiosyncrasies of the man must here, as in preaching, largely influence the manner, and may sometimes justify in one what in another would be offensive. But success in this service is so vital to the interest of public worship, while failure is so frequent, that a pastor should exercise constant self-scrutiny, often reviewing his prayers to detect their defects, and often timing them so as to know their length. The young pastor, especially, should select some judicious, confidential friend in his congregation who will faithfully point out defects, and should thus, by a rigid process of self-discipline, secure at the outset of his ministry right habits of prayer. For then while body and mind are yet plastic, the power of a false habit may be broken, and the man may be molded anew; but a few years' persistence will fix the habit beyond possible change, and ensure its weakening, perhaps fatal, power through life. V. PREACHING. Christ is the one great theme of the pulpit; around this all other themes gather as to their center and end. Paul said: "We preach Christ crucified" (1 Cor. i. 23). He states the message of the ministry: "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. v. 19-21). All true preaching, therefore, however wide the range of its topics, has a real relation to Christ; and no topic is fit for the pulpit which does not lead to Him. The themes of the preacher are essentially the same in all ages, for the human heart, in its depravity and needs, does not change with changing years; and God's remedy, the simple, primitive Gospel, remains ever the same. The facts, the doctrines, the duties, the promises, the threatenings, of the Bible are the subjects for the pulpit; none are needed beyond those supplied in God's Word. The effective preachers in all ages have adhered to the same great truths; they have differed only in modes of illustrating and applying them. The idiosyncrasies of the preacher and the circumstances of his times necessarily modify the form of presentation, but the subject-matter of the ministerial message is unchangeable. SERMONS.