ADVANTAGES TO THE CONGREGATION.--It is obvious that such a method of preaching would serve to remove many of the popular doubts and difficulties with the Bible which are at this day so greatly weakening its hold on the masses. It would enable the preacher to put before the people the results of modern historic, archæological, and geographical investigation which have thrown so great light on the Bible and so greatly confirm its truth. Such treatment of the Scriptures in the pulpit would also lead to a discriminating use of them, as well as familiarity with them, among the people It would necessarily develop the principles of interpretation, and thus educate the people in right methods of using the Bible, making it of far higher value to them. And, more than all, it would accustom Christians to rest their faith, not on the mere dogmas of the pulpit and the creed, but on the very words of God, and would furnish a basis of religious confidence which can never be shaken. The modern pulpit, from its neglect of the Bible, is singularly narrow, exhibiting little of the vast wealth and variety of Divine truth. It leaves by far the larger part of the Bible a sealed book. Its types, its poetry, its prophecies, its parables, its presentations, as in the Epistle to the Romans, of the truths of the Gospel in their connection as one grand, comprehensive system of salvation--how little of all this wealth of Scripture is presented in the pulpit! The result is, and must necessarily be, the absence of depth and fulness of Christian life in the church and the complaint of a loss of power in the pulpit. HINTS ON METHOD.--1. The pastor should select for exposition such parts of Scripture as are susceptible of intelligent explanation to a promiscuous congregation. The symbolic visions of Ezekiel and of Revelation might awaken curiosity, but except under extraordinary circumstances could hardly be profitable for such an exercise. 2. Divide the selected portion into sections, each sufficient for a sermon, and as far as possible let each have a single general topic. This secures unity in the discourse. For example, the first chapter of the Sermon on the Mount might be divided thus: I. Vs. 1-12. _The beatitudes:_ Happiness, its source not external, but internal; not material, but spiritual. II. Vs. 13-16. _Relation of the disciples to the world:_ Christians God's medium of saving influence and spiritual knowledge among men. III. Vs. 17-20. _Relation of Christ to the Old Testament:_ Christ not the destroyer, but the fulfiller, of the ancient law. IV. Vs. 21-48. _The law as interpreted by Christ:_ Sin, not in the overt act only, but also in the secret thought. 1st example (vs. 21-26): The law of murder. 2d example (vs. 27-32): The law of adultery. 3d example (vs. 33-37): The law respecting oaths. 4th example (vs. 38-48): The law of retaliation.