PREFACE. 66 EDWARD IRVING published four discourses under the title of "Orations," giving as the reason that the very word sermon " was indicative of dullness. We send forth these homely selections from our sermons, preludes, and Friday night talks under the title of "Sanctified Spice," because we believe that brightness, sarcasm and wit have a rightful place in the pulpit. Short sermons are insisted on by the taste of the day. Why this impatience of preaching? Is it not because sermons lack the things that glow, brighten, convince, subdue-"thoughts that breathe and words that burn"? There may be some things in these pages that will cause you to smile. I have yet to learn that it is a greater sin to smile than to sleep in church, or that sinners will be attracted if the countenance be somber and the voice sepulchral. When we stand up in the pulpit we too often change our voices, and drone, cant, moan, croak and funeralize re |