III.—Make your hearers conscious of the supernatural.
“Sir,” said the woman, “I perceive thou art a prophet.” And this we can all do. We can every one be on such terms with heaven as to make those who listen to us know that we hold commerce with the skies. We may not be eloquent or learned, but we may be prayerful and impassioned. Preaching is unlike all other kinds of speaking. We have no business in the pulpit except when under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost. We knew a man who, for some years of his ministry, was dull and unpractical, but there came upon him a baptism of power, and then we heard his preaching described as “white heat.” Why should not this be in every one of us? It is not possible for us to be alike, nor is it desirable, but we may all make
our hearers say, “This man comes from God. His prayers and his preaching convince us that he is owned by the God of Elijah.”