Chapter MDCCCXC

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ADVERTISEMENT.

My share in this book has been the writing of the brief introductory Memoir, with the exception of the pages relating to Regent Square and Willesden. These have been contributed by Mr. A. N. Macnicoll, who has also given me the benefit of his advice throughout. I have also to acknowledge the kindness of Principal Dykes, who has read the proofs, and of the friends who have, amid pressing engagements, enriched the volume with their reminiscences. The many correspondents who sent help of various kinds are warmly thanked. There was abundant material for a larger biography, and some of it will be utilised in another way. But it was thought desirable that the memorial volume should be issued at a moderate price, and that it should, so far as possible, consist of Professor Elmslie's own work.

W. R. N.

* * * * *

For the selections from Dr. Elmslie's sermons which are contained in this volume I am entirely responsible. These sermons were seldom fully written out, and some of them required considerable amplification. In every case the thought of the writer has been rigidly preserved, and the wording has been left, as far as possible, untouched. In cases where I have had the benefit of short-hand reports I have, with the slightest alteration, printed the sermons as they were delivered. Two "Sunday Readings" are reprinted from _Good Words_, and an article on Genesis from the _Contemporary Review_.

A. N. M.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

MEMOIR 1

SERMONS.

I. CHRIST AT THE DOOR 81

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."—REV. iii. 20.

II. THE DARK ENIGMA OF DEATH 92

ST. JOHN xi.

III. THE STORY OF DORCAS 108

ACTS ix. 36-43.

IV. UNFULFILLED CHRISTIAN WORK 118

"And unto the angel of the Church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God."—REV. iii. 1, 2.

Reading the last clause a little more literally will more fully bring out the meaning: "For I have found no works of thine fulfilled before my God."—R.V.

V. A LESSON IN CHRISTIAN HELP 133

"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the [en]∆feeble[d] knees; and make straight [smooth] paths for [with] your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed [or, in order that that which is lame may not be caused to go astray, but may rather be healed]."—HEB. xii. 12, 13.

VI. JOSEPH'S FAITH 149

(_Preached on Sunday Evening, October 20th, 1889, in St. John's Wood Presbyterian Church._)

"By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."—HEB. xi. 22.

VII. THE BRAZEN SERPENT 162

"He [Hezekiah] removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan."—2 KINGS xviii. 4.

VIII. THE GRADATIONS OF DOUBT 175

PSALM lxxiii.

IX. THE STORY OF QUEEN ESTHER 192

(_Preached in Balham Congregational Church, on Sunday Evening, August 11th, 1889._)

ESTHER iv. 13-17.

X. THE EXAMPLE OF THE PROPHETS 205

"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example."—JAMES v. 10.