passes for truth. The question for us is--how shall we meet the
enemy with steel as highly tempered as his own?

Cicero embraces within the compass of three words the whole scope
of the orator.

_Docere_.--To instruct the intellects of his hearers.

_Placere_.--To use those varied arts and graces by which the
instruction is rendered palatable and agreeable.

_Movere_.--To move their wills to action.

The last function is by far the most important.

The preacher's triumph lies not in the conviction of the
intellect, nor in the approbation of the tastes, but in the
arousing of the wills of his hearers. The will is the goal-point
at which he aims from the beginning.

A doctor may persuade his patient that bitter medicine and active
exercise are necessary, but so long as the sick man lies on the
sofa and nods assent this barren conviction is of little profit.
When, however, the persuasion forces him to take a six-mile walk
and swallow the revolting draught, then, and only then, is
triumph secured. So a preacher may convince the habitual sinner
of the heinousness of sin; he may win his applause by the cogency
of his reasoning and the brilliancy of his style; but not till he
has moved his will to fling the old fetters to the winds, not
till he brings him a tearful penitent to the confessional, is his