At His Elbow

The story is told (in Hay and Belfrage's Memoir of the late Alexander Waugh, D.D.) that the noted skeptic David Hume was once prevailed upon to attend a pair of sermons. The first was preached by a young minister, whose eloquence was undeniable; the second by the elderly and famous John Brown of Haddington. Hume is reported to have said to a friend afterwards, "The first preacher spoke as if he did not believe what he said; the latter as if he was conscious that the Son of God stood at his elbow." The testimony of Hume rings true: "at his elbow." So should a minister preach, so should a Christian live.