But the preacher is commissioned to preach the Mighty Word. He has no license to expect that when his mouth is opened as the oracle of heaven and he begins somber intonation of the magic phrases from the upper story of the universe crowds will throng the temple gates. Nor is there any reason rooted in the history of his faith to think that when he mounts the pulpit, stripped of his humanity and decked in deity, his sonorous tones will gather the nations at the judgment seat or the mercy seat. He is called to speak the Word … that God forgives, and that in his forgiveness we can live.… He will
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