"skilful address of St. Paul to 66 66 Agrippa, and his most able opening of his sacred commission in "the heart of Athens! How did "both of those differ from his reproaches of the voluptuous Co"rinthians, and his keen irony at "their depreciation of his ministry! "How did all these differ from the abruptness and the cogency with "which he combats and remon"strates with the obstinacy and "refractoriness of the Judaizing "Christians! However unattainable "the excellent wisdom, and elo 66 66 quence of the Apostle, still the "same varieties of style and man"ner are absolutely necessary to "the effect of our instruction." Let the matter of your discourses be essentially Christian: let not the Gospel be found in the text only, but diffused throughout the whole sermon. Ground every precept on faith; and let all faith be tried by, and made conducive to practice. Acts xx. 20, Gal. v. 6. 21. 26, 27. In the choice of a text prefer such passages of Scripture, as are plain, and practical, and easy to be remembered; select these as much as possible, out of the Epistle, or Gospel, or Lessons of the day*; and take occasion in the course of your sermon to explain any diffiThe way before us lies Distinct with signs-through which, in fixed career, As through a zodiac, moves the ritual year Wordsworth's Ecclesiastical Sketches. culties of language or matter which may occur in the Service, and be likely to strike your people, and require explanation; this will shew an attention to their wants, and a care in preparing for the instruction of the Sabbath, which cannot fail to secure for you in return an attentive and affectionate audience. I would say, compose all your own sermons, did I not fear, that at the commencement of your ministry you will have scarcely leisure or ability for the composition of two sermons during the week: yet every week be careful to prepare one sermon, even if at the first you do not preach it; for the habit will not only secure an increasing readiness in composition, but act directly on the heart by withdrawing the thoughts and affections from the world, and fixing them for the time on heaven and heavenly objects. "We are ex"horted," remarks the same excellent Person already quoted, 66 to "divide the word of truth, which "should appear to be a personal "act. The act of preaching the "Gospel of Christ is necessarily "connected with the study of the Holy Scriptures. In order to 66 collect, arrange, and shape our "materials to any effective purpose, we must daily ransack and explore those holy books. We "shall conscientiously preach the "whole of them. We shall keep "back none of the counsel of God. "-The act of preaching will (thus) 66 66 present a perpetual motion and "incitement to this our bounden duty and service. It will impart "a marvellous activity to our la"bours and meditations. But it "cannot, I think be expected, particularly at a distance from theo 66 logical exertion, and in a separa"tion from learned men, that the 66 same motive for searching into "the treasures of Holy Writ can "exist in those who deliver the best "discourses composed by others, "as in those who constantly and "zealously divide the word of truth " for themselves." Always suppose your congregation before you, whilst you are engaged in composition, and you will write locally, intelligibly, and feel |