not preach the doctrine of original fin, of Chrift's This leads me to exhort you, to preach plainly, or in a way that may be level to the capacities of the hearers, both as to fentiment and expreffior. God forbid, that I fhould defire you to rush into a pulpit without preparation, to preach in a disorderly method, or in a mean, flovenly, or indecent ftyle. All pains should be taken to seek ouş, fit and acceptable words." But there cannot. be a greater abfurdity in fpeaking to a multitude of common people, than to difcourfe in fuch a ftiff and abstract way, as it is plainly impoffible for them to comprehend. Nor is it any less abfurdity to dress up an harangue with exceffive ele gance, and a vain, ornamented foppery of style. Some difcourfes may very well be likened to painted windows, which, with fine colours upon themfelves, keep out the light, and make the house comfortless and dark. Such con duct is ordinarily followed by thofe, who would willingly recommend themfelves to perfons of better tafte; but it must evidently render them contemptible to every person of sound judgment. However, it is much worse than abfurd, for it is very wicked, when the everlasting falvation of finners is at flake, to speak in such a manner as they cannot understand, or fuch as tends only to amufe their fancy, and never can reach their hearts. If we would know what is a proper and just manner of style and compofition in preaching, let us confider how any man would speak, if he was on trial for his own life. Would he not speak with great plainnefs, carneftness and force? And is not the falvation of fouls of infinitely more moment than any man's life? And fhould it not, if we believe the Scriptures, be more regarded by every faithful minifter? You You must also take care to preach experimentally and particularly. You will foon find that this is the only profitable way of preaching, and that, unless you apply general truths to the feveral claffes and characters in your audience, they will make but a forry improvement of the best. inftruction. The ignorant cannot, and the wifer will not apply them to themfelves. Befides, the general way is not only ufelefs, but pernicious, and hurtful. Suppofe I fhould make an cncomium on the wife, juft, and gracious government of God over his rational creation, and obferve what reafon all have to rejoice under his adminiftration. Should I fay fo to this audience without diftinction, it would be to many a cangerous and ftupifying poison. A juft and holy God, is a confuming fire to all the workers of iniquity. Thofe who are ftill in their fins, fhould tremble to think of the government of God. Befides public preaching, you must be diligent among your people from houfe to houfe." You must not neglect family inftruction, and perfonal admonition or reproof. This is, if not the most useful part of a minifter's work, at leaft abfolutely neceffary to the fuccefs of his preaching. It is alfo by far the moft laborious part, from which flothful men are mcft apt to excufe themfelves. A man may gratify his vanity by preaching, and public performances; or, the negle being visible, he may be compelled to regularity by fear of reproach or prosecution. Bu diligence in private, can scarcely arise from any thing but a fenfe of duty, and of the prefence and obfervation of God. The exercife of difcipline is another part of your duty which must not be omitted. It is of very great moment to the intereft of religion. It is a faying of one of the first reformers, "They "that defire to banish difcipline, defire to banish "Chrift from, his church," There muft needs be offences in the Chriftian church. But when difcipline is neglected, then the offence becomes unfpeakably more dangerous, especially to the young and weak.. It makes them think lightly of the character and privileges of a Chriftian, when there is either a promifcuous admiffion to church-communion, or when openly wicked perfons are fuffered to continue without cenfure, When you come to inftruct young perfons, in order to renewing their baptifmal engagements in the Lord's fupper; or, if ever you have occafion to inftruct a heathen in order to baptifm, I can affure you, from experience, you will find the unhappy effect of the low state of discipline among us. It will immediately ftrike yourself, and these catechumens will foon betray, by their difcourfe, how hard it is to have a just sense of the fanctity of the Chriftian character, while so many profane perfons perfons are fuffered to be called Chriftians; and not a few whofe conduct is very exceptionables continue to be admitted at stated times, to the feals of God's covenant. How inexcufable are we in this neglect? If the first Chriftians, without the help or fanction of an establishment, kept fo ftrict a difcipline, what might we do, who have the countenance and approbation of the civil power. In difcipline then, be strict, regular, and impartial. Especially be impartial. It is commonly want of impartiality, that makes us fail in ftrictnefs. You will have many enemies to impartiality in discipline. You will have the great and wealthy, many of whom, though they live in open defiance of the laws and ordinances of Chrift, yet will be much offended, and complain of it as a grievous injury, if by a judicial fentence you deprive them of his name. Nay, you will find in every congregation fome profeffing piety, who, though they are well pleased with, and commend the strict exercife of difcipline in the cafe of others, yet when it comes to touch themselves, or their own relations, will use many arts to evade it. But if you be firm and unbiaffed in so good a caufe, it will have a fenfible effect. This leads me to exhort you in the whole of your work, public and private, to beware of the fin of man-pleafing. I do not fay, beware of popularity: |