Lectures on Preaching and the Several Branches of the Ministerial Office

1. Gentlemen, you have devoted yourseflves to the work of the Ministry, and it is the main thing you have in view, in the course of your present studies; other things are tak« en in only as subservient to this. — You well know it consists of several branches. The first on which you enter is Preaching, which, though not the only, is one of the most important parts of a minister’s duty. — Preaching requires genius, application and the divine blessing. — Of the former, few who are capable of academical studies are entirely destitute. — Nor is any great height of genius necessary. — The latter with a good intention and pious conduct may be expected. — Diligence, therefore, is generally the main thing wanting; yet this under a wrong conduct may turn to little account. — To prevent which the following advices are designed, recommending the success to the Spirit of God.

§ 2. In these lectures I shall give some general directions as to the method to be used in order to furnish yourselves for, and make jou ready in the work, (£icc I.) Consider the character of the best practical writers in our language, (Led. 2 — 4.) Give some advice as to the composition of sermons. {Led. 5 — 10.) Offer some thoughts on the most proper method of delivery, (Led, 11.) Add several miscellaneous remarks which will not properly fall under any of these heads, {Led, 12.) Propose a few’directions for prayer, (Led, 13*) Call your attention to the important duty of public exposition, (Led, 14’ — 16.) Then offer some directions on catechising, {Led. 17. 18.) On administering the ordinance of baptism, {Led. 19.) and the Lords Supper, {Led. 20.) On visiting in general, and the sick in particular, {Led. 21. 22.) I shall then give you some general maxims for conversation, {Led, 23.) Rules for conduct towards particular persons, {Led. 24.) And on behavior to other ministers, with a few miscellaneous concluding remarks, {Led. 25.)

§ 3. I shall begin with some general direc” lions to furnish you for the work of the ministry, and prepare you for the exercise of its functions.

4. 1. See to it that there be a foundation of sincere piety laid in yourselves, or else there is but little prospect of your being useful or acceptable to others. — Be therefore firmly resolved to devote yourselves to God, and do it solemnly.

LeCt. l.J INTRODUCTION.. 9

§5. 2. Keep up a strict course of walking with God Be constant, diligent, and lively in secret prayer. — Maintain an habitual sense of the divine presence. — Be much in the exercise of ejaculatory devotion.^So you will learn to speak out of the fullness of the heart.^ — Seize every opportunity of increasing in piety.

§ 4. 3. Cultivate a tender love to souls. This will make you eloquent. — Therefore guard against every thing that tends to alienate your affections. — By pride cometh contention; therefore ‘practise a yielding, submissive and obliging temper. An unreasonable stiffness in little matters will do unspeakable mischief. — I almost tremble to see it in any designed for the ministry. — I foresee in it the confusion of congregations, and the ruin of your character and usefulness.

§ 7. 4. Cultivate an extensive and candid acquaintance with the world. Things are much as we make them. In almost all imaginable circumstances some things may be found to be despised; some things to be admired, and delighted in. — Take heed of immuring yourselves too much in your studies. — Think not the time lost which is spent out of them. — Despise not common christians — free converse with them may be attended with many good consequences; more particularly,

^.8. (1.) It will increase your stock of knowledge. Acquaintance with the hearts of men is very desirable — and it will be better learnt by converse, as anatomy is better learnt by dissection than by books alone. — You will 10 LECTURES ON PREACHING.

find many good thoughts started by them — they will be like rough diamonds, which; if well polished, you may with advantage set in your sermons.

§ 9. (2.) It will awaken your own spirits. —

As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” £zperi>- ence often proves this. — Lord’s day evening’s conversation is sometimes particularly sweet and refreshing,-We shall find that time thus spent will not be lost, but will abundantl y re — pay itself.

^10. (3.) It will conciliate respect among them. An accessible temper is, in most cases, respected and loved — especially in per«» sons of high reputation and great employ.

§ 11. (4.) It will form you to an experimental strain of preaching, which will b very suitable to spiritual persons — and will’ give an air of wisdom natural and unaffected. “A wise msn,” says Confucius, “must learn to know the hearts of men; that taking every man according to his own inclination, he may not labor in vain when he shall discourse to him of virtue.”*

§ 12. (5. ) Form an acquaintance with the best authors, but especially the Scriptures; they are the grand magazine — Study them continually. — Get an interleaved Greek Testament, if possible Wetstein’s. — Read other books also with care. — Collect some ‘of the most valuable; — ?for instance, Evans’s Chris*

Confueiuf^M MoraU, p. 129.

tian temper, Berry-street Lectures, &.c. d&c.

§ 13. (6.) Take brief notes of sermons you hear. — Review them in your retirement. Transcribe them, and add memorandums of your own thoughts and reflections upon them as you go along. — Painting and carving are learnt by imitation, and by observing the defects as well as the beauties of great masters.

14. (7.) Keep, and endeavour daily to improve your common-place book. — Have note books added to it. Write schemes of sermons in different degrees of perfection. — Keep a little book for hints on various subjects as they comeinto your mind. Keep another book for schemes that are perfect, and here insert scriptures under the proper heads in the order you intend to usa them in composing. — :And when you read a book, consider how far it may help you as to scriptures, sermons, common-place book, conversation, prayer, and the like.

§ 15. (8.) Be daily endeavouring to form a good style and address, which is done by insensible degrees. — Never think it too soon, or too late to attain it. — Use yourselves therefore to various kinds of composition; at first review them with great diligence and eyactness. — Submit them to the review of a friend. Look them over afterwards at some distance of time. — Often read aloud, but in as unaffected a manner as possible. “Elegance in a sermon,” says Boyle, ‘^ is like a golden frame about a looking glass; it would be foolish to iBet up the frame alone, or look only upon that but yet it may serve to attract the eye, and prove the occasion of discovering some defect which would have been otherwise unobserved.’’ § 16. (9.) Look up daily to God, that he may give you more wisdom, and advance you in every necessary gift and grace; which he will do, if his glory be simply and sincerely intended in your work, and if you accustom yourselves to rise gradually more and- more above the views of interest and human applause. Mankind are taken with little things. — Have a firm persuasion in your own minds of the importance of the work, and what depends on your right management of it. The honour of God, the glory of the gospel, and good of souls are no small trust. — Consider yourselves, then ,. charged with God’s business, and you will have reason to believe God will be with you.

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