More Particular Rules on the Composition of a Sermon

§ 1! Take some previous time for devout meditation on your subject, — especially if it be devotional, as it generally will be. — Preach it over to your own souls. — Observe thoughts arising warm from the heart; — set them down with peculiar care, — as some of your greatest treasure. — If one view appear more affecting than another, make a proper memorandum ©fit.

§ 2. Choose to compose when you are in your best frame, — ccst, par* — Therefore take such time, that if you should be under any particular indisposition for study, or meet with any interruption in it, you may not be forced upon it, at so unfavourable a season.-But take care you do not too soon conclude yourselves incurably unfit; — the frame often mends. — Take notice what parts of the day you are most inclined and in the best frame to compose -and secure those hours to yourselves. — Generally early in the morning, — or late in the evening, — are the best time ;-unless you have an extraordinary command of retirement, — But let not the intermediate hours be lost.

§ 3. Begin the work with solemn address to God. — This will lay you in the way of his blessing and assistance; and will naturally have some good influence to awaken, con-

pose and encourage your soul; — it will direct your minds to right ends and views. — which. is a matter of vast importance. — Perhaps a form of prayer might not be improper for that purpose; yet varied with some particular.regard to your subject.*

* The following form was drawn up for this purpose by Dr. Doddridge in his younger years, and prefixed to his book of hints or skeletons of sermens: — /

‘< Blessed God! It is thoa that gavest me a rational soul, and upon thee do I depend entirely for the continuance of those caj)acitie8 with which thoa hast endowed me. I am .not sufficient of myself, so much as to think any thing as I ought, but all mj sufficiency is of thee.

‘’ I am now engaging in a work of singular importance, in which I would desire to be sensible of the need I (lave of thy gracious assistance. I beg that thou wilt command my attention to the affair before me. May no vain or intruding thoughts break in upon me to hinder a steady application to my business. Direct ‘ray mind to proper thoughts; and to the most agreeable manner of arranging and expressing them. And mav my heart be inflamed with pious affections; that divine truths coming warm from my own soul may mors easily penetrate into the souls of my hearers: May I remember that I am not to compose an harangue to acquire to myself the reputation of an eloquent orator; but that I am preparing food for precious and immortal souls; and dispensing that sacred gospel which my Redeemer brought from heaven, and sealed witn his blood. May I therefore sincerely endeavour to give my discourse the moft useful turn, and do thou direct me so to form it, as best to promote the great purpose of christian edification. ’

And grant, Olord, that I may recieve present refreshment to myself, and future edification from the study of those dijrine truths I am entering upon;

§ 4. When jast setting to the work, ask your* selves such questions as these, on a view of the scheme you have drawn up.

§ 5. 1. How shall the Sermon begin? — Let it not be always with mentioning the context, — though it may sometimes be allowed, or indeed necessary. — Use a variety of Exordia — Sometimes, by scripture stories, — sometimes, by quotations and allusions, — some-, times, by similes, — at others, by a weighty, laconic sentence, — and, sometimes, fall directly upon your subject — especially when it is so copious that you will be in danger of exceeding the time: — Endeavour, in this part of your Sermon, to awaken the attention ofybur auditory, — and raise their expectations, — but not too high. — Let it be always modest, — without any extraordinary flights; — and leave no room for suspicion, that it was composed merely to display the orator; — this will lead your hearers to dispute your sincerity .-Better walk than attempt to fly where your wings will not bear you. — ^If you have any invocation, let it be after your general division, — peculiarly appropriate, — and more frequently expressed as a wishthan as a direct prayer; — and so con-, trived, that it may intimate to the hearers what they ought to be concerned about iii attending to the discourse.

and may this be one of the most delightful employmentB of my life. While I am waterinp others may 1 be watered myself also; and bring forth daily more and more fruit, proportionable to the advantages which I enjoy, to the glory of thy great name and the improvement of my everlasting felicity, through Jesus Christ. Ainen.”

§ 6. 2. Does the text need expfrcation? — If it does, what explicationr?-^Do not make diP ficuities for the sake of removing them; — nor in a dull manner set yourselves, as Dr., Clarkb often does, to shew the various senses in whibh any word found inr the text is used in scripture; — unless it may, (as it sometimes will) furnishuseful thoughts. — When the difficulty is real, and especially where it is not touched upon hf commentators, — state, and remove it, in a few strong words. — Do not introduce the sentiments of various commentators, — they only confound; — nor a variety of readings and versions; — nor deviate from our own- without realnecessity; and when you do, fix upon the translation you thrnk the best, and drop the rest; — or at feast but briefly touch upon them, -=-and so as not to appear divided m your owft mind, and at a loss which to choose, lest it should produce some ill effect upon the audience, by leading them to suppose that the scriptare is an uncertain thing. When your text expresses some noble important sentiment, in a very forcible manner, you may make it the subject of the greater part of your discourse, without increasing any just blame. — Nothing dignifies a Sermon more than this plan, — nor does a greater honour to scripture. — Search the context for proper thoughts j — and, if there be any difficulties in the neighl)OurhoQd of it, endeavour to rtiustrate it by a few expressive and important words; — which,, to the more judicious of your hearers, must

LeCt/10.] COMPOSITION OF 4 SERMON. 65

appear to be an abstract of a much larger criti* cism in your own mind.

7^ 3. What passions are to be raised, — and what figures of iyeech are to be used? — Take care of misplaced oratory. -:~Take care not to mistake exclamation for raising the passions. — Much stronger, and yet softer machines must be used for this purpose. — If God be introduced speakkig, it must be in a few awful, and generally; scripture words.

§ 8. 4. What strain of preaching is most suited to the subject in general, and to select parts in particular? — When these are fixed, endeavour to recollect who are the greatest masters in these strains, and how they would have expressed themselves had they been in your place?

§ 9. 5. What regard to Christ and the Holy Spirit may property be introduced into this discourse? — Does it naturally lead to them? — If not, how may they last unnaturally be introduced or connected? — Sometimes for want of this question they have been too much forgotten.

10. 6. What quotations can properly be introduced from scripture ?^<GeneraJly, have one or two under each head, which may illustrate as much as possible its true sense. — In the application, some that are very pathetic should always be introduced. — The pathos of which ought to be illustrated from other writings, — particularly by remarkable thoughts, figures or laconic sentences which in your reading you have met with. For this purpose

M <LECTURB8 ON PREACHING.

often reriew your comraon-piace book, — and sometimes note down thoughts you design for this purpose in your book of schemes.

11. 7. What use can be made of my ac« quaintance with the world in this Sermon? — Have I made any observatious on it, — or seen any thing lately that may furnish me with an useful thought?

$12. 8. When shall I address the con* «cience? — Remember that the final application, reflections, or inferences are not the 011/5^ places in which to introduce your addresses to the converted and unconverted, — the ignorant, the careless, the luxurious and profane, — the moraiistand the hypocrite, — the wavering and irresolute, — the doubting, tempted, and dejected in spirit, — the backsliding, — the confirmed, zealous, and joyful; nor to the ag«d and the young, — the prosperous and afflicted — the rich and poor; — the healthy and infirm, — those who havfi lost friends, &c. &c. Represent to yourselves these and various cases, and Jet each he seasonably noticed.

§ 13. 9. What shall the conclusion be? — Do not leave off merely because you have nothing more to say; — be sure to close handsomely. — Frequently close, though not always, with a thought of consolation ^^-^at other times full of terror; and often with- graceful scripture. — Uaye some sprightly thoughts, if possible, at the conclusion of each head.

$14. Often recollect your character, and station in life. I am a man, and not a boy.-^ To crowd mj discourses with pueriU orna*

ments is like an academic, just from school. — * All I write m«ist be Judicioas, or it will be contemptible. — I am a servant of God, and not of the world, or of men. — I most approve myself to the Great God; — in all things I must promote his interest, and write and speak as in his presence; — and, to feel these sentiments more sensibly, rntermingle devout and deeply humble, though silent ejaculations while composing. — I am a minister of Christ, and not a deisl or heathen philosopher. — I am to preach the gospel, that gospel which Christ brought down from heaven, and died to confirm. — I am, in one sense, a successor of the apostles, — and* am engaged in carrying on the scheme in which they and their Lord were engaged. — Atn I a preacher among plain christians, not scholars, or courtiers? Let my Sermons be adapted to their capacities. — Imagine yourselves in the pulpit, and your congregation, around you, and sometimes preach over some Heads before you write them. — Lastly, I and my hearers are dying creatures. — I am, perhaps, composing my last Sermon, a Sermon which I may not live to deliver. — This method of recollecting yourselves will produce a genuine air of seriousness, profitable to yourselves and your hearers.

^15. Compose as much of your Sermon as you can at a sitting. — Choose to do this when you are in a good frame. — It will give a graceful freedom to your style,. — and whenou have prepared your materials, it will not be difficult to dispatch votir Sermon iq five or six hours.

16. If in the course of your compositioa you find your thoughts wander and droop, endeavour to revive them by holy ejacuktions. — Beg of God to bring by hb Spirit suitable scriptures to your remem brace — in order to help you to open doctrines clearly, to state them truly, and to apply them seriously. — lift knows what is in man, and can lead you to come at what you ought always most to seek, — the hearts of your hearers.

<J 17. Give your Sermons a very attentive and critical review. — Here, lop off excrescen-f ces, — divide sentences which are too long, — and if you can find time, transcribe the whole again. For this purpose begin soon enough; — let your general schemes be drawn up a week before hand. — Read and enrich your schemes by additional thoughts and conversation on Monday and Tuesday; — on Wednesday and Thursday compose your Sermon ;«>- and won Saturday review, and transcribe it — Practise this method seven years, and it will become natural and easy,