On the Manner of Ranging the Thoughts
1. Let the heads be distinct, not only in words, but in meaning. — Study to express them clearly, that the distinction may evidently appear; — when it is otherwise, the Sermon cannot be understood, well received, or tolera* bly remembered; — and the preacher himself, it will be supposed, has not fully understood his subject.
§ 2. Let them not be too numerous. — If they are, it will be difficult to keep them distinct. — It will also load the memory; — and impoverish the Sermon, — since, in that case, but very little can be said on every head; though the beauty, or the finest parts of n Sermon lie chiefly in the enlargement. — Sermons with a vast many heads are like the skeleton of a body; — or like the branches of a tree in winter wheo neither fruit nor leaves are lefl.
3. Have not too many subdivisions. — They soon confound the most attentive and intelligent hearers, that have not either a vast memory, or ai.pen. — Have commonly but one series of particulars under one general head mentioned by numbers; — and let those subordinate to them, come on as the enlargement j — <-
Lept 9.] tlANOING THB TBOUGSl^S. 59
where it is of great importance to be very exact ID ranging them; — «nd vrhere, in a well composed discourse, one head will often contain the stamina of a Sermon.
§ 4. Let the heads be expressed in a9 few Words as possible; — especially have some one leading word, if yon can, which may contain the principal sense.-r^If they must be connected with some longer sentence to make the sense complete, first mention them alone, then in their connection; — or if together, let the common part of the sentence be placed last, rather than first. Be contented to sacrifice something of the cadence and copiousness of your languuge to this greater concern. Other parts of a Sermon may sufficiently shew you do not this from a want of ability to do otherwise.
§ 5. Place them in a natural order, — that they may illustrate and introduce each other, — and that there may be a fair transition. — Avoid inverted climaxes, — c€Bt. par, let those heads on which you propose to bestow the greatest labour or ornament, or lay the greatest stress, be placed last.
§ 6. Avoid trite divisions- — especially of very common subjects, — as justification, sancti- ‘fication, adoption; — and the humiliation and exaltation of Christ; — his offices of Prophet, Priest and King; — proofs from reason and proofs from scripture* — This looks like common place, and may expose you to censure as a plagiary. — Yet I do not say that it must or can always be avoided; — only be cautious that these divisions do not grow too common; —
they give a discourse a very dull air.
§ 7. Have a variety of methods in different Sermons; — particularly when the subjects are, as they often must be, nearly thei same. 1 — Sometimes, let the text be the guide and ground work throughout — Sometimes having opejied it draw practical remarks from it. — Sometimes, take a topic of diversity, for which the text shall be the motto. — And in your application, sometimes address your hearers under their different characters; — and in this address, bring in your motives and directions. — Sonetimes, draw inferences; or make reflections: — and .at other times, let your whole discourse be applicatory; — persuasive, — or dissuasive, — and have no reflections or applications at all at the close; — or but a hint of what might have been introduced. § 8. Give the plan twice as briefly as possible, and the review. — This makes Tillot-SON so clear. — A few moments thus employed are well spent. — Let your bearers always percieve where you are; — and be upon your guard against long digressions.
§ 9. To secure all this, draw a very distinct skeleton. — Or you may draw two, with different degrees (pf exactness and fullness. — Sul>» mit a fair draft to the examination of a friend. — Review it attentively before you begin to compose; — remetpber that when this is well done, the Sermon is almost done; and a due care about it may be much better than transcribing the whole sermon twice; — though ihat also may be done where time will allow.