" far from seeming low, that it would give "most discourses that force and beauty "which they generally want; fince the "hearers can never be instructed or per" fuaded in the mysteries of religion, if you " do not trace things back to their fource. " For example-How can you make " them understand what the church says, "after St. Paul, that Jesus Christ is our PASSOVER, if you do not explain to "them the Jewish Passover, which was "appointed to be a perpetual memorial of " their deliverance from Egypt, and to ty"pify a more important redemption, that " was referved for Meffiah ? " Almost every thing in religion is hif"torical. The best way of proving it's "truth, is to represent it justly; for then "it carries it's own evidence along with "it. A coherent view of the chief facts " relative to any person, or transaction, " should a 3 " should be given in a concise, lively, close, " pathetic manner, accompanied with fuch " moral reflections as arise from the several "circumstances, and may best instruct the "hearers. "A preacher ought to affect people by " strong images; but it is from the Scrip" ture that he should learn to make power" ful impreffions. There he may clearly " discover the way to render fermons plain " and popular, without lofing the force " and dignity they ought always to poffefs. "If the clergy applied themselves to " this mode of teaching, we should then " have two different forts of preachers. " They who are not endowed with a great " share of vivacity, would explain the " Scripture clearly, without imitating it's " lively and animated manner; and if they " expounded the word of God judicioufly, " and supported their doctrine by an ex “ emplary "emplary life, they would be very good " preachers. They would employ what "St. Ambrose requires, a chaste, fimple, " clear style, full of weight and gravity, " without affecting elegance, or despising "the smoothness and graces of language. "The other fort, being of a poetical turn " of mind, would explain the holy book " in it's own style and figures; and by that " means become accomplished preachers. "The former would instruct their hearers " with folidity and perfpicuity; the latter " would add to this instruction the fublimity, the vehemence, and divine enthusiasm " of the Scripture, which would be (if I may so say) entire and living in them, as "much as it can be in men, who are not " miraculoufly inspired from above." This, Reader, is the model which I have chofen, and after which I have humbly endeavoured to work. I count not myself to have attained-Far, very far indeed from a 4 ter. from it; as you will too foon discover. I have not yet been able by any means to fatisfy myself; nor can I hope to fatisfy you. I have done as well as I could; and know not that it will be in my power to do betNobler and more extensive ideas rise before me; but planning and executing are very different things. Time hastens forward; and life, attended with it's cares, perhaps it's forrows, will quickly have run it's course. Accept such as I can give, and pardon errors and imperfections. I stand at the door of the temple, with my torch. If you would view it's glories, enter in, and there dwell for ever. CONTENTS. And God faid, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cat- tle, and over all the earth, and over every Preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's, June 9, 1771. 1 |