20. Though the diligent reading of the fcriptures themselves, even the inspired writings of the prophets and apoftles, and the very words of our Saviour Chrift, fhould be chiefly recommended, as they are undoubtedly far preferable to any books of mere human compofure; yet, befides these, a minifter may very profitably recommend to his hearers fome other good books of religion, both an cient and modern, to be read by them at home, in their own closets or families; fuch books, I mean, as are written in a truly evangelical ftrain, and with a spirit of lively devotion and piety, which would be no inconfiderable means, both of preserving and nourishing the fire of divine love in their hearts. I might mention, by way of inftance, MARTIN STATIUS's Lutherus Redivivus, which is nothing else but an abridgment of Luther's works, in which the moft confiderable paffages are collected into a narrow compass, and fuch paffages, more especially, as have the moft direct and powerful tendency to awaken, and to excite the minds of men to lively, practical religion. However, I mention this but as one inftance, out of a great many very excellent and useful books, with which the providence of God has now furnished his church, and which we ought to account as a precious treasure to it..

$21.

§ 21. And further, let not any minifter think that it is the people only who are to be profited in their fouls by reading fuch good books, while all the use that he is concerned to make of them for himself, is only to form his ftile by reading them, or to borrow thoughts from them, or, it may be, to fteal fermons out of them, (which is fhamefully the practice of too many preachers) but he should read them, chiefly and in the firft place, with a view to his own fpiritual edification. He fhould endeavour fo to use and improve the gifts, which God has bestowed on other men, as that his own foul may be the better for them, as well as the fouls of the people to whom he preaches.

22. Once more, let faithful ministers by no means forget to recommend it to their hearers, that they would familiarly acquaint themselves and con verse with serious, lively, and growing chriftians, and with such more especially as excel in the gift and fpirit of prayer; for as a live coal kindles another that is cold and dead, fo will the favoury discourse, the fervent prayers, and the holy conversation of warm and lively chriftians, be a probable means of kindling the fame fire of divine love in the fouls of dead finners; or, at leaft, of nourishing and improving the facred flame in the hearts of their more intimate chriftian friends. Minifters fhould there

fore

fore do all they can to promote such chriftian converfation, amongst the more ferious part of their hearers: obferving, however, the rules of neceffary prudence, particularly that of the apoftle, "Let all things be done decently and in order."* They fhould exhort them, as St. Paul does the Coloffians, "Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging with grace in your hearts unto the Lord: to which pious purpose, that large and rich treasure of facred hymns, both ancient and modern, with which God has graciously blessed his church, is not a little conducive, for which therefore we are bound to render him immortal praises.

§ 23. Thus I have briefly answered your question, $23. and given you my thoughts on the most useful way of preaching. May God, for Chrift's fake, attend what I have written with his effectual bleffing. To him I would now offer up the following prayer. .." O Lord God! give, I befeech thee, both now and at all times hereafter, to thy church, paftors and teachers after thy own heart, even fuch as fhall bring the sheep of Chrift into his fold, and who, through the influence of thy good Spirit, fhall feed them with faving knowledge and understanding. Make

Make every preacher of thy word to know and afways to remember, that neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but thou art all in all, who alone canft give the increase. Let none of them vainly presume on their own skill and ability to do, any good by their preaching, and obtain any good fuccefs; but let them all humbly wait upon thee, and by fervent daily prayer let them feek for and obtain the aids of thy grace, to enable them to difpenfe the word of life; and let thy bleffing render their preaching happily fuccefsful to the fouls of those that hear them. Amen."

THE

THE

CHRISTIAN PREACHER, &c.

DISCOURSE V.

RULES OF CONDUCT.

VATE STUDIES.

§ 1. Introduction. The fubje&t ftated. § 2. (I.) Take heed to your PERSONAL RELIGION. § 3. As to its reality and evidence, liveliness and power, growth and increafe. § 4. Which will have many happy effects. § 5. (II.) Take heed to your PRI1. General Studies. § 6. 2. Particular ftudies. § 7. Particular rules in preparatory ftudies. 1. In choofing a text. § 8. 2. In handling a text. § 9. 3. In Speaking of the things of God. § 10. Of duties. § 11. Of grace. 12-16. The gospel is the only effectual means of falvation. 17. 4. Distinguish the different characters of hearers. § 18. 5. Teach them to build their faith on folid grounds. § 19. 6. In every fermon bring fome thing practical. § 20. 7. Impofe nothing on them but what Chrift hath impofed. 21. 8. Remember you have to do with each of the human faculties. The understanding, and

22. The reafoning powers. § 23. The

ima