modating the whole to the circumstances of his own auditory, and making such additions as the case may seem to require. This practice of abridging standard works will have great effect in making him what Lord Bacon calls "a full man ;" and discourses thus composed will particularly interest the judicious and thinking part of an auditory. The second sermon may be founded upon a general outline or skeleton chalked out by some other person; in filling up which with valuable and appropriate matter, a young clergyman's knowledge of Scripture and divinity will be powerfully brought into action. Let the third be strictly his own, both in the original plan and in the composition; reserving however to himself the right, as in the former cases, of procuring valuable assistance wherever it is to be found. Such a varied mode, patiently and conscientiously persisted in, would greatly conduce to the professional respectability of a young divine, and to the spiritual improvement of his flock.

It is of great importance for the promotion of scriptural knowledge, and for impressing sacred truth upon the heart, that the sermons of the clergy should be well wrought out and filled up. Many persons, after forming an excellent analysis, take little or no pains to collect valuable materials under each division.

They

sketch well, but finish nothing; so that though the hearer is made conversant with a few naked positions, he is not led beyond these barren generalities to a deep and intimate acquaintance with the particulars either of doctrine or duty. Bishop Jeremy Taylor has justly cautioned the clergy against this defect: "Do not spend your sermons," he says, "in general and indefinite things; as in exhortations to the people to get Christ, to be united to Christ, and things of the like unlimited signification; but tell them in every duty, what are the measures, what circumstances, what instruments, and what is the particular minute meaning of every general advice. For generals not explicated do but fill the people's heads with empty notions, and their mouths with perpetual unintelligible talk; but their hearts remain empty, and themselves are not edified."

A variety of other practical observations might be made under this head. The author will however only add, that affection, intelligibility, and, above all," a spirit of devotion," are necessary to render the sermons of the clergy useful in bringing sinners to repentance, and in building up the sincere believer in the doctrines and duties of his profession. "The character of his sermons," says Herbert, speaking of a pious and exemplary pastor, "is holiness: he

is not witty, or learned, or eloquent-but holy." The doctrine of the clergy should "distil as the dew" it should flow from a soul matured in sacred subjects, like the first spontaneous juice of the vintage, with a richness and raciness far different from the hard-pressed and reluctant distillations of a crude and perfunctory divinity.

There is yet another remark respecting preaching which the author feels inclined to make, because he thinks the more frequent adoption of the practice to which it refers would be of great practical utility: he means the frequent substitution of expository lectures, either catechetical or biblical, in the place of those more regular compositions which we denominate sermons. The usual method, in modern discourses, is to select a single verse of Scripture, either by way of motto to a given subject, or for the purpose of furnishing one. This mode of preaching has certainly many advantages, and is especially useful to present a full and enlarged view of any particular topic, with all the arguments, objections, difficulties, solutions, and other logical phenomena which arise out of it. But, after all, the great majority of hearers comprehend scarcely any thing of the general argument, and carry away little more than a few striking remarks dissevered

from their context. But the expository method makes them acquainted with a larger portion of the sacred text in its bearings and connexion, while it gives occasion for such plain and intelligible remarks as are likely to be both understood and remembered. The practice of the early church is well known. Dr. Cave remarks respecting it, that "Sermons in those times were nothing else but expositions of some part of the Scriptures which had been read before, and exhortations to the people to obey the doctrine contained in them; and commonly were upon the lesson which was last read, because that being freshest in the people's memory, was most proper to be treated of, as St. Austin both avers the custom and gives the reason." Bishop Burnet strongly recommends a more frequent adoption of this practice. "Long sermons," he observes, " in which points of divinity or morality are regularly handled, are above the capacity of the people : short and plain ones upon large portions of Scripture would be better hearkened to, and have a much better effect; and they would make the hearers understand and love the Scriptures more." This testimony the author believes to be perfectly correct, as respects both educated and uneducated persons. It is true that expository compositions do not admit of

that elaborate and artificial style, either of argument or of diction, which often characterizes more set discourses; but, in reality, they require greater learning of a variety of kinds, and particularly greater biblical knowledge, than a mere semi-moral semi-theological essay. Where a clergyman feels inclined to introduce a second sermon in a parish which has hitherto enjoyed the benefit of only one, an expository lecture, either catechetical or biblical, is peculiarly worthy of adoption; especially as, while it has the advantage of varying a minister's own labours, it can scarcely fail of proving interesting and beneficial to his people.

The most useful and valuable discourses will however lose much of their effect, unless accompanied by a suitable delivery in the pulpit. Unhappily the study of elocution is not only unprovided for in the preparatory exercises of candidates for orders *, but even labours under a considerable degree of reproach which it by no means deserves. Hence it has become almost a proverb, that the English Clergy are the best writers of sermons and the worst readers of them

It were to be wished that our universities devoted more attention to this useful accomplishment; and that a Professorship of Elocution were appointed for the purpose of instructing the students to read with propriety and impressive

ness.