THE

CHRISTIAN PREACHER, &c.

DISCOURSE III.

OF PARTICULAR AND EXPERIMENTAL

PREACHING.

§ 1. Introduction. The complaint of preachers dwelling in generals, too well founded. § § 2. (I.) WHEREIN CONSISTS the happy kill of DIVIDING THE WORD ARIGHT. 1. In going through the variety of gospel fubjects. §3. Some err by neglecting to enforce holiness and chriftian duties. § 4. Others err by neglecting the doctrines of grace. § 5. 2. In putting a thought in several diftinct views for different purposes. § 6. An apoftolic inftance of it on the doctrine of juftification. § 7. Commonly fuch diftinct views are united in the fame paragraph; as election and fanctification, grace and works. § 8. Another inftance, where the fcripture fpeaks of power and duty. 9. Unfkilful preachers deal entirely in one of these, and neglect the other. § 10. 3. In diftinctly explaining and enforcing particular duties,

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duties, and oppofing particular fins. § 11. This illuftrated. § 12. 4. In particularly applying to the feveral cafes of the hearers. § 13. This inftanced in the prophets and apostles. As to men's knowledge and obedience. §14. They reprove and confute. § 15. Denounce woe to them at eafe. § 16. Lead convinced finners to Chrift. § 17. They reafon with the moralift. § 18. Rebuke and expofe hypocrites. § 19. Encourage the weak, and ftimulate the flothful. § 20. Deal tenderly, yet faithfully, with feveral forts of diftempered chriftians. § 21. Alarm the declining. 22. Awfully warn the falling. § 23. Comfort the perfecuted and afflicted. § 24. We have particular leffons for strong chriftians. § 25" And a fuitable portion for those who groan under corruption. § 26. The humble and penitent are comforted. 27. Those who want direction are counfelled. § 28. The deceiver and the deceived are diftinctly treated. § 29. And thofe under deJertion, though the inftances in primitive times are few, have proper hints given them. § 30. The Puritan writers recommended. § 31. The neceffity of applying to particular cafes further urged and illuftrated. § 32. (II.) How this valuable skill may be ATTAINED. 1. Study your own hearts, and preach over the ruder sketches of your fermons

to

may

to yourselves. 33. 2. Converfe freely with ferious people. 34. To this the politer part be backward; but, § 35. The difficulty may be in a measure obviated. § 36. 3. Have an eye upon ferious youth. § 37. 4. Cultivate fpiritual intimacy with more advanced chriftians. § 38. 5. Diftribute, in your thoughts, your people into claffes. § 39. 6. Study the most popular and experimental authors with this view. § 40. Con

clufion.

§ 1. RIghtly

to divide the word of truth is the neceffary care of a minister, if he would be "approved of God, and be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”* And it is a skill worth studying for, and labouring to attain: our success. and the good of fouls, depend upon it more than is commonly imagined.

No doubt you may have heard many honest people exprefs their diffatisfaction with fome preachers, in fuch terms as these :-'They go on constantly in a general way, that does not come close to the heart, reaches not my cafe and experience, and I am not edified by them.' Their complaint is not altogether without meaning or

reason, as I hope you will be convinced by and by.

§ 2. (I.) To keep a little in view that paffage of fcripture I have mentioned, DIVIDING THE WORD may mean these four things:- 1. Going through the variety of gospel fubjects: declaring the whole counfel of God, the doctrines of grace, threatenings, promises, and the duties of morality; and giving each its due proportion.

§3. Some, finding their thoughts flow most readily and affectionately on the doctrines of grace, and that by these they best command the affections of the hearers, are altogether upon them; and neglet to teach the people to obferve what Christ has commanded them. I bear many of them witness they have a zeal for God, but I wish it were more according to knowledge. They do not fufficiently confider, that holiness is the very design of chriftianity; and our preaching on other heads is in order the better to enforce duty, and render men like to Chrift.

I am afraid, from what I have obferved, that this ftrain of preaching will increase the number of thofe hearers, whom our Saviour defcribes by the "ftony ground," in the parable of the fower; namely, fuch who, though full of notions and tranfient affections, and forward in profeffing, yet

have an unfubdued will, no root in themselves,

and bring forth no fruit to God. This ftrain, I fear, though it may seem to bring many toward Chrift, will bring but few fafely to him. Many of their hearers, with Chrift much in their mouths, will prove but hypocrites fettled on their lees, and flaves to luft. Nor is this ftrain more happy for the uniform growth of the fincere christian. They that fit under it are too frequently low, imperfect, and partial in practical godliness; diftempered with conceit and prepofterous zeal for words and phrafes, and things of little or no confequence; perplexed and perplexing others with a thousand groundless scruples; children in understanding, and it were happy were they fo in malice too; but alas! their narrownefs of mind infects the heart with uncharitable affections.

4. Others having not arrived at the relish of the doctrines of grace themselves, fupprefs them in their preaching, and are altogether on morality; enforcing it with no motives of the gospel, except fome of thofe addreffed to fear. Thefe, if they are mafters of much fire, may be convincing to fome; but it fares with most of their converts as with the man in the parable, out of whom the unclean spirit went for a while, who, finding his houfe empty, returned with feven more; and the

latter