throughout the church, but not overftrained; appropriate to the feveral parts of the fervice, but free from affected emphasis; and that earnest and impreffive folemnity of manner which proves the heart of the Minister to be engaged in his employment, are qualifications of the highest importance. This remark must be extended to the recital of the baptifmal office, and of other fimilar parts of the book of common prayer; which are sometimes read with fo much hafte and irreverence as to lofe all appearance of being offices of religion.

With respect to the compofition (o) of fermons, the only observations proper to be fuggefted

(0) See Archbishop Secker's Third Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury; and Mr. Paley's Advice to the young Clergy of the Diocese of Carlifle. The conclufion of the following extract from the latter performance deferves particular attention. "I am far from re"fufing you the benefit of other men's labours; I only re"quire that they be called in, not to flatter lazinefs, but "to affift industry. You find yourfelf unable to furnish "a fermon every week; try to compofe one every month. Depend upon it, you will confult your own fatisfaction as well as the edification of your hearers; and that, however inferior your compofition may be to thofe of

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"others

gefted in this place are, that they should be plain, and that they fhould be Chriftian difcourfes.

A fermon which is above the capacity of the congregation to which it is addressed is ufelefs or disgusting. In almoft every congregation the poor and unlearned form by much the larger part; and, universally, the meaning of the preacher must be caught at once, or it is totally loft. Hence the peculiar neceffity of plainnefs in propounding the fubject to be difcuffed, and in the manner of treating it. Our rule therefore, while it requires, in difcourfes addreffed to ordinary congregations, a fimple and perfectly obvious arrangement, and, in most cases, the profeffed division of the subjects into a few general heads; profcribes the bewildering multiplicity of sub

"others in fome refpects, they will compenfate for many "defects by a clofer application to the ways and manners, "the actual thoughts, reasoning, and language, the errors, " doubts, prejudices and vices, the habits, characters and "propenfities of your congregation, than can be expected ❝ from borrowed difcourfes."

divifions, frequently deftitute of actual diftinction, which was common among eminent divines early in the prefent century; together with all long and complicated fentences, obfcure metaphors, refined ornaments of language and compofition, learned references to Pagan philofophers and Christian fathers, and prolix digreffions from the main topics fuggefted by the text. Let it not be faid, that the effect of a clofe obfervance of this rule would be to render fermons vulgar and unimpreffive. He, who conceives that fimplicity' of ftyle and language has any natural connection with feebleness and vulgarity, shews himfelf totally unacquainted with the fundamental principles of taste and excellence in writing. He, who folicitoufly feeks to diftinguish himfelf in the pulpit by a display of elegance of expreffion and profundity of learning, proves himself deficient in fome of the leading virtues which ought to characterise a Christian Minifter.

Again: Let not the fermons of a Minifter of the Gospel be moral treatises appealing chiefly to maxims of natural reason and abftract

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ftract ethical fpeculations, and neglecting the infpired precepts and the characteristic doctrines of Christianity. "We (p) have in fact "loft many of our people to fectaries, by not "preaching in a manner fufficiently evangeli"cal; and fhall neither recover them from "the extravagances into which they have 66 run, nor keep more.from going over to "them, but by returning to the right way, "and declaring all the counfel of God.". "Reflections (9) have been made upon us, of

"different natures and with different views

on account of these things, by Deifts, by "Papifts, by brethren of our own, which it "is easy to fhew have been much too fevere, "But the only complete vindication of our"felves will be to preach fully and frequently "the doctrines, which we are unjustly accused "of cafting off or undervaluing; yet so as to "referve always a due fhare of our discourses, "which it is generally reported fome of our "cenfurers do not, for the common duties of 66 common life, as did our Saviour and his

(p) Archbishop Secker's Charges, 3d edition, London, 1780, p. 299.

(9) Ibid. p. 237.

Apoftles.

Apoftles. But then we must enforce them chiefly by motives peculiarly Christian; I "will not fay only by fuch; for the Scrip"ture adds others."

The remarks already made concerning the reading of the liturgy are applicable to the delivery of fermons. And to them it may be added, that as preaching is that part of the public fervice in which the Minister is most liable to be enfnared by vanity and the defire of applause; it should be his uniform endeavour, that all perfonal confiderations be loft in a deep fenfe of the awful functions in which he is engaged.

Another very important branch of the duty of a Clergyman, yet one which, it is to be feared, is frequently neglected, is the private inftruction of his parishioners. Every Clergyman, at his ordination, folemnly promises to ufe towards those who shall be entrusted to his care, not only public but private monitions, as need fhall require, and occafion shall be given. The ufes of private inftruction are manifold; and its place is not to be fupplied by the moft

able