A P P E N D I X. maids unto divi~ity; by his ~nowledge i_n the_ whole body of theology, but mofl of all In the holy fcnptures, havmg h1s fenfes and heart exerci!ed in them above the common fort of believers; and by the illumination of God's fpirit, and other gifts of edification, which (together with read– ing and ftudying of the word), he ought ftill to feek by prayer, and an l1umbl~ heart, refolving to admit and receive any truth not yet attained, whenever God !hall make it known unto_him. All which he is to make ufe of, and improve in his private preparations, before he deliver in public what he bath provided. , Ordinarily, t-he fubject of his fermon is to be fame text of fcripture, holding forth fame principle or head of religion, or fuitable to fame fpe– cial occafion emergent; or he may go on in fo~e chapter, pfalm, or book of the holy fcripture, as he il1all fee fit. Let the introduction to his text be brief and perfpicuous, drawn from the text itfelf, or context, or fame parallel place, or general fentence of fcripture. If the text be long (as in hiftories and parables it fometimes mu rt be), let him give a brief fum of it; if !hart, a paraphrafe thereof, if need be: In both, looking diligently to the fcope of the text, and point– ing at the chief heads and grounds of doctrine, which he is to raife fcom it. In analyfing and dividing his text, he is to regard more the order of mat– ter, than of words; and neither to burden the memory of the hearers in the beginning with too many members of divifion, nor to trouble their minds with obfcure terms of art. In raifing doctrines from the text, his care ought to be, firfl, that tl1e matter be the truth of God. Secondly, that it be a truth contained in, or grounded on that text, that the hearers may difcern how God teach– eth it from thence. 'Thirdly, that he chiefly infifi: upon thofe doCtrines which are principally intended, and make moft for the edification of the hearers. The doctrine is to be exprelfed in plain terms; or, if any thing in it need explication, it is to be opened, and the confequence alfo from the text cleared. The parallel pla,es of fcripture confirming the doctrine, are ra– ther to be plain and pertinent, than many, and (if need be), fomewhat infifted upon, and applied to the purpofe in hand. The arguments and reafons are to be folid ; and as much as may be~ convincing. The illuftrations, of what kind foever, ought to be full of light, and fuch as may convey the truth into the hearers heart with fpi– ritual delight. I£
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