preacher, but all that has the air of originality must be tried by the unerring touchstone of fundamental doctrines, or the new light will be dangerous and deceptive in proportion to its brilliancy, and even truth itself will have a ghastly aspect in its glare.

The reader of the following specimens of Mr. Rowland Hill's preaching, will not fail to be struck with the affectionate earnestness of the more serious passages. But he had the greatest aversion to anything like what has been called scolding in the pulpit, a fault into which some most worthy ministers have occasionally fallen. Every faithful pastor knows what it is to suffer from the negligence, inattention, and inconsistency of some of those among whom he has zealously laboured; but most careful ought he to be, not to suffer a sudden chagrin to weaken the feelings, or alter the tone of christian affection, even in moments of the most intense disappointment. I tell you weeping," said St. Paul, "that ye are the enemies of the cross of Christ;" and his tears took nothing from his dignity, while they proved the pre-eminence of his love. How to rebuke, is a question of serious importance; for unless the rebuke administers to the force of the exhortation which

should ever accompany it, the effect will fail to be salutary. It is in vain that spots be removed by the acid of the one, unless the mind be softened and brightened by the oil of the other. The late Mr. Simeon used to say that there were three modes of preaching. Before peopleit seldom does much good, because the man is too often more regarded than his message. At people-it offends and therefore fails. To people -this is the way to reach the heart. While preaching to his congregation, the evangelical minister has a fine scope before him in depicting the loveliness of practical piety. Though moral virtues are, as has been before shewn, the invariable fruits of saving faith, yet it is not the less necessary on this account to describe their characteristic beauties, as tests by which they may be tried, and as excitements to cultivate and guard them. To this the mind is naturally led, by the striking enumeration of the fruits of the Spirit in scripture; and to dwell on them as springing from branches abiding in Christ the Vine, is a duty which no fondness for abstract doctrines however important should allow the bearer of the whole gospel message to overlook. Even the inferences of opponents though most incorrect, may teach a

valuable lesson, and ought to lead to careful examination. Thus the assertion that evangelical preachers are negligent in enforcing morality, should engender the utmost anxiety in those who sow the true seed, to garnish its produce with the flowers of the field from whence it springs-to make it, in the beautiful imagery of the bible, "like a heap of wheat set about with lilies."1 Such a mode of declaring the nature of true christianity will be, I trust, found eminently attractive in these examples of the pastoral instruction of my aged and venerable relative, who was ever accustomed to dilate upon the moral duties of those who professed to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though the inferences from the doctrines stated may seem obvious, it is not less necessary impressively to enforce them, because this is evidently the mode sanctioned by scripture. When our Lord declared any speculative truth, he invariably applied it practically; and exhortation is so essential to good preaching, that the ministerial work is occasionally called by this name, while in all the epistles, the practical detail invariably follows the exposition of doctrine. A good

2

1 Cant. vii, 2. 2 For an example see Matt. xxii.
3 Acts ii, 40; xiii, 15; 1 Tim. iv, 13.

preacher of old, being asked why he preached so plainly, and dilated so much in his sermons, answered, "I am a fisherman; now fishermen, if they should wind up the net and so cast it into the sea, would catch nothing, but when they spread the net they catch the fish. spread my net because I would catch the fish, that is, I preach so plainly, and dilate so much in my sermons, that I may win souls to Christ."

I

There never was a period in which it was more necessary than it is now, for preachers to be careful of the matter and manner of their discourses, in order to answer all worldly objections to the former, and that the latter may not be unsuitable either to the simplicity or the dignity of the gospel. The pulpit is becoming daily a mightier instrument; but God forbid that those who occupy it should ever use it for other than its legitimate ends-the edification of the church of Christ, and gathering accessions to its members. Former times have seen it prostituted to secular uses, and history presents us with the awful result. The celestial nature of the gospel of Christ refuses admixture with ought that is earthly. God will not suffer his candlestick to remain on the same stand with the torch of man's kindling, but instantly removes

4 Dr. Preston.

it from the unholy partnership. Then all true light departs, and whatsoever is the safeguard of a nation, the regulator of the social system, or an essential ingredient of true prosperity, takes wing and attends it. Neither is the pulpit to become the place of angry discussion and religious animosity, for the Lord will assuredly take away the illumination by which we quarrel instead of working, lest the hallowed lamp be broken in our feuds about its light. He who imagines himself to be the champion of truth, because he contends for it with the weapons of human warfare, is not its champion at all; for its glory is, that when exhibited in its own ethereal brightness, it has power to scatter the shades of darkness by the splendour of its own shining. Let us improve the gospel dispensation by seeking and fostering a gospel disposition; then Omnipotence will bless his own word, and honour, in spite of all misrepresentation or hostility, that evangelical teaching, which directs the disciples of Christ to seek an inward holiness of heart, as the mainspring of every practical virtue; and while it strips us of all false notions of human merit, leads of its very nature, to the highest moral attainment of which man is capable.