"far from feeming low, that it would give "most discourses that force and beauty "which they generally want; fince the "hearers can never be inftructed or per"fuaded in the mysteries of religion, if you "do not trace things back to their fource.

"For example-How can you make "them understand what the church fays, "after St. Paul, that Jefus Chrift is our "PASSOVER, if you do not explain to "them the Jewish Paffover, which was "appointed to be a perpetual memorial of "their deliverance from Egypt, and to typify a more important redemption, that "was referved for Meffiah ?

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"Almost every thing in religion is hif"torical. The best way of proving it's "truth, is to reprefent it justly; for then "it carries it's own evidence along with "it. A coherent view of the chief facts "relative to any perfon, or tranfaction, 86 "" fhould

a 3

"fhould be given in a concife, lively, close,

pathetic manner, accompanied with fuch "moral reflections as arise from the feveral "circumstances, and may best instruct the "hearers.

"A preacher ought to affect people by ftrong images; but it is from the Scrip"ture that he fhould learn to make power"ful impreffions. There he may clearly "discover the way to render fermons plain

and popular, without lofing the force " and dignity they ought always to poffefs.

"If the clergy applied themfelves to "this mode of teaching, we should then "have two different forts of preachers.

They who are not endowed with a great "fhare of vivacity, would explain the Scripture clearly, without imitating it's

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lively and animated manner; and if they

expounded the word of God judiciously, "and fupported their doctrine by an ex

emplary life, they would be very good preachers. They would employ what "St. Ambrofe requires, a chafte, fimple, "clear style, full of weight and gravity, "without affecting elegance, or defpifing "the smoothness and graces of language. "The other fort, being of a poetical turn "of mind, would explain the holy book "in it's own style and figures; and by that "means become accomplished preachers. "The former would inftruct their hearers "with folidity and perfpicuity; the latter would add to this inftruction the fublimi

ty, the vehemence, and divine enthusiasm "of the Scripture, which would be (if I

may so say) entire and living in them, as "much as it can be in men, who are not miraculously inspired from above."

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This, Reader, is the model which I have chofen, and after which I have humbly endeavoured to work. I count not myfelf, to have attained-Far, very far indeed

ter.

from it; as you will too foon difcover. I have not yet been able by any means to fatisfy myself; nor can I hope to fatisfy you. I have done as well as I could; and know not that it will be in my power to do betNobler and more extenfive ideas rife before me; but planning and executing are very different things. Time haftens forward; and life, attended with it's cares, perhaps it's forrows, will quickly have run it's course. Accept fuch as I can give, and pardon errors and imperfections. I ftand at the door of the temple, with my torch. If you would view it's glories, enter in, and there dwell for ever.

CONTENT S.

DISCOURSE I.

The Creation of Man.

GEN. i. 26.

And God faid, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Page I

Preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's, June 9, 1771.