over, befides its want of gracefulness in a critical point of view, how can we feel' interested or affected, at listening to a set of fentences copied, perhaps, from fome old manual of devotion; the offspring of obfolete theology, unadapted to existing circumstances and conditions; and calling itself a fermon, because stuffed with irre-levant, common-place Scripture phrases, elevations without dignity, and depreffions without pathos !

Many minifters of the church of England, though eminently qualified, by nature and education, for the task of graceful recitation, are deficient in compofition, from want, perhaps, of inclination or practice. To thefe I would recommend the precept of Mr. Addifon, who, in one of his Spectators, advifes fuch perfons, instead of labouring, commonly in vain, at original compofition, to adopt the elo-quent productions of other writers, to the delivery of which, with credit to themfelves and advantage to their hearers, their powers

powers are so much better fuited. Let not fuch a practice be ftigmatized with the name of plagiarifm. It is a reciprocal communication of profit, between the original author and the reciter, ingenuously adopted by the zeal of religion, and the modefty of real merit, to forward the mutual purpose of both.

It is a common fault in those who have read much and reflected little, to imagine that points of controverfy, together with the myfterious part of our religion, will serve as the best fubjects for their difcourfes, and give them an air of learning and dignity. But I would wish to fuggest, that even in this infidel age, there will not probably be many of their hearers much acquainted with Tyndal or Hume; fo much are our modern race of free-thinkers fwayed by imitation, paffion, pride, rather than by the fophiftical arguments contained in thefe writers. Even though they were adepts in the science of damning themselves with the greatest appearance

of

of reafon, the philofophical fceptics would not think themselves very rationally confuted by a speaker who had the whole debate to himself, and might choose out those arguments of his opponents which he found it moft convenient to answer. In an university, indeed, where theology is taught as a science, fuch polemic harangues are in their proper place. The auditors, by being well acquainted, it is to be supposed, with both fides of the queftion, can perceive the force and utility of the confutation. But in an ordinary congregation, I apprehend, inculcating the great truths of revealed religion, denouncing its threats and holding forth its promises; neglecting fpeculative for practical utility; pointing out the irrefragable connexion between moral duty and religious obligation, as they are enforced by prefent, as well as eternal fanctions; commanding moderation to the fortunate, and offering confolation to the unhappy: these topics I apprehend to be of more probable utility to the generality

of

of a church-audience than all the argumentative fubtilty or profound research of Conybeare or Clarke. But though chafte in its outline and carnation, I would not strip a fermon of well-placed ornament or apt allufion. Illuftrations taken from the sciences or the arts-fometimes, perhaps, from the grand outlines of political life-in fine, from polite literature in general, are highly useful. It is judicious to twine flowers round an object, which fhould attract and detain our attention.

It has been faid, by the British Petronius, that a man, in order to gain the title of well-bred, fhould, in fome measure, refemble the camelion, and affume the hue of the company in which he is. In the fame way it is not enough for a fermon to be free from the faults I have mentioned; it fhould be particularly and carefully fuited, both in fentiment, diction, and delivery, to the general taste of those who are to be its auditors. One of the chief caufes of the fuccefs which Methodist and other irregu

lar

lar preachers have met with among the lower claffes, is this adapting their style and manner to the understanding and the feelings of their hearers.

This fhould be an obvious truth to preachers; and a truth claiming attention from confiderations of advantage to their own reputations, as well as profit to their hearers. To make ufe of the fame elegance' of expreffion, the fame logical precifion.

of argument, the fame copiousness of literary illuftration, in a remote village churchas in a polished city audience, would be almost the same kind of mockery of the ruftic congregation, as if the preacher was to addrefs them in an unknown tongue.. Yet fuch a practice is by no means uncommon; and must be productive, among the fimple parishioners, of contempt or terror; in either cafe, unpeopling the church. to crowd the ale-house.. How much more impreffive and fuccefsful would a fimple exhortation prove, delivered in a tone of parental authority, plainly and concisely.

detailing