of Jesus; yet they ought to avoid a haughty and imperious language, which tends to disgust rather than convince the hearer. I believe that there are some preachers who think that they are exereising christian boldness and faithfulness, while they are studying all the harshest expressions tó convey their ideas on the doctrines of depravity and the divine government; expressions which are unguarded, and give the enemies of truth an advantage. They think notwithstanding, that they are suffering in the cause of truth. But they suffer rather for their imprudence than their adherence to the truth. We ought to labor never to disgust the hearer by any thing but truth. It is not material how soft the expression is, if it does but fully convey the idea and give a just coloring to truth.

4. Ministers often fail of success through ig norance of human nature. Hence they fail in timing their discourses; which often gives disgust and shuts the ears of an audience. It was the study of the great Apostle to get round the preju dices of the hearer, as appears from the example in our text. To remove every hinderance of the attention of those among whom he preached, he conformed to the lawful customs of the nations where he preached. To the Jews he became a Jew: To them without law, as without law. This was calculated to conciliate their attention. gain attention to the great doctrines which we would preach, we should treat men with proper manners, titles and respect. This the great Apostle not only taught, but practised. With what becoming language and titles does he address Festus, Agrippa and others, though infidels.

To

5. The preaching of ministers is often without effect, as their discourses are not properly studi

ed, as they are empty and barren with respect to important divine truth, or without a proper arrangement of ideas suited to prick the conscience.

Some preachers, through sloth, or to cherish in the minds of the people, an opinion of a kind of ine spiration, have little more in their discourses than a loose harangue, or address to the passions of their hearers. They perhaps will make their boast, that they neglect even the choice of a sube ject, till entering the desk. This, in my opinion, is not at all to their honor, or any evidence of fi delity to Christ. We may be called in a sudden manner to speak to our fellow mortals, and may, in such case, trust the assistance of God in the use of means afforded: But when we have time to choose and adapt subjects suited to the state of the flock, it is criminal sloth as well as presump tion, to be guilty of neglect. It is a great thing to choose proper subjects and to hold up truth to the best advantage, so as to take hold of the minds of the hearers. The great Apostle considers that close application to study is necessary, that our profiting should appear. One who undertakes to guide souls in the paths of truth ought to be well instructed himself in the great doctrines and precepts of religion. It must be a solemn thing to misguide one soul in the fundamental things of religion. There are some, who, because they may possess something of a gift of exhortation, feel competent to the work of the gospel ministry, when perhaps, they are not able thoroughly to explain and establish one fundamental doctrine in the christian system. Such must be guilty of the sol emn evil of running before they are sent.

6. The preaching of many is without effect, as they do not enforce the doctrines which they preach by an answerable life. Of all men, minis ters had need to be men of piety and to preach

daily, by the example of a sober, godly walk and conversation. We may, on the Sabbath, address our hearers in a solem manner, on the danger of their condition and the importance of reconcilia tion to God: But if we are light and trifing ourselves; if we are swallowed up in the world, thro' the week, we do not appear to be in sober earnest, or to believe what we preach. Our practice contradicts our instructions and greatly lessons the influence of what we say.

7. Another thing that prevents, at least in some degree, the influence of a minister's preaching, is ignorance of the state of the flock. The discourses may be good, but not adapted to the state of the flock. Some of our people may be exposed to fall into one error, and others into another. Some are under one trial and others another, and want light and help. It is therefore, the duty of a people to enable their minister to discharge his obligation in this respect. He ought, as he is able, to know the state of his flock, and to adapt his discourses accordingly.

18. Ministers often fail of success in their preaching, for want of proper zeal and fervor. They deliver their discourses in a cold, lifeless manner: They do not speak as if they felt what they say. Of course, the truths which they des liver are not forcibly impressed on the mind of the hearer. There is much contained in the reply of the stage player to the question proposed to him by the bishop on this subject. "How happens it," said the bishop, "that you stage players treat of fiction and yet people are attentive and deeply af fected: But we preachers treat of important realities without effect?" "Because," says the stage player, you treat realities as fictions: But we treat fictions as realities."

For a preacher to address his hearers, as tho he viewed their state truly alarming and deplorable as living without Christ: For him to press their reconciliation as though he felt their danger, and could not be denied in his expostulations, tends greatly to impress the mind of the hearer. We have need, my brethren, to go to our people under a sense of eternity; as looking into eternity and as fixing our eyes directly on the immortal interest of our hearers. For this end, it might be of use to pray much over our sermons and to have our studies places of sure resort to God for strength in our labour and success in our preaching.

II. Ministers have need to take special care lest, through a wrong manner of preaching, they fail of success. We have already considered that souls may perish, not only because ministers do not clearly preach the truth, but because they do not preach it in a proper manner. I would now proceed to urge the great importance of preaching in such a manner, as to afford a prospect of success in winning souls to Christ;

1. From this consideration, that the salvation of a sinner is of great importance. It is more important than to win a kingdom or world. It is a dreadful thing to perish; to be separated from God, in a state of despair of all good, to endure the effects of God's anger for one day. But how inconceivably dreadful for an eternity that will never end!

On the other hand, how great a thing to be made an heir of glory; to have communion and fruition of God for one day or week! Sensual enjoyments in the comparison vanish. How inconceivable the joys of eternal life!!

As God sees fit to honor his ministers as instruments of salvation, how strong the motives to fi delity; to be devoted to study, and exertions to

be successful! These motives, properly felt, made the Apostles of Christ willing to suffer the loss of all things and to endure contempt, reproaches, imprisonment and even death.

2. A faithful discharge of the ministerial work and success in it will be greatly to the honor of the Redeemer and the promotion of his cause. This consideration, felt in its weight and importance, must be exceedingly animating. There is nothing for which the christian so much longs as the glory of God and the increase and prosperity of the kingdom of the Redeemer. The consideration that God will be glorified by a faithful, gospel ministry, will as it ought, be very animating to a faith ful minister.

3. We can scarcely think of any part which we can act that is more solemnly dreadful, than to be unfaithful and slothful as ministers; to be more captivated with public applause and esteem, or an interest in this world, than the great object of our ministry; and to soothe and flatter rather than faithfully deliver the galling and soul-humbling truths of the gospel; which are of great impor tance to sinners and the honor of the Redeemer. Surely they are dear bought honors and interest which are obtained at the expence of our fidelity to Christ and the sacred trust with which our success and usfefulness are so nearly connected.

4. Let me urge that the ministers of Christ, or those who act as such, have to meet their hearers at the solemn tribunal of their judge; where all their sermons will be examined before the assembled universe. Not only the matter but the manner of our preaching will all come into view. As ministers therefore, we are called to act in a very solemn affair. Our conduct as such, will have great influence through eternity. If we are faithful, the happy consequences will be very conspic