Redeemer's blood! I would that I might prevail upon you, my beloved brethren, to lay to heart this awful consideration, whilst it may yet avail for your good. But let death once execute his commission, and drag you to the judgment-seat of Christ, and all your future regrets will be in vain: your sentence will then be pronounced upon you, and your doom be sealed for ever -} 2. What a sweet reality is there in religion! [See what the Gospel can effect-can effect even in this present life! what peace it can bring into the soul; and what an assurance respecting its eternal interests! I will not presume to say that it will open to a man the book of God's decrees, and shew him his name written in heaven; but it will give him a confidence respecting the issue of the future judg ment, and a joyful anticipation of eternal blessedness. Only therefore seek an acquaintance with the Lord Jesus, and an experience of his love; and then may you look forward to his advent with exceeding joy, and welcome it as the consummation and completion of your bliss.] PREFACE. THIS Essay on the Composition of a Sermon was originally written by the Reverend John Claude, a minister of the reformed religion in France, who preached upwards of forty years with great acceptance, first at St. Afrique, afterwards at Nismes, and lastly at Charenton. The Editor has bestowed considerable pains on it to improve it. To distinguish his additions from the original, he has enclosed them in brackets. For the elucidation of different parts, he has made several references to his own Discourses. The Editor, conceiving it of importance to illustrate the four different methods of treating texts, viz. by Explication, by Observations, by Propositions, and by perpetual Application, here adds four distinct specimens, all of them upon the same text. And in the second of them he has illustrated Mr. Claude's twenty-seven topics, with a particular reference to each. He hopes this will be an acceptable addition to the Student. If any Student choose to undertake the same task, 1 John v. 11, 12. will afford him good scope for the purpose. |