can. Many admirable advices for that purpose our fathers and brethren have given us; particularly Dr. WATTS, in the first part of his Humble Attempt for the Revival of Religion, and Mr. SOME, in his fermon on the same subject: excellent treatifes, which, reduced into practice, would foon produce the noblest effects.

That

ing against any thing in the methods of admiffion, which may juftly difcourage fincere chriftians of a tender and timorous temper.

VI. That it is to be feared, there are fome, in feveral of our communions at least, who behave in fuch a manner as to give just offence; and that we may be in great danger of making ourfelves "partakers of other men's fins," if we do not animadvert upon them: and that, if they will not reform, or if the crime be notorious, we ought, in duty to God, and to them, and to all around us, folemnly to cut them off from our facramental communion, as a reproach to the church of Chrift.

to

VII. That it may, on many accounts, be proper advise our people, to enter into little bands, or focieties, for religious difcourfe and prayer; each confifting of fix or eight, to meet for thefe good purposes once in a week, or a fortnight, as may best fuit with their other engagements and affairs.

VIII. That it might be advifeable, if it can be done, to felect out of each congregation under our care, a fmall number of perfons, remarkable for experienced prudence, ferioufnefs, humility, and zeal, to act as a ftated council for promoting religion in the faid fociety and that it would be proper, they should have fome certain times of meeting with each other, and with the minifter, to join their counfels and their prayers for the public good. IX.

That those important inftructions may be revived, and accommodated to prefent circumftances, with fuch additions as thofe circumftances require, we are, this day, having united our prayers, to unite our counfels. I will not anticipate what I have to offer to your confideration in the more private conference, on which we are quickly to enter. To

IX. That so far as we can judge, it might, by the divine bleffing, conduce to the advancement of these valuable ends, that neighbouring minifters, in one part of our land and another, (especially in this county) fhould enter into affociations, to ftrengthen the hands of each other by united confultations and prayer: and that meetings of minifters might, by fome obvious regulations, be made more extenfively ufeful than they often are: In which view it was farther propofed (with unanimous approbation) That these meetings fhould be held at certain periodical times: That each member of the affociation fhould endeavour (if poffible) to be prefent, ftudying to order his affairs fo, as to guard against unneceffary hindrances: That public worship fhould begin and end fooner, than it commonly has done on these occafions: That each paftor preach at these affemblies in his turn:-That the minifter of the place determine who fhall be employed in prayer: -That after a moderate repast, to be managed with as little trouble and expence as may be, an hour or two in the afternoon be spent in religious conference and prayer, and in taking into confideration (merely as a friendly counfel, and without the leaft pretence to any right of authoritative decifion) the concerns of any brother, or any fociety, which may be brought before. us for our advice:And finally, that every member of this affociation fhall confider it as an additional obligation upon him, to endeavour to be, so far as he

form proper measures, will be comparatively easy: To carry them ftrenuously into execution, will be the greatest exercife of our wifdom and piety: May proportionable grace be given to animate us, and to dispose them that are committed to our care, to fall in with us in all our attempts for the honour of God, and for their edification and comfort!

justly and honourably can, a friend and guardian to the reputation, comfort, and usefulness of all his brethren.

X. That it may be proper to enter into fome farther measures, to regulate the admiffion of young perfons into the miniftry.I will take leave to add one particular more, which has fince occurred to my thoughts, and which I here fubmit to your confideration, and to that of my other Reverend Brethren, into whofe hands this may fall, especially those of our own affociation, viz.

XI. Whether fomething might not be done, in most of our congregations, towards affifting in the propagation of Chriftianity abroad, and spreading it in fome of the darker parts of our own land? In pursuance of which it is further propofed, That we endeavour to engage as many pious people of our respective congregations as we can, to enter themfelves into a fociety, in which the members may engage themselves to fome peculiar cares, affemblies, and contributions, with a regard to this great end. A copy of such an affociation I am endeavouring to introduce among my own people, and feveral have already figned it. 'Tis a feeble effay; and the effects of it in one congregation can be but very fmall: But if it were generally to be followed, who can tell what a harveft fuch a little grain might at length produce? May God multiply it a thoufandfold!

Northampton, Feb. 1, 1741-2.

P. DODDRIDGE,

THE

CHRISTIAN PREACHER, &c.

DISCOURSE VII. By blaude.

ON THE COMPOSITION OF A SERMON.

§ 1. On the CHOICE of texts; as to completeness of fenfe, and the quantity of matter; as referring to certain times, or to places and auditories. § 2. GENERAL RULES of fermons. § 3. The great importance of avoiding excefs; and § 4. Of abStaining from obfervations foreign from theology. 5. On finding the CONNECTION between the text and context. § 6. Of DIVISION in general. In what cafes the divifion of a difcourfe is proper. §7. Of dividing the text. § 8. Of rendering a divifion more agreeable, and of fubdivifions. 9. Of obferving well the nature of a text, and the confequent manner of compofing; whether by explication, or obfervation. § 10. (I.) Of texts to be difcuffed by way of EXPLICATION. Of the explication of terms; and § 11. Things. U 3 § 12.

§ 12. Two forts of explication; that of mere propofal, and that of proof or confirmation. § 13. Of fimple terms. § 14. Concerning expreffions peculiar to fcripture; and § 15. Syncategorematica.

16. How to explain a text, when the matter to be explained confifts of a propofition. § 17. (II.) Of texts to be difcuffed by way of OBSERVATION. Some general directions. § 18. Some SOURCES of invention and obfervations. Genus and fpecies, characters of virtue or vice, relation and suppofition. 19. Cautions in treating supposed truths. § 20. Perfon and state, time and place. § 21. Perfons addreffed, and their particular state; principles and confequences. $ 22. The end propofed, and the manner, fimilarity, differences, and contraft. 23. The caufes, the good and bad in expreffions and actions; fuppofition and prevention. 24. Confider characters, of majesty, meannefs, &c. § 25. Remark degrees, and different interefts; diftinguish, define, and divide; and compare the different parts of the text together. § 26. (III.) Of texts to be difcuffed by way of CONTINUED APPLICATION. § 27. (IV.) Of texts to be difcuffed in PROPOSITIONS. § 28. Thefe four ways may be fometimes mixed. § 29. Of the EXORDIUM. Its defign. Partly to promote fuitable affections and attention; but, § 30.