PREFACE. IN the publication of modern Sermons too little attention appears to have been paid to the illiterate claffes of the Community. Some attempts indeed have been made to furnish them with Difcourfes adapted to their capacities; but without any disparagement to these attempts, it may be fafely afferted, that the fupply has not been adequate to the demand. The confiderate Clergyman can find but few volumes written with fuch plainnefs of language, as to allow of his circulating them in his Parish, with the hope of their being generally understood. This is a defect, which the Writer, in common with many other Parochial Ministers has long felt and deplored; and which it is his defire and endeavour by the prefent publication in fome measure to remedy. How far he has fucceeded in his attempt, his readers muft determine. For his own part he freely confeffes, that he has fallen far fhort of that imaginary ftandard, which he has propofed to his own mind for imitation. He is not indeed of opinion, that no word is to be introduced into a Sermon, which is not in itself intelligible to every perfon, who hears it. Such a degree of refinement he scarcely believes to be attainable: nor if attainable, does he deem it necessary. The general impreffion of a difcourfe may be very powerful, though the precife meaning of every word be not diftinctly apprehended. If the ideas be fimple, and the train of thought level to the understanding, the occafional occurrence of a word or a phrafe, fomewhat lefs intelligible, will not fo interrupt the fenfe, as probably even to weaken, much lefs to deftroy, the main effect; while in a very ftudious endeavour to adapt the style of a difcourfe to the capacity of the ignorant, there is a danger of becoming infipid or vulgar; and thus MATTHEW, xvi. 26. What is a man pro- fited, if he fhould gain the whole world and Mortification of Sin a reasonable Duty. MARK, ix. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48. If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never fhall be quenched; where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be caft into hell, into the fire that never fhall be quenched; where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be caft into hell-fire; |
