described without the preacher's personal knowledge of him! When his own spiritual state is painted to the life, and as it were, set before his eyes in the language of the preacher! When a word of conviction, advice or comfort, is spoken so pertinently to his own case, that he takes it as directed to himself. How much more powerful and more penetrating will our sermons be, when those who come into our assemblies shall he 'convinced and judged, and have the secrets of their hearts made manifest, and confess that God is in the midst of us of a truth!

"The perusal of these excellent discourses in manuscript hath given me so much satisfaction, that I take a sensible pleasure to think that the press will communicate them to the world; and then I hope for a further share of profit, by keeping them always at my right hand when I am preparing for the service of the sanctuary. May the blessed Spirit of God teach those who enter into the sacred office this holy skill of winning souls! May he awaken us all to see what may be mended in our ministrations, in order to publish the gospel of Christ with more illustrious and divine success.

The FOURTH Discourse, Of the most useful way of preaching, was written originally as a letter to a friend, in the German language, by the excellent Dr. FRANCK, and was translated into Latin by order of his son. The two discourses, by Mr. J. JENNINGs, and this letter, translated by his brother, were reprinted in London, 1736, with Dr. WATTS's preface, and the following advertisement by the same hand:

"That excellent letter, concerning the best method of preaching, which stands annexed to this new edition of Mr. JENNINGS's discourses, was written in the German tongue by that venerable and apostolic man, HERMAN AUGUSTUS FRANCK, late professor of divinity at Halle, in Saxony, and was communicated to me, last winter, by his worthy son,

GOTTHILE AUGUSTUS FRANCK, who happily fills and adorns the same post in that university, and seems to be possessed of the same spirit of faith and love. It is now turned into English by my valuable friend Mr. DAVID JENNINGS, the surviving brother of the author, who perfectly agreed with me in this sentiment, that it should be made public in our own language, and printed together with these two discourses, as being eminently suited to promote the same design of an experimental and evangelical way of preaching. And I persuade myself, that every reader who could relish and approve what Mr. JOHN JENNINGS has written on this subject, will be very well pleased and entertained with the perusal of this small essay of that great man, professor FRANCK, on the same argument; and may both be attended with divine success!"

*

"This is a book," says Mr. ORTON, speaking of the two discourses and letter recommended by Dr. WATTS, "that deserves the serious attention of every minister; and I have been informed, that at its first publication, two bishops of the church of England, with an amiable candour, publicly recommended it to the perusal of their clergy, at their visitations."

The FIFTH Discourse, On Rules of Conduct, has a more strict relation to preaching than the title seems at first to import, since it refers to the preacher's personal religion, his private studies, and public labours, no less then his cónversasion. It is an abridgment of the first part of Dr. WATTS'S "Humble attempt towards the revival of practical religion." In the preface to that publication, the author ob

serves:

"The exhortation to ministers was composed at the request of my worthy friend and brother, Mr. JoHN CAKES, and designed to have been delivered at his public ordination,

Life of DODDRIDGE, p. 13.

in the congregation of dissenting protestants, at Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, on Nov. 12th, 1729. But the providence of God prevented me from fulfilling that service, by confining me to a bed of sickness on that day. In the composition of that discourse my thoughts ran out to four or five times the length of what would have been sufficient for that service, so that I must have greatly contracted it in the delivery. But being much importuned, both by my reverend brother, who has perused far the greatest part of it, and by the congregation now under his care, to make it public, I have revised it with a larger view, and humbly hope that my younger brethren in the ministry may be, in some measure, excited and encouraged hereby, to do their part toward the revival of decaying picty."

The SIXTH Discourse, On the evil and danger of neglecting the souls of men, has, till now, appeared in the form of a sermon, by Dr. DODDRIDGE, originally delivered as a devotional lecture to his pupils, and afterwards considerably enlarged no doubt, to a number of ministers assembled at Kettering, Northamptonshire, in Oct. 1741. Those parts of it alone, which appeared less adapted to answer the design of this publication are omitted.

The SEVENTH Discourse, On the Composition of a Sermon, was written in French, by the great and good Mr. JOHN CLAUDE, who was minister of the French reformed ehurch, at Charenton. In the year 1779, Mr. R. ROBINSON, of Cambridge, published an English translation of it, accompanied with a great number of notes, resembling the contents of a common-place book of ecclesiastical history, anecdotes, divinity, preaching, &c. in 2 vols. 8vo. The present discourse is an abridgment of these volumes. If it be thought singular how the substance of so large a work can be reduced to a compass comparatively so narrow, it should be observed, that the essay itself is, in French, but 330 pages of small 8vo. and about one half of that consists of

diffuse exemplifications of texts, which are now inserted in a more compressed, and, to the student, a more advantageous form, in the notes. And when it is understood that of the whole mass of Mr. ROBINSON's notes those only are retained which are most valuable, and relate to preaching, the reader will think the attempt very practicable. It should however be remembered, that the design of this abridgment is not to supercede the original volumes of Mr. ROBINSON, or the later edition of CLAUDE, by Mr. SIMEON, but rather to promote the circulation of their chief excellencies.

The APPENDIX, directing to a proper choice of books for the Christian Preacher's Library, is not intended as a full and complete enumeration even of useful and valuable publications, which would require a large volume, but only of those works which the editor either best knows as excellent, and can recommend with confidence; or else those which are worthy of regard on account of some peculiar circumstances. Many of the works of the last century, and some others, may never be reprinted, because too voluminous, defective in style and composition, or for want of a patron; and yet may be of great utility on account of excellent properties. On these, and similar accounts, several books are noticed, which otherwise would not have been; and, to obviate any danger which might arise from the insertion of books which have no claim on universal com. mendation, the most prominent feature of an author's excellence is generally pointed out, and occasionally a defect, by way of caution. It would have been more easy to enlarge the number of books, than it was to know where to stop; my design was not to form a volume, but an appendix to a small one; not to furnish a sumptuous library, but to assist the christian preacher in the choice of such books as may be most useful to him in his great work. And among these we must reckon as the principle, those which

abound with theological information in reference to fundamental principles, or such as discover the happiest method of bringing divine truths to the heart, and from thence to the life. This part of the list is therefore the most copious.

It is obvious, the subjoined catalogue contains a much greater number of books than can be supposed indispensa bly needful for the generality of young divines, who may be useful and respectable ministers, with a library on a much more contracted scale. A great diversity of circumstances ought to be taken into the account, especially pecuniary means, and literary attainments. The thoughtful student, or young minister, should call in prudence to his aid, and inquire, "Quid ferre recusent, quid valeant humeri," what suits his genius and abilities, and how he can bear the weight of expence. Perhaps it would not be a proportion much amiss, were we to say, that a learned and studious minister in a private station, making allowances for extraordinary cases, should compute the furniture of his beloved study, including books, helps and conveniences, at one half of the whole furniture of his house. And the greatest part of this ought to be the best books in divinity. His delightful study should be to him what the countinghouse is to the industrious merchant, or the laboratory to. the successful chemist; and skill in the in the use of books, especially the BooK OF GOD, for a divine, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, is not less necessary than skill in the forms of business is to a tradesman, or dexterity in the use of an apparatus to an experimental philo sopher. Nor should the presumptuous thought be once harboured, that the use of books, whether few or many, is to supercede prayer for gracious aids; but rather to assit our graces, and to improve our gifts.

I am fully sensible, that persons who have different views of RELIGION from those contained in this volume, will not be pleased with the selection, but will condemn it as calvi