It will be proper now to offer some sugges

tions

3. On the means whereby plainness of speech may be attained.

As the foundation of this, be careful that what you preach is the Gospel. Scrupulously avoid, preaching with a desire to obtain distinction, by the singularity of your opinions, the superiority of your talents, or any thing that is calculated to attract attention to yourself, instead of your message. Never substitute for the Gospel, any philosophical questions or human systems. Preach the Gospel of the New Testament, which our Lord meant when he said, "go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." You have no right to claim the sanction of Jesus Christ, for that concerning which he gave no commission. Let your preaching comprise all the Gospel, By this, it is not at all intended that you should crowd your whole system of divinity into every sermon; to do which, would be directly the reverse of plainness of speech:' but let no part have undue prominence, and let none be reserved or faintly pressed. In the course of your ministry, you will introduce the whole of

"that faith which was once delivered to the saints:" and earnestly contend, not merely for certain favourite points; but for all which it includes. You will remember, that to preach the Gospel partially, no more deserves to be called preaching the Gospel, than shewing some of the materials, deserves to be called exhibiting a building. The Apostle deduces his acquittal of being accessary to the ruin of his hearers, from nothing short of this fact, that he had not shunned to declare all the counsel of God. Let your preaching contain only the Gospel. Disappoint not them who "as new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby ;" and let it be your determination to know nothing but Christ Jesus, and him crucified. caution will not be deemed unnecessary; for, from the Apostolic age to the present, there has been a lamentable propensity to connect with the Gospel, human devices and traditions. You will do well, to refrain from following the steps of any of those who have already forsaken the simplicity and purity of the Gospel ; and at the same time to use circumspection, lest you slide into some new path. Observing these things, use "great plainness speech."

This

As I am addressing persons who are engaged in studying the holy scriptures through the languages by which they were delivered, there will be no impropriety in offering one word on the rendering of our text. The word used by the Apostle*, though it undoubtedly includes what we generally understand by plainness of speech, appears not to be fully trans lated by it; besides, our version is not entirely free from ambiguity. In order to under.. stand its import, we may refer to other passages, in which the same word is used, as "he spake that saying openly;" "if thou be the Christ tell us plainly;"" then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead;" "his disciples said unto him, lo! now speakest thou plainly, and usest no proverb." From all these it appears, that the word is used in a sense directly opposite to enigma, parable, and allegory, and implies the complete absence and destitution of all concealment, reserve, or equivocation. In this way the Gospel was preached by the Apostles, who are offered as examples to you. To com prise the whole in one word, it may be said,preach the Gospel evangelically. You know, that it is possible to recite evangelical truths correctly, without preaching in the strain and spirit of the Gospel. It will be your con

παρρησία.

cern, however, that your preaching possess, as nearly as possible, all the characteristics of that word which is, emphatically, "good news." In order to this,

Preach the Gospel confidently, without hesitation; as entertaining not the slightest suspicion of its infallibility. You will not suppose that it is intended to advise you to utter your own sentiments of the Gospel in a confident and dogmatical manner, as if your views were beyond the possibility of error: on the contrary, you are to refer every thing to the text of the Gospel, as the last appeal; and to have no confidence in your opinions, unless they manifestly possess this sanction. But you are not to transfer, either directly or indirectly, the fallibility of man to the word of God. You will never, for a moment, even appear to bring in question its authenticity but every word and action will evince, your unhesitating reliance on the word of the truth of the Gospel.' "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" The Apostles, whose practice it was to prove their doctrines from the word of God, always assumed, in the completest manner, its sufficiency and divine authority; and you will never hesitate to unite your voice with that of him who said, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of

Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth."

Preach the Gospel unreservedly; let nothing be concealed or extenuated. You will make your sermons faithful expositions of your texts, and not discourses formed to the taste of your audience. You will not refrain from introducing and pressing, peculiar and important doctrines, because they may be unacceptable to some of your hearers; always remembering that saying of the Apos tle," necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel;" and hearing the voice of the Lord to the prophet Ezekiel, « thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." In short, however desirous you may be, to please as well as instruct; in your preaching you will imitate the Divine Being himself, with whom there is no respect of persons. Your sermons will be very explicit; so that without wilful inattention, it shall be impossible to misunderstand you. To use ambiguous and vague expressions; to disguise your real opinions by the use of general terms, or words to which you attach a different meaning from that which they commonly bear; or to adopt any method of dissimulation; is most unworthy of your office, and fatal to the legitimate end and design of the