pal, those which affift us to understand the text, or those which abound with theological information in reference to fundamental principles, or fuch as difcover the happieft method of bringing divine truths to the heart, and from thence to the life. This part of the lift is therefore the most copious.

It is obvious, the fubjoined catalogue contains a much greater number of books than can be fuppofed indifpenfably needful for the generality of young divines, who may be useful and refpectable minifters, with a library on a much more contracted scale. A great diverfity of circumftances ought to be taken into the account, especially pecuniary means, and literary attainments. The thoughtful ftudent, or young minifter, fhould call in prudence to his aid, and inquire, "Quid ferre recufent, quid valeant humeri," what fuits his genius and abilities, and how he can bear the weight of expence. Perhaps it would not be a proportion much amifs, were we to say, that a: learned and ftudious minifter in a private fta. tion, making allowance for extraordinary cafes,

fhould

fhould compute the furniture of his beloved study, including books, helps and conveniences, at one half of the whole furniture of his houfe. And the greatest part of this ought to be the best books in divinity. His delightful ftudy fhould be to him what the counting-house is to the industrious merchant, or the laboratory to the fuccefsful chemift; and skill in the use of books, especially the BOOK OF GOD, for a divine, a workman who needeth not to be afhamed, is not lefs neceffary. than fkill in the forms of business is to a tradefman, or dexterity in the ufe of an apparatus to an experimental philofopher. Nor fhould the pre. fumptuous thought be once harboured, that the ufe of books, whether few or many, is to fuperfede prayer for gracious aids; but rather to affift our graces, and to improve our gifts.

I am fully fenfible, that perfons who have dif ferent views of RELIGION from thofe contained in this volume, will not be pleased with the selection, but will condemn it as calvinistically partial; my apology is, that it comports with the views of fuch men as WILKINS and WATTS, JENNINGS

and

and DODDRIDGE, FRANCK and CLAUDE; a partiality that fuited the taste of men equally illuftrious for learning and goodness, the greatest ornaments of the chriftian pulpit, and the richest benefactors of mankind.

E. WILLIAMS.

THE

CHRISTIAN PREACHER,

ETC.

DISCOURSE I.

ON THE GIFT OF PREACHING.

§ 1. Introduction. The importance of the art of preaching. § 2. One chief reason why good fcholars and divines are often bad preachers. § 3. What is implied in the gift of preaching. $4. (1.) Concerning METHOD. § 5. Different kinds of method, and which preferable. § 6. The parts of a fermon according to its external form ; and more effential parts. §7. (1.) Explication. Of opening the text. § 8. Of texts which have a double fenfe. §9. One great help of interpreting the books of Scripture," is to know their times, references and order. § 10. Of explaining words and phrafes. § 11. Doctrinal obfervations. § 12. Of ftating the fubject, whether doctrinal or practical. § 13. (2.) Confirmation of the fubject proposed; in doctrinal points, from fcripture and reason. § 14.