PREFACE.

HE following Work was published feparately: the firft volume, containing Claude's Effay, with the Sermon on the Gofpel Meffage, and the four Skeletons which are annexed to that Seimon for the purpose of briefly illuftrating Claude's Effay, and the firft hundred of the Skeletons, was published firft; and paffed through three Editions. The other four volumes followed'. In the Prefaces belonging to the different.parts of the Work, the Author ftated all that he judged neceffary for explaining his views of compofition in general, or of the doctrines which he has delivered in his own compofitions in particular. And that his fentiments may no longer be detached, he now prefents them to the Reader in one view, but under diftinct heads.

I. Why the Author published Claude's Essay.

THIS Effay on the Compofition of a Sermon was originally written by the Rev. John Claude, a minister of the reformed religion in France, who preached upwards of forty years with great acceptance, first at St. Afrique,

The author renews, with unfeigned gratitude, his former acknowledgement of the very kind and liberal affittance, which he received from the University in the firit publication of this work and if any thing could have ftimulated him to greater exertion in preparing it for the prefs, it would have been the defire he felt of rendering it not altogether unworthy of their patronage. He is proceeding in a fimilar work, which will be pofthumous: but whether as an whole he live to finish it or not, every diftinct Skeleton will be left, without any further correction, ready for the prefs.

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afterwards

afterwards at Nifmes, and laftly at Charenton. It was tranflated from the French, and publifhed in the year 1778, by the Reverend Robert Robinson, who alfo was a man of very confiderable erudition, and who prefided over a differting congregation in Cambridge. The Effay itself appears admirably calculated to anfwer the end propofed: but, it must be confeffed, the Notes which the Tranflator has added, and which are at leaft four times as large as the original work, are not altogether fo unexceptionable as might be wifhed. The compiler says in his preface (which will enable us to form a pretty accurate judgment of the whole), "The following fhort Effay was published it its present form for the ufe of thofe ftudious minifters in our proteftant diffenting churches, who have not enjoyed the advantage of a regular academical education." He afterwards informs us, that he "tranflated the Effay for his own edification; then added feveral quotations, intending them for finall exercifes for one of his fons; and that, ten years afterwards, having fprained his ancle, he improved the leisure which this accident occafioned, in preparing this book for publication." And then he concludes with faying, "This plain tale is the best account I can give of a work, which it might have appeared arrogant in me to publith, and of a collection of notes, which must feem an odd farrago, unless the different views of the compiler at different times be confidered."

It would be invidious and unbecoming to fuggeft any thing unneccffarily that fhould depreciate the compiler's merit. But it will be expected that fome reafon fhould be affigned for the omiffion of almoft all his notes. We are under the neceffity therefore of obferving (what any perfon who reads a fingle page of them must fee) that they were compiled for "diffenting minifters ;" and that, after making all poffible allowance for the views of the compiler, they are indeed AN ODD FARRAGO." But a far more ferious ground of objection against them is, that they are replete with levity, and teeming with acrimony against the established Church. The preface itself, fhort as it is, will afford us but too just a specimen, both of the matter contained in them, and of the fpirit which they breathe throughout. "I will venture to affirm, fays Mr. Robin

fon,

fon, in fpite of Lord Clarendon, and Dr. Burn, that we have not a brother fo ignorant, and fo impudent, as to dare to preach to feven old women in an hogstie, what Doctors and Bishops have preached before Univerfities and Kings.'

The reader may judge from hence of fome out of many reafons, which induce the Editor, as a minifter of the established Church, to publifh this Effay without the incumbrances with which the tranflator had loaded it. There can be little doubt but that the notes have prevented many from perufing it, who might otherwife have been much profited by its contents: and it is hoped, that, now it is fent forth in its native dress, and may be read without exciting either bigotry or difguft, it will become an object of more general attention.

II. Why he annexed the Gofpel Meffage and the Four Skeletons to it.

THE various methods, which Mr. Claude `has propofed for the treating of different fubjects, are all exemplified in the Skeletons annexed to his Effay. But the particular topics, which he mentions as Sources of Invention, may be rendered more profitable by being brought into one view. And the different modes of treating fubjects, which he fuggefts, may be more clearly underftood, by being all exemplified on One Text. This idea having occurred to the Author's mind, he has maturely weighed it; and the more it engaged his attention, the more firmly he was perfuaded of the utility of carrying it into effect. But he was aware, that, to propofe a text in four different points of view, without introducing any material repetitions, was no eafy matter. If indeed he had chofen to take feparate parts of the text for the feveral difcourfes, he would have found it eaty enough to avoid the moft diftant approach to tautology: but fuch a mode of difcuffing fubjects he does not altogether approve: the principal points in every text ought, in his judgment, to be the leading features of the difcourfe formed upon it: and upon that principle he has conftructed the Skeletons which are annexed to this Sermon. Another and a far greater difficulty, was to include no less than twenty-feven different topics in one difcourfe, and yet to preferve (what

no fermon fhould want) unity and perfpicuity throughout. But being very folicitous that nothing fhould be omitted which could contribute to the perfection and usefulness of that invaluable Effay, he has made the attempt: with what fuccefs he leaves to a candid Public to determine. He begs the Reader, however, to take notice, that the introducing af all the topics into one difcourfe is a thing by no means to be imitated. It is done here only with an intention to fet in a clear light the nature and ufe of those topics. In fact, a perfon who would write a judicious difcourfe, muft not only not undertake to bring in every topic, but he muft not fetter himfelf by an endeavour to illuftrate any topic. He muft confult the nature of the text or fubject he is difcuffing, and must follow whitherfoever that may lead him. The mind filled with any fubject, will naturally suggest such topics as are most calculated to reflect light upon it: whereas a regard to this or that particular topic will be very likely to render the difcourfe incoherent and confufed.

III. The Nature and Intent of his own Skeletons.

INSTRUCTION relative to the Compofition of Sermons is of great importance, not only to Minifters but, eventually, to the community at large. And it were much to be wifhed that more regard were paid to this in the education of thofe who are intended for the miniftry. It has fometimes been recommended to the younger Clergy to transcribe printed Sermons for a feafon, till they fhall have attained an ability to compofe their own. And it is to be lamented, that this advice has been too ftrictly followed: for, when they have once formed this habit, they find it very difficult to relinquifh it: the tranfition from copying to compofing of Sermons is fo great, that they are too often difcouraged in their firft attempts, and induced, from the difficulty they experience in writing their own Sermons, to reft fatisfied in preaching thofe of others. Hence has arifen that difgraceful traffic in printed Sermons, which inftead of meeting with encouragement from the clergy, ought to have excited univerfal indignation, To remove, as far as poffible, thefe difficulties from young

beginners,

beginners, is the intent of thefe Skeletons. The direc tions given in Mr. Claude's Effay on the Compofition of Sermon, which is prefixed to thefe Skeletons, cannot fail of being helpful to every one who will ftudy them with care but there appears to be fomething further wanted; fomething of an intermediate kind between a didactic Effay like Claude's, and a complete Sermon ; fomething, which may fimplify the theory, and. fet it in a practical light. Mr. Claude himself has intersperfed feveral fketches, with a view to illuftrate the different parts of his Eflay: but thefe, though fuited to the end which he propofed, are not fufficiently full to fubferve the purpofe of which we are now fpeaking.

A fcheme, or Skeleton of a difcourfe, is that fpecies of compofition to which we refer. It should be not merely a sketch or outline, but a fuller draft, containing all the component parts of a Sermon, and all the ideas neceffary for the illustration of them, at the fame time that it leaves fcope for the exercife of induftry and genius in him who ufes it". The pious and learned Bithop Beveridge has written four volumes of fuch Skeletons, under the title of "Thefaurus Theologicus:" and if the Author had intended them for publication, he would probably have fo completed his defign as to fuperfede the neceffity of any fimilar work. Even if the Editor had difpofed the materials in a more judicious method, they would have appeared to much greater advantage. That fo great a Divine fhould write fo many compofitions of that kind folely for his own ufe is a clear demonftration of his judgment with respect to the utility of them in general: and the circumftance of his never intending them for the public eye, is fufficient to exculpate any one from the charge of prefumption who fhould attempt an improvement.

The following Skeletons are not intended The particular particularly to exemplify Mr. Claude's rules: intent of the the examples, which he himself adduces in Skeletons. confirmation of his directions, are fufficient for his pur

C

For this ufe of the word "Skeleton," fee Johnson's Dictionary. A Student would find it not unprofitable, in this view, to analyze fome judicious Sermons, and to make ufe of thofe analyjes as the groundwork of his own compofitions.