" This, if considered in itself, is vile ; if, as estimated by the best judges, worthless —
" The soul, on the contrary, if considered in itself, is noble ; and if, as estimated by the best judges, invaluable —
" Such being the disparity between the value of the world, and that of the soul, we cannot but see what must be the result of a comparison between them —
" We suppose, for argument sake, that a man may possess the whole world, and that after having possessed it for a while, he loses his own soul ; what in the issue would he be profited ? —
" Whether we enter generally or particularly into this sub- ject, the result will be still the same." —
These two Skeletons are selected in order to exemplify this idea, 1st, In a subject where the whole matter is contained in the text ; and, 2dly, In a subject where nothing but the general idea is suggested : and if the Reader will give himself the trouble to examine, he will find that every one of the other Skeletons may, with equal ease, be draivn out in the same manner. This is a point of considerable importance : for if the mind were necessarily cramped and fettered by this method of composition, it would be inexpedient to adopt it. But it is manifest that it leaves the mind at most perfect liberty : and while many advantages arise from it, there is no room at all for the principal objection, which might at first .sight appear to lie against it. But though these observations are made to shew that discourses might be formed from the Skeletons as easily without divisions as with them, it is not to be thought that the mention of the divisions is a matter of indifference: the minds of the generality are not capable of tracing the connexion and coherence of a discourse: their attention will flag ; they will lose much of what they hear ; and have no clew whereby to recover it: whereas the mention of an easy and natural division will relieve their minds, assist their memories, and enable them to " mark, learn, and in- wardly digest" the word.
If any student, who has a view to the ministry, should choose to employ a part of his Sabbath in perusing any of these compositions, he would do well first to get a clear view of the great outlines of the discourse, and then to consider, under each part, what is contained in the brackets ; consulting,
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as he proceeds, the passages of Scripture that are quoted. After this, if he will write over the whole, interweaving those passages, or such parts of them as refer immediately to the subject, adding only a few words here and there to connect the whole, he will find that every Skeleton will make a dis- course, which, if read distinctly, will occupy the space of nearly half an hour. In this way he may attain, without any -real difficulty, a considerable knowledge of the Scriptures, together with an habit of thinking clearly and connectedly on the principal doctrines contained in them. If any one, who has entered upon the sacred office, should think them worthy of his attention, a different method of using them should be adopted. He, having finished his academical studies, has his time more at his own command: he should therefore make himself perfect master of the Skeleton before him, and then write in his own language, and according to his own concep- tions, his views of the subject : and he will find that " verba provisam rem non invita sequentur." It is proper however to observe, that those parts, which have three marks after
them should be more fully opened.
But there is one caution which requires peculiar attention. In the Skeletons many passages of the Holy Scriptures are quoted, partly for the conviction of the Reader's ow'n mind, and partly to furnish him with the proper materials for con- firming his word. These passages, if they were all formally quoted, would make the sermon a mere rhapsody, a string of texts, that could not fail to weary and disgust the audience. But if they be glanced at, if the proper parts only be selected, and interwoven with the writer's own language, they will give a richness and variety to the discourse, at the same time that they will be peculiarly grateful to those who delight in the word of God. There is however another extreme, which would be no less pernicious : if no passages be formally ad- duced, many parts of the discourse will appear to want con- firmation. The proper medium seems to be, to quote them expressly when there is reason to apprehend that any doubt is entertained respecting the truth that is insisted on, or where the citing of them will give peculiar weight to the point in hand : in all other places the language of Scripture should be used rather to enrich and adorn our own.