Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

Accordingly, bespeaking Attention, he reads a Text, longer or shorter, as he pleases, from the sacred Scriptures, and then makes a Sermon ⟨p. 56⟩(which the Ancients called a Treatise) thereupon; or, to speak in the Style of Justin Martyr, After the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles, the Minister makes an Oration, wherein he instructs the People, and exhorts them to the Imitation of such excellent Things. Or, in the Style of Origen. What is read being Explained, he excites the People to Piety towards the Blessed GOD, and other Virtues, the inseparable Companions of Piety.

In doing this necessary part of his Office, being bound (as Hilary well says) to serve the Church in Preaching the Gospel, he gives himself a Liberty, either to Preach over the Body of Divinity in order, (a Practice of unknown Advantage to the Preacher, as well as to the Hear•, […] To preach over certain paragraphs of the Bible; Or, To handle such Doctrines and Cases, as he may judge most necessary; Or, To accommodate himself unto special Occasions, that should have such a Notice taken of them; and particularly the Sacramental. Nor are the Pastors of New-England altogether insensible of what is well observed by our Doctor Owen; That the Work of the Ministry is not by any means more evacuated, and rendered ineffectual, than when Ministers have not a certain Design to deal with their Hearers according to what they are persuaded, that their Spiritual State requires. A general Preaching at Random, without a special Scope, directed by such a Persuasion, turns the whole Work, for the most part, both in Preachers, and Hearers, into a useless Formality.

In doing this necessary part of his Office, being bound (as Hilary well says) to serve the Church in Preaching the Gospel, he gives himself a Liberty, either to Preach over the Body of Divinity in order, (a Practice of unknown Advantage to the Preacher, as well as to the Hear•, 〈…〉 To preach over certain paragraphs of the Bible; Or, To handle such Doctrines and Cases, as he may judge most necessary; Or, To accommodate himself unto special Occasions, that should have such a Notice taken of them; and particularly the Sacramental. Nor are the Pastors of New-England altogether insensible of what is well observed by our Doctor Owen; That the Work of the Ministry is not by any means more evacuated, and rendred ineffectual, than when Ministers have not a certain Design to deal with their Hearers according to what they are perswaded, that their Spiritual State requires. A general Preaching at Random, without a special Scope, directed by such a Perswasion, turns the whole Work, for the most part, both in Preachers, and Hearers, into a useless Formality.