Nathan Bangs · 47 of 73

Book II. From the First Conference in 1773 to the First Regular General Conference in 1792. · Chapter 3 · On the Matter and Manner of Preaching, and other public exercises.

Question 1. What is the best general method of preaching?

Answer

To convince:

To offer Christ:

To invite:

To build up: and to do this in some measure in every sermon.

Question 2. Are there any smaller advices relative to preaching which might be of use to us?

Answer Perhaps these:

Be sure never to disappoint a congregation.

Begin precisely at the time appointed.

Let your whole deportment be serious, weighty, and solemn.

Always suit your subject to your audience.

Choose the plainest text you can.

Take care not to ramble, but keep to your text, and make out what you take in hand.

Take care of any thing awkward or affected, either in your gesture, phrase, or pronunciation.

Print nothing without the approbation of the conference, and one of the bishops.

Do not usually pray extempore above eight or ten minutes (at most) without intermission

Frequently read and enlarge upon a portion of Scripture; and let young preachers often exhort without taking a text.

Always avail yourself of the great festivals by preaching on the occasion.

Question 3. Have not some of us been led off from practical preaching, by what is called preaching Christ?

Answer The most effectual way of preaching Christ, is to preach him in all his offices; and to declare his law, as well as his gospel, both to believers and unbelievers. Let us strongly and closely insist upon inward and outward holiness in all its branches.