outlines, and thus leading the hearers to see the
meaning and connexion of the whole. The benefits which I have seen
resulting from expounding the Scriptures are these: 1. The hearers are
thus, with God's blessing, led to the Scriptures. They find, as it were, a
practical use of them in the public meetings. This induces them to bring
their bibles, and I have observed that those who at first did not bring
them, have afterwards been induced to do so: so that in a short time few,
of the believers at least, were in the habit of coming without them. This
is no small matter; for every thing, which in our day will lead believers
to value the Scriptures, is of importance. 2. The expounding of the
Scriptures is in general more beneficial to the hearers than if, on a
single verse, or half a verse, or two or three words of a verse some
remarks are made, so that the portion of Scripture is scarcely anything
but a motto for the subject; for few have grace to meditate much over the
Word, and thus exposition may not merely be the means of opening up to
them the Scriptures, but may also create in them a desire to meditate for
themselves. 3. The expounding of the Scriptures leaves to the hearers a
connecting link, so that the reading over again the portion of the Word,
which has been expounded, brings to their remembrance what has been said;
and thus, with God's blessing, leaves a more lasting impression on their
minds. This is particularly of importance as it regards the illiterate,
who sometimes have neither much strength of memory nor capacity of
comprehension. 4. The expounding of large portions of the Word, as the
whole of a gospel or an epistle, besides leading the hearer to see the
connexion of the whole, has also this particular benefit for the teacher,
that it leads him, with God's blessing, to the consideration of portions
of the Word, which otherwise he might not have considered, and keeps him
from speaking too much on favourite subjects, and leaning too much to
particular parts of truth, which tendency must surely sooner or later
injure both himself and his hearers.--Expounding the word of God brings
little honour to the preacher from the unenlightened or careless hearer,
but it tends much to the benefit of the hearers in general.

Simplicity in expression, whilst the truth is set forth, is, in connexion
with what has been said, of the utmost importance. It should be the aim of
the teacher to speak so, that children, servants