lique
Worship of God in the Three Kingdomes_.[37] Its associations are
altogether with an unhappy time, in which it was a seriously penal
offence, at least in theory, to use the Prayer Book even at a sick
friend's bedside. Yet great men of God had a hand in the making of the
Directory; and their words are well worth the reading. In particular, I
find in the volume one passage, full of golden wisdom, a precious
message to all Christian preachers. It is the section which I now quote
exactly as it first appeared, and which is entitled

[37] It is printed in W.K. Clay's _Book of Common Prayer Illustrated_.
Parker, 1841.

"OF THE PREACHING OF THE WORD.

*THE DIRECTORY ON PREACHING.

"Preaching of the Word, being the power of God unto Salvation, and one
of the greatest and most excellent Works belonging to the Ministry of
the Gospell, should bee so performed, that the Workman need not bee
ashamed, but may save himself, and those that heare him.

"It is presupposed (according to the Rules for Ordination) that the
Minister of Christ is in some good measure gifted for so weighty a
service, by his skill in the Originall Languages, and in such Arts and
Sciences as are handmaids unto Divinity, by his knowledge in the whole
Body of Theology, but most of all in the holy Scriptures, having his
senses and heart exercised in them above the common sort of Beleevers;
and by the illumination of Gods Spirit, and other gifts of edification,
which (together with reading and studying of the Word) he ought still to
seek by Prayer, and an humble heart, resolving to admit and receive any
truth not yet attained, when ever God shall make it known unto him. All
which hee is to make use of, and improve, in his private preparations,
before hee deliver in publike what he hath provided.

CHOICE OF THE TEXT.

"Ordinarily, the subject of his Sermon is to be some Text of Scripture,
holding forth some principle or head of Religion; or suitable to some
speciall occasion emergent; or hee may goe on in some Chapter, Psalme,
or Booke of the holy Scripture, as hee shall see fit.

"Let the Introduction to his Text be brief and perspicuous, drawn from
the Text itself, or context, or some parallel place, or generall
sentence of Scripture.

"If the Text be long (as in Histories and Parables it sometimes must be)
let him give a briefe summe of it; if short, a Paraphrase thereof, if
need be: In both, looking diligently to the scope of the Text, and
pointin