Sermons on Important Subjects ... To which are Prefixed, Memoirs and Character of the Author

to my people the next Lord's-day after I received the distressing news of Mr. Davies' decease; and a character of the author, as depicted by the Rev. David Bostwick, A. M. of New York.

The idea given of our author in the character and my sermon; and above all, the just and lively picture which Dr. Finley has exhibited of him in his discourse upon his death, render it unnecessary to enlarge this preface with an account of Mr. Davies' merit and accomplishments: I shall therefore only add, that I most sincerely wish that young ministers more especially would peruse these volumes with the deepest attention and seriousness, and endeavour, in conjunction with earnest prayer, for divine illumination and assistance, to form their discourses according to the model of our author; in which, if I mistake not, are the following excellencies, most worthy of imitation :

A calm and elaborate inquiry into the connection of those passages of scripture which he chooses for his subjects, and a close investigation, when it appeared necessary, into the meaning of his text by researches into the original language, and fair and learned criticism; a careful attention to the portions of sacred writ upon which he proposes to treat, so that his discourse - as naturally rises from his theme as the branch grows from the root, or the stream issues from the fountain. In every page, and almost every line of Mr. Davies' sermons, his readers may discover the subject he at first professed to handle; and he is ever illustrating, proving, or enforcing some truth or another evidently

contained in it; a reigning regard to the divine word, by comparing and confirming scripture by scripture, by taking the sacred text in its easy and natural sense, and by apt and pertinent citations of passages from holy writ, both in the proof and amplification; at the same time that our author by no means omits a regard to the dictates of natural conscience and reason, while he either makes his appeal to them, or introduces passages from Pagan antiquity on proper occasions, and to answer some valuable purposes; an observance of method and order, so as to proceed, like a wise builder, in laying the foundation, and regularly erecting the superstructure, and yet diversifying his method and order, by making them at some times open and express, and at other times indirect and implicit ; a free, manly diction, without any thing of a nice and affected accuracy, or a loud sounding torrent of almost unintelligible words on the one side,, or a loose negligence, or mean and lowcreeping phrases, unworthy of an admission into the pulpit, on the other; a rich vein of evangelical doctrine and promise, with a large infusion at proper seasons of practical duty, or awful denunciation of the divine wrath against impenitent and incorrigible sinners; an impartial regard to the cases of all his hearers, like a good steward distributing to all their portion of meat in due season; animated and pathetic application, in

which our author collects and concentres what he has been proving in his discourses; and urges it with all the powers of forcible address and melting persuasion to the heart.

Such, appear to me to be the excellencies of Mr. Davies' Sermons. May young ministers more particularly copy them with divine success, and be, like him, “burning and shining lights," in their several stations, till, having guided and animated their respective charges in the way to heaven, they and their people may at last "shine forth, like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father."

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