The Rey'

IOUN CLAUDE

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

COMPOSITION

OF A

SERMON.

Tranflated from the original FRENCH of
kan

The Rev. JOHN CLAUDE,

MINISTER OF THE FRENCH REFORMED CHURCH AT
CHARENTON,

WITH NOTES.

By ROBERT ROBINSON.

STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORK-
MAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY
DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.

PRINTED FOR W. LEPARD, NEWGATE-STREET;
AND SOLD BY J. BUCKLAND, PATER-NOSTER-ROW ;
AND J. MATTHEWS, STRAND.

4

M,DCC,LXXXII.

T

HE following effay is published in its prefent form for the use of those ftudious minifters in our proteftant dif fenting churches, who have not enjoyed the advantage of a regular academical education. Whatever end it may anfwer, our churches will allow me the honour of having taken fome pains to endeavour to ferve them.

One, of the many invaluable privileges, which our congregations enjoy, is that of choofing their own minifters. The principal object of attention among our people in choofing their minifters is the piety of candidates; confequently, the choice often falls on a man, whose religious principles are his whole quali fication: The far greater part of these minifters, however, are men of good natural abilities, and fincere piety; they have a thorough knowledge of the prac.. tical part of fcripture, juft notions of civil and religious liberty, an unblemished moral deportment, an honeft and good heart, and an extenfive usefulness among the people of their charge. They are the minifters of the people's own choice, and therefore highly efteemed by them.

The moft learned of their brethren, who know the true intereft of thewhole body

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