←820
←820
Blackwell notices, and profitably enlarges upon the following particulars in reference to the choice of subjects. 1. The spiritual state of the people. 2. Their capacity for hearing the Gospel. 3. Their predominant sins. 4. Providential occasions. Meth. Evang. pp. 48-58. Cotton Mather’s rule was to ‘consider the case and circumstance of his hearers as his means of direction to his subjects; and to have some particular design of edification in every sermon that he preached. Bowles adds the main rule for constant recollection—‘Salus populi inter concionandum suprema lex esto.’ Lib. ii. 1.