←1095
←1095
Mr. Cecil adopted Lavater’s practice—to fix on certain persons in his congregation, as representatives of the different classes of his hearers—to keep these persons in his eye in the composition of his sermons—and to endeavour to mould his subjects, so as to meet their respective cases. This rule obviously requires much judgment to avoid that personality, which—except in particular cases (1Tim. 5.20.) belongs to private—not to public rebukes. (Matt, 18.15.) Perhaps the better general rule would be to aim at that direct exhibition of truth, which would compel conscience to do its own work in individual application. Compare Dwight’s Sermons, Vol. ii. 451-454.