This week we finish 'The Art of Prophesying' - the first of Perkins tracts in the Puritan Paperback edition.
In Chapter Eight we read about the two types of sermon applications:
(i) Mental application is concerned with the mind and involves either doctrine or reproof;
(ii) Practical application has to do with life-style and behaviour and involves instruction and correction.
Then in Chapter Nine Perkins teaches us about memorising sermons - what to do and what not to do (there appears to be an interesting reference to the occult in this chapter according to the Banner of Truth edition footnote).
In Chapter Ten Perkins gives us some advice about the act of preaching itself: 'Here two things are essential: (i) the hiding of human wisdom, and (ii) the demonstration or manifestation of the Spirit.'
Then Chapter Eleven provides some advice on the second aspect of prophesying: public prayer.
To end the tract, we are given a quick summary of what preaching involves.
I appreciated this advice about which errors to correct when applying your sermon text: 'Reprove only the errors which currently trouble the church. Leave others alone if they lie dead in past history, or if they are not relevant to the people, unless you know that spiritual danger may still arise from them.'
Don't bring out the antidote to poison if it's not needed. It's a waste of time.
Commence 'The Calling of the Ministry' by reading the Introduction and Chapters 1(The titles of true ministers) and 2 (The scarcity of true ministers).
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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