3. Wherein do you _take up your cross_ daily? Do you chearfully _bear your cross_ (whatever is grievous to nature) as a gift of God, and labour to profit thereby? 4. Do you endeavour to set God always before you? To see his eye continually fixt upon you? Never can you use these means, but a blessing will ensue. And the more you use them, the more will you “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” _Q._ 45. What can be done in order to a closer union of our helpers with each other? _A._ 1. Let them be deeply convinced of the want there is of it at present, and the absolute necessity of it. 2. Let them pray for an earnest desire of union. 3. Let them speak freely to each other. 4. When they meet, let them never part without prayer. 5. Let them beware how they despise each other’s gifts. 6. Let them never speak slightingly of each other in any kind. 7. Let them defend one another’s characters in every thing, to the utmost of their power: And 8. Let them labour in honour each to prefer the other before himself. _Q._ 46. How shall we avoid popularity? We mean such esteem or love from the people, as is not for the glory of God? _A._ 1. Earnestly pray for a piercing sense of the danger there is, and the sinfulness of it. 2. Take care how you ingratiate yourself with any people, by slackness of discipline: 3. Or by any method which another preacher cannot follow. 4. Warn the people among whom you are most, of esteeming or loving you too much. 5. Converse sparingly with those who are particularly fond of you. _Q._ 47. How often should our helpers preach? _A._ Not more than twice a day, unless on a _Sunday_, or some extraordinary occasion. _Q._ 48. Which is the best general method of preaching. _A._ 1. To invite. 2. To convince. 3. To offer Christ. 4. To build up: and to do this in some measure in every sermon. _Q._ 49. Are there any smaller advices relating to preaching, which might be of use to us? _A._ Perhaps these, 1. Be sure to begin and end, precisely at the time appointed. 2. Endeavour to be serious, weighty, and solemn in your whole deportment before the congregation. 3. Always suit your subject to the audience. 4. Choose the plainest texts you can. 5. Take care not to ramble from your text, but keep close to it, and make out from it what you take in hand. 6. Beware of allegorizing or spiritualizing too much. 7. Take care of any thing aukward or affected, either in your phrase, gesture or pronunciation. 8. Tell each other, if you observe any thing of this kind. 9. Sing no hymns of your own composing. 10. Without a pressing reason, do not pray above eight or ten minutes (at most) without intermission. 11. It would be well for every young preacher, frequently to exhort, without taking any text: and for every one, young or old, frequently to read and inlarge upon a portion of the Notes. _Q._ 50. What sermons do we find by experience to be attended with the greatest blessing?