Page:Sermon on malt.pdf/2

 SERMON ON MALT.

The late Dr. Dodd, a very worthy minister who lived a few miles from Cambridge, had rendered himself obnoxious to many of the Can tabs,* by his preaching against drunkenness. Several of whom meeting him on a journey, determined to make him preach in a hollow tree, that was near the road side. Accordingly addressing him with great apparent politeness, they asked him if he had not lately preached! much upon Drunkenness : On replying in the affirmative they insisted, that he should now preach from a text of their choosing. In vain did he remonstrate On the unreasonableness of expecting him to give them a discourse without study and in such a place; they were determined to take no denial, and the word malt was given by way of text ; on which he immediately, delivered himself as follows :—

“ Beloved ! Let me crave your attention ; I am a little man, come at a short warning, to preach a short Sermon, from a small subject in an unworthy pulpit, to a small congregation. Beloved, my text is malt: I cannot divide it into words it being but one, nor into syllables, it being but one: I must therefore, of necessity divide it into letters, which I find to be these four ; M, A, L, T.

M, my beloved, is Moral—A, is Allegorical—L, Literal,—T, Theological. The Moral is set forth to teach you Drunkards good


 * Students of the University.