253. _Texts before Sermons._--What is the origin of, and the authority
for our present use of texts of Holy Scripture before sermons? In the
Roman Catholic church the custom, I believe, is not the same. The
homilies used in the Church of England have no texts. In the ancient
Postils, was the gospel for the day again read from the pulpit, or were
the hearers supposed to carry it in their minds? It is quite clear that
texts are now in most cases merely the pegs whereon the sermon is hung,
so to speak, and are not read as passages of Holy Scripture to be
expounded to an audience ignorant of the meaning of the sacred volume.
Perhaps this Query may draw forth some remarks on the subject.