James Waddel Alexander's volume on homiletics (1861, 1864) -- Thoughts on Preaching: Being Contributions to Homiletics -- is an excellent help for pastors. But it should also be noted that extracts from Alexander's private journal make up the final portion of this book, and they comprise of devotional thoughts and poetry worthy of every Christian's attention. For an example of the former, see his first of his "miscellaneous paragraphs":
"To do good to men, is the great work of life; to make them true Christians is the greatest good we can do them. Every investigation brings us round to this point. Begin here, and you are like one who strikes water from a rock on the summits of the mountains; it flows down over all the intervening tracts to the very base. If we could make each man love his neighbour, we should make a happy world. The true method is to begin with ourselves, and so to extend the circle to all around us. It should be perpetually in our minds."
Reading his journal extracts, one is struck with 1) his desire to exalt Christ even above the most godly of teachers and writers; 2) his thorough acquaintance with the great pastor-writers of centuries before (scribble down the names he mentions if they are new to you); 3) his love of books in conjunction with his understanding that of reading many books there is great weariness, and that it does a person good to step out of their library to converse with others; and 4) his poetic eloquence.
This writer aims to highlight his poetry further in the future, DV. For now, take note of his devotional meditations, in addition to his excellent homiletic counsel.