772 Dr. Thomas Manton'.r l·uneral Sermon. fcnfible to others. And inthis he had a fingular Talent. His Stile was not exquilitcly ftudtcd, not confifttng of harmomous Penods, but far diftant from vulcrar Meannefs. His'Exprcffion was natural and free, cl ear and eloquent, quick and ~v- ~1~iv~~~~~~:~;b~.y ~~fse s~:n;~~i'aff~~d~~w?,;~~~~:i~\e }~~~\~!ilip~~rrcr~~d r~~:~r fdfl:idious Mind could .not diCrclifh them. He abhorr'd a vain ofl:ent~ti~n of Wit in •handling S~.cied things ; . fo venerable and grav~, and of eternal Confeqnence: Intleed, what ts more unbecommg a Mmtfter of Clmft, than to wafle the Spirits of his Brain, as a Spider does his Bowels, to [pin a Web only to catch Flies? to get vain Su•~ m~b~l~';-¥! r!t~if;l~:fr~* r~~.~~e0~'t,Z!,ro~1~v;~~~~~;~l:;, ~b;; f~at~~n~~~rF~: mine, wheh many perilb'd by J-!unger, he ordered a Ship fbould come from Egpt (the Granary of lt•ly) laden wtth Sand for the ufe ofWrefl:lers. In fuch extremity to provide only for Delight, that there might be Spell:acles on the Theatre, when the City of Rome was a fpell:aclc offuch Mifery, as to melt the Heart of any but a Ner.o, was mofl: barbarous Cruelty. But 'tis cruelty of an heavier imputation, for a Minifl:er to prepare his Sermons ro pleafe the foolilb curiofity of Fancy with flafby Conceits; nay, [uch light Vanities , that would fcarce be endured in a Scene, whiles hmigry Souls 1anguifb for want of folid Nouriflmtent. . His fen•6';lr and earnef1nefs in Preaching was [uch, as might [often and make pli- ~• fud•« ,Jl. a·at the mofi:'Huhborn, obdurate Spirits. I am not feeaki"f of one whofe Talent :ft.l~'d.po'"• ~~r~~;~}~l;:teJy:h:~la:~f~;~l:~~e;~~~it;; ~~~;;~ ,e~du~ t~i~eM~.n~G~de!~~ ~~~ flam'd with an Holy Zeal, and from thence fnch ardent Expreffions broke forth, as were' capable to procure attention and confent in his Hearers. He fpake as one that had a living Faith within him of Divine Truths. From this union of Zeal with his Knowledge, l1e was excellently qualified to convince and convert Souls. .The found of words only fl:rikes the Ear, but the Mind rcafons with the Mind, and the Heart fpeah to the Heart. · His unparallel'd Affiduity in Preaching; declar'd him very fenfible of thofe dear and ll:rong Obligations that lie upon Minilters, to be very diligent in that Blelfed Jolm "· Work. What a powerful Motive our Saviour urged upon St. Pete~·? As th01e loveft '"'~ fted "'l Sheep, fted "'J Lambs. And can any feed too much, when none can love enough ? Can any Pains be fnfficient for the Salvation of Souls, for which the Son of God did not ef1cem his Blood too co{[Jy a price? Is not incelfant unwearied Indull:ry rcquifite to advance the Work of Grace in them to perfell:ion? In this the Work of a Minif1er has its peculiar di[advantage, That whereas an Artificer, how curious and difficult foever his Work be, yet has this encouragement, That what is begun with Art and Care, he finds in the fame State wherein 'twas left. A Painter that defigns an exall: Piece, draws many Lines, often touches it with his Pencil to give it Life and Beauty, and though unfinifb'd, 'tis not fpoil'd by his intcrmiffion. A Sculp- ~% ~::~~r't,:~:~:~~r~~,~~J~~~!~~~ou~!et:~:r~{.~~tmo~~~~f)~a~~eaoA~;~g~t~:~ per, hard as Marble, not cafily receptive of Heavenly Impreffions ; yet fluid as Water,• thofe lrnpreffions are eafily .defac'd in it; 'tis expos'dto fo many temptations that induce an oblivion of eternal Things, that without frequent excitations to quicken and confirm i[s holy Purpofes, it grows carelefs, and all the labour is !of[ that was fpent on it. This faithful Minifl:er abounded iJt the Work of the Lord; and which is truly admirable, though [o frequent in Preaching, yet was aLways.fuperior to others, and equal to himfelf. In his lafl: time when declining to Death, yet he would not Jeav.e his beloved Work; the vigour of his Mind fnpporting the weaknefs of his Body. I remember when opprefl: with an obf1inate Hoarfnefs, a Frienddefiring him to fpare himfelf; he rejected the advice with indignation. He was no fomenter of Fall:ion, but fl:ndious of the Publick Tranquility. He knew what a Bleffing Peace is, and wifely forefaw the pernicious Confequences that attend Divifions. By Peace, the bond of mutual Harmony, the weakef1 things are preferv'd and profper; but where Difcord reigns, the ll:rongef1 are near to ruin. The heavenly Confent in the Primitive Church, was a principal caufe of its miraculous increafe and flourifbing; but after Diffentions prcvail'd amongf't Chrif1ians, that ;~:~c~e~f~G~d~~~~i~~~t~il~:Jri~v;;:chl:~ ~h~t~~rj~~sD~~~1~~~~~~~h~~dp~%~!~ ~~~~ Reformation of all Europe, were more obf'trull:ed by the Diffentions of fame emplayed in that Blelfed Work, than by all the Power and Subti lty, the Armi and Artilic~(
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