Fenner - Houston-Packer Collection BX5037 .F46 1651

102 4 . AMmiiter . may ftirre 'típ affuQí- ' ons by his Voice. ATreati/e of the AfEiona, ttifter is wicked, fo is the Parifh tied as ever they love their own fouls, to pray unto God that he would fancrtifie °their Minifter more and more, that the Word may runne and be glorified, for the life of the Minifter bath a great hand in moving the afìeetions. The holieft Minifters move molt. Fourthly, By the due carriage of their voices, when the Minifter is affeéted himfelf: I do not fay it is alwaies fo for fome have not the fame command of themfelves through accidental reafons: but commonly when the Mi- nifter is affected himfelf, the inward affeaions of his own breaft difpofe the voice into fome gracious manner of ex- prelling the fame. As Paul that was full of grief and for- row for the peoples finnes, he for the molt part preached with a weeping voice, Many Walk, (ayes he, of Who& I have toldyou often, and not, again tell you even Weeping, they are enemies of the Croffevf ChrifP, Whole end is deflr.Elion, &c. Phil. 3. r 8, t9. and truly if we confider the iniquities of the times, and the finnes of moft men, how lamentable their conditions be, no other affection better fuits then this. Lo- quere flebiliter, (ayes Bucolcertes to a preather, fpeak mourn- fully, and forrowfully, the very voice it felt will fomewhat mollifie the affections of the people. Certainly it is an or- dinance of God, and very moving, to fpeak according to the point in hand. To fpeak compalfionately in _points of pity, to fpeak rejoycingly in points of comfort, to fpeak molt terribly in points of terror. As Cato advifed that foul- dierslhould terrifie their enemies with terrible voices. Nei- ther is it amifs, that when the Minifter threatens the judge- ments of God againft rebellious 'inners, he fhould com- pofe his voice accordingly. Iknow not what hidden occult influence the voice bath into the affections, faith S. /hop- fine, but a great influence it bath. When a Minifter goes dreamingly on, the people fit carelefly and regard it not, and let him fay never fo good matter, they heed it not ; let him threaten, or comfort, or command, or reprove, they refpeet

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